SADFA Constitution

SADFA Constitution & Byelaws 

Affiliated to SDC

1. NAME

The name of the Association shall be “The South African Dyers and Finishers Association, hereinafter called “The Association”.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objects of the Association are:

  • To promote the advancement of science and technology, especially in the theory and practice of tinctorial arts, and textile finishing.
  • To provide means for the wider dissemination and interchange of knowledge concerning the science and technology of colour and colouring matters, of their methods of application and of the materials to which they may be applied, and textile finishing.
  • To encourage education and research in any or all of the above subjects.
  • And for the Furtherance of these objects:
  • To hold meetings for the reading of papers, for lectures and for discussions.
  • And to do all such other things as may be conducive to the attainment of these objects.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Any person directly or indirectly connected with the promotion and/or fulfilment of the objects of the Association and any person    interested in person interested in such promotion and/or fulfilment shall be eligible for election as a Member of the Association.

Membership shall consist of the following classes:

  • Honorary Members
  • Ordinary Members
  • Junior Members
  • Student Members
  • Country Members

Honorary Members:

A1 - Regional Honorary Members

As a token of respect and appreciation for exceptional and meritorious service to the Association in the pursuit of its  objects,  recognised on a Regional basis, The National Committee, on the recommendation of a Regional Committee, may  elect any  person  a Regional Honorary Member of the Association for life or such term as the Committee may see fit. Such  a person shall  only be  deemed to have been elected as a Regional Honorary Member of the Association on the Unanimous  decision of the  National  Committee.

A2 - National Honorary Members.

As a token of respect and appreciation for exceptional and meritorious service to the Association in the pursuit of its objects, recognised on a National basis, The National Committee, on the recommendation of a Regional Committee, may elect any person  a National Honorary Member of the Association for life or such term as the Committee may see fit. Such a person shall only be deemed to have been elected as a National Honorary Member of the Association on the Unanimous decision of the National Committee.

B -  Regional and National Honorary Members

Regional and National Honorary Members shall have the rights and privileges of ordinary Members but shall, for the duration         of their Honorary Membership, be exempt from payment of any subscriptions or fees unless the National Committee decides         otherwise in any particular instance.

Ordinary Members:

Ordinary Members shall be over the age of 21 (Twenty-one) years on the date of their election.

Junior/Student Members:

Junior/Student Members shall be over the age of 16 (sixteen) years on the date of their election and shall be eligible for election as Ordinary Members following their 21 (twenty-first) birthdays.

Junior/Student Regional Sub Sections

The Constitution and Bye-laws of S.A.D.F.A will govern the officers and Members of the Junior/Student Regional Sub Sections.

Country Member:

Kwa Zulu Natal Region: 

Persons who reside out side the boundaries of Kwa Zulu Natal may apply to be a Country Member; they will be classed as a non-voting member of the Association.

Election of Members:

  • All Members shall be elected by the Regional Committee.
  • Application for Membership shall be submitted in writing, signed by the applicant, counter signed by two Honorary or ordinary Members, and accompanied by the appropriate subscription.
  • Applications shall be forwarded to the Regional Honorary Secretary and shall be considered by the Regional Committee at the first or second meeting of the Committee following receipt of the application. Election shall be by the resolution passed by a simple majority of those present and voting.
  • Every applicant shall be informed in writing of the decision by the Regional Honorary Secretary.
  • A Member of a Region who wishes to change Membership to that of another region, must advise both Regional Honorary Secretaries concerned and show that he is a Member of good standing.

Resignation:

  • Any Member may resign his Membership at any time by notification in writing to the Regional Honorary Secretary. The retiring Member shall pay all outstanding monies owed by him to the Association in accordance with this Constitution or otherwise, but the Regional Committee in accepting the resignation shall have power in appropriate circumstances to relieve the Member of such payment, either wholly or in part, as the Committee may see fit.
  • Any Member desiring to resign his Membership must give notice in writing prior to the end of the financial year of the Association, otherwise he shall automatically become responsible for the payment of the subscription for the ensuing year unless the Regional Committee decide otherwise.

Suspension and Removal:

A - The Regional Committee shall have power to suspend or terminate the Membership of any Member.

  1. Whose subscription is 6 (six) months or more in arrears for a period of 10 (ten) days subsequent to notice in  writing being given to him to make payment of such arrears and subscriptions up to date.
  2. Who has been guilty of personal or professional misconduct such as would render him unworthy of  Membership of the Association.

B - Suspension shall be for a term not exceeding 12 (twelve) months during which time all rights and privileges shall cease.

