Constitution

(These rules rescind all previous rules)

 

“Association” means the New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association. Membership which is open to Principals of Catholic Primary Schools and Heads of Intermediate Departments in Form 1 – 7 Schools and in Form

3 – 7 Schools with attached Intermediates.

 

“Act” means the Incorporated Societies Act 1908

The purpose of the Association is to assist Principals to advance education for the benefit of the public at Catholic Primary Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

 

C. Establish communications with the public at Catholic Primary schools and the education sector through:

a) Newsletters,

b) Meetings and Conferences.

ADVOCACY

 

1. Engage in advocacy through:

(a) Contact with:

i. New Zealand Catholic Education Office

ii. New Zealand Council of Proprietors of Catholic Integrated Schools

iii. National Association of Principals of Catholic Secondary Schools

iv. School Trustees Association

v. Principals’ Advisory Committees

vi. New Zealand Educational Institute

vii. New Zealand Principals’ Federation

viii. Education Review Office

ix. Ministry of Education

x. Australian Catholic Principals’ Association

xi. International Catholic Principals’ Association

xii. Minister of Education and local members of parliament

(b) Public comment and critique through the media

To promote, encourage and expand the advancement of education at Catholic Primary Schools in Aotearoa, NZ, the Association has the following objectives:

 

To contribute towards the development of National policy on key educational issues.

 

B. To promote the development of competent, well-informed and confident primary principals who are able to advance educational outcomes in New Zealand with a Catholic character. This will be achieved through the use of conferences, seminars and other forums of professional exchange.

 

C. To develop systems that support the communities at Catholic Schools –

(a) To ensure members have the tools to develop effective working relationships with BoT’s promoting effective Principal/Board working relationships.

(b) To ensure that principals have a forum to address issues within a Catholic context and wider primary school communities.

 

D. To initiate and participate in educational debate and policy development at a strategic level in New Zealand by: –

(a) Consulting effectively with its members.

(b) Representing Principals in educational and public forums.

(c) Building linkages with relevant groups outside the education sector.

(d) Maintaining a liaison with kindred organisations.

(e) Respecting and recognising the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the context of the objects of the Association.

 

E. Subject to these rules the Association shall have the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.

The Registered Office shall be at such a place in New Zealand as the Executive may from time to time decide.

(a) The Common Seal of the Association shall be that adopted by the Executive. The President shall be responsible for its safe custody and control.

(b) Whenever the Common Seal of the Association is required to be affixed to any deed, document or other instruments, the seal shall be affixed pursuant to a resolution of the Executive of a General Meeting of the Association by the President and one other Executive member.

If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association there remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities any property whatsoever the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the association but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable organisation which is for the advancement of education at Catholic schools – or for some other charitable purpose – within New Zealand.

(a) This constitution may be altered, added to, rescinded or otherwise at an Annual General Meeting provided that 60 days’ notice of the proposed changes has been given in writing to all members.

(b) Alterations, additions or revisions shall require a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

(c) No addition to or alteration of the charitable objects, the personal benefit or the winding-up clause shall be approved if it has resulted in revoking the Association’s registration as a charity under the Charities Act 2005.

(d) Any Constitutional change shall be presented for approval to the Bishops’ Conference in accordance with Canon Law.

Every notice required to be given to members (including members of the Executive) or any one of them shall be deemed to have been duly delivered if posted to such members in a prepaid letter delivered to the member at her/his address as known to the Association or sent by facsimile transmission or other technological means to be member’s School or home.

(a) All Principals of Catholic Integrated Schools and Heads of Intermediate Departments shall be eligible for membership through membership of their Diocesan Association.

(b) Eligible members may be charged an appropriate subscription as set by the Executive.

(c) The Association’s executive shall comprise two delegates from each Diocesan Principals’ Association.

(d) Any member may be suspended or expelled from the Association by the Executive. Any such member shall have the right to know why the action has been taken and the right to appeal any such action.

(e) Any principal wishing to resign from the New Zealand Association shall give notice in writing to the Executive to that effect and shall pay all subscriptions and levies due until the end of the current membership year.

 

PATRON

The Patron of the Association shall be the Episcopal Deputy for Education appointed by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

(a) The funds, properties and assets of the Association shall be under the control of the Executive.

(b) All monies received by or on behalf of the Association shall be banked and/or invested to the credit of the Association in an account with such Bank or Banks as the Executive may from time to time determine.

(c) Two members of the Executive will be assigned as signatories and endorse cheques and banking instruments at the direction of the Executive and on behalf of the Association.

(d) The financial year for the New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association will be from 1 Jan. to 31 Dec.

(e) The Association shall have the power to receive money on deposit or loan, to borrow money, to mortgage, charge or grant a lien over all or any of its undertakings and property both present and future or to issue any security whether outright or security for any dept, liability or obligation of the Association or of any third party and to give or receive guarantees or indemnities for the payment of money or performance of obligations, all of which powers shall be exercised by the Executive Committee in such a manner as the Executive Committee thinks fit.

