REVIEW OF THE PNGAA RULES

 

 

This  review is being undertaken by a four-person working group led by Finance and Membership Sub-Committee chair, Ross Johnson, assisted by Andrea Williams, Riley Warren and Keith Jackson.  This working group is seeking input from members to this process so that, when a Special General Meeting is asked to vote on any changes, the membership can be assured that they have been adequately consulted.

We would therefore ask interested members to address all or any of the following questions and to provide responses  either submitted  "on line" or by mail addressed to the Secretary, PNGAA, PO Box 1386, Mona Vale, NSW, 1660, before Friday 2 January 2009.  If you cannot locate your 'hard copy' of our current "Rules", an interactive version is on this web site at http://www.pngaa.net/Constitution/Constitution.htm

If you have any further comments could you please attach them to your response

These responses will then be considered as part of a process of formulating recommendations for constitutional change to be put to a Special General Meeting in April 2009.

 

Electronic Submissions - REVIEW OF PNGAA RULES
 

Name
Membership No *optional
Email

 Item 1 - Motto [new]

Goal: To develop a form of words that succinctly sums up the purpose of the Association.

Possible initiative: Approve the motto, ‘Una Voce – For the betterment of the Australia-Papua New Guinea relationship’.

Question 1: What is your view on the initiative indicated?
Any other suggestions for a motto?

Item 2 - PNGAA objectives [Section 2 of the Rules]

Goal: To update and refine the existing objects of the Association and develop new objects so the espoused purpose of the Association better articulates its functions and future aspirations.

Possible changes: Amalgamate objects where there are redundancies and re-order them to reflect their relative importance. Add new objects in relation to ‘Publishing’ [an existing function not in the current objects], ‘Advocacy’ [expressions of position designed to support or strengthen the PNG–Australia relationship] and ‘Philanthropy’ [providing funds for projects of benefit to PNG].

 Question 2: What are your views on the changes indicated?

Item 3 - Classes of membership [Section 4 of the Rules]

Goal: To preserve the class of ‘Ordinary Member’ while establishing new classes of membership that will enable people to contribute more finances to the Association.

Possible changes: Maintain a low cost Ordinary Membership that includes full voting rights and a free annual subscription to Una Voce while adding new classes of Premium Member, Friend of the PNGAA, Corporate Member and Premium Corporate Member. Apply the additional dollar contribution thus generated to further the objects of the PNGAA, support projects in PNG or to otherwise advance the Australia-PNG relationship. Provide additional benefits to the new classes of membership such as:

Premium Member - letter acknowledging contribution to PNG

Friend of the PNGAA - letter acknowledging contribution to PNG and certificate of appreciation

Corporate Member - letter acknowledging contribution to PNG and certificate of appreciation

Premium Corporate Member - letter acknowledging contribution to PNG, certificate of appreciation and four advertisements in Una Voce.

Question 3: What are your views on the changes indicated?

Item 4 - PNGAA structure [Sections 15 of the Rules]

Goal: To provide a more effective structure for the PNGAA, especially to ensure an Association that is sustainable, national in scope and capable of adequately representing and delivering services to members throughout Australia.

Possible changes: Restructure the PNGAA on a Federal basis comprising [1] a National Committee of 8 members (currently 17) comprising National President, Deputy President, Secretary and 5 chairs of sub-committees and [2] State and Territory branches of five members, with each State/Territory President designated as a member of the National Committee. Thus the National Committee shall have 16 members including eight representing State/Territory branches.

Question 4: What are your views on the changes indicated?

Item 5 – Sub-Committee structure [Section 15 of the Rules]

Goal: To provide for national sub-committees in the areas of Fellowship & Caring, Finance & Membership, PNG Relations, History & Scholarship and Publications & Communications to enhance the objects of the Association.

Possible changes: Formalise the five sub-committees within the national structure of the organisation.

Question 5: What are your views on the change indicated?

Item 6 - PNGAA elections [Section 16 of the Rules]

Goal: To ensure clarity and provide for greater specificity around procedures governing the conduct of elections and ballots in the Association.

Possible changes: Establish a procedure for ballots to ensure elections are structured to allow as many members as possible to vote. Prescribe an election process for State and Territory branches. Extend the period for a postal ballot and amend the rules to ensure all members are enabled to vote personally or by postal ballot as the occasion warrants.

Question 6: What are your views on the change indicated?

Item 7 – National officers [Sections 17 and 18 of the Rules]

Goal: To define specific roles for each of the eight national officers.

Possible changes: Define the role of the President to include presiding over committee meetings, national coordination and representation/advocacy. Define the role of the Deputy President to include deputising for the president and coordinating sub-committee activity. Provide for and define the position of President Emeritus. Define the roles of the chairs of each sub-committee and the State/Territory Branch Presidents.

Question 7: What are your views on the initiatives indicated?

Item 8 -– Special general meetings [Section 26 of the Rules]

Goal: To vary the number of members required to convene an SGM so that convening such a meeting is not rendered impracticable.

Possible changes: Consider varying Section 26(2) from a percentage (currently five percent) to a specified number of members. Five percent is currently 75 members, which is a very difficult requisition; 20 is equivalent to a quorum at an AGM [see Section 28(2)].

Question 8: What are your views on the change indicated?

Item 9 - Election notice period [Sections 27 and 32 of the Rules]

Goal: To extend the period of notice to ensure adequate lead time for the conduct of ballots in order to maximise participation in Association elections.

Possible changes: Vary the notice period for an election under Section 27(1) from 14 to 28 days and under Section 27(2) from 21 to 28 days. Vary Section 32 (Special Resolution) from 21 to 28 days consistent with 27(2). Clarify the meaning of ‘Commissioner’ in Section 32(b).

Question 9: What are your views on the changes indicated?

Item 10 - Role of a patron [Section 43 of the Rules]

Goal: To establish the role of Patrons of the Association

Notes: This is not currently defined. Patrons are senior and respected members of the Association or the Australian community who have a strong PNG connection and who have consented to be identified with the PNGAA, and to assist with its development and promotion. Patrons understand and publicly support the PNGAA’s objects. They will, from time to time, preside at Association events.

Question 10: What are your views on the definition indicated?

 

Item 11 - Political partisanship

Goal: To ensure the Rules of the PNGAA explicitly proscribe the Association from involvement in partisan politics.

Possible initiative: Ensure the Association does not engage in partisan politics while protecting its ability to exercise interventions with governments or political parties in the interests of promoting or defending the Association’s objects.

Question 11: What are your views on the initiative indicated?