RULES FOR AN
ASSOCIATION
Name of association
1. The name of the Association is as follows:
PROJECT GENESIS - feeding the multitudes - INCORPORATED.
Interpretation
2. In these rules -
"Association" means the association referred to in rule 1;
"auditor" means the person appointed as the auditor of the Association under rule 9;
"basic objects of the Association" means the objects and purposes of the Association as stated in an application under section 7 of the Act for the incorporation of that Association;
"committee" means a committee as defined by the Act;
"general meeting" includes -
(b) any special general meeting;
3. The office of the Association is to be at the following place Project
Genesis Headquarters – 54 Reynolds Road, Midway Point, TASMANIA – 7171 or any other place the committee determines:
4. Objects and purposes of Association
- The purpose for which the Association is established are:
- Project Genesis is a Christian outreach committed to feeding the hungry of the world. We believe that in design of creation there is an abundance of seed, water and land to meet the food need of all mankind today and in the future. This can be achieved by bringing awareness to people about God’s awesome design in creation. As we work within God’s design people will be fed revealing God’s love and concern for all mankind.
- With a view inter alia to the advancement of the purpose mentioned in sub-clause (a) of this clause –
- to establish the vision of Project Genesis by bringing an awareness of the need for godly self-sufficiency within the broader Christian community and the general community with a particular emphasis on seed conservation leading to self-sufficiency in food production.
- to establish an information network to promote and distribute the vision of Project Genesis
- Establish and maintain a detailed teaching syllabus outlining godly self-sufficiency in seed conservation and food production that will be promoted in local communities and throughout the world.
- Establish and maintain a newsletter that will encourage and motivate Christians and groups to be involved in the vision of Project Genesis. To propagate and expand the vision of Project Genesis on a permanent basis. To link all members and groups involved in Project Genesis together so they feel they are a part of the overall vision.
- Establish and maintain an Internet web sit to distribute information quickly throughout the world. To establish a central database accessible to anyone via the Internet with details pertaining to seed resources, locations and individual groups involved.
- Promote the establishment of individual food and seed gardens throughout the community both locally and overseas with the aim of having locally based food and seed security.
- Promote the establishment of community food and seed gardens in local communities and throughout the world with the aim of :
- Safe guarding the seed resources that God has blessed us with by developing seed banks.
- Developing a community based sharing and caring environment where people can work together in unity with a common purpose and vision.
- Provide a healthy, quality food for local members and others within the community with needs.
- Promote training in all relevant aspects of biblically based food self-sufficiency and seed conservation.
- Being a visible witness of God’s love, concern and provision as people are helped in a practical way.
- Promoting active community involvement in all aspects of food production and seed conservation to see that individuals and communities take on the responsibility for their own food needs rather than being reliant on welfare or charity.
- To promote individual and community seed conservation using seed banks and to distribute this resource to other areas of need until they become self-sufficient and establish their own seed banks.
- To promote training in all relevant aspects of biblically based self-sufficiency both locally and overseas with the view to establishing a network of global training centres. To encourage volunteers once trained to take this knowledge throughout the world to those areas of need.
- To present an open door for sacrificial service to men and women with gifts, talents and / or material assets which they may desire to dedicate to the extension of the world wide vision of feeding the multitudes as outlined in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- To provide a means by which people irrespective of sex, race or religion can be taught aspects of godly self-sufficiency in food production and seed conservation.
(b) the buying, selling and supplying of, and dealing in, goods of all kinds;
(c) the construction, maintenance and alteration of buildings or works necessary or convenient for any of the objects or purposes of the Association;
(d)the accepting of any gift for any one or more of the objects or purposes of the Association;
(e)the taking of any step the committee or the members in general meeting consider expedient for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Association;
(f)the printing and publishing of any newspapers, periodicals, books, leaflets or other documents the committee or the members in general meeting consider desirable for the promotion of the objects and purposes of the Association;
(g)the borrowing and raising of money in any manner and on terms -
(ii) approved or directed by resolution passed at a general meeting;
(i) the making of gifts, subscriptions or donations to any of the funds, authorities or institutions to which section 78(1)(a) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 of the Commonwealth relates;
(j) the establishment and support, or aiding in the establishment and support, of associations, institutions, funds, trusts, schemes and conveniences calculated to benefit servants or past servants of the Association and their dependents, and the granting of pensions, allowances or other benefits to servants or past servants of the Association and their dependents, and the making of payments towards insurance in relation to any of those purposes;
(k) the establishment and support, or aiding in the establishment or support, of any other association formed for any of the basic objects of the Association;
(l) the purchase or acquisition, and undertaking, of all or any part of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of any association with which the Association is amalgamated in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules of the Association;
(m) the doing of any lawful thing incidental or conducive to the attainment
of the basic objects of the Association or of any of the objects and purposes
specified in this rule.
