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A Microsoft Word version of the CSME Constitution can be downloaded here.
Catholic Society for Marriage Education Rules
The Catholic Society for Marriage Education Incorporated was established from diocesan representatives involved in marriage education. Since 1973 representatives met annually and in July 1980 the Society was first constituted and renamed.
1. Name: The name of the Association shall be the Catholic Society for Marriage Education Incorporated.
2. Objects.
2.1 The object of the Society is to promote and support marriage and family life in accordance with the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church by encouraging marriage and relationship education for couples considering marriage and for married couples, throughout Australia.
2.2 In accordance with this object, the Society will :
2.2.1 Develop an awareness of the vocation of marriage and of the need for remote, proximate and immediate preparation and ongoing enrichment for this vocation in the community;
2.2.2 Provide a forum for those involved in marriage education so that they may share and help each other in their work;
2.2.3 Promote and disseminate educational techniques and material suitable for marriage education courses;
2.2.4 Act as an advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference through the Bishops Committee for Pastoral Life in matters relating to marriage and relationship education;
2.2.5 Liaise with Catholic Social Services Australia on matters relating to marriage and marriage education;
2.2.6 Be a national resource body for Catholic agencies and individuals engaged in marriage and relationship education;
2.2.7 Liaise with other Catholic agencies and organisations in the community; and
2.2.8 Promote national and state conferences for its members
3. Income and Property
The income and property of the Society whencesoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Society and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to members provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any member, officer or servant of the Society in return for any services actually rendered to the Society nor goods supplied in the ordinary and usual way of business, nor prevent the payment of interest at a normal commercial rate on money borrowed from any member of the Society or reasonable or proper rent for premises demised or let by any member of the Society.
4. Headquarters of the Society
The Executive Committee shall determine the location of the 'headquarters' of the Society.
5. Interpretation
In the rules the following expressions shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
5.1 "The Act” means the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) as it may be
amended from time to time;
5.2 “The Society” means the Catholic Society for Marriage Education Incorporated;
5.3 “The Committee” means the Executive Committee of the Society.
5.4 “Financial year” means the year ending on the 30th day of June.
6. Membership
There shall be two categories of membership:
6.1 Ordinary membership is open to each marriage and relationship education organisation within the Catholic Church which subscribes to the objects of the Society, returns an application form to the Executive Committee, and pays the prescribed membership fee. There are three levels of ordinary membership:
i. Large Agency/Parish is an agency or body that provides marriage education to over 300 couples per year
ii. Medium Agency/Parish provides marriage education to 100 to 300 couples per year
iii. Small Agency/Parish provides marriage education to less than 100 couples per year
6.2 Associate membership is open to all individuals who subscribe to the objects of the Society, return an application form to the Executive Committee, and pay the prescribed membership fee. Associate members are not eligible to vote on all business conducted at meetings, for elections of the Executive Committee or to stand for election of the Executive Committee
6.3 The Executive Committee shall prescribe an application form to be used by eligible applicants to apply to become a member of the Society
6.4 Upon receipt by the Society of a signed application in the prescribed form from an eligible applicant, such application shall be considered by the Executive Committee which shall determine the admission or rejection of the application.
6.5 Each ordinary member of the Society shall authorise a natural person to act as its delegate and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise all the powers on behalf of that member which s/he represents.
6.6 Each ordinary member shall inform the Executive Committee in writing of the name of its delegate.
7. Register of Members
A register of the members must be maintained and kept with the treasurer and the public officer and be available at the Annual General Meeting.
8. Cessation of Membership
A member of the Society ceases to be a member of the Society if that member:
(a) resigns in writing to the Executive Committee from membership of the Society;
(b) fails to renew membership of the Society by payment within the prescribed time of the annual subscription.
(c) is dismissed in accordance with Rule 8
9. Disciplining and dismissing of members
The procedure for disciplining and dismissing Members of the Society shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
10. Executive Committee
The governing body of the Society shall be the Executive Committee:
10.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of a minimum of six members;
10.1.1 These shall be elected from amongst ordinary members at Annual General Meetings and hold office for three years subject to Rule 10.1.4.