C - A Member whose Membership has been terminated will thenceforth be excluded from the Association and his name shall be          removed from the register, but such termination shall be without prejudice to the right of the Association to recover any                debts or enforce any obligations to which the Member may have become liable.

D - The annual subscription or any portion thereof will not be recoverable be a Member who has been removed or suspended              in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw.

E - Complaint regarding the conduct of a Member shall be communicated in writing to the Regional Honorary Secretary who                shall lay it before the Regional Committee. Any decision of the Committee shall be by resolution of the Committee. A Member against whom a complaint has been made shall be duly notified in writing of the relevant Committee Meeting and may appear before the Committee at such a meeting. The person or persons making the complaint shall appear before the            Committee at the relevant meeting.

Re-Admission:

  • A former Member may apply for re-admission as a Member in terms of this Constitution.
  • Application shall be considered by the Regional Committee whose decision shall be communicated to the applicant in writing by the Regional Honorary Secretary, after confirmation by the National Committee.

Rights and Privileges:

  • All Members in good standing shall have the right to attend and take part in all General Meetings of the Association.
  • All Members in good standing shall be entitled to vote at all General meetings of the Association and to make nominations and vote for the election of officers and Members of the appropriate Regional Committee.

Register of Members:

There shall be kept National and Regional registers of all Members of the Association which shall contain names, addresses, date of election and such other information as the National and Regional Committee may require.

 

4. OFFICERS (National)

These shall consist of:

  1. The National Chairperson
  2. The immediate Past National Chairperson
  3. National Honorary General Secretary
  4. The Chairperson of the various Regional Branches who shall constitute National Committee Members
  5. Minute Secretary ex National Region or co-opted Minute Secretary
  6. National Honorary Treasurer appointed by the National General Secretary.

The National Chairperson’s office shall be held for a period of 1 (one) year (from 1 May) by the nominee of each region in turn, in order of seniority starting from Kwa Zulu Natal, and then Border, followed by any future regions which may be constituted.

The Honorary National General Secretary appointed by the National Committee will hold office for a period of 3 (three) years and will be responsible for all S.A.D.F.A. communications and correspondence Nationally and Internationally.

The outgoing branch Chairperson and National Chairperson (or Deputy) shall remain on the branch Committee or National Committee for the duration of term following his term of office to ensure outgoing continuity to the business of the Association.

The National Honorary Treasurer shall take care of the National fund. Each Region to be levied annually a sum to be determined by the National Committee prior to the 1st (first) day of May each year. The monies raised to be for the payment of the affiliation fees to other Societies and administration costs.

An Annual National General meeting consisting of Members of the National Committee shall be held at a convenient central venue. Any interested Members of good standing shall be eligible to attend.

All decisions taken by the National Committee shall be unanimous.

5. OFFICERS (Regional)

The outgoing Regional Chairperson shall remain on the branch Committee for the duration of term following his term of office to ensure outgoing continuity to the business of the Association.

The officers of the Regional Association shall be:

  1. The Honorary Chairperson.
  2. The Honorary past Chairperson.
  3. The Honorary Secretary
  4. The Honorary Treasurer
  5. Additional 4 (four) Committee Members

These officers shall be elected from among the Members at the Regional Annual General Meeting, and if more than the required numbers are proposed selection will be made for each office by secret ballot. In addition if more than 4 (four) Committee Members are proposed this will also be decided by secret ballot, each Member of the Association having 4 (four) votes only and all Members of the Committee being balloted “en bloc”.

All Officers of the Regional Association shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election.

Resignation of Office:

Any officer may resign his office by notice in writing to the Honorary Secretary, and on acceptance by the Regional Committee of such resignation shall cease to hold such office.

Vacation of Office:

An Officer shall vacate his office if he shall cease to be a Member of the Association or if he shall be absent from 5 (five) consecutive Regional Committee meetings without the consent of the Regional Committee.

Functions of Committee:

The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the Committee in conformity with this Constitution and these rules for the purpose of achieving the objects of the Association.

Meetings of the Committee:

The Regional Committee shall hold not less than 6 (six) ordinary Meetings in every year and these shall be held at such a time and place, as the Regional Committee shall determine. The notice of each meeting shall be given in writing to every Member of the Regional Committee.

All resolutions shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting, and in the case of an equality of votes the Regional Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

6. MEETINGS AND GENERAL MEETING.

The Annual General Meeting of each region of the Association shall be held in each year on such a date and at such a time and place as the Regional Committee may determine, as soon as convenient after 30th April.

Notice of the Regional Annual General meeting must be sent to all Members of the Regional Association at least 21 (twenty one) days before the date of the meeting and shall include an Agenda. Copies are to be sent to the secretaries of the other Regional Committees.

