RULES OF THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS ASSOCIATION
OF SARADA
1
NAME
1.1
This Association shall be known as "TeachersAnd Parents
Association of Sarada".
2
PLACE OF BUSINESS
2.1
It's place of
business shall be at "179 Bartley Road, Singapore 539784" or such other address
as may subsequently be decided upon by the Committee and approved by the
Registrar of Societies. The Association shall carry out its activities only
in places and premises, which have the prior written approval from the relevant
authorities, where necessary.
3
PRELIMINARY
3.1
In these presents,
unless there be something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith, the
words and expressions following shall have the meanings hereinafter assigned to
them respectively:-
a) The "Association" means the above named "Teachers And
Parents Association of Sarada.”
b) The "Mission" means the
Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore.
c) The "Kindergarten" means the Ramakrishna Mission Sarada
Kindergarten.
d) The "Rules" means the
Rules contained in these Rules, with such (if any) modifications as may from
time to time be made therein.
e) "Committee" means the
Committee hereinafter mentioned.
f) "Students" means former pupils (whether male or female)
of the Kindergarten who shall have been such pupils for a period of not less
than three (3) months but does not include persons currently attending primary,
secondary schools, centralised institutes or junior colleges.
g) “Teachers" means former principals, present and former
teachers and staff (other than former pupils) of the Kindergarten who have held
such positions for a period of not less than six (6) months.
h) "Parents" means the natural and/or adoptive parents, and
guardians of present and past pupils of the Kindergarten who shall have been
such students for a period of not less than three (3)
months.
i) “Voting Members”
means members who are not in arrears of subscription or other dues payable under
Rule 9, and have not been expelled, suspended and/or ceased to be members under
Rule 30.1, as at the date of such voting.
j) Words
importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa.
k) Words importing the masculine gender include the
feminine gender and vice versa.
4
CONSTITUTION
4.1
For the purpose of
proper control, supervision, and management and for the performance of its
objectives, the Association shall be governed by a Committee as provided under
Rule 14.
5
PATRONS
5.1
The President of
the Mission, the monastic member of the Mission in charge of the Kindergarten,
and the Manager and the Supervisor of the Kindergarten shall be invited to
become Patrons of the Association. Other persons may be made Patrons of the
Association if they are recommended by the Committee and approved by a General
Meeting, provided that at no time shall the total number of Patrons exceed four
(4).
6
OBJECTS
6.1
The Objects of the
Association shall be:
a) To promote the advancement and improvement of its
members physically, intellectually, socially and morally.
b) To develop a true
spirit of loyalty and love for the Alma Mater.
c) To secure the
co-operation and active interest of pupils in carrying out aims and objects of
the Kindergarten.
d) To foster the ideals of the true citizenship and to
promote the feeling of comradeship among the races.
e) To promote the welfare
of the Kindergarten, its Students and Teachers.
f) To provide scholarships, prizes and financial assistance
to Students and Teachers of the Kindergarten.
g) To facilitate an active interaction between parents and
students in the various activities of the Kindergarten.
h) To undertake various fund raising and other activities
for the support of the Kindergarten and/or the Association.
7
MEMBERS
7.1
The number of
members of the Association is unlimited.
7.2 The Association shall consist
of Honorary, Life, Ordinary, and Associate Members.
7.3
Membership shall be open to all past students of the
Kindergarten provided always that persons currently attending primary, secondary
schools, centralised institutes or junior colleges shall not be admitted as
members. Persons who are below 18 years of age shall not be members without
the written consent of their Parents.
7.4
Persons who have done some special service for the
Association or the Kindergarten are eligible for Honorary Membership and may be
elected as such by the Association in General Meeting on the recommendation of
the Committee. An Honorary Member shall have none of the liabilities of
Members as regards subscriptions and shall not be entitled to vote or hold
office, but shall have the privilege of attending the meetings of the
Association and such other privileges as may be conferred upon him by the Rules
or By-laws.
7.5
Ordinary Membership shall be opened to the following
who are 18 years of age and above:-
a) All former pupils, Teachers
and Parents as defined in Rule 3.
b) The 2nd Vice President, and the current
Principal of the Kindergarten shall be Ordinary Members for the duration of
their office.
