New Zealand Unicycle Federation

Promoting Unicycling in New Zealand

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Constitution

The Rules of the NZ Unicycling Federation Incorporated

1. Name

The name of the Society is the: NZ Unicycling Federation Incorporated (called "The Society" or "NZUni").

2. Aims
The Society is established to carry out, within New Zealand, the following aims:

To raise the profile of unicycling in NZ
To ensure equal participation in unicycling regardless of age, sex, physical attributes, race, seat preferences etc.
To Faciliate cultural/sporting exchange with overseas Unicyclists or unicycling organisations. To act as an initial point of contact.
To increase the number of unicyclists in NZ, their ability to ride and their enjoyment of the sport
To be a voice for NZ Unicyclists
To keep NZ Unicyclists informed of upcoming events/news
To encourage safe and environmentally sensitive unicycling
To do anything incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the above objects

3. Powers
The Society will have the following powers in addition to its statutory powers:
3.1 To purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property.
3.2 To sell, let, mortgage or otherwise dispose of or deal with any of the property of the Society.
3.3 To construct, maintain or alter any buildings or property.
3.4 To borrow, raise or invest money in any manner and on any terms suitable to the Society.
3.5 To enter into any arrangement or contract with any individual, Government Department or corporate body.
3.6 To pay all or any of the expenses incurred in establishing and running the Society.
3.7 To employ or engage staff, advisors or other people and to pay their wages, salaries and/or their expenses on terms suitable to the Society.
3.8 To run employment educational, training, social and cultural programmes.
3.9 To alter the powers and rules of the Society provided that no alterations or addition detracts from the charitable purposes of the Society.
3.10 To do all other things that in the opinion of the Society will further its charitable objects.

4 Membership
4.1 There will be two classes of members:
(i) Full Members: financial members who have been admitted to the Society and not excluded from it under the rules for Termination of Membership
(ii) Life Members: A Life Member is a person honoured for meritorious services to the Society after recommendation by the Committee and election as a Life Member by resolution of a General Meeting passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. A Life Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a Full Member and shall be subject to all the duties of a Full Member except those paying subscriptions and levies.
4.2 Participants will become members of the Society when they complete the membership form and pay any membership fee that has been set at a General Meeting.
4.3 All Members (and Committee members) shall promote the interests and the objects of the Society and shall do nothing to bring the Society into disrepute.

5. Termination of Membership
5.1 Any Member may resign from that Member's class of membership by written notice to the Secretary, and each such resignation shall take effect from the end of the Society's then current financial year, but the Member resigning shall remain liable to pay all subscriptions, levies and any capitation fees to the end of that year.
5.2 The Committee may declare that a Member is no longer a Member from the date of that declaration or such date as may be specified if that Member is convicted of any indictable offence or offence for which a convicted person may be imprisoned, is adjudged bankrupt, makes a composition with creditors, but such former Member shall remain liable to pay all subscriptions, levies and any capitation fees to the end of the Society's then financial year.
5.3 Any complaint about any Member shall be lodged in writing with the Secretary, and the procedures set out below shall be observed:
(a) The Member shall be notified in writing of the complaint,
(b) The Member shall be have the opportunity to provide a detailed written response to the complaint within not less than two weeks after being notified of the complaint,
(c) The Committee shall allow the complainant and the Member the opportunity to be heard,
(d) The Committee may then

(i) Reprimand or admonish the Member,
(ii) Suspend the Member from membership for a specified period,
(iii) Expel the Member, and

(e) The decision and the reasons for that decision shall be conveyed to the complainant and the Member in writing.
(f) Any Member suspended or expelled under Rule 5.3(d) may appeal to a General Meeting within not less than two weeks after receiving the decision under Rule 5.3(e). Such Meeting shall be called as soon as reasonably practicable under Rule 16.3, and pending the decision of such Meeting the Member shall abide the decision of the Committee under Rule 5.3(d). The General Meeting shall allow the complainant and the Member the opportunity to be heard and may then confirm or modify the Committee's decision.
(g) Decisions of the Committee or a General Meeting on appeal under this Rule shall be final and binding on the complainant and the Member complained against, and shall not be subject to any review or challenge.
(h) Any former Member expelled under this Rule shall remain liable to pay all subscriptions and levies to the end of the Society's then financial year.

6. Membership Fee
6.1 The annual subscription and any amount payable on joining the Society shall be set by resolution of a General Meeting.
6.2 Any Member failing to pay the annual subscription or levy within one calendar month of the date of the same was set shall be considered as unfinancial and shall (without being released from the obligation of payment) have no membership rights and shall not be entitled to participate in any Society activity until all the arrears are paid, and shall be deemed to have ceased to be a Member until all arrears are paid in full.

7. Register of Members
7.1 The Society will keep a register of all current members including:
(i) each member's name, address and occupation; and
(ii) the date on which they became members.
7.2 The register is for Society purposes only: any inappropriate disclosure or mis-use of member details will result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the committee.

