CONSTITUTION

NAME OBJECTS INCIDENTAL POWERS MEMBERSHIP JUNIOR MEMBERS ENTRANCE FEES & SUBSCRIPTIONS       CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP OFFICERS MANAGEMENT

RULES GENERAL MEETINGS SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS VOTES OF MEMBERS FINANCE THE COMMON SEAL PREVIOUS RULES CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION DISSOLUTION INSPECTION OF RECORDS

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1.       NAME

The name of the Federation shall be THE PIGEON RACING FEDERATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (INC).

2.       OBJECTS

The objects of the Federation and all property and income shall be applied solely towards:-

     1.  The encouragement of pigeon breeding, protecting training and racing of the racing pigeon.

     2.  The breeding and training of racing pigeons for the purpose of national defence.

     3.  Organising and promoting of such tests and competitions as may be necessary to achieve the objects.

     4.  To establish, maintain and conduct the Federation of non-political character for the accommodation of the Members of the Federation and their friends and to provide a Club House and other conveniences and generally afford privileges, conditions, conveniences and accommodation of the Federation.

     5.  Generally to promote and encourage social activities between its Members.

3.       INCIDENTAL POWERS

The Federation shall have the following powers:-

     1.  To purchase, take on lease or exchange, hire or otherwise acquire and maintain any real or personal property and any rights and privileges.

     2.  To erect, add to, improve, repair, pull down and rebuild buildings, and other structures.

     3.  To sell, exchange, lease, mortgage, hire, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the real and personal property of the Federation.

     4.  To accept donations whether of real or personal estate and devises and bequests.

     5.  To borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as the Federation thinks fit with power to issue debentures, grant mortgages, charges or any other class of security upon or charging all or any of the property, real or personal, both present and future, of the Federation and to redeem or pay off any existing or future security.

      6.  To invest and deal with the monies of the Federation not immediately required for the purposes of the Federation in such manner as may from time to time be determined.

     7.  To hold property on any trusts.

     8.  To subscribe to any patriotic, charitable, benevolent or public object referred to in paragraph (a) sub-section (1) of Section 78 of the Income Assessment Act 1937.

     9.  To amalgamate, co-operate or affiliate with any other Club, Federation or Society having objects wholly or in part similar to those of the Federation.

     10.  To appoint, employ and pay officers and servants and to dismiss or suspend any officer or servant.

     11.  To apply for, obtain and renew from time to time a Certificate of Registration under "The Licensing Act 1911 - 1959"

     12.  To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of its objects.

4.       MEMBERSHIP

The members of the Federations shall be:-

     1.  Financial Members of affiliated Clubs who shall pay any subscriptions imposed by the Federation from time to time and shall be duly elected from time to time by the Board of Control.

     2.  Life Members of whom no more than one shall be elected in each and every year and who shall pay no subscription.

     3.  All affiliated Clubs which shall pay subscriptions as laid down by the Federation from time to time.

     4.  The election of Members shall be by application in writing and shall be tabled in the office of the Federation for seven (7) days previous to such election and shall be by vote of the Board of Control.

     5.  Any Club having cause to expel a member for any reason and requires a penalty at Federation level must put reasons and recommendations in writing to The Board for a further penalty to be set, whilst the member is present the Boards decision to be final. Any Club, having as a Member one who is an expelled Member of the Federation, shall not be eligible of affiliation with the Federation. Any affiliated Club that shall accept and retain such a Member for Four weeks after due notice has been given, shall cease to be an affiliated Club of the Federation.

     6.  It shall be incumbent on all Members to pay due respect to the Chairman and to uphold the dignity of the Chair. Any Member disobeying the Chairmans ruling, if not conforming to the rules of debate, should the Member continue to disobey, their conduct shall be referred to the Board, who shall have the power to expel or to otherwise deal with such Member.

     7.  Any Club or a Member of a Club affiliated with the Federation who, in the opinion of the Board is guilty of misconduct, breaking rules and regulations of the Federation, or placing the Federation in danger of disrepute shall be suspended from all races for a period as decided by the Board, is liable to a fine of $50.00 and the Boards decision shall be final.

     8.  Any Member of an affiliated Club wishing to join another Club, must before admission, produce a clearance showing that all dues have been paid and that there is nothing detrimental to their character as a Member. They shall be debarred from competing in any race until this rule is complied with.

     9.  Any new club seeking affiliation shall present to the Board of Control a complete list of flying Members, and their addresses, together with a cheque covering all dues. The minimum number of fully paid flying Members shall be five (5) before affiliation will be granted. Such Members to be Members only of the Club seeking affiliation.