All
Ordinary Members shall have the rights to vote at General Meetings and to hold
office in the Committee.
7.6
Any Ordinary Member of the Association may become a
Life Member on the payment of the required subscription as may be determined by
the Committee from time to time.
7.7
Associate Membership shall be open to all Students,
Teachers and Parents who do not qualify for Ordinary Membership under Rule 7.5.
Associate Members shall not be entitled to vote at General Meetings and to hold
office in the Association.
7.8
The Committee may also from time to time elect any
person to Associate Membership that it shall deem fit having regard to such
person's interest in or connection with the Kindergarten. Such membership
shall be for such period and upon such terms as to subscription and otherwise as
the Committee may determine from time to time.
8
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
8.1
A candidate for
election as a Life, Ordinary or Associate Member shall be proposed by one Life
or Ordinary Member and seconded by another. His name and particulars shall
then be submitted to the Committee on a prescribed form for approval. The
decision of the Committee shall be final and shall not be subjected to question
and/or appeal.
9
ENTRANCE FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER
DUES
9.1
There shall be no
entrance fee payable for all members.
9.2
The subscription for Ordinary and Associate Memberships
shall be such sums payable on such period as may from time to time be fixed by
the Committee. Life members shall upon admission pay a one-time
subscription of such sum as may be determined by the Committee.
9.3
Any additional fund required for special purposes may
only be raised from members with the consent of the General Meeting of members.
10
SUPREME AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS
10.1
The Supreme authority of the Association is
vested in a General Meeting of the members presided over by the
President. In the absence of the President and 1st Vice
President, the meeting shall elect its own chairperson.
10.2 The
Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in August.
10.3 The
business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:-
a) To receive the annual report and pass the previous
financial year's accounts and annual report.
b) Where applicable, to elect the officer-bearers for the
following term who shall thereupon take office.
c) Where applicable, to
elect two (2) Honorary Auditors.
d) Where applicable, to make new rules or alter or repeal
existing rules.
e) To discuss any other business, notice of which shall
have been given to the Honorary Secretary at least seven (7) days before the
date of the meeting.
10.4 At other
times, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association shall be called by
the President:-
a) When deemed necessary by the
Committee.
b)
Upon written application of not less than
25% of the voting membership or thirty (30) voting members, whichever is the
lesser. The notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary setting forth
the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting
shall be convened within two (2) months from receiving the request to convene
the Extraordinary General Meeting.
10.5 If the
Committee does not within two (2) months after the date of receipt of the
written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members
who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting under Rule 10.4 (b) shall
convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten (10) days' notice to
voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously
posting the agenda on the Association's notice board.
11
NOTICE OF MEETINGS
11.1
At least two (2) weeks' notice shall be
given of an Annual General Meeting and at least ten (10) days' notice of an
Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and
place of the meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members. The
particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Association's notice board four
(4) days in advance of the meeting.
12
QUORUM
12.1
Thirty (30) voting members shall constitute
a Quorum at a General Meeting, Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the
Quorum.
12.2 If within
half an hour of the appointed time for holding a general meeting, the number of
voting members who are present is insufficient to form a quorum, the general
meeting may be held as if a quorum is present if there are twelve or more voting
members present in person. PROVIDED THAT such reduced quorum of ordinary
members may not exercise the powers to repeal or alter or add to the Rules
provided under Rule 34.
13
VOTING
13.1
The business of the Association shall be
transacted by a show of hands vote except for the election of officers, which
shall be by secret ballot.
13.2 Unless
otherwise stated in this Rules, voting by proxy is allowed at all General
Meetings.
