Buddhist Society

As amended at the BSWA AGM March 2009.  Effective from 31 March 2009.

1. Name

The name of the Society shall be:

THE BUDDHIST SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (INCORPORATED).

2. Aims and Objectives

(i) To encourage the teaching, practice and realisation of Buddhist Principles, with a special emphasis on morality, meditation, wisdom and compassion, with special emphasis on the Theravada tradition; and to establish and maintain facilities to make available to the general public these teachings and practices.

(ii) To establish suitable facilities for and to support the invited Sangha (Buddhist Monk(s) and Nun(s)) so they may act as spiritual guides and minister for the well being of the Buddhist community as a whole.

(iii) To establish and maintain, for propagation of the teachings of the Buddha:

(a) A permanent Buddhist centre or centres in the Perth metropolitan area and in such other places as the Society may determine; and

(b) A forest monastery or forest monasteries in the tradition of the Vinaya (the code of discipline of Buddhist Monks and Nuns) and subject to the guidelines and limitations as laid out in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pali Canon under the sections dealing with Sangha property, such monastery or monasteries to be under the control of the resident Sangha in all aspects.

(iv) To foster association with Buddhist Societies and organisations with similar aims and objectives as the Society and to show tolerance to all schools of Buddhist thought.

3. Powers

In furtherance of the said objects, but not otherwise, the Society shall have power:-

(i) To establish in the State of Western Australia centres, schools, colleges, monasteries and other institutions (including residential facilities) for the encouragement of the said objects;

(ii) To establish and maintain public funds, each of which fund shall be for the exclusive purpose of providing money for the acquisition, construction and maintenance of buildings to be used as a school or college (within the meaning of Section 78 (1) (a) (xv) of the Income Tax Assessment Act, 1936 and amendments) by the Society without profit or gain for the furtherance of the said objects;

(iii) To invite Buddhist Monks and Nuns to reside in any institution of the Society or elsewhere in Western Australia for periods agreeable to the Society and any such Monks or Nuns;

(iv) To provide all necessary material support, protection and requisites (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, food, shelter, robes and medicine) for any Buddhist Monks and Nuns invited by the Society whilst they are in Western Australia;

(v) To pay all travel expenses to Western Australia for any Buddhist Monks or Nuns invited by the Society and for return to their normal place of residence;

(vi) To provide libraries and facilities for writing, translating, printing, publishing, distributing and selling such books and pamphlets as will serve to advance the said objects;

(vii) To accept donations (whether periodical or otherwise) from such persons as the Society shall in its discretion think fit or to refuse to accept any donation;

(viii) To issue appeals for donations and newsletters and periodical reports on the work of the Society;

(ix) To accept donations for any specific fund established pursuant to this Constitution and on any special trusts that further the said objects but so that every donation so accepted shall be held subject to the terms and conditions of the gift;

(x) Subject to the requirements of clause 3 (xi), to mortgage, sell, exchange, let, invest, vary or otherwise dispose of, or deal with, the property (real and personal) of the Society or any part thereof and to give a good receipt for any money received by the Society ;

(xi) Prior to executing any decision to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any real estate belonging to the Society or any part thereof, the Committee shall have the decision ratified, as a special resolution, at a General Meeting;

(xii) To invest any monies of the Society for the time being not required for the objects aforesaid in any investment hereinafter authorized;

(xiii) To accumulate the income of the money of the Society or any part thereof for the time being not required for the objects aforesaid for so long as the law may allow and invest the same in any investment hereinafter authorized;

(xiv) To borrow money or other property on such terms as to interest repayments and otherwise as the Society thinks fit and whether upon the security of the property of the Society or part thereof or upon personal security only and to use such money as borrowed for any purpose for which the property of the Society may be used;

(xv) To take or rent, license, hire or otherwise temporarily acquire the use of any property for such period and at such rent or cost and on such terms and conditions as the Society may think fit;

(xvi) To insure the property of the Society or any part thereof and all persons employed by or engaged in work associated with the Society against such risks and for such amounts as they may think fit;

(xvii) To purchase any land to be used for the purpose of the said objects and to improve any land which may belong to the Society and to erect, enlarge, alter improve, rebuild and repair any buildings thereon and generally to manage, maintain and deal with such land and the layout and arrangement thereof and buildings and to decorate, furnish and fit out such buildings, and to insure the same against such risks and for such amount as the Society may think fit;

