CONSTITUTION

  1. TITLE
    The name of the Club shall be the “Royal Air Force Officers’ Club, Johannesburg”.

  2. HEADQUARTERS
    The Headquarters of the Club shall be in the Johannesburg area.

  3. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
    To perpetuate the spirit and history of the Royal Air Force by providing a framework for social interaction between members who seek to share experiences of aviation, and to recreate as much as possible the atmosphere and characteristic traditions of an RAF Officers’ Mess.

  4. MEMBERSHIP
    The Club’s membership shall comprise:

    a) Ordinary Members:
    (i) Serving or former commissioned officers of the Royal Naval Air Service, Fleet Air Arm or Royal Air Forces (RAF, RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF, RRAF including the South African Air Force).
    (ii) Serving or former commissioned officers of other Air Forces who, whilst commissioned, served on official attachment or secondment to the Royal Naval Air Service, Fleet Air Arm or the Royal Air Forces for a period of not less than one year.

    b) Associate Members:
    Serving or former commissioned Officers of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth or its Allies. Such members must subscribe to the Constitution and Objectives of the Club, and they shall enjoy all privileges of membership, including voting rights.

    c) Affiliate Members:
    Persons who identify with the mission and objectives of the Club, and wish to join, and who by background and standing will in the opinion of the Committee be in a position to further the interests of the Club. Such a background may include engagement in the aviation, military or diplomatic disciplines, but prominent service in other spheres may also be considered. Such members must subscribe to the Constitution and Objectives of the Club and they shall enjoy all privileges of membership, including voting rights after one year’s membership, except for voting on any changes to the Constitution. Affiliate members of the Club shall, whilst serving as members of the Committee, enjoy the same voting rights as Associate members.

    d) Honorary Members:
    Serving or former commissioned officers of the British Commonwealth or Allied Armed Forces and others whose association with the Club will be welcomed by Members. Such Members shall enjoy all the privileges of the Club except voting and will not be required to pay membership subscriptions.

    e) Honorary Life Members:
    Members who have rendered outstanding service to the Club over a period of years may be eligible for election to Honorary Life Membership. Such members shall enjoy all the privileges of membership and will not be required to pay membership subscriptions. 

  5. PATRONS
    The Club may invite Patrons.

  6. ELECTED OFFICE-BEARERS OF THE CLUB
    The elected Office-Bearers of the Club shall comprise:-

    a) An Honorary Secretary
    b)  b) An Honorary Treasurer, and
    c)  c) Six Committee Members.

  7. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
    A President of the Club, and Vice-Presidents may be appointed. Appointments of Vice-Presidents shall be for a period of four years, but there shall be no bar to the reappointment of a Vice-President on completion of such a four year period. This provision is not retrospective and does not apply to Vice-Presidents appointed prior to October 2006.

  8. COMMITTEE

    The Committee shall comprise the Elected Office-Bearers of the Club. A Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be elected annually at the first meeting of the Committee after the Annual General Meeting of the Club. 

  9. Powers of the committee

    The Committee shall have the powers to :

    a) decide matters of major policy and make, amend and rescind Rules for the conduct of the Club, provided such Rules are not in conflict with the Constitution;

    b) conclude an agreement or agreements with any other club;

    c) do anything deemed necessary to protect the vital interests of the Club;

    d) manage the social, financial and business affairs of the Club;

    e) delegate any of its powers to sub-committees;

    f) co-opt Members to its body during the year of office or to supplement sub-committees;

    g) approve applications for membership;

    h) appoint Honorary Members provided such action is not in conflict with the Constitution;

    i) recommend for the approval of a General Meeting of the Club the nomination of individuals to whom invitations be extended to accept office as Patrons, President and Vice-Presidents;

    j) recommend for approval of a General meeting of the Club such names of Members as may have been proposed for Honorary Life Membership; 

  10. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

    a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary. A quorum shall be four (4) Committee Members.

    Any decision taken shall be by majority vote. The Chairman has a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote.

    b) Minutes of all Committee Meetings shall be kept in suitable books which shall be signed by the Chairman after confirmation and shall be open for inspection by Committee Members at convenient times. 

  11. GENERAL MEETINGS

    General Meetings shall be convened annually and as necessary. A quorum at any such meeting shall be twelve (12) Ordinary Members.

    a) Annual General Meeting

    The Annual General Meeting of members shall be held no later than 31st December each year.

    The business of the meeting shall be:
    (i) Confirmation of the Minutes;
    (ii) Report of the Chairman of the Committee;
    (iii) Report of the Honorary Treasurer and presentation of the Annual Accounts;
    (iv) Election of Office-Bearers;
    (v) General Business.

    Notice of such meetings shall be posted or e-mailed to the last known address of each Member not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the meeting. Any decisions taken, except on resolutions affecting the Constitution of the Club, shall be by majority vote. The Chairman has a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote. A member who cannot attend an Annual General Meeting shall be entitled to send a postal vote to the Secretary.

    b) Special General Meetings

    The Committee may, at any time, call a Special General Meeting and shall do so on receiving an application signed by at least ten (10) Ordinary Members specifying the resolution(s) to be proposed thereat. Notice of such meeting shall be posted or e-mailed to the last known address of each Member not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the meeting. Any decision taken, except on resolutions affecting the Constitution of the Club, shall be by majority vote. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote.

    c) Alterations to the Constitution

    Alterations to the Constitution may be made only at a General Meeting of Members, after circulation, with the notice of the meeting, of details of the proposed alteration(s). The consent of two-thirds of those present and voting shall be required to give effect to any alteration to the Constitution. 

  12. FINANCES

    a) Bank Account
    All monies received on behalf of the Club shall be deposited to the credit of an account at such financial institution(s) as the Committee may direct. All cheques drawn against such account shall be signed by any two (2) Members authorised by the Committee.

    b) Entrance Fees
    The Club shall have the right to charge an entrance fee payable by an applicant for membership, on approval of his application.

    c) Annual Subscriptions
    Annual Subscriptions shall be due and payable on the 1st September each year.

    d) Donations
    The Committee may from time to time authorize donations from accumulated funds for suitable purposes.

    e) Indebtedness of Members
    The Committee shall have the right to terminate the membership of any Member who is indebted to the Club but may reinstate such membership at its discretion. 

  13. MOVABLE AND IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

    The Club shall have power to acquire, own and register movable and immovable property, to borrow money under security of movable or immovable property and make and execute mortgage bonds as may be necessary to effect such purpose. No purchase, sale or mortgage of immovable property shall be made without discussion at a General Meeting, at which any decision made must be made with the consent of two-thirds of those members present and voting. 

  14. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB

    The Club shall be deemed dissolved if the Ordinary membership falls below ten (10). In such event all monies and assets belonging to the Club shall be donated to Royal Air Force Charities 

  15. INTERPRETATION

    In the event of any dispute as to the meaning or interpretation of any part of the Constitution or the Rules, the decision of the Committee shall be final and binding on all parties concerned. 

  16. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CONSTITUTION

    This amended Constitution takes effect from 1 October 2010 and replaces the amended Constitutions which took effect on 2 October 2009, 6 October 2006, 2 May 1997 and 3 March 1978 and the original Constitution which was effective from 1 October 1963.
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