[Aqualist] Proposed changes to AQUA constitution

Thu Oct 30 16:41:41 EST 2008

Hi Matt,

Regarding the proposed constitutional changes, my only comment would be that
changing section 11.1 , with regard to residential status, is weak given the
only argument in favour of the change is the following:
* The requirement for the Vice-President to be a resident of New Zealand
unless the position of President is occupied by a resident of New Zealand
reflects current practice.

Constitutional changes should not be just a reflection of current practices.
The rationale must be stronger. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to not
have a Vice-President of a different nationality to the President, but
simply ensure that there is a nominal non-Australian member of the
Committee. After all, what does the Vice-President do? Is a VP even
required? How often can a non-Australian member feasibly meet with the rest
of the Committee?

That's my two cents' worth. See you in Victor Harbour.

Cheers,
Eric

Eric Nicholson
PhD Candidate

"It's not what's grand that's inspiring... it's the inspiration that's
grand!"

-----Original Message-----
From: aqualist-bounces at anu.edu.au [mailto:aqualist-bounces at anu.edu.au] On
Behalf Of Matt Cupper
Sent: Thursday, 30 October 2008 3:51 PM
To: aqualist at anu.edu.au
Subject: [Aqualist] Proposed changes to AQUA constitution

The committee of the Australasian Quaternary Association has proposed
changes to the constitution of the association.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Australasian Quaternary Association
will be held on 9 December 2008 at the AQUA conference in Victor Harbour,
South Australia, to consider and vote upon the following suggested changes
to the constitution:

1. SUGGESTED CHANGE 1.

Current constitution:

"10    PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS
10.5 Except in the matters of election of officers and the Committee Members
of The Association, and amendments to this Constitution where a postal vote
of members is required, issues at meetings shall be decided by a simple
majority of those present and voting in favour of the proposition  each
member present being entitled to one vote only.  Voting at meetings shall be
on the voices, or by show of hands or ballot at the discretion of the
president unless two or more members demand a ballot, whence voting shall be
by ballot." 

Suggested change to constitution:

"10    PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS
10.5 Except in the matters of amendments to this Constitution, which must be
passed by a three quarters (3/4) majority of members present, issues at
meetings shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting
in favour of the proposition  each member present being entitled to one
vote only.  Voting at meetings shall be on the voices, or by show of hands
or ballot at the discretion of the president unless two or more members
demand a ballot, whence voting shall be by ballot."

Rationale for suggested change:

* Procedure for the election of officers and committee members is not an
exception to the voting procedures outlined in Section 10.5.

* No requirement for a postal vote for amendments to the constitution is
provided in Section 17, which details procedures for altering the
constitution. Section 17 (Alteration of constitution) states that ³The
resolution presented must be passed by a three quarters (3/4) majority of
members present.² 

2. SUGGESTED CHANGE 2.

Current constitution:

"11   COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

11.1 The affairs of The Association shall be managed by an Honorary
Committee which shall consist of Ordinary, Student, Concession and Life
members holding the offices of:
President
Immediate Past President (ex-officio)
Secretary
Treasurer
Public Officer
Conference Secretary
Editor of Publications
Information Technology Editor and
at least 4 other committee members who may be co-opted by the committee,
that include the Chairperson of the Committee for Quaternary Research, a New
Zealand representative and an INQUA representative."

Suggested change to constitution:

"11   COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

11.1 The affairs of The Association shall be managed by an Honorary
Committee, which shall consist of Ordinary, Student, Concession and Life
members holding the offices of:
President;
Vice-President;
Immediate Past President (ex-officio);
Secretary;
Treasurer;
Public Officer;
Conference Secretary;
Editor of Publications;
Information Technology Editor; and,
up to 4 other committee members who may be co-opted by the committee, and
may include the Chairperson of the Committee for Quaternary Research and an
INQUA representative.

If the position of President is filled by a member who primarily resides
outside New Zealand, the position of Vice-President shall only be filled by
a member who primarily resides in New Zealand."

Rationale for suggested change:

* Section 11.1 currently contains no reference to a Vice-President, although
the position is referred to in Section 12.

* The requirement for at least 4 other committee members is an unnecessarily
complex administrative structure.

* The requirement for the Vice-President to be a resident of New Zealand
unless the position of President is occupied by a resident of New Zealand
reflects current practice.

3. SUGGESTED CHANGE 3.

Current constitution:

"11 COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

11.4  Nominations for the positions of members of the Committee may be
received by the Secretary until the date of the proposed general meeting:
(i)  where more nominations than positions available are received, the
position will be filled by a show of hands;
(ii) if insufficient nominations are received to fill the number of
vacancies on the Committee, the President shall arrange to fill any such
position by negotiation;
(iii) if the nominations received equal the vacancies on the Committee those
nominations shall be declared forthwith."

Suggested change to constitution:

"11   COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

11.4  Nominations for the positions of members of the Committee may be
received by the Secretary until the date of the proposed general meeting:
(i)  where more nominations than positions available are received, the
position will be allocated to the nominee who receives a simple majority of
votes cast by those members present;
(ii) if no nominee receives a simple majority of votes cast, a runoff ballot
shall be held whereby members present vote for the two nominees with the
greatest number of votes in the initial ballot;
(iii) if insufficient nominations are received to fill the number of
vacancies on the Committee, the President shall arrange to fill any such
position by negotiation;
(iv)  if the nominations received equal the vacancies on the Committee those
nominations shall be declared forthwith."

Rationale for suggested change:

* Election procedure conforms to voting procedures outlined in Section 10.5.

* Clarifies procedure for situation where no nominee receives simple
majority of votes cast.

The motion to be considered and voted upon at the extraordinary general
meeting on 9 December 2008 is that the Australasian Quaternary Association
adopts the above changes to the constitution.

Current financial AQUA members can proxy vote on the suggested changes to
the constitution by e-mailing ŒYES¹ (support the changes) or ŒNO¹ (do not
support the changes) with the subject line ŒAQUA VOTE¹ to the secretary, Dr
Craig Sloss (e-mail: secretary at aqua.org.au) by 5:00 pm EAST 5 December 2008.

____________ 
Matt Cupper
Public Officer
Australasian Quaternary Association

School of Earth Sciences
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010 Australia

Tel: 61 3 8344 6521
Fax: 61 3 8344 7761
Mob: 61 408 006 690

http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/~mlcupper

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