(xviii) To employ and pay any agent or servant or contractor to transact all or any business of whatever nature required to be done in pursuance of the said objects including the payment and receipt of money and the Society shall pay all charges and expenses so incurred and shall not be responsible for the defaults of any such agent or servant or any loss occasioned by his employment if such employment shall have been in good faith;

(xix) To open and maintain in the name of the Society or otherwise a bank account or bank accounts at any bank or banks and to pay any part of the funds of the Society to the credit of any such account or accounts PROVIDED THAT a separate account shall be operated for each specific fund or special trust established pursuant to this Constitution;

(xx) To take such legal or other proceedings and steps for the recovery or protection of the property of the Society or any part thereof and to adjust, settle, compromise or refer to arbitration any claims, demands and proceedings whatsoever;

(xxi) To enter into any guarantee or indemnity;

(xxii) To hold or invest in any property hereby authorized or to do any act or thing hereby authorized in the name of the Society or in the name of any person in trust for the Society or otherwise;

(xxiii) To be and remain incorporated pursuant to Associations Incorporation Act, 1895;

(xxiv) To do all such acts or things as are in the opinion of the Society necessary for the attainment of the said objects.

4. Investment

Money to be invested pursuant to this Constitution:-

(i) Being money held in the funds to be established pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii) of Clause 3 may be invested in the manner in which Trustees are from time to time permitted to invest funds pursuant to the Trustees Act, 1962 as amended or any statutory modification or re-enactment for the time being in force; and

(ii) Being other money held pursuant to this Constitution may be applied or invested in the purchase or at interest on the security of such stocks, funds, securities or other investments or property of whatever nature and wheresoever situate (including the purchase of any Unit Trusts or of any freehold or leasehold property in Australia or elsewhere) and whether involving liability or not and whether income producing or not, as the Society in its absolute discretion thinks fit.

5. Special Powers

The Society may by special resolution:-

(i) make, alter or modify such regulations, schemes and rules (not inconsistent with the terms of this Constitution) for carrying out the said objects and management of the affairs of the Society and the management of the property of the Society as the Society shall think fit;

(ii) confer upon the Society or the Committee such additional powers, authorities and discretionary powers as are in furtherance of and not inconsistent with the said objects as the Society may think fit.

5A. Property Held on Trust for the Sangha of the Present and Future

Notwithstanding the foregoing in all matters arising concerning monastery property (real and personal) given or acquired for the use of the monastery(ies) or resident Sangha(s) the consent of the Spiritual Director as defined in Clause 8 shall be required before any resolution of the Society may be acted upon.

6. Class of Membership

The following classes of membership of the Society shall be
available:-

(i) Honorary Membership. Honorary Membership may be conferred at a general meeting of the Society on visiting Buddhist Monks or Nuns or any other persons who have rendered outstanding services to the cause of Buddhism. Honorary Membership may be conferred for life or a limited period of time as decided by the Society. Any Monk or Nun admitted to Honorary Membership only for so long as he or she remains a member of the Sangha and any Monk or Nun who is an Honorary Member shall be entitled to participate in meetings of the Committee or the Society when he or she think it desirable, but shall have no voting rights.

(ii) Full Membership. Full Membership shall be available to those persons who take refuge in the Buddha (the Teacher), the Dhamma (His teachings) and the Sangha (Buddhist Monks and Nuns and those who have realised His teachings) and who endeavour to undertake the five precepts of a Buddhist lay person.

(iii) Associate Membership. Associate Membership shall be available to those persons not fulfilling the requirements of Full Membership but who, in the opinion of the Committee, are supportive of the aims and objectives of the Society. Associate Members shall have no voting rights and shall not be eligible to be office bearers or Committee members of the Society.

7. Applications For and Consequences Of Membership

(i) Applications for Full or Associate Membership shall be on such forms as shall be prescribed by the Society from time to time and shall be accompanied by such payment as the Society may from time to time direct.

(ii) All applications for Membership shall be considered by the Committee.

(iii) When the Committee has received and considered an application or applications for membership, if the Committee has resolved to accept an applicant for Full or Associate Membership or a proposed Honorary Member for admission, then from the time of such resolution such applicant or Honorary Members may exercise all the rights and privileges of the appropriate class of Membership.