5.
(2) A person who is not a member of the Association at the time of the incorporation of the Association is not to be admitted to membership -
(b) the admission as a member is approved by the committee.
(b) accompanied by the written consent of the person nominated; and
(c) lodged with the public officer of the Association.
(d) referred to the committee by the Public Officer which has an absolute and unfettered power to approve or reject membership to the person concerned.
(5) On a nomination being approved by the committee, the public officer-
(b) upon receipt of the sum payable as the first year's subscription, is to enter the nominee's name in a register of members.
(7) On receipt of a 'notice from a member under subrule (6), the public officer is to remove the name of the member from the register of members.
(8) A person-
(b) ceases to be a member of the Association when his or her name is removed from the register of members.
(b) terminates on the cessation of the membership.
(10) If the Association is wound up -
(b) every person who, within the period of 12 months immediately preceding the commencement of the winding up, was a member of the Association -
is liable to contribute -
(c) to the assets of the Association for payment of the debts or liabilities of the association; and
(d) for the costs, charges and expenses
of the
winding up; and
(e) for the adjustment of the rights
of the
contributories among themselves.
(12) A former member is not liable to contribute under subrule (11) in respect of any debt or liability of the Association contracted after he or she ceased to be a member.
(13) If upon the winding-up or dissolution of this Association, there remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any property, the property shall not be paid to or distributed among its members, but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of this association, and whose rules shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income among its or their members, such institution or institutions to be eligible for tax deductibility of donations under sub-section 78 (4) or (5) in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and listed as a public benevolent institution as defined under the Act..
6.
(2) No portion of the income and property of the Association is to be paid or transferred to any member of the Association.
(3) The Association is not to -
(b) pay to any such person any remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth, other than the repayment of out-of-pocket expenses.
(b) interest at a rate not exceeding 7¼% on money lent to the Association; or
(c) a reasonable and proper sum by way of rent for premises let to the Association.
7.
(b) the property, credits and liabilities of the Association.
(3) The treasurer of the Association is to keep all general records, accounting books and records of receipts and expenditure connected with the operations and business of the Association in the form and manner the committee directs.
(4) The accounts, books and records are to be kept at the Association's office or at any other place the committee decides.
8.
(b) immediately after the receipt issue official receipts.
(3) The committee may -
(b) release and indemnify the financial
institution from and against all claims, actions, suits or demands that
may be brought against the financial institution arising directly or
indirectly out of those cheques.
(5) The committee may provide the treasurer with a sum to meet urgent expenditure, subject to any conditions in relation to the use and expenditure the committee may impose.
(6) Cheques are not to be drawn on the Association's account except for the payment of expenditure that has been authorised by the committee.
(7) All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments are to be -
(b) countersigned by the public officer.
9.
(2) The auditor is to hold office until the annual general meeting next after that at which he or she is appointed, and is eligible for re-appointment.
(3) The first auditor may be appointed by the committee before the first annual general meeting, and, holds office until the first annual general meeting, unless earlier removed by a resolution of the members at a general meeting, when that meeting may appoint an auditor to act until the first annual general meeting.
(4) If an appointment is not made at an annual general meeting, the committee is to appoint an auditor for the current financial year of the Association.
(5) Except as provided in subrule (3), the auditor may only be removed from office by special resolution.
(6) If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of auditor during the course of a financial year of the Association, the committee may appoint a person as the auditor to hold office until the next succeeding annual general meeting.
10.
(2) The auditor is to -
(b) in his or her opinion, the accounts are properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the financial position of the Association -
(ii) as shown by the books of the Association; and
(5) The auditor may -
(b) require from the servants of the Association any information and explanations he or she considers necessary for the performance of the duties as auditor; and
(c) employ persons to assist in investigating the accounts of the Association; and
(d) in relation to the accounts of the Association, examine any member of the committee or any servant of the Association.
