The
Association of French Teachers
of Victoria was formed on the 29th September 1983. It
grew from, and replaced, an older association, the Association of
French Teachers and Students. The new association agreed to
incorporate the magazine “Victorix” from the A.F.T.S., and this
magazine continued to accompany “Carrefours”
until 1988. The founding president of our Association was Margaret
Gearon, with the Vice-President being Chris Bradtke. Since then the
list of committee members and officer bearers for each year of the
Association’s existence reads like a “who’s who” of French
teachers in Victoria.
The
new association was created to help teachers specifically at a time
when language teaching in general and French teaching in particular
was experiencing a somewhat negative environment. Its primary aims
were, (and are), to help teachers, to disseminate ideas, to assist in
curriculum planning and to provide on-going and relevant in-service
activities. It also accepts a role of informing and responding to
Government policy decisions which affect language teachers in our
state.
Since
the early days of our association, the language teaching and learning
environment has changed considerably, and fortunately for the better.
The A.F.T.V. continues to provide its service and assistance to all
teachers of French and in particular those who teach in the country.
It provides an on-going program of iprofessional development to teachers,
highlighting many aspects of the task, from conversation to curriculum
planning with each new alteration to senior exams, and to students
also in the form of forums, film days and the Matinée des Chats.
The
Presidents of our association have been, Margaret Gearon, Adèle
Howitt, Jenny Hibben, Jennie Oldfield, Veronica Swayne,
Jackie Love, Diana Long and, currently Philippe Vallantin. Every year the burden of presidency grows larger and we
are grateful to all our office-bearers, past and present, for their
input of time and expertise.
Note
of thanks
Barbara Watt
for her dedication and researching the original version
Articles
Articles of the Association
Print Version
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION NAME 1. (1) The name of the incorporated
association is the Association of French Teachers in Victoria
(in these rules called “the Association”). OBJECTS OF
ASSOCIATION (2) - To further the effective study and teaching of
the French language and culture and to further interests and
welfare of teachers of French by means of meetings, discussions,
study groups, workshops, the publication of information, the
promotion of professional development, or by any other means
which may from time to time seem appropriate to the Committee of
Management. - To co-operate with similar bodies in Victoria and
other States of Australia and overseas countries. - To nominate
delegates to such affiliated bodies as is required. Where
specific expertise is required, the Committee reserves the right
to appoint any member of the Association as a delegate. - To
provide instruments for the professional development of
teachers. INTERPRETATION 2. (1) In these rules, unless the
contrary intention appears:- “Committee” means the Committee of
Management of the Association. “Financial year” means the year
ending on 30 September. “General Meeting” means a general
meeting of members convened in accordance with Rule 11. “Member”
means a member of the Association. “Ordinary Member of the
Committee” means a member of the Committee who is not an officer
of the Association under Rule 21. “The Act” means the
Associations Incorporation Act 1981. “The Regulations” means
regulations under the Act. (2) In these rules, a reference to
the secretary of the Association is as reference:- (a) where a
person holds office under these Rules as secretary of the
Association - to that person; and (b) in any other case, to the
public officer of the Association. (3) Words or expressions
contained in these rules shall be interpreted in accordance with
the provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act 1958 and the Act
as in force from time to time. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP 3. (1)
Any person interested in the teaching or study of French is
eligible to be a member of the Association payment of an annual
subscription payable under these rules. 3.2 One type of
membership of the Association shall be recognised : individual
membership, (full-time or student concession). The membership
subscription rates shall be determined from time to time by the
Committee of the Association. 3.3 Membership subscriptions,
which shall run from the first day of October to the thirtieth
day of September, shall entitle a person to receive notices and
any information published by the Association. Renewal of
membership and new membership will be called for from the start
of October of each year.