The ordinary business of the Regional Annual General Meeting shall be:

  1. To receive the annual report of the Regional Chairperson.
  2. To receive the balance sheet, statement of accounts and financial auditor’s reports.
  3. To elect the Chairperson.
  4. To elect the Honorary Secretary.
  5. To elect the Honorary Treasurer.
  6. To elect 4 (four) Members of the Committee.

A Member wishing to bring a motion, other than one relating to the ordinary business, before the Regional Annual General meeting must give notice in writing of such motion to the Regional Honorary Secretary not later than 21 (twenty one) days before the date of the meeting.

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the region may be convened by the Regional Chairperson or convened on a written requisition by not less than 10 (ten) Members, such requisition to state the objects of the proposed meeting.

Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the region must be sent to all Members of the Regional Association not less that 21 (twenty one) days before the date of such meeting. The notice must state the business to be transacted and no other business may be transacted at the meeting. (Copies to the other Regional Honorary Secretaries.)

No Business shall be transacted at a General meeting unless there be present at least 10 (ten) Members entitled to vote. If after one hour from the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting a quorum not be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned until such day and time as the Members present may themselves determine, provided that if the meeting is one convened on the requisition of Members it shall be dissolved. Notice of such adjourned meetings shall be sent to all Members.

If the business of a General Meeting be not completed the meeting shall be adjourned, and no notice of such adjournment shall be necessary. Only business left unfinished shall be transacted at the adjourned meeting.

All resolutions at a General Meeting shall, unless otherwise prescribed in these Byelaws, be decided by a simple majority. Voting shall be by show of hands, but any two Members present may demand a ballot, whereupon tellers shall be appointed by the Chairperson. The result of the ballot shall be conclusive.

7. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

The annual subscription to the Association for Ordinary, Junior/Student and Country members shall be determined by region. The annual subscription shall be determined at the regions Annual General Meetings

The annual subscription shall be payable in advance and shall become due on the 1st (first) day of May each year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof the Regional Committee shall have the power to remit or reduce the sum payable by a Member or to defer the time of payment, as the Committee shall see fit.

The Regional Committee may take such action as allowed by this Constitution against any Member whose subscriptions are in arrears.

8. FINANCE

Management of Finance:

The management of the finance of the National Association and Regional Committees shall be vested in the National and Regional Committees, consisting of all Officers elected for the time being by the Members of the Association in terms of the Constitution. Each Region is responsible for the administration of its regions funds.

The Committee shall have the authority to make deposits in recognised savings or banking Institutions for such a period as may be determined by resolution of the Committee . The Committee will also determine the sums in aggregate so deposited. The income and property of the Association, whatsoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association, and any other activity decided by the National and/or Regional Committee’s.

In the event of a Regional Branch of the Association becoming insolvent or being wound up neither the National body nor the Regional Branches shall be in any way responsible for the meeting of the debts incurred.

Signing Powers:

Signing powers will be vested in three Members of these Committees and they must include the Chairman and Honorary Secretary. All cheque’s and banking documents must bear two signatures. Should at any time more than one Signatory be absent or unable to act, the Committees will have power to vest in another Member signing powers for such time as may be deemed necessary.

Audit:

The accounts of the Association shall be examined and certified annually by an Auditor appointed at the Annual General Meeting, or alternatively an Auditor appointed by the Committee.

9. INDEMNITY OFFICER

The Officers shall be indemnified by the Association in respect of all expenses, losses, and liabilities properly incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.

The provisions hereof shall be extended to apply to any Member or Servant of the Association who, with the authority of the appropriate Committee’s does any act on behalf of the Association.

10. ALTERATIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Additions to, alterations of, suspensions and repeal of the Bylaws herein contained may be proposed by any Member of the Association. The proposals in writing and signed by at least 10 (ten) Members, shall be sent to the Regional Honorary Secretary who shall inform the National Honorary General Secretary. Such motion shall be considered by the National Committee of the Association. Their decision shall be put forward at the next General Meeting of each of the regions and a vote taken on the issue where a simple majority will decide. Each Regional Honorary Secretary shall then report their results to the National Honorary General Secretary who will then report the result of the voting to the National Chairman.

All Questions arising out of the interpretations of the Constitution and Byelaws shall be decided by the National Committee.

11. NOTICES

A Notice required by these Rules to be sent to Members shall be deemed to have been duly sent when it has been addressed to the Member at the address last appearing in the register.

The Association may communicate with members in writing by Post, e-mail, or Fax.

Members may use the same methods of communication with the Association.

The Associations Website www.sadfa.org.za will communicate all SADFA news and information.