Constitution

l. GENERAL

This society shall be known as the Transvaal Associated Computer Clubs (TAC2), hereinafter referred to as the Club.

This document is adopted as its Constitution. The Club shall be a non-profit organisation.

Its purpose shall be to promote interest in the design and use of data processing and computer systems, regardless of size, among persons of such common interest.

The Club shall conduct programs and activities and shall provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas directed towards securing for its members the

benefits of such common association.

2. MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Membership is open to all persons interested in furthering the purposes of the Club, as stated in Article 1.

2.2 Membership shall be subject to revocation for non-payment of subscriptions or other just cause according to procedures specified in this Constitution. Any person

whose membership has been revoked for just cause shall receive a pro-rata refund on any regular subscriptions he may have paid.

3. SUBSCRIPTIONS

3.1 Annual subscriptions or special subscription assessments may be levied by the Membership upon themselves in accordance with procedures set forth in this Constitution.

3.2 The Committee shall have the power to waive the payment of subscriptions for such persons as it deems is in the interest of the Club.

4. COMMITTEE

The regular business of the Club shall be conducted by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of the following Officers: the Chairman, the Vice Chairman,

the Treasurer, and the Secretary.  An additional two members may be co-opted to the committee at the discretion of the committee. The rights and duties of the

members of the Committee set forth in this Article shall not affect, and shall be in addition to any other rights or duties, express or implied, contained elsewhere in

this Constitution.

4.1 The duties of the Officers shall be as follows:

4.1.1 The Chairman shall govern the operation of the Club; preside at all meetings; conduct the same in accordance with this Constitution; decide all questions of order; and execute the other customary duties of the office of Chairman.

4.1.2 The Vice Chairman shall conduct meetings in the absence of the Chairman. He shall also assist the Chairman in governing the operations of the Club and may act in the place of the Chairman with his concurrence.

4.1.3 The Treasurer shall maintain all Club monies in an appropriate bank account; disburse monies authorised by the Chairman or by the Committee in accordance with limits specified in this Constitution; present a financial report at each General Meeting; and allow any Officer of the Club to inspect all financial records upon reasonable notification. In no event shall the Treasurer disburse monies other than in accordance with the Constitution.

4.1.4 The Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting; maintain a current copy of this Constitution and the membership list; conduct the regular correspondence of the Club; and advise the members of meetings and other notices as required by the committee.

4.1.5 The committee may reallocate these duties among the committee members as they see fit.

4.2 Eligibility: No person shall be eligible for election as an Officer of the Club who stands to benefit financially from his service as an Officer.

5. MEETINGS

5.1 An annual general meeting of the Club shall be called by the Committee during the month of November in each year or, if this is not possible, as soon thereafter as possible. A special general meeting of the Club may be called by the Committee at any time and shall be called by the Chairman or the written request of not less than ten members of the Club in good financial standing, which request shall also clearly set out the purpose for which the special general meeting is to be called.     Notice of any general meeting shall be posted to all members at least seven days before such meetings and, in the case of a special general meeting at the request of members, such meetings shall be held not later than six weeks after the date of the request. Any request referred to in this section shall be submitted to the Secretary.

5.2 A quorum at a general meeting of the Club shall be 20 percent of the ordinary members of the Club in good financial standing or ten members in good financial standing, whichever is the lesser. In the event of there not being a quorum, the meeting shall stand adjourned for two weeks and notice of such adjournment shall be given to members. At such adjourned meeting any two members shall constitute a quorum.

5.3 Committee meetings shall be called by the Chairman not less frequently than once every quarter calculated commencing the first day of January each year.

5.4 Reasonable notice shall be given to all Committee members. A quorum shall be a simple majority of the Committee and if one such members is not the Chairman, the members attending may elect an ad hoc chairman from among their number.

6. ELECTIONS

6.1 All officers of the Club' shall be elected for a term of one year commencing immediately after the meeting at which they are elected and terminating at termination of the next annual general meeting unless such officer is previously dismissed by way of recall procedure. Elections shall be held at the annual general meeting in accordance with procedures laid down by the Committee. Election shall be by secret ballot if so requested by any member present. Nomination shall not be denied to any member nominated by not less than five other members of the Club. Such. nomination must be submitted to the Secretary at least three days prior to the general meeting at which elections are to be held. Such nomination procedure shall be in addition to and without prejudice to any other nomination procedure laid down by the Committee. Officers shall be elected by a simple plurality and shall assume their office at the close of the meeting at which they are elected.

6.2 Recall procedure: A recall petition signed by at least ten members of the Club or 20 percent of the membership, whichever is the greater, may be submitted to the Secretary (or the Chairman in a case where the recall of the Secretary is requested). The Secretary (or the Chairman) shall then cause a special general meeting to be called as if requested by members in the manner provided for in relation to special general meetings and within the time specified therefor. If the recall petition is submitted more than ten days and less than six weeks prior to an annual general meeting, it shall not be necessary to call a special general meeting to consider it but it may be included as a resolution and voted on at the annual general meeting. The recall procedure may be used to dismiss any member of the Committee but a twothirds majority of those persons voting shall be necessary for its approval.

