The constitution - SARAA** Back to SARAA homepage
SOUTH AFRICAN RHEUMATISM AND ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATION 28/02/2001
1. Name The name of the Association shall be the South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association (Hereafter referred to as the Association)
2.Objectives of the Association
2.1 To advance the Science and Practice of Rheumatology by promotion of research, education and awareness in the rheumatic diseases.
2.2 To promote relationships between the Association and other groups / organisations with an interest in the Rheumatic diseases. .
2.3 To promote the professional and legitimate interests of the Association and its members.
2.4 To promote acceptable standards for training and professional practice of Rheumatology, and where necessary advise regarding the registrability of individuals and training units.
3. Membership
3.1 Full Membership is available to any medical practitioner registered with the HPCSA. Voting rights at general meetings are available to full members.
3.2 Associate membership is open to any scientist or supplementary health professional with an interest in Rheumatology. Associate members shall not have voting rights.
3.3 Honorary membership may be offered by the Executive Committee (hereafter referred to as Exco) to any person of distinction including lay persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the objectives of the Association. Honorary members shall not have voting rights. 3.4 Applications for membership shall be subject to approval by Exco.
4.Termination of Membership Membership shall be terminated:
4.1 By resignation in writing to the secretariat
4.2 By failure to pay subscriptions within three months of due date.
4.3 By expulsion / suspension: (i)A member shall automatically be suspended if his / her name is struck from the HPCSA register. (ii)A member may be suspended by a unanimous decision of the Exco for conduct unbecoming or contrary to the objectives of the society. The member shall have the right to appeal to the SARAA Council (hereafter referred to as "the Council")
5. Executive Committee
5.1The governing body of the Association shall be the Executive Committee (Exco).The Exco shall consist of the President, Honorary Secretary-Treasurer, immediate past President, and at least two other members including an Executive Secretary appointed by the President. The latter two members shall have a term of office of two years.
5.2 The President shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5.3 Medical practitioners registered with the HPCSA with a special interest in Rheumatology are eligible to stand for election or appointment onto Exco.
5.4 The Honorary Secretary - Treasurer shall call for postal nominations for the President at least two months before an Annual General Meeting at which elections are to take place. Each nomination must be signed by the Nominee as well as the Proposer and Seconder, both of whom must be full members of the Association.
5.4 The Exco shall control all the affairs of the Association, its funds and its assets.
5.5 The term of office of the Exco shall be two years. Elections for a new Exco shall therefore take place at every alternate Annual General Meeting.
5.6 At least 50% of the members of the Exco shall constitute a quorum without which a meeting shall be adjourned by the members present. 5.7 Voting on Exco shall be by ordinary majority.
5.8 Meetings of Exco shall be called at the discretion of the President; a minimum of 4 meetings per annum shall be held.
5.9 In the event of an office bearer of Exco being unable to complete their term of office, Exco shall be empowered to appoint a successor to hold office until the next AGM.
6 Powers and duties of the President. The President shall
6.1 preside as chairman at meetings of Council, Exco, and general meetings of members of the Association.
6.2 have a casting vote.
6.3 in general carry out those tasks entrusted to him-her by Council, Exco or a meeting of members.
6.4 Should the President be unable to preside at such meetings, he / she shall appoint a deputy or shall call upon Council to appoint a deputy.
7. Powers and duties of the Honorary Secretary / Treasurer The Honorary Secretary / Treasurer shall
7.1 arrange for the collection of annual membership fees
7.2 see to the settlement of accounts of the Association.
7.3 keep accurate books.
7.4 draw up the financial statements and arrange for the auditing thereof by a duly qualified accounting officer, and submit it to the members for approval on an annual basis. The Association's financial year shall be from 1 May to 30 April and the annual financial statements shall be finalised not later than three months after the end of the financial year.
7.5 send out agendas and keep minutes of general meetings of members and of Council.
7.6 keep a proper register of all members of the Association.
7.7carry out those tasks entrusted him / her by the President or Exco.
8. The secretariat
8.1 The Association shall have a permanent address. From this address all functions of the Honorary Secretary - Treasurer shall be carried out.
