Terms of Membership
Membership qualifications
A person is qualified to be a member if --
(a) the person is a person mentioned in the Act, section 21 (2) (a) or (b) and has not ceased to be a member of the Society at any time after incorporation of the Society under the Act; or
(b) the person has applied for membership in accordance with rule 3 (1) and submitted the correct subscription payment to the Society.
Application for membership
(1) An application for membership of the Society --
(a) must be made in writing on the Society's membership application form and contain a statement of the interests of the person nominated in the study of mammals or generally in the objects of the Society; and
(b) must be lodged with the Society.
(c) must be accompanied by the first year's annual subscription.
(2) The Society must, on receipt of the application form and subscription payment from the applicant ensure the applicant's name is entered in the register of members and, on the name being so entered, the applicant becomes a member of the Society.
Membership entitlements not transferable
A right, privilege or obligation that a person has because of being a member of the Society -
(a) cannot be transferred or transmitted to another person; and
(b) terminates on cessation of the person's membership.
Cessation of membership
A person ceases to be a member of the Society if the person --
(a) dies; or
(b) resigns from membership of the Society; or
(c) is expelled from the Society; or
(d) fails to renew membership of the Society.
Resignation of membership
(1) A member is not entitled to resign from membership of the Society except in accordance with this rule.
(2) A member who has paid all amounts payable by the member to the Society may resign from membership of the Society by first giving notice (of not less than 1 month or, if the Council has determined a shorter period, that shorter period) in writing to the Membership Secretary of the member's intention to resign and, at the end of the period of notice, the member ceases to be a member.
(3) If a person ceases to be a member, the Membership Secretary must ensure an appropriate entry is made in the register of members recording the date the member ceased to be a member.
Fee, subscriptions etc
(1) The entrance fee to the Society is $1 or, if any other amount has been determined by resolution of the Council, the other amount. The entrance fee can be incorporated into the first year's membership fee.
(2) The annual membership fee of the Society is $2 or, if any other amount has been determined by resolution of the members at an Annual General Meeting, that other amount.
(3) The annual membership fee is payable --
(a) except as provided by paragraph (b) -- before 31 March in each calendar year; or
(b) if a person becomes a member on or after 31 March in any calendar year -- before 31 March in each succeeding calendar year.
(4) The annual membership fee shall not include any subscription to a publication that is not published by the Society or on its behalf.
(5) If the annual membership fee of a member is twelve or more months in arrears, the Council may, after serving a notice to that effect on the member, direct the Membership Secretary to remove their name from the register of Australian Mammal Society, Inc. members whereupon they shall cease to be a member, but after payment of all arrears the Council may reinstate the name of a member removed under this clause.
Members' liabilities
The liability of a member to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Society or the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the Society is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid by the member in relation to membership of the Society as required by rule 7.
Disciplining of members
(1) If the Council is of the opinion that a member --
(a) has persistently refused or neglected to comply with a provision of these rules; or
(b) has persistently and wilfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Society;
the Council may, by resolution --
(c) expel the member from the Society; or
(d) suspend the member from the rights and privileges of membership of the Society that the Council may decide for a specified period.
(2) A resolution of the Council under sub-rule (1) is of no effect unless the Council, at a meeting held not earlier than 14 days and not later than 28 days after service on the member of a notice under sub-rule (3), confirms the resolution in accordance with this rule.
(3) If the Council passes a resolution under sub-rule (1), the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, serve a written notice on the member --
(a) setting out the resolution of the Council and the grounds on which it is based; and
(b) stating that the member may address the Council at a meeting to be held not earlier than 14 days and not later than 28 days after service of the notice; and
(c) stating the date, place and time of that meeting; and
(d) informing the member that the member may do either or both of the following:
(i) attend and speak at that meeting;
(ii) submit to the Council at or before the date of that meeting written representations relating to the resolution.
(4) Subject to the Act, section 50, at a meeting of the Council mentioned in sub-rule (2), the Council must --
(a) give to the member mentioned in sub-rule (1) an opportunity to make oral representations; and
(b) give due consideration to any written representations submitted to the Council by that member at or before the meeting; and
(c) by resolution decide whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution of the Council made under sub-rule (1).
(5) If the Council confirms a resolution under sub-rule (4), the Secretary must, within 7 days after that confirmation, by written notice inform the member of that confirmation and of the member's right of appeal under rule 10.
(6) A resolution confirmed by the Council under sub-rule (4) does not take effect --
(a) until the end of the period within which the member is entitled to appeal against the resolution if the member does not exercise the right of appeal within that period; or
(b) if within that period the member exercises the right of appeal -- unless and until the Society confirms the resolution in accordance with rule 10 (4).
Right of appeal of disciplined member
(1) A member may appeal to the Society in a general meeting against a resolution of the Council that is confirmed under rule 9 (4), within 7 days after notice of the resolution is served on the member, by lodging with the Secretary a notice to that effect.
(2) On receipt of a notice under sub-rule (1), the Secretary must notify the Council which must call a general meeting of the Society to be held within 21 days after the date when the Secretary received the notice or as soon as possible after that date.
(3) Subject to the Act, section 50, at a general meeting of the Society called under sub-rule (2) --
(a) no business other than the question of the appeal may be transacted; and
(b) the Council and the member must be given the opportunity to make representations in relation to the appeal orally or in writing, or both; and
(c) the members present must vote by secret ballot on the question of whether the resolution made under rule 9 (4) should be confirmed or revoked.
(4) If the meeting passes a special resolution in favour of the confirmation of the resolution made under rule 9 (4), that resolution is confirmed.
Honorary Life Member
A person who has rendered or is rendering distinguished service to the Society or to Australian mammalogy may be appointed an Honorary Life Member of the Society by the Council. A person so appointed shall be
(a) deemed to be a member of the Society until their death or resignation; and
(b) exempt from payment of any membership fees to the Society.