13.3 In the
event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
14
MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE
14.1
The management, organisation and
supervision of the administrative affairs and daily activities of the
Association shall be vested in a Committee composed of the following members:-
a)
The President;
b)
The 1st Vice-President;
c)
The 2nd Vice President,
who shall be a serving member of the Kindergarten Management Committee and/or
the Mission Advisory Committee;
d)
The Honorary Secretary;
e)
The Honorary Assistant Secretary;
f)
The Honorary
Treasurer;
g)
The Honorary Assistant Treasurer;
h)
Ten (10) Ordinary Committee Members;
i)
The current Principal of the
Kindergarten shall be an ex-officio member,
j)
If considered necessary by the
elected Committee Members, up to five (5) co-opted members in accordance with
Rule 16.1(c).
15
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
15.1
Save for the 2nd Vice President
and the Principal of the Kindergarten who shall be co-opted into the Committee,
Members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the
Association.
15.2 All
nominations for the offices must be submitted to the Honorary Secretary at least
three (3) clear days before the Annual General Meeting, together with the names
of a proposer and a seconder for the candidate, both of whom shall be members of
the Association.
15.3 Each
member so elected shall hold office for two (2) years and shall be eligible for
re-election. Except for the ten (10) Ordinary Committee Members, no member
shall hold office for more than two (2) terms consecutively. The Treasurer
shall not hold office for more than one (1) term consecutively.
15.4 For the
purpose of this Rule a "term" shall mean the period between two successive
Annual General Meetings. At each subsequent Annual General Meeting there
shall be elections only for those posts falling vacant, and each member elected
to fill such post shall hold office till the next term.
16
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
16.1
The Committee shall have the following
powers:
a) To decide on the application for membership in
accordance with Rule 8.
b) To manage the financial affairs of the Association.
c) To co-opt if and when necessary not more than five (5)
members to serve on the Committee for a period expiring on the date of the next
Annual General meeting.
d) To recommend new rules or the alteration or the repeal
of existing rules for the consideration of the Association in the manner
prescribed by Rule 34.
e)
To appoint Sub-Committees as they may deem necessary or expedient.
f) To promulgate By-laws for the Association provided such
By-laws shall not be in conflict with the Rules.
g)
To exercise such other powers and to
discharge such other duties, as the Rules and By-laws of the Association may for
the time being provided, and generally to act on behalf of the Association in
all matters whereon the Rules or By-laws do not expressly or otherwise provide.
17
DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE
17.1
The duty of the Committee is to organize
and supervise the daily activities of the Society. The Committee may not
act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior
reference to it and always remains subordinate to the General Meetings.
18
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
18.1
There shall be at least one Committee
meeting during each Kindergarten Academic Term after giving seven (7) days'
notice to Committee Members. The President may call a Committee Meeting any
time by giving five (5) days' notice. At least one half of the Committee
Member must be present for its proceedings to be valid.
18.2 Any
member of the Committee absenting himself from three (3) meetings consecutively
without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the
Committee and a successor may Be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the
next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the Committee shall be notified
to the Registrar of Societies within two (2) weeks of the change.
19
VACANCIES OF COMMITTEE
19.1
In the event of the death or resignation or
absence from Singapore of any member of the Committee or in the event of a
vacancy occurring in any other manner, the Committee shall have the power to
appoint some member of the Association to hold office thereby vacated until the
next Annual General Meeting.
20
DUTIES OF THE OFFICE-BEARERS
20.1
The President shall preside at all General
and Committee Meetings of the Association. He shall also represent the
Association in its dealings with outside persons.
20.2 The
Vice Presidents shall assist the President. The 1st Vice President
shall deputise for the President in his absence.
20.3 The
Honorary Secretary shall:-
a)
Keep a record of the proceedings of
the Association and the minutes of the General and Committee Meetings.
b)
Attend to all correspondence of the
Association.
c)
Be in charge of all documents and
papers of the Association.
d)
Issue notices and convene General
and Committee Meetings.
e)
Maintain an up-to-date Membership
Register.
20.4 The
Honorary Assistant Secretary shall assist the Honorary Secretary and deputise
for him in his absence.
20.5 The
Honorary Treasurer with the assistance of the Honorary Assistant Treasurer
shall:-
a)
Keep an account of all monies
received and paid.
b)
Deposit all collections as directed
by the Committee.
c)
Draw up a Balance Sheet annually
which shall be duly audited before being submitted to the Annual General Meeting
for approval.
