Our constitution

Constitution of the Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc.

As revised 21 September 2006

  1. Name

    The name of the society shall be the Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc.

  2. Aims

    The aims of the society shall be:

    1. to promote and maintain high standards of editing and publishing
    2. to promote the exchange of ideas and dissemination of information on matters of professional interest
    3. to promote contacts between its members
    4. to establish and maintain liaison with other organisations with related interests.
  3. National body

    The Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc. may be part of a national body.

  4. Membership
    1. Membership shall be open to those who are engaged in or interested in publishing as, for example, editors, writers, designers, typographers, indexers, proofreaders, illustrators and publishers.
    2. The society may implement various categories of membership. The distinctions between categories shall be at the discretion of the executive committee.
    3. Admission to membership is at all times at the discretion of the executive committee. Once approved, a person's membership shall become operative on payment of the appropriate subscription.
    4. A register of members shall be maintained by an officer of the society.
    5. Membership subscriptions shall be determined by the executive committee. Annual subscriptions shall be for the year 1 July to 30 June and payable in advance for the year in question. New members whose admission to membership is approved by the executive committee between 1 January and 30 June shall be eligible for membership rights for the remainder of that financial year on payment of reduced subscriptions at rates to be decided by the committee from time to time.
    6. Members whose subscriptions are one year in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.
    7. Honorary life membership of the society may be granted by the executive committee in recognition of sustained and distinguished service to editing or publishing, or to the Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc.
  5. Officers of the society
    1. The officers of the society shall be a president, a vice-president, a treasurer, and a secretary. Each of those officers shall be elected by a simple majority of financial members of the society present at the Annual General Meeting.
    2. Each officer is eligible for annual re-election except that the president shall not hold office for more than four consecutive years.
    3. For the purposes of the Associations Incorporation Act 1964 as amended, the executive committee shall appoint one of the officers to be also the public officer of the society.
    4. Casual vacancies in any of these offices of the society shall be filled by invitation of the executive committee. The persons filling such vacancies shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.
  6. Executive committee
    1. The business of the society shall be carried on by an executive committee consisting of (i) the officers of the society and (ii) at least four other members of the society who are elected to the committee by a simple majority at the Annual General Meeting.
    2. The executive committee may distribute among its members the positions of newsletter editor, electronic-newsletter editor, professional development officer, and immediate past president. The committee may also co-opt additional members as necessary. Coopted committee members shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.
    3. A simple majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum for executive committee meetings.
    4. The executive committee may appoint ad hoc subcommittees and prescribe their powers and functions.
    5. The executive committee shall meet at least three times a year.
  7. Meetings
    1. Annual General Meetings: The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the last day of September. The notice calling the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all members no later than ten days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
    2. Special General Meetings: A Special General Meeting can be called on fourteen days' notice on the decision of the executive committee or at the written request of at least ten financial members of the society.
    3. Quorum: The quorum for an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting shall be ten.
  8. Finance
    1. The society's financial year shall be 1 July to 30 June.
    2. Signatories to the society's bank account or bank accounts shall be the president, treasurer and secretary. Any two of these may authorise payments on behalf of the society.
    3. The society shall keep financial records that correctly record and explain its transactions and its financial position. These records must enable the preparation from time to time of true and fair accounts that can be conveniently and properly audited.
    4. The society's financial accounts must be audited at least once a year in accordance with the Associations Incorporation Act 1964 ('the Act') as amended. The auditor must be a person who is a registered company auditor within the meaning of the Corporations Law but who is not a member of the society nor a servant of the society nor a partner, employer or employee of either of those. An auditor shall be appointed by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
    5. An audited set of financial statements shall be presented to each Annual General Meeting.
  9. Distribution of funds
    1. The society is not carried on for the purpose of profit or gain of its individual members. The income and property of the society, wheresoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the aims of the society as set out in the constitution, and no part of it shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to any past or present member of the society other than as payment in good faith of actual expenses incurred on behalf of the society or as remuneration in return for any service actually rendered to the society.
    2. If upon winding up or dissolution of the society there remains any property after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, that property shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the society, but shall be given or transferred to some other fund, authority or institution having similar aims to those of this society and which shall prohibit distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members.
  10. Limited liability

    In the event of the society being wound up,

    1. every member of the society and
    2. every person who, within the period of twelve months immediately preceding the start of the winding up, was a member of the society is liable to contribute to the assets of the society for payment of the debts or liabilities of the society and for the costs, charges, and expenses of the winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves, such sum, not exceeding $1.00 (one dollar), as may be required, but a former member is not liable so to contribute in respect of any debt or liability of the society contracted after she or he ceased to be a member.
  11. Amendments to constitution

    This constitution may be amended through a special resolution passed by three-quarters or more of the financial members present at a General Meeting, providing that the proposed amendment has been submitted to the executive committee and that a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to each member of the society at least ten days before the General Meeting at which it is to be considered.

Contact the Society: e-mail: info@tas-editors.org.au
Post: Society of Editors (Tasmania) Inc., PO Box 4512, Bathurst Street PO, HOBART TAS 7000
ABN: 22 756 647 988

About this site