(iv) If any application for membership is rejected the amount paid with the application shall be refunded to the applicant.

(v) The Constitution and any amendments thereto and any rules or regulations made there under from time to time in force shall be binding on all members.

(vi) Membership dues for Full and Associate Members shall be payable annually.

7A. Cessation of Membership

(i) If the member resigns by notice in writing to the Society; or

(ii) If a person allows Membership dues to be unpaid for a period exceeding twelve months that person shall in consequence be deemed to have ceased to be a member.

(iii) If a membership is suspended by a resolution of the Committee. Then this suspension will remain in force until the next General Meeting at which time the membership shall be reinstated or terminated by a resolution.

The Committee can take this action if it considers that the continuing membership of a member is detrimental to the Aims and Objectives, or the well-being and interests of the BSWA.

8. The Sangha

(i) Any monk or nun invited by the Society in the terms of Clause 3(iii) shall be deemed to be resident Sangha for the duration of their residence.

(ii) Any monk or nun ordained in a monastery as defined in Clause 2(iii)(b) shall be deemed to be a resident monk or nun for so long as he or she remains a member of the Sangha living in such a monastery.

(iii) Each monastery set up as defined in Clause 2(iii)(b) shall have an Abbot named by the Society in the following manner.

(iv) The Abbot shall be selected by the resident Sangha by unanimous agreement in keeping with the Sangha tradition.

(v) On receipt of information from the Sangha of a monastery of such selection, the Executive Committee shall invite the selected member of the Sangha to accept the position of Abbot. In the event that he or she should accept the position that Abbot shall retain the position for life or until the resident Sangha at the particular monastery withdraw recognition of that Abbot or the Abbot resigns from his or her position.

(vi) In the event that a number of monasteries are established in Western Australia and each monastery has an Abbot as defined in Clause (8)(iv) and (v) above the Abbots shall select a representative Abbot and advise the Executive Committee accordingly.

(vii) In the event that there is only one monastery established in accordance with Clause 2 (iii) (b) the Abbot of that Monastery shall be the Representative Abbot.

(viii) The Executive Committee shall invite the Representative Abbot to accept the position of Spiritual Director of the Society, and he/she will henceforth be known as the Spiritual Director. In the event that he/she accepts the position he/she shall retain that position for life or until such time as the Abbots withdraw recognition of him/her as Representative Abbot or the Representative Abbot resigns from his or her position.

(ix) In the event that there are separate monasteries for male and female Sangha, the selection of Spiritual Director shall be in accordance with Clause 8(vi) above. if a male Spiritual Director is selected, the female Abbots shall select an Abbot to represent the female Sangha in the Executive committee. The Executive committee shall invite the Representative Abbot to accept the position of Assistant Spiritual Director of the Society,

(x) An Abbot of a monastery shall by virtue of his/her position become an Honorary Member of the Society.

(xi) The Spiritual Director and Assistant Spiritual Director shall consult the Sangha, represent the views of the Sangha and promote the interests of the Sangha and the Buddhist Community as a whole.

(xii) The Spiritual Director and Assistant Spiritual Director may if necessary appoint another member of the Sangha to act in his place; any such appointment may be either generally or for a specific occasion and may be revoked and a further appointment made by them.

9. Management

The business and operations of the Society shall be managed and controlled by an Executive Committee (herein referred to as "the Committee") and for that purpose the Committee shall (subject to any restrictions imposed by any Act or by this Constitution), have and may exercise the powers of the Society as if they had been expressly conferred on the Committee by a general meeting of the Society.

10. Committee

The Committee shall consist of:
(i) The Spiritual Director of the Society.
(ii) The Assistant Spiritual Director
(iii) The President of the Society;
(iv) The Vice-President of the Society;
(v) The Honorary Secretary of the Society;
(vi) The Honorary Treasurer of the Society;
(vii) The Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Society.
(viii) The Honorary Assistant Treasurer of the Society.
(ix) Six other elected persons who are Full or Honorary Members of
the Society.

The persons from time to time occupying the offices referred to paragraphs (i) to (vi) of this Clause shall be the office bearers of the Society.

11. Elections

(i) Nominations for election of Committee Members shall be called not less than THREE (3) weeks before the date upon which such nominations are to close as hereinafter provided.