10.1.2. Elections shall be held annually for one third of the Executive Committee.
10.1.3 The position of the two members of the Executive Committee whose continuous membership is the longest shall be the positions declared vacant at each AGM.
10.1.4 Retiring Executive Committee members may be eligible for re-election provided that they have not served on the Committee for nine consecutive years.
10.1.5 If a casual vacancy occurs, the term of the person elected to replace the former member of the Executive Committee will be length of the term remaining for the former member who has been replaced
10.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at least once each year and at a second time at the Annual General Meeting and as often as determined by the Committee. Executive Committee meetings may be held by Teleconferences;
10.3 The quorum of a meeting of the executive committee will consist of four members;
10.4 The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill casual vacancies
10.5 The National Conference Co-convenor, if not already a member of the Executive Committee, may be co-opted to the Executive Committee for the term of his or her role as Co-convenor.
10.6 The Committee shall prepare all the documents required in accordance with the Act each year and lodge them with the Register’s General Office ACT.
11. Officers
11.1 The officers of the Society shall be the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held concurrently by the same person, that person not being the President.
11.2 The Executive Committee, at its first meeting after each Annual General Meeting shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer;
11.3 No office may be held by the same member for a period longer than two consecutive terms.
11.4 President:
11.4.1 The President shall preside as Chairperson of any general meeting of the Society and all meetings of the Executive Committee. If the President is absent from any general meeting, the members of the Society present shall elect one of their number to preside as chairperson at the meeting.
11.4.2 In the absence of the President, the Executive Committee shall elect one of its members to chair the meeting
11.4.3 The President will be responsible for the preparation of the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting.
11.4.4 The President, in collaboration with the Executive Committee, will prepare formal reports to the Annual General Meeting and Catholic Welfare Australia and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through the Bishops Committee for Social Welfare and the Bishops Committee for Family and for Life.
11.5 Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for the compilation and distribution of the Minutes of the Executive Committee and all meetings of the Society.
11.5.1 Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the Secretary shall keep in his or her custody or under his or her control all books, documents and securities of the Society.
11.5.2 Upon receipt of a written request, the Secretary shall make available all books and documents of the Society for inspection by members.
11.6 Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the arrangements and recording of financial transactions of the Society.
11.6.1 The Treasurer will maintain an up-to-date register of financial members. The register shall contain the names of the duly authorised voting delegates of Agency members.
11.6.2 The Treasurer will complete an annual financial statement on an accrual basis, and an audited statement of receipts and expenditure, assets and liabilities at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Society and present them with the auditor’s report to the members at the meeting.
11.7 Public Officer: A public officer, appointed by the Executive Committee fulfils the position in accordance with the Act and keeps a copy of the register of the members.
12. Finance
All monies received shall be deposited in the Society’s bank accounts.
12.1 The Signatories of these accounts will include: The President The Treasurer and one other Executive Committee member, or a person delegated by the Executive.
12.2 All amounts shall be paid by cheque signed by any two of the above signatories.
12.3 An independent Auditor will be appointed by the Executive Committee in accordance with the Act.
13. Subscriptions
Membership subscriptions shall be determined at each Annual General Meeting of the Society by a simple majority vote.
14. Annual General Meetings
An Annual general meeting of the Society will be held once each year. At least one month’s notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each member.
15. Proceedings at Meeting
All business that is transacted at general meetings and all business that is transacted at the Annual General Meeting with exception of that specifically referred to in these Rules as being the ordinary business of the Annual General Meeting shall be deemed to be special business.
16. Quorum
16.1 No item of business shall be transacted at meetings of the Society unless a quorum of delegates entitled under these Rules to vote is present during the time when the meeting is considering that item;
16.2 Eight delegates personally present, being delegates entitled under these Rules to vote at meetings of the Society, constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting;
17. Elections
17.1 The Election of the Executive Committee members shall be held by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting, except if the number of nominations equals the number of existing vacancies. In that case those nominated shall, if willing to stand, be declared elected.
