Rules of The LEAD Group Incorporated
(1993)
The rules of The LEAD Group Inc contained
herein are in accordance with Section 11 and contain those matters
specified in Schedule I, of the Associations Incorporation Act 1984.
1. NAME
The name of the Association shall be The LEAD Group Inc.
2. OBJECTS
FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTS
i) to ensure that childhood and foetal lead poisoning are eliminated by
the year 2002;
ii) to ensure that the ecosystem is protected from lead in all its uses
- past, current and new uses.
ANCILLARY OBJECTS
a) To take over the funds and other assets and liabilities of the
unincorporated association known as "The LEAD Group";
b) To establish and conduct a non profit fund raising organisation in
New South Wales and elsewhere within Australia to, increase community
awareness and action on lead poisoning prevention. Here we accept the
definition of lead poisoning of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta USA;
c) To provide advice and support to all parents and persons having or
who have had or will have parental care and parental control of children
suffering from lead poisoning;
d) To advise the community of medical, educational, financial, social
and legal benefits to which they are entitled;
e) To establish and make available a library on all recent findings,
data, programs, research, books, films, tapes, papers and organisations
related to lead poisoning and health and environmental issues related to
lead poisoning;
f) To increase the awareness of the whole community, particularly
politicians, professional or lay people working with products or
processes involving lead, and the medical and educational professions of
the dangers of the uses and existence of lead in the environment;
g) To lobby Federal, State and Local Government, commercial
organisations and the community to implement community-wide and
individual lead risk reduction strategies and screening programs for
persons affected or potentially affected by lead poisoning.
h) To foster research into the causes, extent, prevention and treatment
of childhood and foetal lead poisoning and the efficacy of lead
abatement strategies;
i) To advance and promote the objects of The LEAD Group Inc with the
view to establishment of national and international associations and to
assist, support and cooperate with other associations with objects of a
similar nature herein before expressed.
To do all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the
attainment of any or all of the above objects.
3. MEMBERSHIP
a) Subject to these rules the members of The LEAD Group Inc shall be
the members of The LEAD Group immediately prior to incorporation
together with such other people and organisations as the Committee
admits to membership.
b) Membership is open to all individuals and organisations who accept
the objects and rules of The LEAD Group Inc. Those persons who derive
financial gain from the sale or processing of lead, or of products
containing lead, are eligible only if, and remain eligible only so long
as, in the opinion of the Committee, there is no financial conflict of
interest between the objects of The LEAD Group Inc and the member. All
members must declare to the Committee in writing any potential or actual
financial conflict of interest between the objects of The LEAD Group Inc
and the individual member whether that member is financial or otherwise,
within 7 days of that financial conflict or potential conflict arising,
and all members acknowledge that the Committee of The LEAD Group Inc may
expel such a member from The LEAD Group Inc pursuant to Clause 5 hereof.
An unincorporated organisation is not capable of being a member of The
LEAD Group Inc but it may nominate individuals to be members to
represent it.
c) Individuals and organisations wishing to become members of The LEAD
Group Inc shall apply to the Committee for membership.
d) Two or more members of the Committee shall determine whether or not
to accept an application for membership. The Committee is not required
to supply reasons for accepting or rejecting an application for
membership.
e) Members shall pay such fees as are determined by The LEAD Group Inc
at a general meeting. Current fees are those set before incorporation.
f) A register of members shall be kept by The LEAD Group Inc showing the
name, address and date of commencement of membership for each member.
Provision for noting the date of cessation of membership shall also be
contained in the register.
g) Membership shall cease upon resignation, expulsion, or failure to pay
outstanding membership fees within 6 months of the due date.
h) Membership fees shall fall due on the first day of each financial
year of The LEAD Group Inc. The financial year of The LEAD Group Inc
shall run from Ian 1 to Dec 31 unless another such period is determined
by the Committee.
i) Members shall be entitled to:
-
free entrance to all the
discussion meetings of The LEAD Group Inc for that financial year;
-
access to The LEAD Group Inc library
and borrowing rights;
-
receipt of LEAD Action News for that
financial year.
4. MEMBERS' LIABILITY
The members of The LEAD Group Inc shall have no liabilities of The LEAD
Group Inc or the costs, charges and expenses of tile winding up of The
LEAD Group Inc except to the amount of any unpaid membership fees.