(ii) A notice published in any journal, paper or other publication of the Society which is circulated to all of its members calling for such nominations shall be sufficient compliance with the last preceding rule.

(iii) Should there be no such journal, paper or other publication or should the Committee so determine then it shall be sufficient that a similar notice to that referred to in the last preceding paragraph be published on not less than ONE (1) occasion in the Public Notices column of a daily newspaper circulating in this State.

(iv) Before being eligible for nomination for election to the Committee, a person must have been a member for the Society for a period of at least two years prior to the date of the election concerned; except that the Committee may waive part or all of this period in what it determines are exceptional circumstances.

(v) Nominations shall be made in writing and shall contain the name of the Member nominated who shall endorse thereon or append thereto his or her written consent to being so nominated and such nomination shall be seconded. The nomination shall be signed by the nominator and by the seconder who must be Full or Honorary Members of the Society eligible to vote. A person may nominate for more than one office but may be elected to one office only. If elected to any one office, nomination for any other office shall be null and void.

(vi) All nominations shall be delivered to the Returning Officer or shall be forwarded to the Returning Officer by post to reach the Returning Officer prior to the close of nominations, which shall close at 5.00 p.m. on the Friday 4 weeks before the Annual General Meeting.

(vii) The Honorary Secretary for the time being of the Society shall be the returning officer PROVIDED THAT if for any reason the Honorary Secretary is unable to act or having commenced to act in respect to any election is unable to continue to so act, the Committee shall appoint a Member who is not a Committee Member, a candidate or relative or agent of a candidate to be the returning officer.

(viii) If a nomination for the position of President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer is received from a member who has held the same position for 3 consecutive years in the immediate past, this nomination must be ratified by the Annual General Meeting prior to an election being held for this position or the person is declared elected by the returning officer in accordance with clause 11(ix).

(ix) If the number of nominations for any office does not exceed the number required to be elected, the nominee so nominated shall at the next following annual general meeting be declared elected by the returning officer, but if the number of nominations shall exceed the number required a ballot shall be taken which shall be conducted in the following manner:-

(a) The returning officer shall cause a list of the candidates in alphabetical order for each office to be forwarded to all members entitled to vote with the notice of the annual general meeting.

(b) At the annual general meeting polls shall be held in order for the positions of President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and other elected members of the Committee.

(c) All voting shall be on a "first past the post" system. In the case of an equality of votes for any candidates, the candidate or candidates to be elected shall be determined by a lot to be drawn by the returning officer. The candidates or their representatives shall be entitled to be present if they so desire.

(x) Voting shall not be compulsory.

(xi) A Member entitled to vote may in writing appoint a different Member as a proxy to vote and the proxy shall deliver the appointment to the returning officer before the election commences.

(xii) The failure of the returning officer to despatch a list of candidates to any Member entitled to vote or the non-receipt of the same by any such Member, or the loss in the course of post, non-delivery or non-receipt of any list or nomination by the returning officer for any cause whatsoever, shall not invalidate any election.

(xiii) Any casual vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by election held at the next practicable general meeting of the Society, such election to be held after calling for nominations and (if necessary) forwarding of a list of candidates as aforesaid and any person elected to a casual vacancy shall stand for re-election at the next annual general meeting. In the event of the resignation, removal, death or temporary absence of the President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer of the Society, the Committee may appoint one of its members to fill the office in an acting capacity until the return or election of a person in the office.

12. Proceedings of the Committee

(i) The Committee shall meet together for the dispatch of business at such times as it deems advisable but not less frequently than THREE (3) times each year.

(ii) The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be FIVE (5), ONE (1) of whom shall be an office bearer and ONE (1) of whom shall be the Spiritual Director or Assistant Spiritual Director.

(iii) The Committee shall have the right to co-opt Members as and where necessary PROVIDED THAT the number of co-opted Members shall not exceed FOUR (4) and co- opted Committee Members shall have no voting rights on the Committee.

(iv) The Committee shall cause minutes of all meetings to be made and books provided for the purpose which shall include:-

(a) the names of the Committee present at each meeting of the Committee;

(b) all resolutions and records of proceedings of all such meetings.

Minutes of each meeting shall be confirmed at the next succeeding meeting and shall be signed by the Chairman of such meeting immediately after such confirmation.

