Samoa Association of Women Graduates
Samoa Association of Women Graduates

CONSTITUTION
of
SAMOA ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN GRADUATES

CHAPTER 1: NAME AND LOCATION:
Article 1: Name
THE name of the Association shall be "Samoa Association of Women Graduates (SAWG)", hereinafter referred to as "the Association" of "SAWG".
Article 2: Location:
THE registered office of the Samoa Association of Women Graduates shall be at the offices of SAWG in Apia.
 
CHAPTER II: AFFILIATION:
Article 3: Affiliation to IFUW:
SAWG is affiliated to the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), hereinafter referred to as "IFUW".
Article 4: Other Affiliations:
SAWG is empowered to affiliate with other appropriate national and international bodies, the policies of which should be consistent with those of IFUW.
 
CHAPTER III - PURPOSE:
Article 5: Purposes:
5.1 THE Association supports the purposes of IFUW as laid down in Article 1 of the IFUW Constitution:
a) To promote understanding and friendship among the university women of the world, irrespective of their race, nationality or political opinions;
b) To encourage international cooperation;
c) To further the development of education'
d) To represent university women in international organisations; and
e) To encourage the full application of their knowledge and skills to the problems which arise at all levels of public life, whether national, regional or world-wide, and to encourage their participation in solving these problems.
5.2 THE further purposes of SAWG shall be:
a) To encourage women to undertake higher education and in particular university studies;
b) To provide awards, scholarships and any other form of financial assistance for women about to or undertaking university studies;
c) To create a network of university women graduates of all disciplines and provide a forum for sharing information and ideas and to promote understanding and friendship between members;
d) To raise awareness of any issues and promote individual rights in any manner determined by the Association to be suitable to achieving its aims;
e) To hold seminars, and meetings whereby members and the Public are further educated and informed;
f) To become a resource group for schools, educational groups and any other association or social group which wishes to make contact with the Associations' members;
g) To provide input to the development of women;
h) To undertake any other objectives as the Association may from time to time consider worthwhile;
 
CHAPTER IV - MEMBERSHIP:
Article 6: Full Members:
6.1 FULL membership in SAWG is open to any woman graduate, irrespective of race, nationality, religion or political opinion, who has a degree, diploma or certificate recognised by IFUW from a university or institution of comparable academic standing.
6.2 ACADEMIC eligibility is the sole criterion for full membership in SAWG.
Article 7: Other Categories of Members:
7.1 HONORARY members are women to whom SAWG grants special membership in recognition of personal achievements or distinguished contributions to SAWG or society. Honorary members may be appointed at the Annual or Special General Meeting.
7.2 LIFE members may be appointed by the Annual or Special General Meeting in recognition of long and useful service to the Association or other valuable work or service for the Association or in the Association's interests.
7.3 ASSOCIATE Membership in SAWG is open to any woman, irrespective of race, nationality, religion or political opinion, who may not fulfill the academic criteria for Full Membership to the Association, but who is committed to furthering the purposes of SAWG.
7.4 THE categories of members not eligible for full membership shall be limited to twenty per cent (20%) of the total membership
Article 8 : Admission:
8.1 EACH candidate for admission as a Full Member to the Association shall be a graduate of a recognised tertiary institution, holding a degree, diploma, or certificate recognised by IFUW in any discipline. Each candidate for admission shall make application for membership which is to submitted to the Committee for approval.
8.2 THE expression "recognised tertiary institution" shall refer to any tertiary institution which the Association resolves in any of its meetings to be acceptable.
Article 9 : Member Rights and Obligations:
9.1 ANY Full Member and Associate Member who has paid a current subscription shall have full voting rights.
9.2 FULL Members shall be eligible for nomination to any Executive Committee position. Associate Members shall eligible for nomination to one seat on the Executive Committee provided that the Associate Member so elected may not hold any Office Bearer position on the Executive Committee.
9.3 FULL Members and Associate Members shall pay an annual subscription fee.
Article 10 : Cessation of Membership:
10.1 WRITTEN notice of resignation of membership shall be given to the Secretary by any member wishing to resign. Such written notice is to be given on or before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
10.2 ANY member whose subscription is over on (1) year in arrears shall cease to be a member of the Association but may be reinstated on payment of all current subscriptions. The operation of this rule shall not prejudice the right of the defaulting member.
 