3.4 Upon application for subscriptions and payment, the
Secretary shall, with as little delay as possible, notify the
applicant in writing that he/she is accepted for membership of
the association and payment has been received. 3.5 The secretary
shall, upon payment of the amounts referred to in sub-clause 3.4
within the period referred to in that sub-clause, enter the
applicant’s name in the register of members kept by him. 3.6 A
right, privilege, or obligation of an individual or student
member by reason of his membership of the association:- (a) is
not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another
person; (b) terminates upon the cessation of his membership
whether by death or resignation or otherwise. 3.7 The Committee
reserves the right to invite selected individuals to accept the
position of Patron and/or Life Member. ENTRANCE FEE AND ANNUAL
SUBSCRIPTION 4.1 The annual subscription is as currently shown
in the appended subscription form. REGISTER OF MEMBERS 5. The
secretary shall keep and maintain a register of members in which
shall be entered the full name, address and date of entry of the
name of each member and the register shall be available for
inspection by members at the address of the Public Officer.
RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBER 6. (1) A member of the
Association who has paid all moneys due and payable by him to
the Association may resign from the Association by first giving
one month’s notice in writing to the secretary of his intention
to resign and upon the expiration of that period of notice, the
member shall cease to be a member. (2) Upon the expiration of a
notice given under sub-clause (1), the secretary shall make in
the register of members an entry recording the date on which the
member by whom the notice was given, ceased to be a member. 7.
(1) Subject to these rules, the Committee may by resolution:-
(a) expel a member from the Association; (b) suspend a member
from membership of the Association for a specified period; or
(c) fine a member in accordance with The Regulations, if the
Committee is of the opinion that the member - i) has refused or
neglected to comply with these rules; or ii) has been guilty of
conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of
the Association. (2) A resolution of the Committee under
sub-clause (1):- (a) does not take effect unless the Committee,
at a meeting held not earlier than 14 and not later than 28 days
after the service on the member of a notice under sub-clause (3)
confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause; and (b)
where the member exercises a right of appeal to the Association
under this clause does not take effect unless the Association
confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause. (3)
Where the Committee passes a resolution under sub-clause (1),
the secretary shall, as soon as practicable, cause to be served
on the member a notice in writing:- (a) setting out the
resolution of the Committee and the grounds on which it is
based; (b) stating that the member may address the Committee at
a meeting to be held not earlier than 14 and not later than 28
days after the service of the notice; (c) stating the date,
place and time of that meeting;
(d) informing the member that he may do one or more of the
following - i) attend that meeting; ii) give to the Committee
before the date of that meeting a written statement seeking the
revocation of the resolution; iii) not later than 24 hours
before the date of the meeting, lodge with the secretary a
notice to the effect that he wishes to appeal to the Association
in general meeting against the resolution. (4) At a meeting of
the Committee held in accordance with sub-clause (2), the
Committee:- (a) shall give to the member an opportunity to be
heard; (b) shall give due consideration to any written statement
submitted by the member; and (c) shall by resolution determine
whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution. (5) Where the
secretary received a notice under sub-clause (3), he shall
notify the Committee and the Committee shall convene a general
meeting of the Association to be held within 21 days after the
date on which the secretary received the notice. (6) At a
general meeting of the Association convened under sub-clause
(5):- (a) no business other than the question of the appeal
shall be transacted; (b) the Committee may place before the
meeting details of the grounds for the resolution and the
reasons for the passing of the resolution; (c) the member shall
be given an opportunity to be heard; and (d) the members present
shall vote by secret ballot on the question whether the
resolution should be confirmed or revoked. (7) If at the general
meeting:- (a) two-thirds of the members vote in person or by
proxy in favour of the confirmation of the resolution, the
resolution is confirmed; and (b) in any other case, the
resolution is revoked. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 8. (1) The
Association shall in each calendar year convene an annual
general meeting of its members. (2) The annual general meeting
shall be held on such day as the Committee determines. (3) The
annual general meeting shall be specified as such in the notice
convening it with notice of such meeting being given to all
members of the Association 14 days before the date of the
meeting. (4) The ordinary business of the annual general meeting
shall be:- (a) to confirm the minutes of the last preceding
annual general meeting and of any general meeting held since
that meeting; (b) to receive from the Committee reports upon the
transactions of the Association during the last preceding
financial year; (c) to elect officers of the Association and the
ordinary members of the Committee; and (d) to receive and
consider the statement submitted by the Association in
accordance with section 30 (3) of the Act. (5) The annual
general meeting may transact special business of which notice is
given in accordance with these rules. (6) The annual general
meeting shall be in addition to any other general meetings that
may be held in the same year.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING 9. All general meetings other than the
annual general meeting shall be called special general meetings.