(v) Questions arising at any meeting of the Committee shall as far as possible be resolved by consensus of opinion of all members present including the Spiritual Director and the Assistant Spiritual Director. If no consensus of opinion is reached, questions shall be resolved by a majority of the members present (other than the Spiritual Director and the Assistant Spiritual Director who shall have no vote)and in the case of equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. No resolution of the Committee shall be effective unless it is agreed to by the Spiritual Director. In the event that the Spiritual Director does not agree to a resolution of the Committee and a majority of the Committee wishes to proceed with the adoption of the resolution, the Committee may call a Special General Meeting as defined in Clause 14(ii) to determine the resolution or they may refer the resolution to a General Meeting for determination. If the resolution is passed at either a Special General Meeting or a General Meeting the Committee has authority to implement the resolution.

(vi) The Committee may delegate any of its powers to such sub-committees consisting of such members of the Committee as the Committee thinks fit.

(vii) Any sub-committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any conditions that may be imposed on it by the Committee. Every sub-committee shall elect a Chairman of its meetings. Sub-committees shall meet for the purposes for which they are appointed at such times and places as the Chairman thereof may consider necessary.

(viii) The President shall in all matters of urgency be entitled to act after consultation with the Spiritual Director but any action he shall take shall be subject to ratification by the Committee at its next meeting.

(ix) All cheques, bills of exchange or promissory notes drawn by the Society may be signed by any TWO (2) of the President, the Vice-President, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer.

(x) The President of the Society, or in the absence of the President, the Vice-President, shall preside as Chairman at every meeting of the Committee PROVIDED THAT if neither the President nor the Vice-President shall be present, the members of the Committee present shall choose one (1) of its members to act as Chairman for the meeting.

13. Seal

The Society shall have a common seal which shall be a circular device with the name of the Society engraved in legible characters thereon. The seal shall be kept in the custody of the Honorary Secretary or one of the other office bearers. The seal shall be affixed to any document only under the authority of a resolution of the Committee. The affixing of the Seal shall be witnessed by the seal holder at the time and shall be countersigned by any other office bearer of the Society.

14. Meetings

(i) The general meeting (to be known as "the Annual General Meeting") of the Society shall be held each year during the month of February or March.

(ii) Other general meetings of the Society (to be called "Special General Meetings") may be convened whenever the Committee thinks it fit so to do.

(iii) The Committee shall, on the requisition of not less than ONE QUARTER (1/4) of the Full Members or TEN (10) Full Members, whichever is the less, or of the Spiritual Director, convene a Special General Meeting.

(iv) A requisition for a Special General Meeting shall state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitioner and deposited with the Honorary Secretary of the Society. It may consist of several documents in the like form, provided each document is signed by one or more requisitioners.

(v) If the Committee does not proceed within TWENTY EIGHT (28) days after receiving a requisition for a Special General Meeting to call such a meeting, the requisitioners or any of them may convene the meeting provided it is held not less than THREE (3) months from the date of the deposit of the requisition.

(vi) Any Special General Meeting convened by requisitioners as herein before provided shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which Special General Meetings are convened by the Committee and all reasonable expenses incurred in so convening the meeting shall be refunded by the Society to the requisitioners or the persons who incurred it provided that, save as herein otherwise provided, a quorum is present at the meeting when it is held. Money so refunded shall be made good to the Society by the Committee Members who were in default in convening the meeting in accordance with the requisition.

(vii) FOURTEEN (14) days notice at least, specifying the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the nature of the business including particularly special business shall be given in the manner hereinafter provided of any general meeting (whether Annual or Special).

(viii) Notice of a general meeting shall be sufficiently given if:

(a) It is published in any journal, paper or other publication of the Society which is circulated to its members; or

(b) If there is no such journal, paper or other publication if it is published in the Public Notices of a daily newspaper circulating the State on not less than ONE (1) occasion.

(ix) All business shall be deemed "special" that is transacted at a Special General Meeting and all business that is transacted at an Annual General Meeting shall also be deemed "special" except that specially referred to hereinafter as being Full business to be conducted at an Annual General Meeting.

(x) No business shall be transacted by any Special General Meeting other than that for which the meeting was called, but the meeting may resolve to discuss any other such business but no vote shall be taken with respect to any such other business at the meeting.

