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SASLHA Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION
(Amended 3 November 2008)
CLAUSE No. AND DESCRIPTION
- NAME
- AIMS AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION
- MEMBERSHIP
- SUBSCRIPTION
- POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS
- TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
- SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM THE ASSOCIATION
- OFFICE BEARERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
- THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
- THE NATIONAL EXCECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- COMMITTEES
- REGIONAL BRANCHES
- MEETINGS
- PROCEDURES
- FINANCE
- DISSOLUTION
- INTERPRETATION
- AMENDMENT
- REGULATIONS
- NAME:
1.1 The name of the Association shall be:
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION (SASLHA)
- AIMS & PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The objectives of the Association shall be:
2.1 maintenance of professional standards.
2.2 provision of a means for informing members on matters relating to the profession, and exchanging information between members.
2.3 ensuring continuing education promotion and
2.4 protection of the interests of the profession and professionals.
2.5 liaison between the Association and other professional and government bodies.
- MEMBERSHIP
3.1 There shall be the following categories of membership:
3.1.1. Full Membership of the Association shall be granted to Speech-Language Therapists and Audiologists and /or Community Speech and Hearing Workers registered with the Professional Board for Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (hereafter called HPCSA).
3.1.2. Student Membership shall be granted to registered students studying at Universities in the Republic of South Africa offering courses approved by the Professional Board for Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology of the HPCSA for qualification as a Speech-Language Therapist and Audiologist, or as a Speech-Language Therapist only, or as an Audiologist only.
3.1.3. Fellow of SASLHA shall be granted to those persons who have promoted the interests of the profession in an exceptional way, and have been invited to join the Association as Fellows of SASLHA.
3.1.4. Honorary Life Membership shall be granted to any member who attains the age of 65 years, and who has been a member of the Association for at least 10 years.
3.2 Application for membership:
3.2.1 Application for membership and acceptances thereof shall be made in the manner prescribed by the Council from time to time. Once a full or student member has been accepted as such, he/she shall continue to be a member and be liable for subscriptions until notice of his/her intention to discontinue membership has been given in writing to the Association, or until his/her membership is terminated in terms of Clause 6 of this constitution.
3.2.2 In the case of Fellows of SASLHA, such persons may be nominated by the Council at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting and be there elected by a majority of SASLHA members.
- SUBSCRIPTION:
4.1 For the purpose of this clause, a year shall mean the period: 1 April – 31 March, the following year.
4.2 Each full member shall pay:
- An initial registration fee
- An annual subscription fee
4.3 Each student member shall pay an annual subscription fee.
4.4 Fellows of SASLHA and Honorary Life members shall not be liable for registration or subscription fees .
4.5 The Executive committee and Standing committee chairpersons will receive a 50% discount on annual
fees in recognition of their commitment and effort.
4.6 The amount of the initial registration fee and the annual subscription fee for the various categories of membership shall be determined by the Council, and may be varied from time to time in the sole discretion of the Council.
4.7 Registration fee shall be payable, where applicable, within two months of the applicant being notified that he/she has been accepted as a member of the Association.
4.8 Subscription shall be paid within 2 months of acceptance of application or of the 1 April of each year whichever is applicable.
- POWERS & PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS:
The Members of the Association shall be entitled to:
5.1 elect the office bearers
5.2 attend and, in the case of fully paid up full members of the Association, vote at the Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association.
5.3 attend all functions arranged by the Association for its members
5.4 receive, subject to any charges which may be imposed, the South African Journal of Communication Disorders and the Association's newsletters.
5.5 make representation to Council via the Regional representative or in person on matters relating to the aims and purposes of the Association.
- TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP:
Membership shall be terminated upon:
6.1 The written resignation of a member addressed to the secretary of the Association
6.2 defaults in payment of any subscription fee, provided that where a member has not paid any subscription fee due to financial hardship, the Council may, in its sole discretion, allow such member to remain a member for such period as the Council shall determine.
- SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM THE ASSOCIATION:
7.1
7.1.1 Any member who has been convicted of an offence by the Professional Board for Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology of the HPCSA and, for that or any other reason, has been suspended or struck off the register of Speech-Language Therapists and/or Audiologists, shall upon such suspension or striking off automatically cease to be a member of the Association.
7.2
7.2.1 Where it is alleged that a member has been guilty of misconduct, or conduct which has brought or is likely to bring the Association or the profession into disrepute, the matter shall be investigated by the Association.
