Constitution

KIPA Constitution January 2023 (ratified at 2024 A.G.M.)

CONSTITUTION

January 2023

1. NAME

The name of the Association is “The Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association Incorporated”, hereinafter called the “Association”.

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the Association are:

(a) To promote the rightful place of Kangaroo Island in the history of South Australia.

(b) To research, interpret and publicise the history of Kangaroo Island.

(c) To encourage restoration work or restore any historic item or site on Kangaroo Island.

(d) To co-operate with the Kangaroo Island Council, National Trust, and other local groups for the mutual benefit of Kangaroo Island history.

(e) To liaise and encourage people with common interests in the pioneering era of Kangaroo Island.

(f) To enter into any arrangement with any Government Authority, or community group, that is conducive to any of the Association’s objects.

(g) To apply the profits or other income of the Association for the promotion of the above objectives.

(h) To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects.

(i) To comply with the objects of any State and Commonwealth Laws or Regulations that may apply to the Association.

The Association is a not-for-profit charity and all assets and income will be applied solely to further its objects. No portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the Association except as genuine compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.

3. MEMBERSHIP

The members of the Association shall be those who fall into the following categories:

(a) Descendants of those pioneers who arrived on Kangaroo Island prior to the establishment of the first settlement on 27th July 1836.

(b) Descendants of those pioneers who settled on Kangaroo Island on or after 27th July 1836. 

(c) Soldier Settlers and their descendants (1947 and thereafter).

(d) All persons who are interested in promoting the objects of the Association.

On acceptance of an application form by the Committee, and payment of an annual subscription, an applicant will be a member of the Association.

A member may resign their membership by giving written notice to the Secretary or Public Officer of the Association. Any member who does not renew their annual subscription will be deemed to have resigned their membership.

4. MANAGEMENT

(a) The management of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Committee which shall be responsible for conducting the detailed business of the Association subject to resolutions of General Meetings of members.

(b) The Executive Committee shall have power to make decisions of an urgent nature on matters submitted to members at a General Meeting which have not been resolved at such General Meeting.

(c) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and any other office bearers elected at the Annual General Meeting. One member of the Executive Committee will act as the Association’s Public Officer.

(d) The Executive Committee is responsible for and has management control of all funds and other property of the Association.

5. PATRONS / LIFE MEMBERS

Patrons will be appointed at the A.G.M. and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Association.

The Executive, at its discretion, may confer Honorary Life Membership, for long and outstanding service, on any financial member of the Association.

6. MEETINGS

(a) The Executive Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting of the Association within five months after the end of the financial year, and in accordance with the Act and these rules, to:

(i) Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.

(ii) Elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Officer and any other deemed Executive Committee positions deemed necessary. All permanent officers shall retire at the Annual General Meeting of the Association and shall be eligible for re-election.

(iii) Confirm the Financial statements and other Executive Committee Members Reports.

(iv) Appoint an auditor should one be required under the Act.

(b) General Meetings of Members of the Association shall be held as often as considered necessary by the Executive or President, for the proper functioning of the Association, for which twenty-one (21) days’ notice shall be given in writing to all financial members.

(c) Questions arising at any General Meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes (whether by ballot or otherwise) the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

(d) Members unable to attend a meeting for any reason are entitled to lodge an Absentee vote through a nominated Proxy. This can be either the President or another member attending the meeting.

(e) At all General Meetings of the Association six (6) members who are entitled to vote (including by Proxy) shall form a quorum.

(f) Subject to these rules, every member of the Association has only one vote at a meeting of the Association.

(g) Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, General Meetings and Executive Meetings will comply with Section 51 of the Act.

7. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

(a) All members of the Association, to remain financial, shall pay to the Association an annual subscription which shall be determined by those members present at the Annual General Meeting, and shall be payable on admission as a Member and at the beginning of every calendar year.

(b) Only those members financial at the time shall be entitled to vote to any resolution at Annual or General Meetings of the Association.

8. SUB-COMMITTEES

(a) Sub-committees may be appointed to investigate a particular matter or matters arising at an Annual or General Meeting or at a meeting of the Executive Committee, the power to act being clearly defined.

(b) Such sub-committee may meet at such times as it thinks proper for the efficient operation of its brief or briefs.


9. MEMBERS’ REGISTER

A register of all members of the Association shall be kept and maintained by the Treasurer. The following details must be recorded for each member:

(a) name and address.

(b) email address (where applicable).

(c) phone number.

(d) date of joining the Association.

(e) date of resignation and reason(s) (if applicable).

10. POWERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Subject to the Act and this Constitution, the Association may operate a bank account approved by the Executive Committee and also invest in term deposits with institutions approved by the Executive Committee.

The Association may also invest in the development of its website, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Any rights to the website remain the property of the Association.

The Association may NOT accept gifts of property from members or deceased members unless they are in a digital format. The Association is not equipped to handle physical memorabilia.

The Association may NOT borrow money without the approval of members in General Meeting.

11. FINANCES

(a) At the Annual General Meeting the Treasurer shall submit a financial report detailing the income and expenditure, and a statement of assets and liabilities for the last financial year.

(b) Separate records may be kept of monies voted for special or separate purposes and a general account of monies received and expended by the Association.

(c) An account or accounts in the name of the Association shall be kept in such bank and operated on in such a manner as the Executive Committee may direct.

(d) All cheques drawn on these accounts shall be signed by any two (2) of the Executive Committee.

(e) Any expenditure of funds by direct bank transfer shall be authorised by at least two members of the Executive Committee.

(f) The financial year of the Association shall be from 1 January to 31 December.

(g) The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the requirements of the Australian Business

Number of the Association and the requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and Regulations for the Association.

11. ALTERATION OF RULES

This constitution may be altered or repealed only by a resolution passed at an Annual General Meeting of the Association, provided that notice in writing of any proposed motion to amend the same shall have been given to all members not less than twenty one (21) days prior to the meeting at which such motion shall be moved and which shall require acceptance by three-fourths of those present and entitled to vote.

12. WINDING UP

(a) A motion for the winding up of the Association may be made only at a Special General Meeting of Members called for the purpose, and no such motion shall be deemed to be carried unless three-fourths of the members present vote in the affirmative.

(b) If upon dissolution or winding up of the Association there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the Members but shall be given or transferred to (i) some other organisation or Association having objects similar, wholly or in part, to the objects of the Association or (ii) to a charitable institution as may be determined by the members present at the Special Meeting.

(c) Following dissolution, all records of the Association’s activities, written and pictorial, shall be efficiently and correctly labelled and offered to the State Library, Adelaide.

Note: This amended Constitution replaces the Constitution dated 19 November 2006