5. DISCIPLINING OF MEMBERS
The procedure for disciplining members shall be determined by the
Committee. Anyone who wishes to appeal against a decision refusing
membership, expelling them from membership or otherwise disciplining
them may do so at the next general meeting of The LEAD Group Inc.
6. MANAGEMENT - BY COMMITTEE
a) The LEAD Group Inc shall have its affairs controlled and managed by
the office bearers and one or two other members. This group of five or
six shall be known as the Committee.
b) The office bearers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary
and Treasurer.
c) The office bearers and other members of the Committee shall be
elected at each Annual General Meeting (AGM). Any casual vacancy
occurring in the Committee may be filled by a member appointed by the
Committee.
d) Each member of the Committee shall hold office from the date of their
election of appointment until the next AGM.
e) Retiring Committee members are eligible for re-election.
f) The Committee shall meet at least three times in each twelve month
period to conduct the business of The LEAD Group Inc.
g) The quorum for meetings of the five or six Committee members shall be
three.
h) Notice of Committee meetings shall be given at the previous Committee
meeting or by such other means as the Committee may decide upon.
i) A member of the Committee shall cease to hold office upon resignation
in writing, removal as a member of The LEAD Group Inc or absence from
three successive Committee meetings without approval by the Committee.
j) The Committee may function validly provided its number is not reduced
below the quorum. Should Committee numbers fall below the quorum the
remaining Committee members may act only to appoint new committee
members.
k) Questions arising at any meeting of the Committee shall be decided by
the majority of votes of those present. In case of an
equality of votes the person appointed to chair the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote.
I) If within half an hour of the time appointed for a Committee meeting
a quorum is not present the meeting shall be dissolved.
m) Additional meetings of the Committee may be convened by the President
or any two members of the Committee.
n) A Technical Board has been formed from experts in appropriate fields
to advise The LEAD Group Inc, and oversee any technical policies adopted
by The LEAD Group Inc, information disseminated by The LEAD Group Inc
and advice offered by The LEAD Group Inc. Membership of the Technical
Board is by invitation from the Committee, and is indefinite.
7. GENERAL MEETINGS
a) An Annual General Meeting of The LEAD Group Inc shall be held
each year within six months from the end of the financial year of The
LEAD Group Inc (except the first Annual General Meeting which shall be
held within two months from the end of the first financial year and
within 18 months of incorporation).
b) The Committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a special general
meeting of The LEAD Group Inc. A special general meeting must be
convened by the Committee within three months of receiving a written
request to do so from at least five per cent of the membership of The
LEAD Group Inc.
c) At least 14 days' notice of all general meetings and notice of motion
shall be given to members. In the case of general meetings where a
special resolution is to be proposed, notice of the resolution shall be
given to members at least 21 days before the meeting.
d) In the case of the Annual General Meeting the following business
shall be transacted:
-
confirmation of the minutes of the
last Annual General Meeting and any recent special general meeting;
-
receipt of the Committee's report
upon the activities of The LEAD Group Inc in the last financial
year;
-
election of office bearers and other
members of the Committee;
-
receipt and consideration of a
statement from the Committee which is not misleading and gives a
true and fair view for the last financial year of The LEAD Group
Inc's:
e) The quorum for a general meeting shall
be five members present. If within half an hour of the time appointed
for a general meeting a quorum is not present the meeting shall be
dissolved.
f) Voting at general meetings shall be by a show of hands of those
present, and by postal ballot for those members unable to attend.
Decisions shall be made by a simple majority vote except for those
matters which must be decided by special resolution where a
three-quarter majority is required;
g) Votes shall either be given personally at the meeting, or by postal
ballot received either by mail, fax or delivery to the office of the
Community Lead Information Centre (CLIC). Only those postal votes
received before the commencement of the general meeting shall be
counted.
h) In the case of an equality of votes the person appointed to chair the
general meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
i) Nominations of candidates for election as office bearers or other
Committee members may be made at the Annual General Meeting or in such
other ways as may be determined by The Lead Group Inc at a general
meeting.
j) Written notice of all general meetings shall be given to members
either personally or by post.
8. OFFICE BEARERS
a) The President or, in the President's absence, the Vice President,
shall act as chairperson at each general meeting and Committee meeting
of The Lead Group Inc.
b) If the President and Vice President are absent from a meeting or
unwilling to act, the members present at the meeting shall elect one of
their number to act as chairperson.
c) The Secretary shall ensure that records of the business of The LEAD
Group Inc including the rules, register of members, minutes of all
general and Committee meetings and a file of correspondence are kept.