10. (1) The Committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a
special general meeting of the Association and where, but for
this sub-clause, more than 15 months would lapse between annual
general meetings, shall convene a special general meeting before
the expiration of that period. (2) The Committee shall, on the
requisition in writing of members representing not less than 5%
of the total number of members, convene a special general
meeting of the Association. (3) The requisition for a special
general meeting shall state the objects of the meeting and shall
be signed by the members making the requisition and be sent to
the address of the Secretary and may consist of several
documents in a like form, each signed by one or more of the
members making the requisition. (4) If the Committee does not
call a special general meeting to be held within one month after
the date on which the requisition is sent to the address of the
Secretary, the members making the requisition, or any of them,
may convene a special general meeting to be held not later than
3 months after that date. (5) A special general meeting convened
by members in pursuance of these rules shall be convened in the
same manner as nearly as possible as that in which those
meetings are convened by the Committee. NOTICE OF MEETING 11.
(1) The Secretary of the Association shall, at least 7 days
before the date fixed for holding a general meeting of the
Association, cause to be sent to each member of the Association
at his address appearing in the register of members, a notice by
pre-paid post stating the place, date and time of the meeting
and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.
(2) No business other than that set out in the notice convening
the meeting shall be transacted at the meeting. (3) A member
desiring to bring any business before a meeting may give notice
of that business in writing to the secretary, who shall include
that business in the notice calling the next general meeting
after the receipt of the notice. PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS 12. (1)
All business that is transacted at a special meeting and all
business that is transacted at the annual general meeting with
the exception of that specially referred to in these rules as
being the ordinary business of the annual general meeting shall
be deemed to be special business. (2) No item of business shall
be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members
entitled under these rules to vote is present during the time
when the meeting is considering that item. (3) At General
Meetings of the Association called for the purpose of receipt of
voting upon business matters, ten (10) individual members
personally present (being members entitled under these rules to
vote at a general meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of the business of a general meeting, shall form a
quorum and at meetings of the Committee eight (8) of the
Committee members shall form a quorum. (4) If within half an
hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a general
meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting if convened upon
the requisition of members shall be dissolved and in any other
case shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at
the same time and (unless another place is specified by the
Chairman at the time of the adjournment or by written notice to
members given before the day to which the meeting is adjourned)
at the same place and if at the adjourned meeting the quorum is
not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the
commencement of the meeting, the members present (being not less
than 3) shall be a quorum.
13. (1) The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President,
shall preside as Chairman at each general meeting of the
Association. (2) If the President and the Vice-President are
absent from a general meeting, the members present shall elect
one of their number to preside as Chairman at the meeting. 14.