7.2.2 The member shall be advised, in writing, of the nature of the alleged misconduct and shall be given a fair hearing by the Ethics and Standards Committee or the Council, and a full opportunity to respond to the allegations.
7.2.3 Subsequent to a hearing, the Ethics and Standards Committee shall submit a detailed report of its findings to the Council.
7.2.4 The Council shall be entitled to suspend the membership of the member for a specified period of time or terminate the member's membership of the Association.
7.2.5 Any member so expelled shall have a right of appeal against such expulsion to the Council
7.2.6 The name of any member expelled shall be forwarded to the HPCSA
7.3 Upon ceasing to be a member in terms of clause 7, the member shall forfeit all rights and claims against the Association. The member shall not be entitled to a refund of any subscription paid for any period beyond the date of cessation of membership.
- OFFICE BEARERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
8.1. The office bearers shall consist of the following offices:
- President Elect
- President
- Past President
- Treasurer
- Office Manager (a full-time, salaried position)
These members shall be full members of the Association and shall constitute the Executive Committee.
8.2. The office bearers shall hold such offices for the following terms of office and Cycles:
8.2.1. The offices of President Elect, President and Past President shall each comprise of one term of office of one year in duration;
8.2.2. The President Elect shall by automatic process proceed to the office of
President;
8.2.3. The President shall by automatic process proceed to the office of Past
President;
8.2.4. The complete process shall therefore ordinarily consist of a three (3) year cycle comprising three (3) terms of office;
8.2.5. A cycle must ordinarily be completed by each person nominated to the office of President Elect;
8.2.6. A period of one term of office must elapse before the Past President may stand for election as an office bearer;
8.2.7. The treasurer, Administrative Officer and Secretary shall hold office for one (1) year only;
8.2.8. The Treasurer, Administrative Officer and Secretary shall be eligible to hold such office for three (3) consecutive terms of office, but shall not be eligible to hold such office for more than three (3) consecutive term of office.
8.3. Should any office bearer cease to hold office for any reason whatsoever during his/her term of office or cycle, the vacancy shall be filled by a person appointed by the Council and such person shall hold office until the expiry of such term of office or cycle in the case of a President Elect or President.
8.4 Should the performance or attendance of any Council member be unsatisfactory, or in the event of incapacity to hold office due to any unforeseen circumstance, then the term of office may be terminated by agreement of all Council members.
8.5 In this event, an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called to appoint a new office bearer to the office, and such office bearer shall hold office until the expiry of that term of office or cycle in the case of a President Elect or President
8.6. PRESIDENT
The President shall:
8.6.1. Preside at all Council Meetings, Executive Committee Meetings, Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association. If the President is unable to preside at the said meetings for any reason whatsoever, the Past President shall so preside.
8.6.2. The President shall, together with the Past President and President Elect:
8.6.2.1. Represent the Association at meetings with State, Provincial and other authorities, and at meetings with the public, the media and representatives of major employing organisations and at national and international functions
8.6.2.2. be fully conversant with the Associations constitution and by-laws, as well as with committee procedure
8.6.2.3. Act in all matters according to the decisions of the Council and Executive Committee
8.6.2.4. Direct the Association's Office Manager and Treasurer and assist them in the performance of their duties
8.6.2.5. Ensure that individual members of the Council carry out the duties which they have undertaken.
8.7. OFFICE MANAGER :
The Office Manager shall:
8.7.1. Be employed on a full-time, permanent basis by the Association
8.7.2. Attend to the administrative and secretarial duties of the Association, including correspondence and keeping all records properly filed
8.7.2. Keep and control a register of all members of the Association. This register shall record members' addresses, date of enrolment and date of cessation of membership and the reason thereof. It shall be incumbent upon all members of the Association to notify the Office Manager in writing of any change of address. Such register shall be available on reasonable notice to every member of the Association at its head office.
8.7.3. Keep minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association.
8.8. TREASURER:
8.8.1 The Treasurer shall keep such books and accounts as may be prescribed by the Council.
- THE NATIONAL COUNCIL:
9.1. Composition
The Council shall consist of:
9.1.1. The Executive Committee
9.1.2. The Regional Representatives: one from each region presently represented on the Council.
9.2. General functions
The Council:
9.2.1. Is the legislating body of the Association
9.2.2. Shall prescribe the parameters within which the Executive Committee shall carry out its functions and exercise its powers.