Where Clubs are participating in Federation races, the minimum competing members shall be five for that club to be able to basket in their own club rooms for participation in that race. Any number less than this, the club will need to make arrangements with an adjoining club to mark and enter their birds for the members to compete in that race. Any club entering the race with less than the required number will not be able to compete for prize money or Federation points for that race

     1.  Any Member who competes regularly with the PRF (eg. At least half the season each year) and also patronises a Club outside the Federation - no penalty.

     2.  Any Member who stands down from competition for a season and does not patronise a Club outside the Federation - no penalty

     3.  This rule is applicable irrespective of whether or not a Member is a fully paid up Member of their Club and Federation in the year they did not compete as a flying Member of the PRF

     10.  JUNIOR MEMBERS

          1.   Must not be older than 18 years at the 1st January before the racing season.

          2.   Has to be an independent Member with their own ring list.

          3.   Will pay a Membership fee of $5.00 per annum to the Federation.

          4.   Will be entitled to send up to six (6) birds free of charge in Club Races.

          5.   If the junior Member wishes to fly in Federation Races they must pay the full Federation Membership and race entry fees

5.       ENTRANCE FEES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Members shall pay such entrance fees and subscriptions to the Federation as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Control.

6.       CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

A member shall cease to be a Member of the Federation:-

     1.   On their written resignation, bankruptcy, death, being an enemy alien in time of war, or on ceasing to owe allegiance to the Crown, or conviction for any indictable criminal offence.

     2.   Should any Members subscription or other money due to the Federation remain unpaid for two (2) months - that fact shall be notified to such Member. Should the amount remain unpaid for one (1) month after such notice, the board of Control may strike their name off the books when their Membership shall cease. Unless in consequence of their being absent from Western Australia or for any other sufficient reason, the Board of Control may think proper to extend the time allowed for payment or to remit the whole or a portion of the sum due. The Board of Control may post the names of defaulters in the Federation premises at their discretion.

     3.   By a resolution of the Board of Control of the Federation to determine their Membership, passed in accordance with the Rules, the Federation for the time being in force in that behalf:-

PROVIDED ALWAYS:-

       1.  that no less than seven (7) days of notice of the Resolution be given to each Member of the Board of Control.

       2.  The rules may provide for an appeal from such decision.

7.       OFFICERS

The officers of the Federation shall consist of Patron; Vice Patron; President; Vice President; Honorary Secretary; Honorary Assistant Secretary; Honorary Treasurer; Honorary Publicity Officer; Honorary Lost Bird Officer and two (2) Auditors who shall be elected by financial Members of the Federation at the Annual General Meeting.

8.        MANAGEMENT

     1.   The sole management of the Federation shall be in the hands of the Board of Control, which shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six (6) other Members, three (3) of whom shall stand for re-election each Annual General Meeting.

     2.   Five (5) shall form a quorum.

     3.   The Board of Control may appoint special Committees with or without Members who are not Committee Members and may delegate power to act provided that all sub-committees shall at all times be subject to the control of the Board of Control.

9.       RULES

The Rules of the Federation shall be hereinafter specified and no alteration or addition thereto may be made unless approved by a majority vote at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting after due notice of motion has been given or unless such alteration or addition be proposed and seconded at one (1) meeting of the board of Control and inserted in the notices convening the next meeting by a majority of not less than two (2) votes to one (1). All such alterations or additions to the said Rules made by the board of Control as herein provided, but not otherwise, shall cease to operate as from the date of the next meeting of the Federation unless the same be duly confirmed thereat.

10.       GENERAL MEETINGS

     1.   The Annual General Meeting shall be held at the Federation Headquarters on such a day of the year as fixed by the board of Control, but not later than the second week in February.

     2.   Notice of Motion of any resolution (other than ordinary business) and any nomination of candidates shall be sent to the Secretary not later than the thirtieth (30th) day of November preceding.

     3.   All Notices of Motion and nominations received by the Secretary shall forthwith be posted on the Federation Notice Board and shall there remain until after the Meeting. The removal of any notice or nomination shall not invalidate such notice or nomination but any notice or nomination so removed must be replace with a copy thereof by the Secretary after the Secretary discovers removal. In the case of Notices of Motion the Secretary shall give at least seven (7) days notice in writing to each Member of the Motion of the Purport.

     4.   Accidental omission to send or delay in sending any notice or no-receipt of any notice will not invalidate any meeting nomination, resolution or election.

     5.   The Quorum at a General Meeting shall be thirty five (35) and in the event of there being no quorum the President or if no President be present, the Secretary, shall adjourn the meeting to such time, date and place as they may deem fit. The quorum at any adjourned meeting shall be the number of Members in attendance at the time fixed for such a meeting.

     6.   Only financial Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at General Meetings, but any accidental breach of this article will not invalidate any election or resolution.

