Royal New Zealand Naval Association Inc

Rules

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVAL ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED)

Royal New Zealand Naval Association. (Incorporated) hereafter known as the ("Association")

2. HEAD OFFICE

The head office of the Association shall be at a place as may be decided at the National Conference.

3. OBJECTS

The objects of the Association shall be:

(a)           To have a central organisation for former Royal New Zealand Naval personnel.

(b)          To foster good fellowship and perpetuate the comradeship which began in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

(c)           To look after the welfare of our members.

(d)           To publicise anniversaries and events of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

(e)           To affiliate with Associations with objects similar to our own.

(f)            To support the promotion of the highest standards of efficiency in materials and personnel in
                the Royal New Zealand Navy.

(g)            To collect, receive and hold funds and property, real or personal, for the objects
                of the Association.

(h)           To foster the creation of branches, sub branches and sections throughout New Zealand
              and to assist them in pursuing the objects of the Association.

4. MEMBERSHIP

The following are eligible for membership of the Association:

(a)              All personnel who have served in the Royal New Zealand Navy or any of the Royal
                  Navies of the British Commonwealth or in any arm of those Services
                 (e.g. RNZNVR, RNVR, WRNZNS, FAA, RMs, DEMS T124X Ratings etc)
                  for a period of continuous duty of at least six (6) months.

(b)           Sea Cadet Officers with RNZNVR or Defence Department commissions.

5. PROCEDURE FOR JOINING THE ASSOCIATION

Any eligible person wishing to join the Association shall complete and lodge with the Membership Secretary an application form, together with proof of Naval service. Such application form shall be signed by the applicant and must be accompanied by a joining fee. On acceptance, a membership card and lapel badge will be issued.

6. PROCEDURE FOR JOINING A BRANCH OF THE ASSOCIATION

Members may join a Branch, Sub-branch or Section of the Association and are subject to the Rules and By-laws of such Branch, Sub-branch or Section. All applications for membership will be submitted to the Executive Committee of that Branch, Sub-branch or Section which may in its absolute discretion, accept or reject any such application. The Executive Committee shall not be called upon to give any reason for refusing such application.

7. NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The affairs of the Association in matters of policy and management shall be the responsibility of the National Conference (except where provided for in the Rules) The Conference shall meet annually, in Wellington or at any other place agreed upon by the Conference. Remits to National Conference must be in the hands of the National Secretary two (2) months prior to Conference.

8. PROXY VOTING

Branches may appoint a proxy. The proxy will have no other duty than to act for that branch and carry out their instructions.
In matters of urgency affecting national policy, a phone linked message can be organised by the National Secretary.

9. NATIONAL COUNCIL

Between Conferences, the affairs of the Association shall be deputed to a National Council comprising National President, National Vice President a National Secretary and four (4) Councillors. They will be convened as required and execute decisions of Conference and any other business that may arise from time to time. It will present to every Annual Conference a report of its proceedings since the last Annual Conference. They shall hold office until the election of a new council. All office holders are eligible for re-election. A quorum for a council meeting is four (4). All office holders will be responsible for their own expenses. They may be funded by their branch. The exception being the Secretary who may be granted an honorarium.

10. NATIONAL PRESIDENT

A National President shall be elected annually at the National Conference. Nominees for the office of President must have first served one term on the National Council. When a new National President is elected, the outgoing President will hold the office of Immediate Past President for a period of twelve (12) months.

11. NATIONAL SECRETARY

The National Secretary will hold office for two (2) years and be eligible for re-election. The Secretary will keep a record of all meetings and correspondence and submit an audited account of the Association finances to Conference. Any honorarium paid to the Secretary will be decided at Council.

12. NATIONAL COUNCILLORS

There shall be four (4) National Councillors elected to the National Council. Nominees will be delegates to Conference.

13. FORMATION OF BRANCHES, SUB BRANCHES AND SECTIONS

Groups of members wishing to form a Branch, Sub-branch or Section are encouraged to do so. The National Secretary will supply specimen branch rules to assist Branches or Sections in creating their own Rules and By-laws (not at variances with the National rules). They will set their own subscription to the Branch or Section.

(a)           Fifteen (15) are required for the formation of a Branch, branches to become incorporated.

(b)           Ten (10) members are required for the formation of a Sub-branch.

(c)           Sections may be formed by widely dispersed members who are:
                (i) Former members of a ship's company.
                (ii) Former members of Commonwealth Navies.
                (iii) Former members of branches of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

14. BADGES AND TIE

In addition to the lapel badge, a blazer badge and tie will be available for purchase by members. Association badges and ties must not be lent or sold, and must remain the property of the member who purchased them, except the lapel badge which remains the property of the Association.
Badges for long service or meritorious service to be recommended by Council and approved by Conference.

15. AUDITOR

The books of account of the Association shall be audited by the Auditor appointed by the Annual General Meeting of the Association who shall be paid therefore such fee as shall be fixed by such meeting. They shall hold no other office within the Association.

16. ALTERATION OF RULES

Subject to provisions of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or an Act amending or repealing the same, these Rules or any of them (including the name of the Association) may be altered, added to or rescinded by resolution passed at a General Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast thereat, provided that notice of the intention to propose such resolution and the resolution itself shall have been included in the notice convening such meeting.

18. VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association may be wound up voluntarily if a majority of the members of the Association in General Meeting pass a resolution requiring the Association to be wound up and the resolution is confirmed at subsequent General Meeting of the Association called for that purpose and held not earlier than thirty (30) days nor more than two (2) calendar months after the date on which the resolution so to be confirmed was passed and such subsequent General Meeting of the Association shall direct the manner in which the assets (if any) of the Association after paying all liabilities shall be disposed of.

19. COMPULSORY WINDING UP OF THE ASSOCIATION

On the dissolution of the Association by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies, all surplus assets, after payment of all liabilities, shall be disposed of in accordance with the Rules, or if such assets cannot be deposed of in accordance with these Rules then as the Registrar directs.

20. INDEMNITY

No action at law or otherwise shall be in favour of members or their executors or administrators against any other member of the Association or Executive Committee or any officer of the Association for, or in respect of any act, or thing done, omitted or suffered or purporting to be done, omitted or suffered in pursuance of the provisions of these Rules and that not withstanding any irregularity or informality occurring in or about the doing or omitting or suffering of any act matter or thing. No member of the Executive Committee, Auditor, Secretary or other Officer of the Association shall be liable for any other members of the Executive Committee of the Association, Auditor, Secretary or other offices or for joining in any receipt or document or for any act of conformity or for any loss or expense happening to the Association unless the same happened from their own wilful fault.

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Royal New Zealand Naval Association Inc.