CHAPTER V- STRUCTURE:
Article 11 : Annual General Meeting:
11.1 THE Annual General Meeting is the ultimate authority of SAWG.
11.2 THE Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held not earlier then the 1st day of July and not later than the 1st day of September in each year.
11.3 A Special General Meeting may be called at the request of the Executive Committee or at the request of ten per cent (10%) of the members.
11.4 EVERY Annual General Meeting and Special General Meeting shall be called by a notice in any of the local papers or by a written notice to every member entitled to vote on the Association's affairs. Such newspaper notice shall be published or as the case may be such written notices shall be posted by ordinary post at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the date of the Meeting which is being notified.
11.5 FULL Members may appoint a proxy to attend the Annual General or Special General Meeting and cast a vote on the member's behalf or to submit a member's nomination for any position. The appointment of the proxy must be in writing and signed by the appointer before a witness.
11.6 IN order for decisions to be taken in an Annual General or Special General Meeting a quorum of twenty (20) per cent of members on the register of members and entitled to vote must be present or represented. A Meeting shall lapse if a quorum is not present within thirty (30) minutes of the notified commencing time and the meeting shall again be called and notified for a later date to be specified by the President but not later than fourteen (14) days from the Meeting
11.7 UNLESS otherwise stipulated in this Constitution, decisions will be taken by a simple majority of those present and voting.
11.8 AN official record of each Annual General or Special General Meeting shall be made.
Article 12 : Patroness:
12.1 THERE shall be one Patroness of Association who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of two years and may be renewed thereafter at subsequent Annual General Meetings.
12.2 THE Patroness of the Association shall support and promote the SAWG and its purposes and provide guidance and counsel to the Association.
Article 13 : The Executive Committee:
13.1 THE Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, one Vice-President, the Coordinator for International Relations (CIR), an Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer and four committee members including the immediate past President, all of whom shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting. Together they comprise the Executive Committee of the Association, hereinafter termed "the Executive Committee". The committee members shall be responsible for a) membership b) communication and international relations, and c) programmes. The positions of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer may be combined in one person duly so elected.
13.2 THE members of the Executive Office shall hold office for two years. No individual shall serve on the Board for more then two consecutive terms except to accede to the presidency.
13.3 A vacancy in the position of President shall be filled at any Special General Meeting called for the purpose of fourteen (14) days notice specifying its purpose. All other vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Committee. Absence by any member for five consecutive Executive Committee Meetings without leave shall void their position as a Committee member.
13.4 THE President is the presiding officer of the Annual General Meeting and the Executive Committee. She may call on another member to preside.
13.5 THE Vice-President is responsible for supporting the President.
13.6 THE Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) shall have the responsibility for promoting the aims of IFUW, for stimulating interest in international relations and for cooperating with the other national federation and associations and shall be the liaison between SAWG and IFUW Headquarters.
13.7 THE Honorary Secretary shall: (1) Notify members of all meetings and set the Agenda for each meeting; (2) Attend all meetings of the Association and of the Committees; (3) Keep a record of the minutes of all general committee meetings, such record to comprise kept and written Minute Book.
13.8 THE Honorary Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys paid to the Association and shall keep the Association's accounts and prepare the Balance Sheet for the audit and see that the same is duly audited and found correct in time for the Annual Meeting
13.9 THE functions of the Committee shall be the following: (1) To implement the resolutions of the Association from any of its meetings' (2) To organise the Association's activities; (3) To be entrusted with the Association's funds and to manage and control the use of the funds as directed by the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting (4) To present a financial report to each Annual General Meeting which will account for the use of the Association's funds; (5) To carry out any other functions as specified by the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
13.10 THE Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month.
13.11 AT Executive Committee Meetings five (5) persons present shall form a quorum and the President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President or in their like absence one of the Committee elected for the occasion shall preside and the person presiding shall have a first or deliberative and also a casting vote.
 
CHAPTER VI - FINANCES:
Article 14 : Assets:
THE assets of the Association shall be comprised of annual membership fees, contributions of its members, donations from the private and public sector, gifts and legacies.
Article 15 : Annual Membership Fees:
THE amount of the annual subscription fee to be paid by full members shall be fixed annually by the Annual General Meeting.
Article 16 : Financial Year:
THE financial year of SAWG shall begin on 01 July.
Article 17 : Banking:
17.1 THE Bankers of the Association shall be decided by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee at any time may lodge money in any Bank it shall decide for any purpose.
17.2 ANY account to be opened shall be opened by the President and the Honorary Secretary or the Honorary Treasurer.
17.3 ALL monies received by or on behalf of the Association shall be kept safe by the Honorary Treasurer and paid as soon as possible after receipt into the banking account of the Association.
17.4 CHEQUES shall be signed by the President or Vice President together with either the Honorary Secretary or the Honorary Treasure.
Article 18 : IFUW Membership Fees:
SAWG shall pay the required annual membership dues to the International Federation of University Women as required by the IFUW Constitution.
 
CHAPTER VII - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:
Article 19 : Visiting Members:
ALL meetings and activitiesof SAWG shall be open to visiting membersof other I FUW national federations and associations and to IFUW Independent Members.
Article 20 : Representation to IFUW Council:
A member shall be appointed by the Annual General Assembly to represent SAWG on the IFUW Council.
 
CHAPTER VIII - MISCELLANEOUS:
Article 21 : Execution of Documents Under Seal:
THE Association shall provide itself with a Seal which shall be and remain in the custody of the Honorary Secretary. All documents for execution by or on behalf of the Association shall be executed under Seal of the Association in the presence of any two of the President, Vice President and the Honorary Secretary who shall each sign as witnesses to the affixing of the Seal. No such document shall be executed excepting on the authority of he Association in Annual General or Special General Meeting or of the Committee.
Article 22 : Amendments:
22.1 THESE rules may be added to, rescinded or amended: (1) by an Annual General Meeting or at any Special General Meeting called for the purpose at which at least one third of the members eligible to vote are present or represented, and (2) if two-thirds of those voting vote in favour of the amendments.
22.2 AMENDMENTS may be proposed by the Executive Committee or any two full members.
22.3 A copy of the proposed amendments shall be circulated to the members by written notice with the agenda of the Meeting at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the meeting.
22.4 ALL adopted amendments must be submitted to IFUW for approval as soon as possible.
Article 23 : Dissolution:
23.1 A vote to dissolve the Association can be passed only (1) by an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting at which at least one third of the members eligible to vote are present or represented; and (2) if two-thirds of those voting vote in favour of dissolution.
23.2 A proposal to dissolve the Association shall be circulated to the members by written notice with the agenda of the Meeting at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the meeting.
23.3 IN case of dissolution of the Association, the funds shall be disposed of by donation to some other Association having similar objects or to some Charitable Institution approved by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies or as determined by the Annual General or Special General Meeting voting to dissolve the Association.

Samoa Association of Women Graduates