Federation of Socialist Societies

Constitution

Posted on by canterburysocialists

CONSTITUTION OF THE CANTERBURY SOCIALIST SOCIETY

We, the undersigned, declare the founding of the Canterbury Socialist Society on this date 12-09-2018 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

I. NAME & SEAL:

The name of the society shall be “Canterbury Socialist Society”, and may also be referred to as “Canterbury Socialists”, “Socialist Society” or “CSS”. The Common Seal of the society shall be as below:

II. PURPOSE:

We exist to pursue the the following:

  • To promote and encourage a greater understanding and engagement with socialist theory, politics, and history.
  • To organise and participate in various events, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, and workshops for the exploration of socialist ideas.
  • To work with other individuals and organisations with an interest in socialist ideas in order to provide events and activities to promote engagement with socialist ideas.
  • To develop an organisation based on collegial practice and discussion that can provide a basis for socialist activity where conditions allow.
  • To practically support working class struggle where possible and appropriate.
  • To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

We take socialism to mean the political goal of bringing the working class to power at all levels of society in order to establish a system where production is organized rationally to meet human need, rather than for the accumulation of private wealth.

III. MEMBERSHIP:

While attendance and participation in our events is open to all, membership is based on agreement to section “II. Purpose”. Membership grants the right to submit motions and vote on them at any AGM or SGM of the CSS, and to be elected to the Executive Committee. Members will be encouraged to be in discussion with one another, as well as the acting executive, in order to pursue the goals of the Society as well as organise and support its events.

Members will also contribute dues of thirty (30) dollars per year (payment in installments can be arranged with the Executive) to the Canterbury Socialist Society which will be managed with internal transparency in order to pursue the objects of the society in section “II. Purpose” and section “VI. Standing Orders”

As an additional funding mechanism for the Society, members are welcomed to contribute regular recurring payments throughout the year.

Renewal of membership will occur every 12 months at the end of September each year to coincide with the Canterbury Socialist Society’s Annual General Meeting. Amnesty at the discretion of the Executive, or a pro rata membership can be arranged for Members who join part way through the 12 month cycle.

Though members are free to be members of other organisations, parties, and similar groups (known as “dual-membership”), any potential conflict of interest that may arise from this situation should be communicated to the Society as soon as possible.

Any member who is found to have brought the Society into significant disrepute, or acts with serious misconduct within the organisation may be expelled as a member by a majority vote of the Executive. Any member may challenge the decision to expel a member and a meeting will be called for all members to discuss and vote on expulsion.

IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

The Executive Committee shall be made up of members of the Canterbury Socialist Society. The executive shall be a minimum of three individuals and will negotiate collective responsibility on the day to day operations of the Society. The actions and decisions of the executive will be transparent to all members.

The Executive shall be elected for one year (12 months) at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society. The executive may be elected as a slate, or as individuals, and will be voted in by a show of hands. Members may nominate themselves, but must receive one second from another member at the AGM.

The Executive is entrusted with the operation of the Society, its funds, assets, and the pursuit of its purpose as defined in this document. The Executive will have regular communication (a minimum of one per month) with all contacts providing updates on the activities and events of the Society.

The Executive shall jointly distribute the following roles among themselves, or co-opt members of the Society by agreement to these roles:

  • Chairperson – Primary spokesperson and tasked with ensuring events are arranged and well run.
  • Secretary – Shall ensure minutes at all organising meetings are maintained, and also field general enquiries about the organisation.
  • Membership Officer – Shall follow up with prospective members of the Society, welcome new members and make sure they understand their rights and responsibilities as members, and to promote membership generally both with existing contacts and through outreach.
  • Treasurer – Shall maintain all financial records, chattels, and provide relevant information to the Executive for any proposed spending.
  • Social Media – Shall provide consistent and up to date messaging across our various social media platforms, and develop those platforms to increase reach and efficacy.
  • Website Development – Shall work to further utilise the Canterbury Socialist Society website and make it a useful tool for the Society.

An Executive member filling any of the roles listed above may choose to work with another member and provide mentoring in order to share the necessary skills needed to run the Society effectively.

Any member of the Executive, or the entire Executive is subject to a recall vote. Any member may request a recall vote so long as there is one (1) seconder. Request for a recall vote shall be received by written notice, e-mail, or from the floor at any official meeting of the Socialist Society as laid out in section “V. MEETINGS”.

V. MEETINGS:

The highest decision making body of the Society shall be the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM shall be held in the third quarter of each year. The date shall be decided the Executive Committee who will notify all members for a period of at thirty (30) days beforehand. During the notice period, and up until three (3) days before the AGM, members may submit resolutions to be discussed and voted on.

A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be eight (8) members of the Society, of which no fewer than five (5) shall be non-Executive members. A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands. However, if any member demands a secret ballot before a vote by voices or show of hands has begun, voting must be by secret ballot. Every member present shall have one vote. In the event of an equality of votes the resolution shall be tabled for follow up discussion, and a follow up meeting to be set no longer than sixty (60) days after the AGM to reach a decision. The same period of notice for any follow up meeting(s) applies as to the AGM.

The Business of an Annual General Meeting shall be:

  • Any minutes of the previous meeting(s);
  • A report from the Executive Committee on the previous year of activity, finances, and condition of the Society;
  • Election of Committee Members;
  • Motions to be considered;
  • Formulation of the ‘Standing Orders’ for the Society for the next 12 months;
  • General business.

The Annual General Meeting is also the body which can make changes to the Constitution of the Canterbury Socialist Society.

All other meetings of members may make decisions that are deemed to pursue the objects of the society in section “II. PURPOSE”, and change or add to section “VI. STANDING ORDERS”, or to address any formal objection to decisions made by the Executive. These meetings are to ensure continuity and business as usual operations of the Society.

VI. STANDING ORDERS:

We, the members of the Canterbury Socialist Society, hereby provide a mandate to the Executive of the Canterbury Socialist Society, to pursue the following general and specific goals for the next twelve (12) months of the basic operations of the Society.

  1. To maintain our current rolling events: 1 public lecture/film screening, 1 discussion group, 1 social event each month.
  2. To extend the reach of the Facebook page to 800 people, and the mailing list of supporters to 200.
  3. To extend our quarterly events leaflet to a longer bulletin, provisionally titled “In Common Cause”, where members will be encouraged to write short pieces on topics of interest.
  4. To follow through on and purchase the agreed upon chattels and promotional merchandise as per the 2019 AGM.
  5. To maintain our two recurring annual lecture events as follows:
    i) The Fred Evans Memorial Lecture. An official ‘high point’ lecture where a speaker, International or Local, is invited to deliver a full length lecture on a topic of import or interest to the Society. Said invitation should include funding, preferably full if not partial, for the speaker.
    ii) A “State of the Unions” panel with local organisers and unionists in Canterbury.
  6. To maintain our assets, digital and physical.
  7. To establish a working group with the goal of developing and utilising our website.

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