9.2.3. Shall have the power to determine changes to regional representation to accommodate demographic shift
9.3. Powers
Without in any way limiting the generality or scope of Clause 9.2, the Council shall have the following powers:
9.3.1. to determine from time to time the specific duties and powers of each Office at the Executive Committee level
9.3.2. To control all assets and funds of the Association as is set out in the Financial Policy of SASLHA.
9.3.3. To employ an Office Manager to perform the required clerical functions of the Association.
9.3.4. To appoint an auditor of the Association for each ensuing year.
9.3.5. to approve the formation of special groups and/or committees of Speech-Language Therapists and Audiologists for special purposes to which non-members may be co-opted in an advisory capacity.
9.3.6. To elect representatives of the Association onto national and international bodies or organisations.
9.3.7. To appoint a person as a representative of the Association in its transactions with other organisations.
9.3.8. to prescribe rules for the conduct of Council Meetings, Executive Committee Meetings, Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association.
9.3.9. To approve the establishment of awards for outstanding service or achievement by members.
9.3.10 to determine and, in its discretion, to vary the amount of the initial registration fee and annual subscription fee payable by members of the Association.
9.3.11. to admit or refuse membership of the Association and/or to suspend or expel any member from the Association.
9.3.12. to lay a charge against any member of the Association.
9.3.13. to respond to disputes and endeavour to settle disputes between members inter se, and between members of the Association and the public, alternatively at the discretion of Council, disputes may be referred to the Ethics and Standards Committee.
9.3.14 to institute legal proceedings, the President shall be empowered to sign all documents and processes necessary for that purpose, following written approval from all Council members.
9.3.15. to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property and pledge or encumber the same, subject to prior approval being obtained at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association.
9.4. The Council shall meet at least twice annually.
- THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
10.1. Composition
The Executive Committee shall consist of the:
- President Elect
- President
- Past President
- Treasurer
- Office Manager (a full-time, salaried position)
10.2. General Functions
The Executive Committee shall:
10.2.1. Conduct the day-to-day business of the Association within the parameters laid down by the Council. All decisions or matters falling outside the scope of its authority shall be referred to the Council.
10.2.2. carries out and implements all decisions and resolutions passed by the Council and shall be accountable to the Council.
10.2.3. On a regular basis, as determined by the Council, submit reports of its activities to the Council.
10.3. Powers
Without in any way limiting the generality or scope of clause 10.2, the Executive Committee shall have the following powers:
10.3.1. To convene and arrange the meetings of the Association and prepare the agendas of such meetings.
10.3.2. To convene and arrange functions.
10.3.3. To collect subscriptions (annual or otherwise) from members.
10.3.4 To pay out of the funds of the Association such monies as are required for the welfare or needs of the Association or for furthering the Association's objects, subject to the Financial Policy of the Association.
10.3.5 To invest, in approved securities, monies of the Association with the prior approval of an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.
10.3.6 To conduct all other business in the interests of the Association, subject to the limitations determined by the Council.
10.4 The Executive Committee shall meet at least eight times annually.
- COMMITTEES:
11.1. The Association has 5 standing committees:
11.1.1. Ethics and Standards Committee
11.1.2. Continuing Professional Development Committee
11.1.3. Publications Committee
11.1.4. PR & Marketing Committee
11.1.5. Fees and Liaison Committee
11.2. General
11.2.1. Members of the Standing Committees shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a three year term of office
11.2.2. Specific tasks, powers, responsibilities, membership of these committees and terms of office of Committee members or amendments to these, shall be defined by the Council; amendments shall be approved by an Annual General Meeting.
11.2.3. Members shall be eligible for re-election at the end of each term.
11.2.4. The Chairpersons of these Committees shall likewise be eligible for re-election as a Committee member, but not for re-election as Chairperson until at least a period of one term has lapsed.
11.3. Composition
11.3.1 Ethics & Standards Committee
Shall consist of no more than 10 members including the Chairperson.
11.3.2. Continuing Professional Development Committee
Shall consist of no more the 5 members, including the Chairperson.
11.3.3. Publications Committee
Shall consist of no more than 5 members including the Chairperson, two of these members shall be the Editors of the Association's Journal and Newsletter; these Editors shall be appointed by the Council for a 3 year cycle which may be renewed.
11.3.4. PR & Marketing Committee
Shall consist of no more than 4 members, including the chairperson
One member, being a Speech Language Therapists
One member, being an Audiologist
Additionally to the core committee, there will be one liaison officer representing each branch.
