AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL SKATERS' ASSOCIATION | STRIVING FOR COACHING EXCELLENCE
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APSA Constitution
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL SKATERS' ASSOCIATION New South Wales Branch
NAME
1. The name of the Association is the "Australian
Professional Skaters' Association – New South Wales
Branch" – hereinafter called the "Association".
OBJECTS
2. The objects of the Association are: –
a) to draw and bind together in a responsible organisation all professional ice skaters who meet the qualifications set forth for the general advancement of their profession.
b) to promote and maintain harmonious understanding and good working relations with rink managements, figure skating clubs, the National Ice Skating Association of Australia and its State Member Associations, the International Professional Skating Union and such recognised national or international skating organisations as may from time to time exist.
c) to promote and maintain a high standard of ethical and professional conduct and skill among its members.
d) to promote and safeguard the general welfare and economic security of its members.
e) to provide members with a journal containing information on all aspects of skating at home and abroad including information on trends and changes as announced by the I.S.U., I.P.S.U., N.I.S.A.A. and any other official skating organisations.
f) to 'advance and protect the general interests and accomplishments of the pupils instructed by the members of this Association and to encourage and advance figure skating in all its branches.
g) to do all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of the above objects or any' of them.
MANAGEMENT
3. The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the State Council which shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to apply the funds of the Association in such manner as it deems expedient for the promotion of its objects.
4. The Association may have as part of its organisation committees appointed to manage specific undertakings or activities of the Association.
5. The Council shall have the power to appoint one or more patrons if it deems such expedient to the benefit of the Association.
COUNCIL OFFICE BEARERS AND MEMBERS
6. There shall be a State Council elected as hereinafter provided which shall be the governing body of the Association.
a) President
b) Vice President
c) Honorary Secretary
d) Honorary Treasurer
e) Honorary Auditor
f) Three other members
g) One member from each ice rink in the State
of New South Wales in which members of
this Association are engaged in the
teaching of ice skating may be elected to
Council in addition to those elected under
section 6f), at the discretion of Council.
7. Officers and Council Members, except for those elected in accordance with section 6g), shall be proposed and seconded by two full members or honorary life members of the Association with the person so nominated signifying his consent. Nominations close with the Honorary Secretary three clear days before the date and time fixed for the Annual General Meeting. If the number of
nominations do not exceed the number of persons to be elected then those persons so nominated shall be declared to be elected – but if the nominations exceed the number then the election shall be by ballot.
8. Only full. members as defined in section 15(a) and honorary life members as defined in section 15c) shall be eligible to take part in the management of the affairs of or to hold any office in the Association, excluding committees.
9. The duration of the appointment of a member of the Council shall be whilst ever the person remains a member except that at the following Annual General Meeting all positions of Officers and Council Members shall be declared vacant and an election of Officers and Council Members shall take place.
10. Should a quorum not be attained at an Annual General Meeting the positions of Officers and Council Members shall not be declared vacant and the occupants of the respective positions shall with their consent continue to hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
11. Should any position on the Council become vacant such a vacancy may be filled by the Council.
12. A meeting of the Council shall be convened by the President at any time or by requisition made in writing to the Secretary by any five members of the Council. If a meeting is not convened by the President within fourteen days after the receipt of such requisition a meeting of the Council may be convened by the persons making the requisition.
13. All questions arising at a meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority vote of those present provided that in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
14. The Council shall have the power to make by-laws for the conduct of the management of the Association provided that any by-laws so made do not conflict with the Constitution.
MEMBERSHIP
15. Membership shall be open to all persons residing in the State of New South Wales or residing in a State or Territory where no professional organisation exists who subscribe to the objects of the Association and who come within the definitions of the classes of members as hereinafter defined: - Persons applying for membership must be proposed and seconded by two full members with at least five years continuous membership of the association and also provide such evidence as requested by the State Council.
Coaches coming from overseas must supply a letter of identification (as required for an Australian passport) plus letters of reference from their last employer and the governing body of ice skating in the country they are coming from.
a) FULL MEMBERS shall consist of ice skaters over the age of 18 years who are or have been actively engaged professionally in the teaching of Ice skating.'
b) Junior Membersshall consist of ice skaters under the age of 18 years who otherwise have the sane qualifications as Full Members. Junior Members shall be entitled to all privileges of membership but may not vote or hold any office in the Association excluding committees.
c) HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS:Honorary Life membership nay be granted by the Council to Full Members or former Full Members in recognition of special services rendered to the Association who shall be exempt from the payment of annual subscriptions. Honorary Life Members shall enjoy all privileges of membership.
d) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS shall consist of those persons who do not comply with all the qualificationa referred to in (a), (b)f and (e) of this section. Associate members shall not have the right to vote or hold office but may voice opinions and enter into discussions at any Annual or General Meeting of the Association.
16. The Secretary shall keep a register of the names and addresses of all members of the association which shall be open for inspection by any financial member of the Association on application.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
17. Any qualified person applying for membership shall be required to pay a joining fee as determined by the Council from time to time.
18. The annual subscription fee shall be as determined by the Council from time to time.
19. Any qualified person who has resigned from the Association may be re-admitted to membership by resolution of the Council on payment of the joining fee plus the annual subscription fee.
20. A member may resign from the Association at any tine by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of such intention to resign but shall remain liable for any moneys owed to the Association.
21. Any person expelled from membership shall only be reinstated by resolution of a general meeting, carried by a majority of the persons present.
