Constitution
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATION (SAAA)
1. IDENTITY
1.1 Name
The name shall be SOUTHERN AFRICAN ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATION (SAAA).
1.2 Legal Personality
The association shall be a body corporate, capable, in its own name, of acquiring rights, entering into legal transactions, and suing and being sued.
1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 The objectives of the association shall be the promotion of education and research and of the interests of educators and researchers in the field of accounting and allied disciplines.
1.3.2 The association shall seek to attain its objectives by holding conferences, meetings, discussions and seminars, by publishing papers, by seeking recognition as the representative body of accounting academics in Southern Africa, and by such other means as it may from time to time deem suitable.
2. MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Classes
There shall be four classes of members
honorary,
academic,
practising, and
associate
2.2 Honorary
An honorary member shall be a person who, by virtue of his special contribution to accounting education and/or research in Southern Africa has been invited by the executive committee to become an honorary member and has accepted the invitation.
2.3 Academic
Any teacher or researcher in accounting or its allied disciplines at a university or technikon in Southern Africa shall be eligible for academic membership. Membership commences and must be renewed annually on payment of the annual subscriptions through the Academic Representative. Academic members have the right to vote and to hold any office in the association
2.4 Practising
Practising members are members of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants or former academic members who have applied for membership and been accepted. Membership is renewed annually on payment of the annual subscription. In recognition of their interest in, or contribution to, the promotion of education and research they have the right to vote, but may not hold office as president, vice-president, or regional representative on the executive committee.
2.5 Associate
Associate members, who do not qualify for academic or practising membership, have applied for associate membership and been accepted by the executive committee. Membership is renewed annually on payment of the annual subscription. Associate members do not have the right to vote or to hold any office.
2.6 Rights of all Members
Members of all classes are entitled to
2.6.1 receive notice of, and attend all national congresses held by the association:
2.6.2 receive notice of, and attend all general meetings of the association:
2.6.3 receive notice of, and attend all meetings and functions held by the regional association in the area in which they are domiciled:
2.6.4 receive a copy of all SAAA's publications: and
2.6.5 enjoy the benefits of the SAAA associate status with those accounting associations that have recognised SAAA.
2.7 Subscriptions and Cessation of Membership
2.7.1 Membership will cease automatically on non-payment of subscriptions within 3 months of the due date, or on resignation.
2.7.2 Lapsed or resigned members shall not be eligible to rejoin unless all arrear subscriptions are paid.
3. EXECUTIVE
3.1 Composition
3.1.1 The management of the society shall be vested in an executive committee (Excom) consisting of a president, a vice president, an honorary secretary, an honorary treasurer, the immediate past president, (ex officio for the period of 2 years), the editor of “FORUM for Accounting Education” and the chairpersons of the regional associations.
3.1.2 The president, the vice president, the honorary secretary, the honorary treasurer and the editor of “FORUM for Accounting Education” shall be elected at every ordinary general meeting of the association.
3.1.3 The chairperson of the regional associations shall be elected at ordinary general meetings of the regional associations.
3.1.4 Nominations for the election of members of Excom shall be made at the meeting at which the election takes place.
3.1.5 Members of Excom shall hold office until new Excom members are elected and shall be eligible for re-election on the expiricy of their term of office.
3.1.6 The president, vice-president and the chairperson of each regional association shall be elected from the academic members of that association.
3.2 Powers and obligations of Excom
3.2.1 to give effect to the regional structuring of the association, the powers and obligations include:
- to receive reports form regional chairmen on regional activities, regional interest group activities, and the opinions of members in the regions;
- to delegate authority and responsibility for the organisation of congresses, and to receive regular reports from congress convenors;
- to negotiate with, and to nominate representatives to those bodies seeking academic accounting representation, taking account of the regional interest area structures;
- to negotiate with the Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board (PAAB) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) regarding representation of the society, funding, and research activities;
- to form national interest groups and to maintain a register of national and regional interest group chairpersons and members: and
- to co-opt representatives on to the committee as and when required.
3.3 Secretarial Treasurer functions of Excom
Excom shall be responsible for
3.3.1 maintaining a list of members;
3.3.2 notifying members of the amount and due date of the annual subscription;
3.3.3 collecting subscriptions;
3.3.4 maintaining an account at a registered financial institution, payments therefrom being authorised by two designated signatories;
3.3.5 preparing budgets;
3.3.6 preparing the annual financial report which shall be audited by an honorary auditor who may not be a member of the Excom; and
3.3.7 convening meeting of Excom and ordinary and extra-ordinary general meetings of the association.
3.4 Procedure at meetings of Excom
3.4.1 Excom shall meet as often as the president convenes it, or at the request of at least one of the members of Excom, but, in any event, at the time of each ordinary general meeting.
3.4.2 A quorum shall consist of one half (50%) of Excom members.
3.4.3 Resolution of Excom shall be passed by a majority of the votes of those present at the Excom meeting.
3.4.4 Proposals may be submitted to members of Excom by letter in which case resolutions shall be passed by a majority of the votes returned by members of Excom.
3.4.5 A summary report of the proceedings at each Excom meeting shall be made to members through AFORUM for Accounting Education@.
4. REGIONAL STRUCTURES
4.1 The society comprises four regional associations, namely the Northern, Western Cape, Central, and Natal regions.
4.2 Each of the regional associations has its own constitution and its own executive.
4.3 Each comprises several interest groups headed by a regional interest group chairperson.
4.4 The regional interest group chairpersons liaise closely with the national interest group chairperson who represent SAAA.
4.5 Copies of the agendas and minutes of meetings shall be submitted to the secretary and the editor of “FORUM for Accounting Education” within 21 days of the meeting.
5. GENERAL MEETINGS
5.1 An ordinary general meeting of the association shall be held not later than 30 months after the previous ordinary general meeting, on a date and at a place determined by the president in consultation with members of Excom. If circumstances prevent the timeous holding of an ordinary general meeting, such meeting shall be convened, as soon as possible after the elapse of 30 months, by the president or the vice-president or the honorary secretary at the request of at least 30 members of the society.
5.2 The honorary secretary shall send each member notice of the ordinary general meeting and the agenda at least one month prior to the date of the meeting.
5.3 The president shall convene an extraordinary general meeting whenever he deems it desirable, or upon written request of at least 10 ordinary members.
5.4 Unless the president rules that the matters to be dealt with are so urgent that a shorter period of notice is desirable, the honorary secretary shall send each member a notice of an extraordinary general meeting and the agenda at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
5.5 At all meetings the chair shall be taken by the president or, in his absence, by the vice- president or, if he too be absent, by a chairperson chosen by the meeting. A quorum at all general meetings shall be 30.
5.6 Resolutions at a meeting shall be taken by a majority of the votes of members present. If so requested by at least 10 members, the chairperson shall order a vote by ballot paper.
5.7 In between ordinary general meetings resolutions of the society may be passed by a written referendum of members. Such referendum shall be held by the president upon his own initiative or at the request of at least 30 members. Such resolutions shall be passed by a majority of votes returned by members.
6. ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES
Each university, and all technikons, shall be represented at a meeting of University and Technikon representatives which will take place in every congress year on the day before the start of the congress.
7. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
The constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of members at an ordinary or extraordinary general meeting, or by a majority of votes returned in a written referendum, provided that the honorary secretary has sent each member a notice of the proposed amendment at least one month prior to the date of the meeting or the date given for return of the vote.