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    Constitution  

The Constitution of Spirit of the Earth Medicine Society 1996

NAME

The name of the Association shall be Spirit of the Earth Medicine Society.

OBJECTS

To be a vital and effective organ for a universal spirituality based on the earth traditions in human cultures worldwide, for all people without discrimination and in the following manner: 

  1. Establishing and maintaining centres, which offer a spiritual healing and counselling service to all people. 
  2. Establishing and maintaining programs of education, training and spiritual healing and development. 
  3. To promote and present activities which are entertaining and educational and which contribute to the growth of spiritual awareness. 
  4. To promote the development of a spiritual community through outreach activities which connect and enhance cooperation amongst like-minded, complementary organizations. 
  5. To publish spiritual and educational literature and to establish a bookshop. 
  6. To organize and deliver workshops, conferences and symposia on themes which reflect the spiritual interests of the Society. 
  7. To do anything, which is consistent with the foundational principle of the Society, 'create the conditions for healing throughout all of its work'. 
  8. The property and income of the Association shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association and no part of that prop" or income may be paid or other-wise distributed, directly or indirectly, to members except in good faith in the promotion of these objects. 
STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Society aims to create the conditions for healing throughout all of its work through activities, which reflect a commitment to the following principles: 

  1. All human beings are as one; we are united in possessing a universal spirit, which lies beneath all appearances and all differences.
  2. All human beings are maintained by a universal spirit, which is reflected in the fife of this planet and all life in the universe. This spirit unites and transcends all life on the planet and in the universe.
  3. All human beings are united across time; we honour the spirits of our ancestors, their lives and cultures, and especially those who had reverence for the earth, its life and the sanctity of all life. 
  4. All human beings are equal in that they share the same universal spirit 
  5. The life of every person is precious and must be nurtured to express its own unique nature and self-realization in the world.
  6. Healing, or medicine, is the primary spiritual and practical mission, which reflects these spiritual views. 
  7. Our human and spiritual qualities are to be expressed and honoured joyfully; in joy lies communion with our fellow beings and with the universal spirit. 
  8. These spiritual principles should be celebrated and enacted in the form of services and healing activities on occasions to be determined by the Society.
MEMBERSHIP

There shall be two classes of membership:

Ordinary members: Any person who subscribes to the objects of the Association may apply to the Committee of the Association for membership in writing and in a form as directed by the Committee which shall include an undertaking to abide by the Constitution and by-laws of the Association. Such applications shall be submitted for approval to the next meeting of the Committee following the date of application. Upon approval of the application for membership by the Committee, the name of the new member shall be added to the roll of members maintained-by the Secretary.

Life members: This class of membership may be bestowed on any person upon the recommendation of the current Committee, following a majority vote at a general Meeting of the Association. Honorary Membership shall apply to the person who, in the opinion of the General Meeting, has made an outstanding contribution to the community in the form of their spiritual and healing activities. 

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

A member may resign at any time. The resignation will be ratified at the next meeting of the Committee after receipt of the resignation.

A member [any class] may have their membership terminated by the Association under the following conditions:

  • Where a member has comported him/herself in such a fashion as to bring disrepute upon the Association and whose actions are counter to the interests and integrity of the Association.
  • The member whose membership it is sought to terminate shall be given the opportunity to appear before the Committee to answer any charge laid against him/her. In this regard, he/she shall be given at least ten days' notice in writing of the Association's intention to consider the termination of his/her membership and of the date and place on and at which such meeting of the Association is to be held.
  • By resolution of two thirds of all members. 
COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS

The Association shall be administered by a Committee, which shall be comprised of the following elected officers:

Honorary Chairperson

The Honorary Chairperson will preside at all meetings at which he/she is present. In the absence of the Chairperson, a person from Committee shall be elected to act as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall state and put questions, maintain order, and see to the execution of the provisions of the Constitution. If the minutes of the meeting have been confirmed by the meeting, the Chairperson will sign them.

Honorary Secretary

The Honorary Secretary shall, under the direction of the Committee, be responsible for the day to day management of the Association’s affairs, the maintenance of the membership list, the allotment of duties, and the supervision of activities of other administrative officers as may be appointed. The Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for the keeping of proper Minutes of Business of all Committee meetings and for the circulation of such minutes to the members of the Committee. The Honorary Secretary shall also be responsible for the keeping of proper Minutes of Business at all General Meetings of the Association. 
The Honorary Secretary shall on behalf of the Association keep and maintain the register of members in accordance with Section 27 of the Act and that register shall be kept and maintained at the Honorary Secretary's place of residence.
The Honorary Secretary shall cause the name of a person who dies or who ceases to be a member under the terms described in TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP to be deleted from the register of members of the Association.

Honorary Treasurer

The Honorary Treasurer shall receive monies and pay them into a bank account[s] of the Association. The Honorary Treasurer shall pay all accounts passed for payment by the Committee and provide receipts for all monies received in the name of the Association.

Cheques shall be signed by any two of the following

  • The Honorary Treasurer
  • The Honorary Chairperson
  • The Honorary Secretary

The Honorary Treasurer shall prepare such financial reports as may be required by the Association and comply on behalf of the Association with sections 25 and 26 of the Act in respect of the accounting records of the Association.

The Honorary Treasurer will, whenever directed to do so by the Honorary Chairperson, submit to the Committee a report, balance sheet or financial statement in accordance with that direction.

