CONSTITUTION OF ANTHROPOLOGY SOUTHERN AFRICA
- Name
- Objectives
- Membership and Membership Fees
- Management
- Business Meeting (General Meeting)
- Journal
- Amendment of the condtiturion
- Dissolution
- Domicilium Ex Citandi
1.1 The name of the Association is Anthropology Southern Africa (ASnA).
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Association are to
2.1 promote study, teaching, discussion and research in Anthropology.
2.2 promote co‑operation among, and the common interest of, persons engaged in anthropological study.
2.3 promote interdisciplinary discussion with regard to the study of humankind.
2.4 support members in their anthropological endeavours.
2.5 promote scientific and other subject related publications and to oversee the publication of a journal.
2.6 organise regular conferences and other scientific discussions.
2.7 assign activities or projects to members or study groups.
2.8 promote links with other associations, internationally, which are dedicated to anthropology as a field of study.
3. MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP FEES
3.1 All persons who subscribe to the objectives of the Association and who comply with the requirements for membership, may apply for membership.
3.2 There are four categories of members:
3.2.1 Full members are persons who have paid their membership dues and
3.2.1.1 hold an honours or higher degree in Anthropology, or equivalent qualification or achievement as determined by the Council; or
3.2.1.2 hold a lecturing or research position at an institution of higher learning, or are engaged in advanced research under the auspices of such institution, or a similar institution as determined by Council; or
3.2.1.3 completed a final year degree course, or equivalent qualification, in Anthropology and who, in terms of their career, are involved in a field of anthropology on a continuous basis.
3.2.2 Honorary members are persons who are appointed by Council on the grounds of having distinguished themselves in the field of Anthropology, or related fields, and/or promoted the objectives of the Association in a special way.
3.2.3 Associated members are persons interested in Anthropology and who have paid the appropriate membership dues.
3.2.4 Student members are persons registered for an undergraduate or postgraduate course in Anthropology at an institution of higher learning who do not meet the requirements for full membership and have paid the appropriate membership dues.
3.3 A person is considered for full, associated and student membership when a completed membership form is submitted for approval to Council.
3.4 A person is considered for honorary membership when
3.4.1 his/her name is submitted in writing, together with the necessary evidence and justification, to Council;
3.4.2 this nomination is presented to the General Meeting of the Association for approval by a majority of the voting members present at that meeting.
3.5 All full and honorary members have voting rights.
3.6 Associated and student members may attend all meetings of the Association that are not limited to full and honorary members, and may take part in discussions but do not have voting rights.
3.7 All members
3.7.1 may attend meetings of the Association and take part in discussions.
3.7.2 may attend conferences and discussion forums organised by the Association and present papers and other contributions.
3.7.3 may receive publications of the Association.
3.8 Membership is terminated
3.8.1 when a letter of resignation is received by the secretary of the Association.
3.8.2 when a member passes away.
3.8.3 when membership dues for more than one calendar year are outstanding.
3.8.4 by a two thirds majority decision of the General or Extraordinary Meeting.
3.9 Membership dues for each category of membership, except honorary members who are exempted
3.9.1 are determined by Council and may be increased from time to time, on condition that the fees for associated and student members are lower than that of full members.
3.9.2 are annually payable by 31 March.
4. MANAGEMENT
4.1 Composition
4.1.1 The Association is managed by a Council, which is elected bi-annually at a General Meeting of its members.
4.1.2 Council consists of a President, a Vice‑President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Editor of the Journal, two additional members, a student member and two co-opted members.
4.1.3 The members of Council, excluding the Editor of the Journal who is appointed, and two members who are co-opted by the Council, are elected by and among full and honorary members of the Association.
4.1.4 Nominations for the election of Council members are made at the meeting during which the election is done.
4.1.5 Vacancies on Council during the term of office may be filled by Council for the unexpired term from among full and honorary members.
4.1.6 At the end of their term Council members may be re‑elected, on condition that members may not serve in the same position for more than two successive terms; that at least two members of Council are not eligible for re‑election at the end of a term; that for reasons of continuity at least two members must be re‑elected for the new term of office.
4.1.7 Membership of Council is terminated when
4.1.7.1 a member resigns from Council or as member of the Association.
4.1.7.2 membership dues are outstanding for more than one year.
4.1.7.3 membership of the Association is terminated.