17.2 A person may be nominated and elected as an officer of the Society if (a) that person is nominated for election by the agency they represent and this nomination is tabled at the Annual General Meeting.
17.3 Nominations shall take place at the Annual General Meeting and shall be accepted upon receiving a second from a member who is eligible to vote, and confirmation that the member is willing to stand.
17.4 The vote shall be taken by each elector writing down the name(s) of the candidate(s) for which they wish to vote.
17.5 The scrutineers, appointed by the Chair, shall tally the votes received by each candidate.
17.6 The number of candidates necessary to fill the existing vacancies will be selected in order of the most votes tallied to least votes tallied.
17.7 Additional ballots will be immediately taken, if necessary, to resolve ties.
18. Eligibility to Vote
18.1 Large Member Agencies/Parishes may appoint, by letter to the Secretary, a voting delegate to attend meetings of the society. Each such delegate shall be entitled to three votes and be eligible to stand for election.
18.2 Medium Member Agencies/Parishes may appoint, by letter to the Secretary, a voting delegate to attend meetings of the society. Each such delegate shall be entitled to two votes and be eligible to stand for election.
18.3 Small Member Agencies/Parishes may appoint, by letter to the Secretary, a voting delegate to attend meetings of the society. Each such delegate shall be entitled to one vote and be eligible to stand for election.
18.4 Associate members are not eligible to vote or to stand for election.
18.5 A person may be nominated and elected as an officer of the Society if (a) that person is nominated for election by the agency they represent and this nomination is tabled at the Annual General Meeting.
19. Voting Procedures
19.1 A question arising at a meeting of the Society shall be determined on a show of hands, and unless before or on the declaration of the show of hands, a poll is demanded, a declaration by the Chairperson 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 Society is evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against that resolution.
19.1 In the case of an equality of voting on a question, the Chairperson of the meeting is entitled to exercise a second or casting vote.
19.2 If at a meeting a poll or question is demanded by three or more members, it shall be taken at that meeting in such manner as the Chairperson may direct and the resolution of the poll shall be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting on that question.
19.3 A poll that is demanded 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 Chairperson may decree.
20. Proxy Voting
20.1 Each member entitled to vote shall be entitled to appoint another member as his or her 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.
20.2 The notice appointing the proxy shall be in the form determined by the Committee.
21. Adjourned Meetings
21.1 The Chairperson of a 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 other business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting at which the adjournment took place;
21.2 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 original meeting;
22. Notices
A notice may be served by or on behalf of the Society upon any member either personally or by sending it to the Member at his or her address shown in the Society’s Register of Members.
23. Seal
23.1 The Common Seal of the Society shall be kept in the custody of the Secretary.
23.2 The Common Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by authority of the
Executive and the affixing of the Common Seal shall be attested to by signatures of two members of the Executive.
24. National Conference
24.1 The Society will promote National Conferences aimed at developing the skills and expertise of marriage and relationship educators, providing mutual support to members and deepening the Community awareness of the Vocation to Marriage.
24.2 Times and places for the National Conferences shall be determined by the Executive Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Marriage And Relationships Educators’ Association of Australia (MAREAA) and after considering recommendations of the Annual General Meeting.
24.3 A National Conference Convenor to act jointly with a Convenor appointed by MAREAA to plan and implement national conferences shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
25. Limitation of Liability
The liability of a member of the Society to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Society or the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the Society is limited to an amount, if any, unpaid by the member in respect of membership of the Society as required by Rule 12.
26. Dissolution
26.1 The Society shall be dissolved by a resolution to this effect carried by at least a three-quarters majority of voting members present at a Meeting of the Society. with 21 days notice of the proposed resolution
26.2 In the event of dissolution:
26.2.1 All records of the Society will be transferred to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
26.2.2 Any surplus assets remaining after the payment of the Society’s liabilities shall be transferred to another organisation with similar status and purposes.
27. Amendments to the Constitution
This constitution may be amended by a three-quarters majority of voting members present at a Meeting of the Society, provided 21 days notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been given to the Secretary prior to voting and all financial ordinary members have been sent the proposed changes by mail 21 days prior to voting.
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