(xi) Except as hereinafter provided no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. A meeting having duly commenced shall not proceed with any item of business if a quorum is not present. A quorum shall be THIRTY (30) Members being Full or Honorary Members or ONE QUARTER (1/4) of the total number of Full Members, whichever is the less. Full Members not normally resident in the Perth metropolitan area shall not be included in the total number of Full Members for the purpose of calculation of this quorum.

(xii) If within THIRTY (30) minutes of the time appointed for the commencement of a general meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall:-

(a) If the meeting is an Annual General Meeting or a meeting convened by the Committee, stand adjourned for SEVEN (7) days;

(b) If the meeting has been convened by requisitionists, as hereinbefore provided, it shall be deemed to have lapsed and shall accordingly be cancelled.

(xiii) If at a meeting reconvened after standing adjourned, as hereinbefore provided, a quorum is not present at the time fixed for the meeting to be so held, those Members present shall form a quorum and shall be entitled to proceed with the business of the meeting.

(xiv) The President of the Society, or in the absence of the President, the Vice-President, shall preside as Chairman at every general meeting of the Society PROVIDED THAT if neither the President nor Vice- President shall be present, the Members present shall choose ONE (1) of the Committee to act as Chairman for the meeting.

(xv) The Chairman of the meeting may, with consent of the meeting and shall if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

(xvi) It shall not be necessary for any notice to be given of the date, time or place of the adjourned meeting.

(xvii) Every Full and Honorary Member shall be entitled to vote and shall have ONE (1) vote only and may vote in person or by proxy appointed in writing.

(xviii) Every question for decision at a general meeting shall, except in the case of special resolutions, be determined by a simple majority of Members present in person thereat or by proxy and unless a poll is (before or after the declaration of the result of a show of hands) demanded by at least FIVE (5) Members, entitled to vote, the question shall be determined on a show of hands. A declaration by the Chairman of the meeting that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried either unanimously or by a particular majority or has been lost shall be prima facie evidence of that fact. A special resolution shall require a THREE FOURTHS (3/4) majority of members entitled to vote who are voting in person or by proxy.

(xix) If a poll is demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the Chairman of the meeting directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the result of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

(xx) In case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the Chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place, or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

(xxi) A poll demanded on the election of a Chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith.

(xxii) A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at a time at which the Chairman of the meeting shall direct.

(xxiii) The following standing orders shall be observed at the general meeting of the Society (subject to a meeting being empowered to suspend standing orders if it shall so desire):-

(a) The mover of a proposition shall speak for not more than FIFTEEN (15) minutes and subsequent speakers shall be allowed TEN (10) minutes. The mover shall be entitled to speak in reply for FIVE (5) minutes, provided however that the Chairman of the meeting may, with the approval of the meeting, extend the time for any speaker;

(b) Where an amendment is proposed upon an original proposition, no second amendment shall be taken under consideration until the first amendment shall have been disposed of, but notice may be given of intention to move a further amendment;

(c) If an amendment is carried, it shall displace the original proposition and become itself a proposition to which any further amendment may be moved;

(d) If an amendment is negatived, a further amendment, of which notice of intention to move to the original proposition had been given, shall be considered. Only ONE (1) amendment may be submitted to the meeting for discussion at one time;

(e) The mover of an amendment shall not have any right of reply;

(f) Immediately after the mover of every original proposition has replied, should he exercise his rights so to do, the question shall be put;

(g) Except as hereinbefore provided, no speaker shall speak more than once on the same question unless permission so to do shall be given by the Chairman or unless the speaker is desirous of making an explanation or calling attention to a point of order;

(h) The mover of a proposition or of an amendment shall reduce the same forthwith to writing if requested by the Chairman;

(i) Any discussion may be terminated by a resolution "that the question be now put". If such a resolution is moved and seconded it shall be put without debate;

(j) Notwithstanding the foregoing, before any question is put, the Spiritual Director shall be invited to address the meeting and express his views on the proposed resolution;

(k) The Chairman may ask any person present at a meeting whose conduct at the meeting is unsatisfactory, to leave the meeting.