Fees and Liaison Committee
Shall consist of, no more the 5 members, including the Chairperson.
- REGIONAL BRANCHES:
12.1. Provisions are made for establishing of branches in different regions and the
Council shall be empowered to establish or reorganise new regions as necessary.
12.1.1. A branch consists of all full members of SASLHA living in that region.
12.1.2. In order to carry out regional functions, financing to be determined by council, subject to the Financial Policy of the Association, will be made available to each Regional branch annually.
12.2. Functions
The functions of Regional Branches shall be:
12.2.1. Promotion of the aims and purposes of the Association in the region.
12.2.2. Election of a representative to the Council.
12.2.3. Representation of branch members at Council meetings.
12.3. Dissolution of a Branch
12.3.1. Should a branch decide it can no longer operate in terms of the Constitution, it may apply to Council for dissolution of the branch.
12.3.2. Any funds pertaining to that branch shall be transferred to the Association. Under exceptional circumstances the Association may withdraw Regional Branch status.
12.4 A decision to withdraw regional branch status shall be taken at an Annual General Meeting on a majority vote at the recommendation of the Council. The loss of regional branch status shall mean that branch shall have no representation on Council or funding by SASLHA .
- MEETINGS:
13.1. Annual General Meetings
An annual general meeting of members, at which the President presides, shall be
Held at the Annual National ENT/ SASLHA Conference each year, at the same venue
At such a time the council may deem expedient for the purpose of:
13.1.1. Presenting the Presidents report on the activities of the Association during the previous year
13.1.2. Tabling and approving the Treasurers Annual report
13.1.3 Transacting any business required by the constitution or deemed necessary or
Expedient for the welfare or needs or aims or objects of the Association.
13.2. Extraordinary General Meeting
13.2.1. All other general meetings, which shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.
13.2.2. An Extra Ordinary Meeting shall be called by:
- The Council or Executive Committee upon written request by at least ten full members.
- the Executive Committee with the consent of Council
13.2.3. The motion shall be circulated to all members as stipulated by 14.1.2
13.2.4. Such meetings shall be called at such place and time as the Council may deem expedient, but not later than one month after the receipt of the request.
13.3. Council and Executive Meetings
13.3.1 Subject to clauses 9.4 and 10.4, meetings of the Council or Executive Committee shall be called by the President as and when deemed expedient by him / her.
13.3.2. Meetings of the Council or the Executive Committee may also be called, if so requested in writing by at least two members of the body concerned.
13.4. Motions
13.4.1. Any member wishing to propose a motion at a Council Meeting or Annual General Meeting should submit this beforehand in writing to the President, supported by documentation if necessary and seconded by 2 members.
13.4.2. This motion should reach the office of the President no later than thirty days before the date of the meeting for inclusion on the agenda to enable the Executive Committee to circulate the documentation to the Council (Council Meeting - as stipulated by 14.1.3) or to the members (Annual General Meeting - as stipulated by 14.1.1).
- PROCEDURES:
14.1. Financial Statements
Financial statements will be made available to the members by the Treasurer
Within three Months of the end of each financial year. The Treasurer shall also
Be available through written or electronic correspondence to answer any queries from members
regarding the financial Statements.
14.2 Notice
14.2.1Notice Annual General Meeting
All members will be given 21 days written notice of the date, time and venue of the Annual General Meeting. The notice will be sent by ordinary post and/or electronic mail no later than twenty-four days before the date of the meeting.
14.1.1.1. The notice must contain the following information:
- Date of the meeting
- Time of the meeting
- Venue of the meeting
14.1.1.2 The notice must include the following documents:
- The agenda of the meeting
- The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting
- Any motion received for inclusion in the agenda in terms of par.13.4
- A proxy vote form in terms of 14.3.1.3
- Call for nominations for portfolio's which are vacant or is becoming vacant, as well as nominations received for these vacant portfolios
14.2.2. Notice Extraordinary General Meeting
All members will be given 14 days written notice of the date, time and venue of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The notice will be sent by ordinary post and posted no later than seventeen days before the date of the meeting.
14.1.2.1. The notice must contain the following information:
- Date of the meeting
- Time of the meeting
- Venue of the meeting
14.1.2.2. The notice must include the following documents:
- The agenda of the meeting
- The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting
- Any motion received for inclusion in the agenda in terms of par.13.2
- A proxy vote form in terms of par. 14.3.1.3
14.2.3. Meetings of the Council
14 days written notice to members of the Council
14.2.4. Meetings of the Executive Committee
14 days written notice to members of the Executive Committee
14.3. Quorums
14.3.1. The quorum of members at any Council or Executive Committee Meetings shall be at least half the total elected membership of such a body.