11.
(2) The annual general meeting is to be held on any day (being not later than 3 months after the close of the financial year of the Association) the committee determines.
(3) The annual general meeting is to be in addition to any other general meetings that may be held in the same year.
(4) The notice convening the annual general meeting is to specify the purpose of the meeting.
(5) The ordinary business of the annual general meeting is to be as follows:
(b) to receive from the committee, auditor and servants of the Association reports on the transactions of the Association during the last preceding financial year;
(c) to elect the officers of the Association and the ordinary committee members;
(d) to appoint the auditor and determine his or her remuneration;
(e) to determine the remuneration of servants of the Association.
12.
(2) The committee, on the requisition in writing of at least 10 members, may convene a special general meeting of the Association.
(3) A requisition for a special general meeting-
(b) is to be signed by the requisitionists; and
(c) is to be deposited at the office of the Association; and
(d) may consist of several documents, each signed by one or more of the requisitionists.
(5) A special general meeting convened by requisitionists is to be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as meetings are convened by the committee.
13.
The public officer of the Association, at least 14 days before the date fixed for holding a general meeting of the Association, is to cause to be inserted in at least one newspaper published in this State an advertisement -
(b) the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.
14.
(2) Business is not to be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members entitled to vote is present at the time the meeting is considering that business.
(3) A quorum for the transaction of the business of a general meeting is 15 members present and entitled to vote.
(4) If a quorum is not present one hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a general meeting, the meeting-
- if convened on the requisition of members, is to be dissolved; or
(6) The chairperson, by written notice or at the time of the adjournment, may specify another place to which a meeting is to be adjourned.
15.
(2) If the president and both vice-presidents are absent from a general meeting, the members present are to elect one of their number to preside as chairperson.
16.
(2) If a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, the notice of the adjourned meeting is to be given in the same manner as the notice of the original meeting.
(3) It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
17.
(2) Unless before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands a poll is demanded, a declaration by the chairperson that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or carried by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Association is evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution.
18.
(2) All votes are to be given personally.
(3) In the case of an equality of voting on a question, the chairperson has a second or casting vote.
19. If at a meeting a poll on any question is demanded -
(a) it is to be taken at that meeting in the manner the chairperson directs; andWhen poll to be taken(b) the result of the poll is taken to be the resolution of the meeting on that question.
20.
(2) A poll that is demanded on any other question is to be taken at any time before the close of the meeting as the chairperson directs.
21.
(2) The committee -
- is to control and manage the business and affairs of the Association; and
- may exercise all the powers and perform all the functions of the Association, other than those powers and functions that are required by these rules to be exercised by general meetings of members of the Association; and
- has power to do anything that appears to the committee to be essential for the proper management of the business and affairs of the Association.
- To determine the remuneration of servants of the Association.
Officers of the Association
22.
(a) a president to be elected by the committee from time to time when it is necessary. The first President shall be Michael Cook which appointment shall be ratified at the first meeting of the committee without the need for nomination pursuant to rule 24 hereof;
(b) a senior vice-president
(c) a vice-president;
(d) a treasurer;
(e) a secretary.
23.
(2) Each member of the committee shall, subject to these rules hold office for four years after the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected but is eligible for re-election.
(3) If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of ordinary committee member, the committee may appoint a member of the Association to fill the vacancy and the member so appointed shall hold office, subject to these Rules until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting next following the date of his appointment.
(4) Officers of the committee as described in 22(1) shall be elected at the first committee meeting immediately after the Annual General Meeting in such a manner as determined by the committee. They shall be eligible for one year only, but are eligible for re-election
24.
- Nominations of candidates for election as officers of the Association or an ordinary committeeman shall be made by the President or failing that by the Senior Vice President. The candidate shall be elected to office subject to a seventy-five percent vote of approval by members present at the meeting at which they are elected.
- Nominations shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Association at least ten days before the date fixed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting concerned.
- If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot is to be held.
- The ballot for the election of Committee members shall be conducted at the annual general meeting in such usual and proper manner, as the Committee may direct.