20.6 The
Honorary Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Honorary Treasurer and deputise
for him in his absence.
20.7 Ordinary
Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of the Association
and perform duties assigned by the Committee from time to time.
21
FUNDS
21.1
Funds of the Association shall be deposited in a bank account in
the name of the Association. The President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary
Treasurer shall be authorised to operate the said account. The Honorary
Treasurer and either the President or the Honorary Secretary shall sign all
cheques drawn on the said account. Payments from the funds of the
Association exceeding a sum of $5,000.00 shall only be made on the authorisation
of the Committee.
22
FINANCIAL YEAR
22.1 The
financial year of the Association shall be from 1st April to
31st March.
23
AUDIT
23.1
Two (2) voting members, but not being
members of the Committee, shall be elected as Honorary Auditors of the
Association at each Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for two (2)
years and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive term.
23.2 The
Honorary Auditors shall audit the accounts of the Association each year and
shall present a report upon such accounts at each Annual General
Meeting. The President may at any time require the Honorary Auditors to
audit the accounts of the Association for any period during the tenure of office
of the Honorary Auditors and to submit a report of such audit to the
Committee.
24
ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
24.1
The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts
of the Committee of the Association shall be printed and presented at the Annual
General Meeting.
25. POWER TO BORROW MONEY
25.1 The Committee may from time to time raise or borrow for
the purposes of the Association such sums of money as it thinks proper, and it
may raise or secure the payment of such monies in such manner and upon such
terms and conditions in all respects as it thinks fit. PROVIDED THAT where
any question arises involving either the raising or borrowing of money or the
incurring of any capital expenditure by the Association of more than $10,000.00
for any one project, than that question and any other question arising out of
the same or incidental thereto shall be decided by a majority vote of the
members entitled to vote expressed in person at a Genera! Meeting.
26 ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
26.1
The Committee shall, with the prior consent
of the General Meeting of members, be able to purchase or acquire movable or
immovable property or other assets for the purposes of the Association or invest
any funds of the Association not immediately required for any such purposes upon
the security of any investments for the time being authorised by law for the
investment of trust funds with full power to sell, realise, vary or otherwise
deal with such movable property and investments.
26.2 The
Committee may employ independent professional advice on any proposed sale or
purchase of property or investments.
27
DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY
27.1
No immovable property of the Association or
any part thereof shall be sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged or
otherwise disposed of without a resolution authorising or sanctioning such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance, mortgage or other transaction being first
passed at a General Meeting of the Association.
28
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES
28.1
The investments and immovable property of
the Association shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.
28.2 The
trustees of the Association shall: -
a)
Not be more than four (4) and not less than two (2) in number.
b) Be elected by a General
Meeting of members.
c)
Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the
General Meeting of members.
28.3 The
office of trustee shall be vacated:-
a)
If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.
b)
If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one (1
)year.
c)
If he is guilty of misconduct of such kind as to render it undesirable that he
continues as a trustee.
d)
if he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.
28.4 Notice of
any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to appoint a new
trustee to fill a vacancy must be given, where the proposal is to remove a
trustee, by ordinary post or electronic mail (e- mail) to that trustee, and in
all cases by posting it on the notice board in the Association's premises at
least two (2) weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be
discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be notified to the
Registrar of Societies.
28.5 The
address of each immovable properties, name of each trustee and any subsequent
change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.
29
RESIGNATION
29.1
A member may at any time by giving notice
in writing to the Secretary, resign his membership of the Association, but shall
continue to be liable for any subscription or other debt due and unpaid at the
date of his resignation.