4.1.8 Council meets as often as required. Half of the members of Council plus one member constitute a quorum. When Council is not in session questions may be submitted to the members of Council by mail for their vote.
4.2 Powers
4.2.1 As the governing body of the Association, Council shall be responsible for the formulation of policy, procedures, and the general direction of the affairs of the Association.
4.2.2 Council may establish an Executive Committee with the power to act on behalf of Council.
4.2.3 Council may establish such committees as may be necessary for the conduct of the Association's affairs.
4.2.4 Council must facilitate the successful organisation of the activities of the Association.
4.2.5 Council must execute the decisions of the General Meeting.
4.2.6 Council must report annually to the General Meeting about the progress and activities of the Association.
4.2.7 Council can convene an Extraordinary General Meeting when it is deemed
necessary.
4.2.8 Council may approach any member to assist in any activity referred to in paragraph 2.7, or which Council considers necessary or appropriate to promote the objectives of the Association.
4.2.9 Council must control the assets and must manage the financial affairs of the Association on behalf of the General Meeting and must report annually to the General Meeting after the financial statements have been audited by two full members (appointed by the General Meeting).
4.2.10 Council may solicit, receive and administer funds in respect of the activities of the Association.
4.2.11 Council may make decisions to co‑operate or affiliate with other scientific societies and associations. When appropriate it shall elect representatives from this Association to such other scientific societies or associations. It may also recognise, for purposes of planning programs or other activities within the objectives of the Association, other scientific societies or associations as co‑operating or affiliated organisations.
5. BUSINESS MEETING (GENERAL MEETING)
5.1 A Business Meeting, chaired by the President, or in his/her absence the Vice‑President, is held annually at which
5.1.1 members of Council are elected as required.
5.1.2 all reports about the activities of Council and Association for the previous year are considered.
5.1.3 any other matter as decided by the meeting or Council is discussed.
5.2 Decisions of the Business Meeting are taken by majority vote unless the constitution determines otherwise. In addition to an ordinary vote the President also has a casting vote.
5.3 A quarter of the full and honorary members plus one member constitute a quorum. Should at any meeting the members present not constitute a quorum, that meeting is adjourned until a date and time decided upon by the members present; members present at the subsequent meeting will then form a quorum.
5.4 The secretary notifies all full and honorary members of any Business or Extraordinary General Meeting and makes available to them the agenda of the meeting at least 21 calendar days prior to the meeting.
5.5 The President may, should he or she deem it necessary or on a written request of at least ten full members, call for an Extraordinary Business Meeting to deal only with matters listed on the agenda.
5.6 The secretary, or someone appointed as convenor by Council, makes arrangements for any meetings of working groups, established by decision of the Business Meeting or Council.
6. JOURNAL
6.1 The Council is responsible for managing and maintaining the Journal.
6.2 Anyone may publish in the Journal of the Association on condition that the contribution complies with the relevant linguistic and quality requirements.
6.3 The name of the Journal is determined by Council.
6.4 Council appoints one or more editors and as many advisory editors as deemed necessary for a term of two years.
6.5 The Editor works within the editorial policy established by Council and reports annually to Council at the Business Meeting about the course and state of the Journal.
6.6 All members receive the Journal at a rate determined from time to time by Council.
7. AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
7.1 The Constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority decision of the full and honorary members present at an ordinary or extraordinary Business Meeting, provided that the secretary had notified all full and honorary members of the intended amendments at least 21 calendar days prior to the meeting.
8. DISSOLUTION
8.1 The Association can be dissolved by a two‑thirds majority vote of the full and honorary members present at an ordinary or Extraordinary Business Meeting during which all responsibilities of the Council and the Association must be clarified, provided that the President has no casting vote.
8.2 The Council in office at the time of dissolution must give effect to the decision to dissolve.
8.3 In the event of a dissolution, Council of the Association must dispose of the assets of the Association to any other Association or institution of a scientific or educational nature within Southern Africa which, in the opinion of the meeting deciding on the dissolution of the Association, have objectives similar to those of the Association or which operate in a manner which would further the objectives for which the Association was established.
9. DOMICILIUM EX CITANDI
9.1 The Association constitutes a legal persona and has full powers to acquire rights in its own name, and to take all legal actions necessary to achieve its objectives.
9.2 The Association designates Pretoria (Gauteng Province) South Africa as it place of domicilium ex citandi for purposes of any legal actions that may be instituted by or against the Association.