(xxiv) At an Annual General Meeting the order of business shall be (subject to a meeting empowered to vary the order):-

(a) Opening of meeting; Homage to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, the taking of refuge in the Five Precepts and a short meditation.
(b) Apologies for non-attendance;
(c) Confirmation of the minutes of the last preceding Annual General Meeting and of any Special General Meeting held since that meeting;
(d) Address by the Spiritual Director.
(e) Address by the Assistant Spiritual Director.
(f) Presentation of the report of the Committee and discussion and adoption thereof;
(g) Presentation of the report of the Honorary Treasurer and of the Society's audited financial statements and balance sheet and the auditor's report and consideration and adoption of the same;
(h) Consideration of any report to be made by the Honorary Secretary:
(i) Consideration of special business including the fixing of annual membership fees;
(j) Appointment of special Committees (if any);
(k) Declaration of results of election of office bearers and Committee Members;
(l) Any necessary elections of office bearers and Committee Members;
(m) Consideration of questions of which due notice has been given in writing to the Honorary Secretary, not less than SEVEN (7) days prior to the date of the meeting;
(n) Questions without notice. The Chairman in his absolute discretion may allow questions to be asked of the Committee or of Members of the Committee, provided however that there shall be no compulsion on the Committee or any such Member to answer any such question at that meeting and provided further that the Chairman may at any time refuse to accept any further questions and may reject any question;
(o) General business. Under this heading, Members may move and the meeting may pass resolutions of which notice has not previously been given, but no resolution so passed shall be or be deemed to be anything other than a recommendation to the Committee notwithstanding that it may contain or may purport to contain a direction or directions to the Committee. The Committee shall be obliged to consider any such resolution but shall be not obliged to take any action in respect thereof unless the same imposes any restrictions on the powers of the Committee;
(p) Closure.

(xxv) Non-Members of the Society may, at the discretion of the Chairman, be permitted to attend any general meeting of the Society.

(xxvi) The Secretary shall keep minutes of all general meetings of the Society and books provided for the purpose shall include:

(a) The number of members present at the commence of each meeting;

(b) All resolutions and records of proceedings of each meeting. Minutes of each general meeting shall be confirmed at the next general meeting and shall be signed by the Chairman of such meeting immediately after confirmation.

15. Audit

The following provisions shall apply in respect of the Society's accounts:-

(i) The Treasurer shall keep records of all financial transactions of the Society and shall present annually a report and an audited financial statement and balance sheet at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.

(ii) Not less than FOURTEEN (l4) days before each Annual General Meeting, the accounts of the Society shall be duly audited;

(iii) The accounts of the Society shall also be audited at such other time or times during each financial year as the Committee shall in its absolute discretion decide;

(iv) The Committee shall appoint an auditor who shall, unless disqualified from consenting to be appointed or acting as the auditor of the Society or of preparing any report, hold office until he resigns or is removed in the same manner as a Member of the Society may be removed or until he becomes ineligible to act as auditor;

(v) A resignation of an auditor shall be submitted to the Committee in writing.

16. Financial Year

The financial year of the Society shall end on the 31st day of December in each year.

17. Special Funds

No part of the property of the Society or any specific fund or special trust fund established or maintained pursuant to the Constitution or the income thereof shall be applied for any purpose that it is not a purpose for which the said fund was established, and if any provision of this Constitution has meaning or is capable of being construed to authorise the Society to utilise the funds of
the Society or the income thereof or any specific fund or special trust fund or the income thereof for any purpose other than as specifically permitted by the particular fund, such powers and provisions herein contained shall be treated as limited by this Clause to prohibit any utilisation of the funds of the Society or the income thereof or any specific fund for any purpose that is not permitted by the particular trust or fund in question.

18. Wind Up

18.1 The Society may be wound up voluntarily if the association is solvent and resolves by special resolution that it be wound up voluntarily, and this is passed by a majority of not less than three fourths of the members of the society who are entitled under the rules of the society to vote, at a general meeting.
18.2 If upon the winding up of the society there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid or distributed amongst the members or former members, but shall be given or transferred
i. to another association incorporated under the Act which has similar objects; or
ii. for charitable purposes which association or purposes, as the case requires, shall be determined by resolution of the members.

19. Amendment

The Society may by special resolution amend any of the objects, powers or other provisions contained in this Constitution provided this is passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the members of the society who are entitled under the rules of the society to vote, at a general meeting.

(Document No. W00682027, lodged at the Ministry of Fair Trading, on 24 February 1999, Lodgement Unit No: 14609199/01)