(1) The Chairman of a general meeting at which a quorum is
present may, with the consent of the meeting, adjourn the
meeting from time to time and place to place, but no business
shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the
business left unfinished at the meeting at which the adjournment
took place. (2) Where a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or
more, a like notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as
in the case of the general meeting. (3) Except as provided in
sub-clauses (1) and (2), it is not necessary to give notice of
an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an
adjourned meeting. 15. A question arising at a general meeting
of the Association shall be determined on a show of hands and
unless before or on the declaration of the show of hands a poll
is demanded, as a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution
has, on a show of hands, been carried or carried unanimously or
carried by a particular majority or lost, and an entry to that
effect in the Minute Book of the Association is evidence of the
fact without proof of the number of proportion of the votes
recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution. 16. (1) Upon
any question arising at a general meeting of the Association, an
individual member has one vote only. (2) All votes shall be
given personally or by proxy. (3) In the case of an equality of
voting on a question, the Chairman of the meeting is entitled to
exercise a second or casting vote. 17. (1) If at a meeting a
poll on any question is demanded by not less than three members,
it shall be taken at that meeting in such manner as the Chairman
may direct and the resolution of the poll shall be deemed to be
a resolution of the meeting on that question. (2) A poll that is
demanded on the election of a Chairman or on a question of an
adjournment shall be taken forthwith and a poll that is demanded
on any other question shall be taken at such time before the
close of the meeting as the Chairman may direct. 18. An
individual member is not entitled to vote at any general meeting
unless all moneys due and payable by him to the Association have
been paid, other than the amount of the annual subscription
payable in respect of the current financial year. 19. (1) Each
member shall be entitled to appoint another member as his proxy
by notice given to the secretary no later than 24 hours before
the time of the meeting in respect of which the proxy is
appointed. (2) The notice appointing the proxy shall be in the
form set out in Appendix 2. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 20. (1) The
affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Committee of
Management constituted as provided in Rule 21. (2) The
Committee:- (a) shall control and manage the business and
affairs of the Association; (b) may, subject to these rules, the
regulations and the Act, exercise all such powers and functions
as may be exercised by the Association other than those powers
and functions that are required by these rules to be exercised
by general meetings of the members of the Association; and
(c) subject to these rules, the regulations and the Act, has
power to perform all such acts and things as appear to the
Committee to be essential for the proper management of the
business and affairs of the Association. 21. (1) The officers of
the Association shall be:- (a) a President; (b) a
Vice-President; (c) a Treasurer; (d) a General Secretary; and
(e) a Minute Secretary. (2) The provisions of Rule 23 so far as
they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply
to and in relation to the election of persons to any of the
offices mentioned in sub-clause (1). (3) Each officer of the
Association shall hold office until the annual general meeting
next after the date of his election but is eligible for
re-election. (4) In the event of a casual vacancy in any office
referred to in sub-clause (1), the Committee may appoint one of
its members to the vacant office and the member so appointed may
continue in office up to and including the conclusion of the
annual general meeting next following the date of his
appointment. 22. (1) Subject to section 23 of the Act, the
Committee shall consist of:- (a) the officers of the
Association; and (b) up to 25 individual members - each of whom
shall be elected at the annual general meeting of the
Association in each year. Where there are insufficient
nominations to fill all positions on the Committee, the
Committee will have the power to co-opt members to the vacant
positions. (2) Each individual member of the Committee shall,
subject to these rules, hold office until the annual general
meeting next after the date of his election but is eligible for
re-election. (3) In the event of a casual vacancy occurring in
the office of an ordinary member of the Committee, the Committee
may appoint a member of the Association to fill a vacancy and
the member so appointed shall hold office, subject to these
rules, until the conclusion of the annual general meeting next
following the date of his appointment. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND
VACANCY 23. (1) Nominations of candidates for election as
officers of the Association or as ordinary members of the
Committee:- (a) shall be made in writing, signed by two members
of the Association and accompanied by the written consent of the
candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and
(b) shall be delivered to the secretary of the Association up to
and including the date fixed for the holding of the annual
general meeting. (2) If insufficient nominations are received to
fill all vacancies on the Committee, the candidates nominated
shall be deemed to be elected and further nominations shall be
received at the annual general meeting. (3) If the number of
nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be
filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected. (4)
If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to
be filled, a ballot shall be held. (5) The ballot for the
election of officers and ordinary members of the Committee shall
be conducted at the annual general meeting in such usual and
proper manner as the Committee may direct. (6) A nomination of a
candidate for election under this clause is not valid if that
candidate has been nominated for another office for election at
the same election.