     7.   The majority necessary to carry a resolution at an ordinary General Meeting shall be a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote subject to Article (f) preceding.

     8.   A half-yearly meeting will be held as provided for in the Rules.

11.       SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

     1.   Upon authority being given by the Board of Control or by a requisition made and signed by at least twelve (12) Members stating the subjects intended to be discussed, the Secretary shall call a Special Meeting of the Federation. In all cases the subject matter to be discussed shall be set out in the form of a Notice of Motion.

     2.   Such meeting shall be convened by the Secretary for the consideration of such subject or subjects only not later than twenty eight (28) days after such authority requisition (as the case may be) and at least seven (7) days notice in writing of such meeting, and the Notice of Motion or the purport thereof shall be given to each Member.

     3.   All notices of Motion received by the Secretary shall forthwith be posted on the Federation Notice Board and shall there remain until after the meeting. Removal of any Notice of Nomination shall not invalidate such notice or any resolution which may be subsequently carried by any notice so removed my be replaced by a copy thereof by the Secretary after removal is discovered by him.

     4.   The quorum for any meeting shall be thirty five (35). Should insufficient Members attend to form a quorum with fifteen (15) minuted of the time fixed for such meeting, then the meeting shall lapse.

     5.   The majority necessary to carry a resolution in a Special General Meeting shall be a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote.

     6.   Only financial Members shall be entitled to vote at Special General Meetings but any accidental breach of this article will not invalidate any election.

11A.       VOTES OF MEMBERS

     1.   Subject to this Constitution a Member shall be entitled to be present at any General Meeting of the Federation either personally or by proxy and to vote on any question on a show of hands and upon a poll and to be reckoned in a quorum.

     2.   On a show of hands every Member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote.

     3.   An instrument appointing a proxy may be in the following form or any form which the Board of Control shall approve:

THE PIGEON RACING FEDERATION OF WA (INC)

I, ................................................................................................... of................................................................................................... being a Member of the Pigeon Racing Federation of WA (Inc) HEREBY APPOINT.................................................................... of................................................................................................... or failing them.............................................................................. of................................................................................................... or failing them then the chairman of the meeting as my proxy vote for me on my behalf at the (ordinary or special, as the case may be) General Meeting of the Federation to be held on the day of.....................................and at any adjournment thereof. SIGNED this .................................................day of....................

     4.   The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointer or if such appointer is a corporation either under seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy may but need not be a Member of the Federation.

     5.   The instrument appointment a proxy or proof thereof to the satisfaction of the Board of Control shall be deposited at the office (or branch office) before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting or the poll at which the person named in such instrument purposed to vote but no instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of its execution.

12.       FINANCE

After providing for all expenses and payment considered by the board of Control to be necessary or desirable, the balance of the funds of the Federation may be utilised or dealt with in such manner as the Board of Control may determine for the furtherance of the objects of the Federation.

13.       THE COMMON SEAL

     1.   The Common Seal of the Federation shall be affixed to such deeds, instruments and documents as need to be under seal by order of the Board of Control and in the presence of the two Trustees and seal holders hereinafter mentioned.

     2.   The Board of Control shall appoint two (2) Members as Trustees and to use the seal of the Federation and such appointment shall continue until resignation or cancellation by the Board of Control or ceasing to be a Member of the Federation.

14.       PREVIOUS RULES

     1.   All previous Rules are repealed.

     2.   All previous acts and appointments legal and valid under previous Rules shall, subject to this Constitution and Rules, remain legal and valid.

15.       CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION

This Constitution may be altered or repealed or a new Constitution may be made at any Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting summoned for the purpose, subject to compliance with Article 9, 10 and 11 hereof as the case may be except that the resolution shall be carried by a 75% majority of those present and entitled to vote.

16.       DISSOLUTION

     1.   The Federation may be dissolved by the votes of at least three quarters (3/4) of the Officers and Members of the Federation recorded at a General Meeting called for such purpose and then such resolution must be ratified by a majority vote of three quarters (3/4) of the Members of each Pigeon Club at a Meeting of each Pigeon Club specially called for that purpose and thereupon the assets of the Federation shall be realised.

     2.   If, on the winding up of the Federation, any property of the Federation remains after satisfaction of the debts and liabilities of the Federation and the cost, charges and expenses of that winding up, that property shall be distributed-

       (a)   to another Association incorporated under the act having objects similarly.

       (b)   for charitable purposes

Which incorporated association or purpose, as the case requires shall be determined by resolution of the members when authorising the directing Committee under section 33(3) of the Act to prepare a distribution plan for the distribution of the surplus property of the Federation.

17.       INSPECTION OF RECORDS, etc. OF THE FEDERATION

A member may at any reasonable time inspect without charge the books, documents, records and securities of the Federation.