Rebus Club of Gulf Harbour

STANDARD CONSTITUTION FOR CLUBS

ACCREDITED TO REBUS NZ INCORPORATED. (September 2019)

 

PREAMBLE

To hold accreditation, a Rebus Club, having made an application to Rebus NZ Incorporated, has been granted the status of an Affiliate and is therefore a duly accredited Rebus Club

 

ARTICLE I

The name of the Club shall be REBUS CLUB OF GULF HARBOUR

 

ARTICLE II – AIMS AND OBJECTS

a) The purpose of this Club shall be to advance social, intellectual and cultural interests among adult persons who have retired or are semi-retired from their former occupations.

b) It will hold regular meetings and arrange activities to provide opportunities for social interaction, fun and the development of friendships.

c) It shall strive to be seen as a worthwhile organisation by the local community.

d) It shall be non-political and non-sectarian. It shall not endorse any candidate for public office and shall not take corporate action at any meeting with the intention of influencing the policies or decisions of governments; however, the merits of any public question may be a subject of fair and thoughtful study or discussion at a Club meeting for the information of Members.

e) It shall not be, or be seen to be, a fund-raising body but any internal activities which may result in a surplus of funds which are applied to the running of the Club, shall not be excluded by this Article.

 

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Membership of this Club shall be open to residents of New Zealand who are retired or semi-retired and of good character who appreciate and value opportunities for social contact with others at a similar stage in life.

a) Applicants for membership, with the exception of the Foundation Members, should be sponsored by two Members of the Club and approved by the Management Committee.

b) No person shall be denied membership for reasons of race, religion or political persuasion.

 

ARTICLE IV – MANAGEMENT

a) The Club shall be managed by a Management Committee, normally comprising a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and Committee Members as provided in the by-laws or as agreed by members.

b) Officers and Committee Members shall be elected annually in accordance with the Club by-laws.

c) The Club shall keep a register of Members in which shall be recorded their names, postal and email addresses, telephone numbers and such other information as the Club may require. Such personal data shall be used only for contact within the Club and shall not be released to agencies outside the Club without the express consent of each individual Member, except that the Club's newsletters may be exchanged with other Rebus Clubs.

 

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

a) The General Meetings of the Club shall be held as provided in the Club by-laws.

b) An Annual General Meeting for the election of Officers shall be held before 31 March of each year.

c) The newly elected Management Committee shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.

 

ARTICLE VI – INFORMATION

The Club shall provide Rebus NZ Incorporated, with contact details of Officers, day and venue for meetings, and the number of Members. It shall pay an annual levy (as determined by Rebus NZ Incorporated from year to year) based on the number of Members, to cover the administration costs of Rebus NZ Incorporated.

 

ARTICLE VII – SUBSCRIPTIONS

Members of the Club shall pay an annual subscription and joining fee as determined by the Club each year at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE VIII – NON-PROFITABILITY

No member or person associated with a Member of the Club shall derive any income, benefit or advantage from the Club where they can materially influence the payment of income, benefit or advantage, except where that income, benefit or advantage is derived from:

1. Professional services to the Club rendered in the course of business and charged at no greater rate than current market rates; or

2. Interest on money lent at no greater than current market rates:

AND all Members who may be interested or concerned directly or indirectly shall disclose the nature and extent of their interest to the Club.

 

ARTICLE IX – WINDING UP

In the event that for whatever reason, a decision is made by the Members that the Club shall cease to function and that its affairs be wound up, such funds and property as it may then possess shall be transferred to another Rebus Club or similar organisation or donated to an appropriate charitable purpose. No Member of the Club shall be entitled to benefit directly from such disposal of Club assets.

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ARTICLE X – BY-LAWS

The Club shall adopt By-laws consistent with the Club’s adopted Constitution providing additional mechanisms for the oversight and operation of this Club.

 

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENT

a) This Constitution may be amended at a General Meeting, a quorum being present, by a two-thirds vote of all Members present and voting, notice of such proposed amendment having been published to all Members at least 21 days before such meeting. A copy of any amended Constitution to be provided to Rebus NZ Incorporated for its approval.

(b) No addition to or alteration of the non-profit aims, personal benefit clause or the winding-up clause shall be made which affect the tax exempt status of the club. The provisions and effect of this sub-clause shall not be removed from this document and shall be included and implied into any document replacing this document.

 

Note: Articles VIII, IX and XI (b) are requirements of New Zealand Inland Revenue Department when seeking income tax exemption.

  09/19