African Studies Association of Australasia
and The Pacific
CONSTITUTION
Ratified at the Annual General Meeting held on
the 15th November 1979.
Amended at the Annual General Meeting held on the 29th September
1995.
Further amended at the Annual General Meeting held on the 4th October
2002.
1. The
title of the Association shall be the African Studies Association of Australasia
and The Pacific (AFSAAP).
2. The purposes of the Association shall be: to promote research and teaching of
African Studies in Australia and The Pacific; to facilitate contact among
scholars and students in the field of African Studies through conferences,
regional meetings and publications; to coordinate African Studies programs and
the acquisition of African materials by Australian and Pacific libraries; to
contribute towards an understanding of Africa in the community at large; to
serve as the professional body representing Africanist interests to governments
and the community; and to establish contact with African universities and
scholars, other overseas scholars and African Studies associations, and to
promote interchanges between them.
3. Membership of the Association shall be open to all individuals interested in
African Studies. There shall be four categories of members: regular members;
organisational members; student members (the subscriptions for whom shall be
lower than for full members); and honorary life members. Members of the
association shall pay an annual subscription rate to be determined by the
General Meeting.
4. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Secretary, and a
Treasurer. Those elected will normally reside in the host city for the next
General Meeting and Conference.
5. The Executive Committee shall conduct all business of the Association between
General Meetings. It shall consist of the Officers and not more than ten other
paid-up members of the Association, the exact number to be decided at the
General Meeting. The members of the Executive Committee shall be nominated and
elected at the General Meeting and shall include adequate regional
representation. Three members of the Executive Committee, including at least one
officer, shall constitute a quorum.
6. A General Meeting of the Association shall be held at the time of the
conference to discuss the affairs of the Association, all resolutions to be by a
majority of members present, and voting and to be binding on the officers and
Executive Committee of the Association. The General Meeting shall also set the
time and place of the next General Meeting and Conference, normally held
annually but not less than biennially; nominate and elect the Officer and
Executive Committee members to serve until the next General Meeting and
Conference; and set the membership fees until the next General Meeting.
7. A bank account in the name of the Association shall be established, all
cheques drawn by the Association to be signed singly by either, (i) the
President and Secretary/Treasurer, or (ii) in instances where the latter office
is held by two individuals, the President and Treasurer.
8. This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of those members present
and voting at the General Meeting or by a majority of all members in a postal
ballot, three weeks notice of the proposed amendment having been sent to all
members.