[Aqualist] AQUA constitution

[Tim Barrows]

Dear AQUA colleagues,
AQUA is seeking to redefine its tax status to that of a charitable organisation. This will give us Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status which will allow donors to the organisation to claim a tax deduction. AQUA currently holds the Leanne Armand Travel Award and the Committee feels that DGR status will encourage more philanthropy to support the organisation and broaden the scope of what we can support. To do this, we are introducing "charitable" into our Constitution. Although we are currently not-for-profit, this clarifies our purpose officially.
Changing the Constitution requires a special resolution at an AGM. This is a very infrequent process, so we also propose some other changes to modernise the Constitution and clarify some clauses at the same time.

The proposed changes are as follows:

  1.  Introducing the word charitable into the Scope,
  2.  Modernising, simplifying, and shortening the Purpose,
  3.  To ensure life members are covered by the same rules as other members,
  4.  Define the Executive Committee,
  5.  Modernise the "Communications Officer" committee position
  6.  To replace the restriction on the terms of the President and Vice President to two biennial meetings instead of AGMs.
  7.  To protect members details and comply with both the Corporations Act and Privacy Act.
  8.  Minor edits

The changes are available on the website at:
https://aqua.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AQUA-Constitution-from-2017_amend.docx
https://aqua.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-suggested-amendments.docx

Please take the time to look at the changes and please let us know if you have any concerns. The changes will be voted on as a block, but if any require discussion, they may be voted on separately.

Tim Barrows
Vice President of AQUA on behalf of the Constitution Subcommittee