8.2 The Secretariat shall consist of the Honorary Secretary - Treasurer and any other secretarial assistance that Exco may deem necessary.
8.3 The Honorary Secretary -Treasurer and permanent address of the association may only be changed by a majority vote at an AGM.
8.4 The President may appoint an Executive Secretary to Exco.
9. Regional Branches
9.1 The Association shall encourage branches to be established in the major centres of the country.
9.2 Each branch shall be controlled by a Regional Committee consisting of a Chairman, Honorary Secretary - Treasurer and at least 1 other member.
9.3 The Chairman of the Regional Committee shall report to Council. 9.4 The Regional Committee shall be responsible for furthering the objectives of the Association at a local level.
10. Subcommittees
10.1 Exco shall have the power to establish Subcommittees or Standing Committees as needed. These shall be formed for the purpose of furthering specific objects of the Association.
10.2.They shall consist of a chairperson and at least 3 other members.
10.3.The Chairpersons of these committees shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting or co - opted by Exco until ratified at the next Annual General Meeting.
10.4 A Standing Committee on Education and Training, if formed, shall comprise of the academic heads of the Rheumatology training units throughout the country. This committee shall make recommendations on matters pertaining to curriculae, examinations and accreditation of undergraduate and postgraduate training in Rheumatology.
11. Meetings of the Association
11.1 General meetings for the members of the Association shall held annually.
11.2 A quorum shall consist of fifteen percent of all members in good standing.
11.3 A special general meeting may be called by Exco or the President, or on the written request of at least five percent of the full membership in good standing.
11.4 Thirty days notice shall be given for a special general meeting.The request shall contain the objective for which the meeting is to be convened.
12. The congress of the Association
12.1 The congress of the Association shall be held annually or bianually at a venue which shall be decided by simple majority vote at the AGM.
12.2 A Congress Convener shall be elected at the AGM and shall be responsible for the formation of a congress committee which shall comprise of a minimum of five members resident in the host region. Exco shall be informed of the members of this committee; all minutes of the Congress Committee meetings shall be circulated to Exco.
12.3 A representative of the South African Health Professionals in Rheumatology (SAHPR) shall be co - opted onto the Congress Committee wherever possible.
13.Subscriptions An annual subscription, determined by Exco, shall be payable by all members of the Association. The annual subscription for the different categories of membership shall be determined by Exco. The membership fees shall be payable by the 1st May each year.
14. Amendments to the Constitution
14.1 The constitution may be amended only upon a decision supported by two thirds of the members of the Association present taken by vote at an annual general meeting or special general meeting called by Exco.
14.2 Written notice of the motion to amend the constitution shall have been delivered to all members of the association at least 90days prior to the meeting
14.3 Written proxy votes will be accepted at this meeting.
15 Dissolution
15.1 The Association may be dissolved by way of a two thirds majority vote taken at a special general meeting as defined in 12.3.
15.2 In the event of dissolution of the Association, the remaining assets, after all debts have been paid, shall be transferred to an Institution or body, similar in its aims to those of SARAA, nominated by majority vote of the remaining members of the Association.
16. SARAA Council
16.1 The Council shall consist of the following persons: the President, Honorary Secretary Treasurer, and 2 members from each of the three geographic regions (the Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu - Natal incorporating Bloemfontein).
16.2 There shall be representation from both the State and Private sectors; should either sector fail to gain representation by election the President shall nominate a representative from that sector.
16.3 The term of office of the Council shall be four years. Office bearers may stand for election as President during this time.
16.4 Nominations for the Council shall be called for 60 days prior to every fourth AGM and a postal ballot shall be conducted to coincide with the AGM.
16.5 The Council shall meet at least annually or more frequently if called upon by the President.
16.6. The Council shall decide on matters which in the opinion of Exco or the President require wider consultation. 7. A quorum shall consist of fifty percent of the members of the Council, without which the meeting shall be adjourned by those present. 8. A full member of the Association whose membership has been suspended by the Exco has the right to appeal to the Council.
**Please note that this constitution is NOT the final edited document but the document presented at the annual AGM and was subject to a final editing process. The final edited version is currently in final legal editing phase and will be posted as soon as it becomes available