25. For the purpose of these rules, the office of an officer of the Association or of an ordinary committee member becomes vacant if the officer or committee member -
(b) becomes bankrupt or applies to take or takes advantage of any law relating to bankrupt or insolvent debtors or compounds with his or her creditors, or makes any assignment of his or her estate for their benefit; or
(c) becomes of unsound mind; or
(d) resigns office in writing addressed to the committee; or
(e) ceases to be resident in the State; or
(f) fails, without leave granted by the committee, to attend 3 consecutive meetings of the committee; or
(g) ceases to be a member of the Association; or
(h) fails to pay all arrears of subscription due, within 14 days after receiving a notice in writing signed by the public officer stating that he or she has ceased to be a financial member of the Association.
26.
(2) Special meetings of the committee may be convened by the president or any 4 of its members.
(3) Notice is to be given to members of the committee of any special meeting, specifying the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business is to be transacted at such a meeting.
(4) Any 4 members of the committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a meeting of the committee.
(5) Business is not to be transacted unless a quorum is present.
(6) If half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting is to be adjourned to the same place and at the same hour of the same day in the following week unless the meeting was a special meeting in which case it is to be dissolved.
(7) At a meeting of the committee, the following is to preside:
(b) if the president and the 2 vice-presidents are absent, any one of the remaining members of the committee as may be chosen by the members present.
(b) if demanded by a member, by a poll taken in any manner the person presiding at the meeting determines.
(10) If there is an equality of votes on any question, the person presiding has a second or casting vote.
(11) Written notice of each committee meeting is to be served on each member of the committee by -
(b) sending it by post in a prepaid envelope addressed to his or her
usual or last-known address in time to reach him or her in due course of
post before the date of the meeting.
27.
(b) in any other case, at the first meeting of the committee after the acquisition of the interest.
(3) A member of the committee is not to vote as a member of the committee in respect of any contract or arrangement in which he or she is interested and any such vote is not to be counted.
28.
(b) prescribe the powers and functions of that subcommittee.
(3) A quorum at a meeting of the subcommittee is 3 appointed members.
(4) The public officer of the Association is to convene meetings of a subcommittee.
(5) Written notice of each subcommittee meeting is to be served on each member of the subcommittee by -
(b) by sending it by post in a prepaid envelope addressed to his or
her usual or last-known address in time to reach him or her in due course
of post before the date of the meeting.
29.
- The president, the vice-presidents, the treasurer and the secretary constitute the executive committee.
- The executive committee may issue instructions to the public officer and the servants of the Association in matters of urgency connected with the management of the affairs of the Association during the period between meetings of the committee.
- The executive committee is to report on any instructions issued under subrule (2) to the next meeting of the committee.
30.
(2) The annual subscription may be altered by the members by special resolution.
(3) The annual subscription of a member is due and payable on or before the first day of the financial year of the Association.
31. The financial year of the Association is the period beginning on 1st July in one year and ending on the 30th June the next following year.
Notices
32. A notice may be served by or on behalf of the Association
on any member -
33.
(2) The expulsion of a member under subrule (1) does not take effect until whichever of the following is the later date:
(b) if the member exercises his right of' appeal under this rule, the conclusion of the special general meeting convened to hear the appeal.
(b) specifying the grounds for the expulsion; and
34.
(2) On receipt of a requisition -
(b) the committee is to cause a special general meeting of members to be held within 21 days after the date on which the requisition is received.
(b) the committee may place before the meeting details of the grounds of the expulsion and the committee's reasons for the expulsion; and
(c) the expelled member is to be given an opportunity to be heard; and
(d) the members present are to vote by secret ballot on the question whether the expulsion should be lifted or confirmed.
(b) the expelled member is entitled to continue as a member of the Association.
(b) the expelled member ceases to be a member of the Association.
35.
(2) This rule does not affect the operation of rule 34.
36.
(2) The seal of the Association is not to be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of the committee.
(3) The affixing of the seal is to be attested by the signatures of-
(b) one member of the committee and the public officer of the Association or any other person the committee may appoint for that purpose.
(5) The seal is to remain in the custody of the public officer.
Dissolution Clause
37.
If upon the winding-up or dissolution of this Association, there remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any property, the property shall not be paid to or distributed among its members, but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of this association, and whose rules shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income among its or their members, such institution or institutions to be eligible for tax deductibility of donations under sub-section 78 (4) or (5) in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and listed as a public benevolent institution as defined under the Act..
Subscribing Partners
38.
A subscribing partner is an interested person who financially subscribes to the Project Genesis newsletter and is available to all people regardless of sex, race or religion.