CONSTITUTION
NAME
The organization hereby constituted will be called Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club (registration no. 046-705-NPO), (hereafter referred to as the organization)
BODY CORPORATE
The organization shall:
Exist in its own right, separately from its members
Continue to exist even when its membership changes and there are different office bearers. Be able to own property and other
possessions
Be able to sue and be sued in its own name
AFFILIATION
Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club is a sister organization and an affiliate of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Agency (registration nr. 2007/019007/08). The Managing Director of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Agency is an ex-officio member of the Management Committee of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club. The financial reports of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club are not consolidated into the financial reports of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Agency. The services for the members of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club are sourced through the divisions of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Agency on an annual service fee basis. The annual service fee is negotiated between the Management Committee of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Club and the Board of Directors of Cometsa Friends & Supporters Agency. OBJECTIVES
The organization’s main objectives are to:
Deliver the services to the members
Develop a pool of talent among the members
Identify and promote the projects in which the members can participate
Recommend and support Corporate Social Investment programmes for corporate members
Create access to the international development programmes for the members
Create access to leadership development programmes for the members
Promote local and global languages and cultures among the members
Create access to individual capacity building programmes and initiatives for the members
Promotion of continuous learning culture among the members
Creation and preservation of positive legacy among the members
Organize networking functions for the members
Participate in the annual events of Cometsa organizations
Organize special offers for the members
Further and support the interests of Cometsa non-profit making development organizations
INCOME AND PROPERTY
The organization’s income is not distributable to the members or office bearers, except as reasonable compensation/refund for services rendered. The members and/or office bearers do not have rights to the organization’s property and/or other assets solely by virtue of their being members and/or office bearers. MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL MEETINGS
If a person wants to become a member of the organization, she or he will have to ask the organization’s management committee. Membership of the organization is open to any person who identifies with the vision, mission, objectives, activities, policies, procedures and principles of Cometsa organizations. Application for membership shall be in writing and a completed membership application form signed by the applicant shall be submitted to the management committee
The management committee shall have the sole discretion to accept or reject an application
Each member shall be bound by the constitution and resolutions of the organization
Where the management committee finds grounds to reject an application, such an application shall be referred to the general meeting where a final decision will be taken. The matter shall be settled by a simple majority. Members of the organization must attend its annual general meetings. At the annual general meeting members exercise their right to determine the policy of the organization. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
Individual: Such persons who, in the opinion of the management committee, qualify for membership as defined and who have agreed to be bound by the terms of the constitution and having been admitted as members and agree to pay such appropriate fee as shall be determined by the management committee. Associates/Corporate: Companies and institutions which, in the opinion of the management committee, actively support and identify with: the vision, mission, objectives, policies, procedures and principles of Cometsa organizations. They must have agreed to be bound by the constitution and to pay such fees as shall be determined by the management committee. An associate/corporate member shall be entitled to appoint a representative to attend, speak but not vote on its behalf at the members meetings of the organization. Honorary: These are such persons who, in recognition of their exceptional and distinguished services to the community, in the fields covered by Cometsa organizations, are elected honorary members by the management committee. Honorary members shall be entitled to attend and speak at the members meetings of the organization but will have no right to vote at such meetings. Honorary members shall not be obliged to pay any fee to the organization. ELECTIONS
A returning officer shall be elected by members of the organization to conduct elections. He/she shall, in turn, resign immediately after discharging such election duties. The election of a returning officer shall take place at all times when the management committee, sub-committee or any office bearer is to be elected. Every registered and paid-up member of the organization shall be eligible for election and/or re-election. Office bearers shall be elected at a properly constituted meeting
The election of office bearers shall be by ballot
The election procedure shall be as follows:
The number of nominees for each portfolio or vacancy to be filled shall be stipulated by the members before the returning officer receives nominations. Registered and paid-up members submit nomination by ballot to the returning officer
The nominees shall be seconded and their acceptance sought
Members are required to vote by ballot
Any member in arrears with any payment due to the organization shall be disqualified from voting, during the time such payment is in arrears. MANAGEMENT
A management committee will manage the organization. The management committee will be made up of not less than eleven members. They are the office bearers of the organization. Office bearers will serve for two years, but they can stand for re-election for another term in office after that. Depending on what kind of services they give to the organization, they can stand for re-election into office again and again. This is so long as their services are needed and they are ready to give their services. Vacancies shall be filled by either co-option or by election
If a member of the management committee does not attend three management committee meetings in a row, without having applied for and obtaining leave of absence from the management committee, then the management committee will find a new member to take that person’s place. The management committee will meet at least once a quarter. More than half of members need to be at the meeting to make decisions that are allowed to be carried forward. Minutes will be taken at every meeting to record the management committee’s decisions. The minutes of each meeting will be given to management committee members at least two weeks before the next meeting. The minutes shall be confirmed as a true record of proceedings, by the next meeting of the management committee, and shall thereafter be signed by the chairperson
Sub-committees shall be appointed by the management committee or elected at a general meeting of the organization to handle tasks assigned to them and their term of office shall be fixed at such appointment or election, provided such period does not exceed the term of office for the management committee. The decisions that sub-committees take must be given to the management committee. The management committee must decide whether to agree to them or not at its next meeting. This meeting should take place soon after the sub-committee’s meeting. By agreeing to decisions the management committee ratifies them. There must be at least three people on a sub-committee. The sub-committee must report back to the management committee on its activities. It should do this regularly
All members of the organization have to abide by decisions that are taken by the management committee. POWERS OF THE ORGANIZATION
The management committee may take on the power and authority that it believes it needs to be able to achieve the objectives that are stated in point number 2 of this constitution. Its activities must abide by the law. The management committee has the power and authority to raise funds or to invite and receive contributions. The management committee does, however, have the power to buy, hire or exchange for any property that it needs to achieve its objectives. The management committee has the right to make by-laws for proper management, including procedure for application, approval and termination of membership. The organization will decide on the powers and functions of office bearers