(Read in conjunction with 11f)

(f) i) any income, benefit or advantage shall be applied to the charitable purposes of the association.

ii) No member of the association or any person associated with a member shall participate in or materially influence any decision made by the association in respect of any income, benefit or advantage whatsoever.

iii) Any such income paid shall be reasonable and relative to that which would be paid in an arm’s length transaction (being the open market value)

iv) The provisions and effects of this clause shall not be removed from this document and shall be included and implied in any document replacing this document.

A. Election of Executive

Two representatives elected from each Diocesan Association shall be the Executive members of the New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association.

B. Election of Officers

The Executive, prior to every second Annual General Meeting, that being in an even year, shall elect the following office bearers until the AGM two years later.

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

 

The Office Bearers shall take office immediately following the Annual General Meeting.

 

Any member of the N.Z. Catholic Principals’ Executive shall be eligible to take office. Every candidate for office shall be nominated and seconded in writing by any two Executive members.

 

C. DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS

 

(a) President

 

The President shall be the chief spokesperson and administrative leader of the N.Z. Catholic Primary Principals’ Association.

S/he shall be an ex officio member of any committee or sub-committee set up by the Association or the Executive.

 

(b) Vice President

 

The Vice President shall deputise for the President on occasions when the President is absent or unable to carry out their duties.

 

(c) Secretary

 

The Secretary shall keep all records (other than financial records) of the Association, the minutes of all Association Executive Meetings and General Meetings, and the Annual General Meeting.

 

(d) Treasurer

 

The Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that systems are in place for the receiving, recording and banking of all monies received by the Association, and for paying all amounts as approved by the Executive. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of the financial transactions of the Association, and shall prepare final accounts and an audited balance sheet for presentation to the Annual General Meeting.

 

(e) Members of the executive shall ensure:

 

1. At the first Association meeting of the New Year, they establish the Executive’s action plan for the ensuing year.

2. The promotion of the objectives of the Association.

3. Effective communication with Diocesan Associations.

4. The organisation of the Association Annual General Meeting.

 

(f) The Association determines and/or varies the duties of each member of the Executive from time to time.

 

D. MEETINGS

 

(a) At all meetings of the Executive, the President will take the Chair and shall have one deliberative and, in the event of a tie in voting, a casting vote. Each member of the Executive present shall have one vote. Voting shall be by show of hands unless otherwise called for and agreed to by a majority at the meeting.

 

(b) Five Members shall be a quorum at all meetings of the Executive.

Meetings of the Executive shall be held at least once per year.

At least 21 days’ notice shall be given to all members of the Executive of any meeting.

 

(c) Any casual vacancy on the Executive may be filled by the Diocesan Association from where the vacancy has occurred.

 

(d) A special meeting of the Executive shall be held within 30 days of receipt by the President of notice, signed by at least five members of the Executive, calling for such a special meeting.

 

E. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

 

(a) Subject to the Constitution the Executive shall take such steps as are necessary to further the objects of the Association and to advance the interests of all members and in so doing shall have the power to exercise all the powers of the Association except such powers as are herein provided to be exercised only by the Association in General Meeting and the power to wind up the Association.

 

(b) Except as provided by these rules the Executive may regulate its own procedures.

The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held each year upon a date and at a time and place to be fixed by the Executive for the following purposes:

 

(a) To receive from the Executive a report and an audited balance sheet and statement of accounts for the preceding year 31/12.

 

(b) To enable the Executive to announce the Office Bearers for the coming year.

 

(c) To consider and conduct such other business as may properly be brought forward thereat.

 

(d) To consider resolutions from the Diocesan Associations on policy matters.

 

All business other than that set out in (a) and (b) immediately aforesaid shall be deemed to be the special business of which notice must be given to all financial members of the Association.

The Association shall give at least 60 days’ notice of the Annual General Meeting in writing to all financial members of the Association.

1. There shall be at least one General Meeting per year.

2. At all meetings each executive member present shall have one vote and voting shall be by a show of hands unless otherwise called for and agreed to by a majority at the meeting.

3. General Meetings or Referenda of the Association may be called at any time by the Executive and shall otherwise be called by the Secretary upon the requisition in writing of twelve members of the Association stating the purpose for which the meeting or Referendum is required and any meeting or referendum shall be held within two months of the date of such requisition.

4. The Secretary shall give at least twenty one (21) days’ notice to all executive members of Diocesan Associations of the holding of a General Meeting or Referendum and such notice shall specify the nature of the business transact or poll to be taken.

5. At all General Meetings, the President shall take the Chair. If the President is absent a Chairperson shall be appointed from members of the Executive present. The Chairperson for the time being of the meeting shall have a deliberative and also a casting vote.

6. Twelve members of the Association shall constitute a quorum at any general meeting.

7. Anything not covered by this Constitution shall be guided by the “Model Standing Orders for Meetings of Public Bodies”.

 

This Constitution and Rules were approved at the Annual General Meeting of the Association held at The Events Centre, Queenstown on 30 June 2010.