The records shall be available for inspection by any member and shall be
held in safe-keeping at the office of the Community Lead Information
Centre (CLIC).
d) The Treasurer shall ensure that all money received by The LEAD Group
Inc is paid into an account named The LEAD Group Inc. Payments shall be
made through a petty cash system or by cheque signed by two signatories
who are Committee members. It should also be ensured that the recipient
of the cheque is not also a signatory to that cheque. Major or unusual
expenditures shall be authorised in advance by the Committee or a
general meeting.
e) The Treasurer shall ensure that correct books and accounts are kept
showing the financial affairs of The LEAD Group Inc. These records shall
be available for inspection by any member and shall be held in the
custody of the Treasurer.
f) Other office bearers as required will be delegates of the four
primary office bearers. These should be members but not necessarily
Committee members.
9. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS
a) A special resolution must be passed by a general meeting of The
LEAD Group Inc to effect the following changes:
-
a change of the name of The Lead
Group Inc;
-
a change of the rules of The Lead
Group Inc;
-
a change of the objectives of The
Lead Group Inc;
-
an amalgamation with another Inc
Association;
-
to voluntarily wind up the Lead Group
Inc and distribute its property;
-
to apply for registration as a
Company or a Co-operative.
b) A special resolution shall be passed
in the following manner:
-
a notice must be sent to all members
advising that a general meeting is to be held to consider a special
resolution;
-
the notice must give details of the
proposed special resolution and give at least 21 days' notice of the
meeting;
-
a quorum must be present at the
meeting;
-
at least three-quarters of those
present must vote in favour of the resolution;
-
in situations where it is not
possible or practicable for a resolution to be passed as described
above, a request may be made to the Corporate Affairs Commission for
permission to pass the resolution in some other way.
10. PUBLIC OFFICER
-
The Committee shall ensure that a
person is appointed as Public Officer.
-
The first Public Officer shall be the
person who completed the application for incorporation of The LEAD
Group Inc.
-
The Committee may at any time remove
the Public Officer and appoint a new Public Officer provided the
person appointed is 18 years of age or older and a resident of New
South Wales.
-
The Public Officer shall be deemed to
have vacated their position in title following circumstances;
i) death
ii) resignation
iii) removal by The LEAD Group Inc or at a
general meeting
iv) bankruptcy or financial insolvency
v0 mental illness
vi) residency outside New South Wales
e) When a vacancy occurs in the position
of Public Officer the Committee shall within 14 days notify the
Corporate Affairs Commission by the prescribed form and appoint a new
Public Officer.
f) The Public Officer is required to notify the Corporate Affairs
Commission by the prescribed form in the following circumstances:
i) appointment (within 14 days);
ii) a change of residential address (within 14 days);
iii) a change in the objects or rules of The LEAD Group Inc (within one
month);
iv) a change in the membership of the Committee (within 14 days);
v) of the financial affairs of The LEAD Group Inc (within one month
after the Annual General Meeting);
vi) a change in the name of The LEAD Group Inc (within one month).
f) The Public Officer may be an office bearer, Committee member, or any
other person regarded as suitable for the position by the Committee.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
a) The LEAD Group Inc shall effect and maintain insurance as is required
under The Associations Incorporation Act together with any other
insurance which may be required by law or regarded as necessary by The
LEAD Group Inc.
b) The funds of The LEAD Group Inc shall be derived from the fees of
members, donations, grants and such other sources approved by The Lead
Group Inc.
c) The Common Seal of The LEAD Group Inc shall be kept in the custody of
the Secretary and shall only be affixed to a document with the approval
of the Committee. The stamping of the Common Seal shall be witnessed by
the signatures of two members of the Committee.
d) The LEAD Group Inc may at any time pass a special resolution
determining how any surplus property is to be distributed in the event
that The LEAD Group Inc. should be wound up. Current policy is that if
The LEAD Group Inc is wound up surplus funds or property should be
divided equally amongst all members. The distribution of surplus
property shall be in accordance with section 53 of the Associations
Incorporation Act 1984.
e) Service of documents on The LEAD Group Inc is effected by serving
them on the Public Officer or by serving them personally on two members
of the Committee.
f) Notices sent by post shall be deemed to have been received two
days after the date of posting.
g) The income and property of The LEAD group Inc. shall be used only for
promotion of the objects of The LEAD group Inc. and shall not be paid or
transferred to members by way of dividend, bonus or profit.