22. Any member in arrears for one month with his annual subscription forfeits all membership rights until it is paid.
CODE OF ETHICS
23. The following basic rules shall govern the conduct and relations of each member and breaches thereof shall be dealt with by the Council.
a) Members shall exercise the greatest care and discretion in their
relationships with other professionals and their respective pupils.
b) Members shall respect the rights of skaters to seek instruction or take lessons, from the professional of their choice.
B1) Members shall not accept pupils for instruction unless or until all lesson fees properly payable to another member or members have been duly paid. It is the duty of a member to check with any previous coach to ensure that all such fees have been paid prior to accepting a pupil.
c) No member shall solicit pupils of another member, directly or indirectly or through third parties for lessons or instruction.
d)Members shall dress neatly in a clean and appropriate manner becoming a
member of their profession.
EXPULSION
24. If the Council considers that the conduct of a member is or is likely to be injurious to the interests of the Association, the Council, after giving such member an opportunity of being heard before it, may suspend or terminate the membership of such member. If a person is suspended the period of suspension shall be determined by the Council.
25. A person whose membership has been terminated or suspended under this clause shall have the right of appeal to a General Meeting. Voting on this issue shall be by secret ballot.
MEETINGS
26. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall
be held during the month of May in each year on a
date to be fixed by the Council and the business
which may be transact.ed at such a meeting shall
be: –
(a) consideration of the annual report and.
balance sheet.
(b) election of Office Bearers and Council
Members.
(c) consideration of motions, notice of which
has been given to the Secretary prior to
the meeting.
(d) amendments to the constitution.
(e) general business of the Association and
any general. discussions which may be brought forward.
27. A General Meeting of the Association may be called at any time by the Council. If a General Meeting is not convened by the Council within 14 days after a requisition in writing for that purpose has been sent to the Secretary by any 12 members of the Association, a General Meeting may be convened by the persons making such requisition.
28. Notice of Meetings of the Association shall be deemed sufficient if posted on the notice boards of all ice rinks in which members of this Association are engaged in teaching or notification given in writing 14 days prior to the date set for such meeting.
VOTING
29. Full Members who have paid their subscriptions for the current year and Honorary Life Members are entitled to vote at any Annual General or General Meeting. The Chairman of the meeting shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote in the event of an equality of voting.
QUORUMS
29. The following shall be the quorums at the respective meetings of the Association: –
· Annual General Meeting - 7
· General Meeting - 7
· Council Meeting - 5
· Committee Meeting - 3
FINANCES
a) A banking account shall be opened at an approved bank and all moneys received by the Treasurer shall be deposited in the account at least once each month.
(b) All payments, other than those of a minor
amount, shall be made by cheque after
being approved by the Council and shall be
signed by the Treasurer and counter-signed
by the President or Secretary.
(c) Receipts shall be issued for all moneys
received.
(d) The Council of the Association shall cause
true accounts of the Association to be
kept. At least once every year the
accounts of the Association shall be
examined and the correctness thereof
ascertained by the Association's Auditor.
(e) The financial year of the Association
begins on 1st May and ends on 30th April
of the following year.
DUTIES OF OFFICE BEARERS
32. (a) PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all meetings. In his absence the Vice President shall preside. At meetings where the President and Vice President are absent members shall elect a Chairman for ' that meeting from a member of the Council.
(b) SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be responsible for the
performance of all secretarial duties
required by the Association including the
preparation of an agenda of the business
for discussion at each meeting of the
Association or its Council.
(c) TREASURER
The Treasurer shall receive and account for all moneys and be responsible for the payment of accounts, the banking of money and the preparation of statements of account and balance sheets.
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL BODY OF A.P.S.A.
33. Delegates shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to represent the Association in accordance with the rules of the National Body of A.P.S.A. PROFESSIONAL COACHES' TESTS
34. A classification committee may be appointed by the
council for the purpose of establishing a member's competence in the teaching of figure skating in all or any of its branches.
35. The rules and standards to be used for the conducting of tests shall be those established by the national body of' A.P.S.A.
36. The Council may in its discretion appoint to the ' Classification Committee non-members who in the opinion of the Council would provide valuable assistance in the Committee's deliberations and determinations.
ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
37. This Constitution may be amended, altered, repealed or added to on the resolution of a three-fourths majority of those present at a properly convened Annual General or General Meeting. No motion to alter this Constitution shall be deemed to be in order unless the proposed alteration shall have been set out at length among the business to be transacted in the notice convening the meeting. It shall be the duty of the person or persons convening an Annual General or General Meeting of the Association to set out in the notice convening the meeting any proposed alteration that shall have been furnished to the Secretary 14 clear days at least before such notice is given.
ASSOCIATION PROPERTY
38. All property of the Association shall be vested in the Council for the time being which shall hold it in trust for the Association. The Council may add to the property from time to time for the benefit of the Association but shall not dispose of any of the property without the sanction of the members at a General Meeting.
DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS
39. Should the Association be wound up any assets after the payment of creditors and of winding up shall be realised and the distributed to other organisations with objects as decided by the members at a Meeting.
surplus the cost proceeds similar General
CHAMPIONSHIPS, SHOWS. EXHIBITIONS ETC.
40. The Council may organise such events as it considers desirable. Conditions of entry and/or participation etc. shall be determined by the Council.
The Constitution adopted on 6th August, 1968 is repealed and any appointment made or motion passed under the Constitution hereby repealed, if in force at the commencement of this Constitution, shall continue in force as far as practicable as if made or passed under this Constitution.
This Constitution is effective as from 26th April 1981, the date on which it was adopted by a properly constituted Annual General Meeting of the A P S A (New South Wales Branch).
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