14.3.2. The quorum of members at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings shall be 25 members of the Association present and entitled to vote, provided that should a quorum not be present when any such meeting is called the same shall be adjourned to the same day and the same time in the immediately following week at which adjourned meeting no quorum shall be necessary.
14.4. Voting
14.4.1. Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting
14.4.1.1. Only fully paid up full members shall have the right to vote at the Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. For the purpose of voting at the said meetings, each full members present or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be entitled to exercise one vote.
14.4.1.2. Members shall be entitled to vote by proxy. Proxies shall be in writing, and shall be dated and witnessed and lodged with the Secretary prior to the commencement of the Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings.
14.4.1.3. The proxy shall as far as possible, be in the following form:
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I,
________________________________________________________________________
of (address)
________________________________________________________________________
being a fully paid up member of the South African Speech-;
Language-Hearing Association, in good standing, hereby
authorise
_____________________________________________________________
to cast my vote at the ____________________meeting of the
Association for the following purposes:
________________________________________________________________________
Dated at _________________________on this _________ day
of____________________20_______
AS WITNESSES:
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_______________________________
SIGNATURE OF MEMBER
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14.4.1.4. Voting at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings shall take
place by members voting in person or by proxy by way of a written ballot.
14.4.1.5. At Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings, all resolutions
passed by a majority of members present shall be binding. In the event of an equal
number of votes the President shall have the casting vote.
14.4.2. Council or Executive Committee Meetings
14.4.2.1. For the purpose of voting at any Council or Executive Committee Meeting, each member present and entitled to vote shall be entitled to exercise one vote.
14.4.2.2. Voting at Council or Executive Committee Meetings shall take place by members voting in person by way of a show of hands or, if so demanded by the President, by way of a written ballot.
14.4.2.3. At Council or Executive Committee meetings all resolutions passed by a majority of members present shall be binding, In the event of an equal number of votes the President shall have the casting vote.
14.5. Minutes
Minutes of all Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association, and all Council and Executive Committee meetings shall be kept by such a person appointed by the Executive Committee.
- FINANCE:
15.1. All monies collected or received by the Association shall, as soon as practical, be paid into a banking account.
15.2. Funds available for investment may only be invested with registered financial institutions as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984, and in securities listed on a stock exchange as defined in the Stock Exchanges Control Act, 1985 (Act No.1 of 1985)
15.3. No profits and gains will be distributed to any person and the funds of the Association will be utilised solely for investment or the objects for which it was established.
15.4. The Association will not carry on any profit making activities; or participate in any business; profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous service, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.
15.5. The Association may not have the power to carry on any business, including inter alias, ordinary trading operations in the commercial sense, speculative transactions, dividend stripping activities as well as the letting of property on a systematic or regular basis.
15.6 Three members of the National Council must have the authority to sign cheques, of which one should be the Treasurer. Two members of the National Council shall sign all cheques. All cheques shall be authorised by the Treasurer by means of cheque requisitions. The Treasurer with the authority of one other Council Member will have the authority to perform internet banking and transfers. To ensure that all transactions are done in accordance with the Financial Policy, an external bookkeeper will assist in the record keeping of financial transactions an audit must be done on an annual basis.
- DISSOLUTION:
The Association may be dissolved only by a General Meeting of the Association. On dissolution of the Association, its assets shall be used to promote a company, society or association, which has as its sole or principal object the promotion of the common interests of persons carrying on speech language therapy and Audiology.
There shall be no financial advantage accruing to any members of this company, society or association.
- INTERPRETATION:
In case of doubt as to the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this constitution, the interpretation of the Executive Committee shall be binding on all members of the Association.
The masculine shall include the feminine and the plural shall include all singular and vice versa unless the contrary is expressed
- AMENDMENT:
The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of those members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting. All proposed amendments shall be circulated in writing to all members at least four weeks before such meeting.
- REGULATIONS:
The Executive Committee shall be empowered to draw up regulations governing procedural matters arising out of this constitution which are not inconsistent with this constitution or the South African Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Act, No. 56 or 1974, or the regulations promulgated hereunder, or any other law.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION
Amended, 3 November 2008
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