The Honorary Treasurer will have custody of all securities, books and documents of a financial nature and accounting records of the Association.

Members

Five members of the Association shall be elected to the Committee and shall attend all Committee meetings and shall take part in all Association business addressed by the Committee.

Casual vacancies in membership of the Committee:

A casual vacancy occurs in the office of a Committee member and that office becomes vacant if the Committee member

  1. Dies;
  2. Resigns by notice in writing delivered to the Honorary Chairperson or, if the Committee member is the Honorary Chairperson, to the Honorary Vice-Chairperson;
  3. Is convicted of an offence under the Act,
  4. Is permanently incapacitated by mental or physical ill-health;
  5. Is absent for more than:
    1. 3 consecutive Committee meetings- or
    2. 3 Committee meetings in the same financial year, of which he or she has received notice without tendering an apology to the person presiding at each of those Committee meetings; or
  6. Ceases to be a member of the Association.

The Committee may fill casual vacancies by invitation at any Gen@ Meeting where the nominated person is agreed upon by a simple majority of the Committee members in a vote and where the new Committee member, thus appointed, shall hold that position only until the next Annual General Meeting when elections of Committee officers will be held. 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall meet not less than once each three months and shall manage the affairs of the Association. The quorum at any meeting of the Committee shall be five. A simple majority of members of the Association shall have the right to override the Committee in any way at any General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting.

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional Committee members. The Committee shall be responsible to the Association and shall present an Annual Report, including a current financial statement, to each Annual General Meeting.

The Committee may appoint Sub-Committees. Membership of Sub-Committees need not be of members of the Association. However, non-members of the Association may be members of such Sub-Committees without voting rights.

MEETINGS
  1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such a place as shall be determined by resolution of the preceding Annual General Meeting and in default of any such resolution, this shall be determined by the current Committee. A quorum for the Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting shall consist of five members.
  2. The Honorary Secretary shall mail a notice of the Annual General Meeting to all the members at least four weeks prior to the meeting.
  3. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be open to all members of the Association. Non-members may only take part in discussions at the invitation of the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson.
  4. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
    1. To confirm minutes of the last Annual General Meeting.
    2. To receive and consider reports of the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer.
    3. To receive and consider the report of the Chairperson.
    4. To receive and consider any reports for which notice has been given
    5. To conduct the election of officers of the Association.
    6. To declare the results of election of officers and Committee for the ensuing year.
    7. To appoint Auditors.
    8. To conduct any other business for which notice of motion has been given.
  5. Notices of motion must be given to the Honorary Secretary at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting. All members will be circulated at least two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.
  6. Voting: At any meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by a show of hands unless a poll is demanded by at least five members present at the meeting. In the case of any equality of votes whether on a show of hands or a poll, the Chairperson of the meeting at which the show of hands or poll takes place shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
  7. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by receipt of a written request signed by ten members. Such a meeting will be held within four weeks of receipt of notice of the request. Members will be advised as in the procedure for the Annual General Meeting.
  8. Elections: A person is not eligible for election to membership of the Committee unless a member has nominated him/her for election by delivering a notice in writing of that nomination, signed by ..
    1. the nominator; and
    2. the nominee to signify his/her willingness to stand for election,

      to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the day on which the annual general meeting concerned is to be held.

      The Secretary shall ensure that notice of all persons seeking election to membership of the Committee is given to all members when notice is given to those members of the calling of the Annual General Meeting at which the election is to be held.
  9. Term of appointment: Any person elected to the Committee shall occupy that position for a period of twelve months unless that person resigns or has their membership terminated as described under Termination of Membership or has their Committee membership terminated as described under 'casual vacancies in membership of the Committee'.
AUDITING OF ACCOUNTS

The books of the Association shall be closed one calendar month prior to the Annual General Meeting, at which point a formal audit shall be prepared. The audited Statement of Income and Expenditure and the Balance Sheet shall be circulated to each member of the Association at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Auditors shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
  1. The Association shall be dissolved if a resolution to this effect is carried by a 75% majority at a meeting called to dissolve the Association, with at least four weeks' notice having been given to all members.
  2. If, on the winding up of the Association, any property of the Association remains after the satisfaction of the debts and liabilities of the Association and the costs, charges and expenses of that winding up, that property shall be distributed ..
    1. to another association incorporated under the Act; o
    2. for charitable purposes

    which incorporated association or purposes, as the case requires shall be determined by resolution of the members when authorizing and directing the Committee under section 33(3) of the Act to prepare a distribution plan for the distribution of the surplus property of the Association. 

AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended only by a 75% majority vote of eligible members present at an Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association, provided that any proposed amendment has been circulated to all members at least four weeks prior to the meeting.

COMMON SEAL OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association shall have a common seal on which its corporate name shall appear in legible characters.

The common seal of the Association shall not be used without the express authority of the Committee and every use of the common seal shall be recorded in the minutes kept by the Honorary Secretary.

The affixing of the common seal shall be witnessed by any 2 of the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

The common seal of the Association shall be kept in the custody of the Secretary or of such other persons as the Committee from time to time decides. 

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For More Information Contact:

Spirit Of The Earth Medicine Society
PO Box 525, Freemantle, 6160, Australia

 
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Copyright © 2004 Spirit Of The Earth Medicine Society (SOTEMS)       Last modified: 20-Sep-2007