24. For the purposes of these rules, the office of an officer of
the Association or of any ordinary member of the Committee
becomes vacant if the officer or member:- (a) ceases to be a
member of the Association; (b) becomes an insolvent under
administration within the meaning of the Companies (Victoria)
Code; or (c) resigns his office by notice in writing given to
the secretary. PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE 25. (1) The Committee
shall meet at least 3 times in each year at such times as the
Committee may determine. (2) Special meetings of the Committee
may be convened by the President or by any 4 of the members of
the Committee. (3) Notice shall be given to members of the
Committee of any special meeting specifying the general nature
of the business to be transacted and no other business shall be
transacted at such a meeting. (4) Any 8 members of the Committee
constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a
meeting of the Committee. (5) No business shall be transacted
unless a quorum is present and if within an hour of the time
appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present the meeting
shall stand adjourned until a time specified by the President.
(6) At meetings of the Committee:- (a) the President or in his
absence the Vice-President shall preside; or (b) if the
President and the Vice-President are absent, such one of the
remaining members of the Committee as may be chosen by the
members present shall preside. (7) Questions arising at a
meeting of the Committee or of any sub-committee appointed by
the Committee shall be determined on a show of hands or, if
demanded by a member, by a poll taken in such manner as the
person presiding at the meeting may determine. (8) Each
individual member present at a meeting of the Committee or of
any sub-committee appointed by the Committee (including the
person presiding at the meeting) is entitled to one vote and, in
the event of an equality of votes on any question, the person
presiding may exercise a second or casting vote. (9) Written
notice of each committee meeting shall be served on each member
of the Committee by delivering it to him at a reasonable time
before the meeting or by sending it by pre-paid post addressed
to him at his usual or last known place of abode at least two
business days before the date of the meeting. (10) Subject to
sub-clause (4) the Committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy
on the Committee. MINUTE SECRETARY 26. The minute secretary of
the Association shall keep minutes of the resolutions and
proceedings of each general meeting and each committee meeting
in books provided for that purpose together with a record of the
names of persons present at committee meetings. TREASURER 27.
(1) The Treasurer of the Association:- (a) shall collect and
receive all moneys due to the Association and make all payments
authorised by the Association; and (b) shall keep correct
accounts and books showing the financial affairs of the
Association with full detail of all receipts and expenditure
connected with the activities of the Association. (2) The
accounts and books referred to in sub-clause (1) shall be
available for inspection by members.
REMOVAL OF MEMBER OF COMMITTEE 28. (1) The Association in
general meeting may by resolution remove any member of the
Committee before the expiration of his term of office and
appoint another member in his stead to hold office until the
expiration of the term of the first-mentioned member. (2) Where
the member to whom a proposed resolution referred to in
sub-clause (1) makes representations in writing to the secretary
or President of the Association (not exceeding a reasonable
length) and requests that they be notified to the members of the
Association, the secretary or the President may send a copy of
the representations to each member of the Association or, if
they are not so sent, the member may require that they be read
out at the meeting. CHEQUES 29. All cheques, drafts, bills of
exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments
shall be signed by the President and the Treasurer. SEAL 30. (1)
The Common Seal of the Association shall be kept in the custody
of the secretary. (2) The Common Seal shall not be affixed to
any instrument except by the authority of the Committee and the
affixing of the Common Seal shall be attested by the signatures
either of two members of the Committee or one member of the
Committee and of the Public Officer of the Association.
ALTERATION OF RULES AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSES 31. These rules
and the statement of purposes of the Association shall not be
altered except in accordance with the Act. NOTICES 32. (1) A
notice may be served by or on behalf of the Association upon any
member either personally or by sending it by post to the member
at his address shown in the Register of Members. (2) Where a
document is properly addressed pre-paid and posted to a person
as a letter, the document shall, unless the contrary is proved,
be deemed to have been given to the person at the time at which
the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of
post. WINDING UP OR CANCELLATION 33. In the event of the winding
up or the cancellation of the incorporation of the Association,
the assets of the Association must be distributed to another
non-profit organisation. CUSTODY OF RECORDS 34. Except as
otherwise provided in these Rules, the Secretary and Treasurer
shall keep in their custody or under their control with the
knowledge and permission of the President, all books, documents
and securities of the Association. FUNDS 35. (1) The funds of
the Association shall be derived from seminar fees, annual
subscriptions, donations and such other sources as the Committee
determines.