30
EXPULSION, SUSPENSION AND CESSATION OF
MEMBERSHIP
30.1
If any member shall, in the opinion of the
Committee, act in any way prejudicial to the interests of the Association or its
members or shall break any Rule or By-Law of the Association, the Committee
shall consider the conduct of such member at a meeting of the Committee. If
at such meeting it is considered that there is sufficient evidence to justify
calling on the member to answer any charge made against him, a notice in writing
shall be given to such member calling on him to attend an Extraordinary General
Meeting of the Association for the purpose of answering such charges. Such
notice shall not be less than seven (7) clear days. At the Extraordinary
General Meeting, the member concerned shall be informed of the charges made
against him and shall have the right to be heard in his own defence. If,
after hearing such member, three-fifths of the members present at the general
meeting shall vote for the expulsion of the said member, he shall, after the
hearing, thereupon cease to be a member of the Association. The said
meeting, may, at the conclusion of such hearing, by like majority suspend the
member for such period as determined by the general membership. Notice thereof
shall thereafter be sent to such member. If such member refuses to attend
the meeting in answer to the notice calling upon him to do so, the Association
in general meeting may nevertheless proceed in his absence. No appeal shall
lie from the decision of the Association in general meeting to any other meeting
(whether of the Committee or of the members of the Association) or to any Court
of Law.
30.2
Ordinary/Associate members who are in arrears of subscription or other dues
payable under Rule 9 for a period of two (2) consecutive years shall cease to be
members of the Association, notwithstanding that the Association has not made a
formal demand for the payment of such dues.
30.3 A person
expelled under Rule 30.1 shall not thereafter be eligible as a member of the
Association.
31
PROHIBITIONS
31.1
Gambling of any kind, excluding the
promotion or conduct of a private lottery, which has been permitted under the
Private Lotteries Act Cap. 250, is forbidden on the Association's
premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of
bad characters into the premises is prohibited.
31.2 The funds
of the Association shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been
convicted in a court of law.
31.3 The
Association shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any
written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.
31.4 The
Association shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make
directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members
which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling
the price or discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or services
which adversely affect consumer interest.
31.5 The
Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds
and/or premises to be used for political purposes.
31.6 The
Association shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not,
in the name of the Association or its office-bearers, Committee or members
unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.
31.7 The
Association shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without
the prior approval in writing of the Head, Licensing Division, Singapore Police
Force and other relevant authorities.
32
INTERPRETATION
32.1
In the event of any question or matter
pertaining to day-today administration, which is not expressly provided for in
this Rules, the Committee shall have power to use their own discretion. The
decision of the Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General
Meeting of members.
33
DISPUTES
33.1
Members shall attempt to resolve any
disputes arising amongst themselves, including disputes arising out of or in
connection with these Rules at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance
with this Constitution.
33.2 Should
members fail to resolve the matter, the dispute shall be referred to, and
finally resolved by arbitration in Singapore in accordance with the Arbitration
Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Centre ("SIAC Rules") for the time
being in force which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference to this
Rule.
34
NEW RULES, REPEAL OR ALTERATION OF EXISTING
RULES
34.1
Provided that at least fourteen (14) clear
days' notice in writing either via ordinary post or electronic mail (e-mail) has
been given to each member specifying the exact words of the proposed alteration
or addition, new rules or alterations or repeal of existing rules may be
proposed at the Annual General Meeting or any Extraordinary General Meeting by
the Committee or by the signatories of the requisition for an Extraordinary
General Meeting, and may be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the members
present and voting.
34.2
A notice will be deemed to have been
received the day after posting by ordinary post and/or despatch via
electronic mail (e-mail) and for the purpose of computing the period of
fourteen clear days the date of receipt and the date of the meeting shall not be
counted.
34.3 Such new
rules, or alterations or repeal of existing rules so adopted shall not come into
operation or be applied until they have been approved in writing by the
Registrar of Societies.
35
DISSOLUTION
35.1
The Association shall not be dissolved
except with the consent of not less than three-fifths of the voting members of
the Association for the time being resident in Singapore, expressed either in
person or by proxy at a general meeting convened for the purpose.
35.2 In the
event of the Association being dissolved as provided for under the provisions of
Rule 35.1, all debts and liabilities properly incurred by or on behalf of the
Association shall be fully discharged and the remaining funds of the
Association, if any, shall be disposed of in accordance with any decision taken
by the members at the General Meeting convened for the purpose of dissolving the
Association or donated to the Mission.
35.3 A
Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven (7) days of the
dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.
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