8. General Meetings
8.1 General Meetings of the Society will be held at least two times a year to:
(I) discuss general business;
(ii) receive reports from the Management Committee as to the activities and finances of the Society;
(iii) decide on any matters affecting the Society; and
(iv) set policy to be carried out by the office holders and Management Committee.
8.2 The General Meetings will be open to all members.
8.3 General Meetings will be convened by the Chairperson or in his/her absence by a person appointed by the General Meeting.

9. Special General Meetings
9.1 The Management Committee or six members may request a Special General Meeting at any time by giving written notice to the Secretary stating the reasons for wanting a Special General Meeting.
9.2 The Secretary will give notice of a Special General Meeting no later than seven days after receiving the request.

10. Annual General Meetings
10.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held each year not more than fifteen months after the previous Annual General Meeting.
10.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting will include:
(i) the Financial Accounts;
(ii) the Annual Report;
(iii) the election of a President and four additional committee members. The President will then assign the roles of Secretary, Treasurer, and Testing Officer. These will form the Management Committee
(iv) the appointment of an auditor to audit the financial accounts;
(v) the consideration of any other business.

11. Management Committee
11.1 A Management Committee will be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
11.2 The Role of the Management Committee will be:
(i) manage the affairs of the Society;
(ii) implement policy set at General Meetings; and
(iii) carry out the aims and powers of the Society.
11.3 The Management Committee will hold at least one meeting each year. The form of notice for each meeting will be determined by the Management Committee.
11.4 The quorum of the Management Committee Meetings will be four.
11.5 Members may attend all Management Meetings.
11.6 The Chairperson will convene Management Committee Meetings and in his or her absence the meeting will appoint another person.
11.7 Management Committee Meetings will be by consensus but failing a consensus by a simple majority vote of the Management Committee members present.
11.8 The Management Committee may form sub-committees and give each subcommittee the same powers on the Management Committee.
11.9 The Management Committee may co-opt up to three people, who may or may not be members of the Society, to assist the Management Committee in its work. A co-opted person may exercise the same rights as a member. His or her co-option will cease at the next Annual General Meeting.
11.10 If any position becomes vacant on the Management Committee prior to the next Annual General Meeting a Special General Meeting will be held to elect a person to fill the position.

12 Secretary
12.1 The Secretary shall record the minutes of all Committee meetings, and all such minutes when confirmed by the next such meeting and signed by the chairperson of that meeting shall be prima facie evidence that that meeting was duly called and shall prima facie be a true and correct record of what occurred at that meeting.
12.2 The Secretary shall hold the Society's records, documents, and books.
12.3 The Secretary shall deal with and answer correspondence and preform such other duties as directed by the Committee.

13 Registered Office
13.1 The Registered Office of the Society shall be at such place as the Committee from time determines.

14 Finance
14.1 The Treasurer shall keep such books of account as may be necessary to provide a true record of the Society's financial position, report on the Society's financial position to each Committee meeting, and present an annual Statement of Accounts (Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet) to the Annual General Meeting.
14.2 The Committee shall maintain bank accounts in the name of the Society, and all cheques and withdrawal forms shall be signed by the Treasurer, President or Vice-President and countersigned by some other member of the Committee.
14.3 All money received on account of the Society shall be banked into its account within seven days of receipt.
14.4 All accounts paid or for payment shall be submitted to the Committee for approval of payment. All cheques and withdrawal slips drawn on the Society's account will be signed by the Treasurer and one of two other members appointed by resolution of the Management Committee.
14.5 The Society's financial year shall commence on 1 April of each year and end on 31 March on the following year.
14.6 The Annual General Meeting each year shall appoint an auditor (who is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants who may or may not be a member of the Society) to audit the annual accounts of the Society and provide a certificate of correctness of the same, and is any such auditor is unable to act the Committee shall appoint a replacement auditor.
14.7 The income and property of the Society is to be applied solely to further the aims of the Society. No income or property is to be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to any members. This will not prevent payment of reasonable remuneration or expenses to any officer or employee of the Society or to any members for any services performed by them for the Society.
14.8 A member may charge for any services carried out by him or her where the Society would have had to pay for that service if it was carried out by somebody who was not a member.

15 Execution of Documents
15.1 The Common Seal of the Society, if any, shall be retained by the Secretary.
15.2 Documents shall be executed for the Society pursuant to a resolution of the Committee:
(a) By affixing any Common Seal witnessed by the President, or the Secretary and countersigned by some other member of the Committee, or
(b) By the President, Secretary or some other member of the Committee signing on behalf of the Society.

16. Alterations and Additions to the Rules
16.1 The Society may alter, add or cancel any rules at a General meeting provided that:
(i) written notice of the proposed change is included in the notice calling the meeting;
(ii) the meeting may amend the proposed change;
(iii) a two thirds majority of the members present at the meeting agree to the change;
(iv) no alterations, additions or cancellation will be made to these rules that are in conflict with the aims of the Society

17. Winding Up
17.1 The Society may be wound up if:
(i) a majority of the members at a General Meeting pass a resolution to wind up the Society;
(ii) a second meeting is held not earlier than 30 days since the first meeting to confirm or reject the resolution; and
(iii) at the second meeting a two thirds (2/3rds) majority of the members confirm the resolution.
17. 2 On winding up any surplus assets of the Society will be distributed to other charitable organisations in New Zealand.