6.3 Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Chairman with the approval of the majority of the remaining Committee. Officers so appointed shall serve only until the next annual election.

7. SUBSCRIPTIONS

     The amount of annual subscription shall be set by the Committee and shall be effective upon approval by a majority of persons voting at a general meeting. The payment of annual subscriptions shall convey all the rights and privileges of membership for a period of one calendar year commencing 1st January, each year, Provided that all persons having been admitted as members up to and including 31st December and having paid the prescribed fees shall be deemed to have paid membership fees due on the 1st January in terms of this constitution. Subscriptions shall be due and payable on 1st January each year and should a member fail to pay such subscription within one month of it becoming due, the Committee may request such member in writing to make payment within a specified period, not less than seven days, and if the sum due and payable remains unpaid at the termination of such specified period, such membership shall automatically be suspended or, should the Committee so decide, terminated, Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any member who has not paid his subscription within three months after it becomes due shall cease to be a member of the Club and shall not be entitled to any rights and privileges of members provided that if such ex-member thereafter tenders payment of all such sums as were due immediately prior to the termination of his membership and in addition such sums as would have become due had he remained a member since the date of such termination of his membership and provided that such tender is accepted by the Committee such ex-member shall be reinstated as a member of the Club without the necessity of having to, again, make formal application for admission.

8 ENTRANCE FEES, HONORARY, RECIPROCITY and COUNTRY MEMBERS

     Prospective new members may be charged an initiation fee in addition to annual subscriptions. The amount of such fee, if any, shall be set by the Committee and become effective upon approval by a majority of persons voting at a General Meeting.  The subscription year shall run from January to December, and the subscription shall be payable in one amount at the start of the year. For any new member joining after July the subscription shall be payable in one amount at the rate of half of the annual subscription.

     Any person may, in the discretion of the Committee, be admitted as an honorary or country member on such conditions as the Committee may determine, provided that no country member may be admitted to membership if he ordinarily resides within the Witwatersrand and provided further that no person shall be eligible as an honorary member save where he hold some public office or has or will confer some special benefit upon the Club.

     The committee may, furthermore, determine that any person shall be entitled to be a temporary or reciprocity member of the Club, where, in the case of the temporary member, such member is a bona fide candidate for ordinary membership and in the case of a reciprocity member, where such person is a member of a club having associated objects as the Club or a club with which agreement has been reached on any joint activity. All conditions of members other than temporary members shall be laid down by the committee in their discretion.

9. SUBSCRIPTION IN ARREARS

     The Secretary shall have the power to remove from the membership list and the newsletter mailing list without notice the name of any person whose dues are in arrears for more than two months. Persons whose membership has expired may avoid paying any initiation fee by renewing their membership retroactive to the date on which such membership expired. Such retroactive renewal shall entitle that member to back copies of the newsletter subject to availability.

10. REVOCATION of MEMBERSHIP

     The membership of any person may be revoked for just cause upon recommendation of the Committee and the approval by two-thirds of those persons voting at a General Meeting. Notice of such proposed action must be given in writing to the member involved, and shall appear in the announcement of the meeting at which the proposed action is to be voted upon.  Such notices shall be mailed not less than seven days before the meeting. The member whose membership is under consideration shall be entitled to be present and to be heard at such time as the notice for the revocation of his membership is considered.

11. TREASURY

     The financial affairs of the Club shall be conducted by the Committee. The Treasurer shall disburse monies for expenditures authorised by the Committee provided that no single expenditure exceeds R2500.00 and further provided that at least R500.00 remains in the Treasury after such expenditure. Expenditures exceeding the above limits may be authorised by the Committee provided that there are sufficient funds that at least R500.00 remains in the Treasury after such expenditure.

     The Treasurer shall present to each meeting of the Committee a report showing income and expenditure for the financial year to the date of such meeting and shall be in a position to deal individually with each item of income and expenditure which arose after the date of the previous Committee meeting.

     The Treasurer shall, furthermore, prepare annual financial statements including a profit and loss account, a balance sheet and notes to such documents which fairly and accurately reflect the financial position of the Club and such statements shall be presented at the annual general meeting at which copies of such statements shall be available.

12. CHAIRMAN'S EMERGENCY FUND

     This fund was closed 31st March 1992.

13. ADOPTION and AMENDMENT

     This Constitution and amendments thereto shall be adopted by a three-fourths majority of those persons voting at a General Meeting.

     The membership advisement requirements shall be satisfied by distributing copies of the proposed adoption to either (i) all members attending the regular General Meeting preceding the meeting at which the vote is to be held, or (ii) all members of the Club by mail, sent at least seven calendar days in advance of the proposed vote.

14. DISSOLUTION

     The Club may be dissolved by a resolution of members at a general meeting in the same manner and with the same majority as required for an amendment to this Constitution. It shall be competent for the Club to specify in such resolution the manner in which any assets are to be dealt with: Provided that no assets shall be distributed to members and provided further that the assets may only be distributed to a club, institution or other body corporate having aims similar to the aims of the Club. In the event of dissolution being approved and there being no resolution passed in regard to distribution of the assets they may be distributed by the Chairman in his discretion  and, should he fail to refuse to act within a reasonable time, by such member or members of the Committee as are prepared to act.