 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
RULES
OF
FOSTER CARE NEW ZEALAND
INCORPORATED
3.1.
To
promote, support and encourage foster parent membership and the establishment
of member organizations
3.2.
To
support foster parent membership and member organizations of the Society, to
assist foster families providing care services to disadvantaged children within
New Zealand.
3.3.
To
promote through membership of the Society, the improvement of quality of
substitute family care of infants, children and young persons in New Zealand.
3.4.
To
promote, encourage and support the enacting of a Foster Carers Bill of Rights
Act into New Zealand Law.
3.5.
To
ensure the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi are incorporated in all policy
and practice.
3.6.
To
advance the wellbeing of families of Maori and other cultural groups in New
Zealand taking account of the different family structures.
5.1.
"A
Local Foster Care Association" or "Agency" shall mean any body of persons
recognised as such by the Controlling Body.
5.2.
"A
Local Foster Care Association Society Member" or "Agency Society Member" shall
mean any Association or Agency incorporated under The Incorporated Societies
Act 1908 as per clause 5.14, who are financial and are recognised
and accepted as such by the Controlling Body.
5.3.
"Member"
shall mean a Member of the Society as specified in clause eight (8) of these
Rules.
5.4.
"Voting
Delegate" shall mean the duly appointed representative of each member
qualifying under clause eight (8) of these Rules.
5.5.
"The
Controlling Body" shall mean all individual care providers or are members of a
member organization or support group acting together in general meeting.
5.6.
"The
Executive Body" shall mean the elected / appointed Officers as specified in
Clause sixteen (16) of these Rules.
5.7.
"Infant",
Child", and "Young Person" shall be understood as defined in the Children,
Young Persons and Their Family's Act 1989.
5.8.
"New
Zealand" shall mean and include all the territories embraced in New Zealand and
all territories held by New Zealand under mandate.
5.9.
Words
importing only the singular shall include the plural number and vice versa.
5.10.
Words
importing persons shall include corporations.
5.11.
Words
implying male gender shall include female gender.
5.12.
"Foster
Parent" shall be defined as encompassing all of clauses 5.13 and 5.14
5.13.
"Substitute
Family Care" shall include foster care, kinship care, respite care and
guardianship.
5.14.
"Family Whanau / Kinship Care" shall be
defined as close family blood relations.
5.15.
"The
Act" shall mean the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and any Act or any Acts amending
or in substitution for same.
6.1.
Promote,
assist and support foster parents and the formation and operation of local
Foster Care Associations and other appropriate bodies and organizations in New
Zealand whose aims and policies are not in conflict with those of the Society.
6.2.
Establish
and maintain registers of membership of the Society as required.
6.3.
Promote
policy and standards for foster care and promote their adoption and implementation.
6.4.
Develop
and maintain links with appropriate bodies and organizations in New Zealand and
overseas whose aims and policies are not in conflict with those of the Society.
6.5.
Promote,
assist in and undertake research into various aspects of child welfare in
general and foster care in particular.
6.6.
Collect,
prepare, publish and distribute information and resource material.
6.7.
Consult
and co-operate with and assist Government Departments and other organizations
in appropriate activities, including recruiting and publicity campaigns,
education and training of foster parents, preparation of resource materials and
standard forms, procedure reviews, programmes for monitoring effectiveness and
quality of care.
6.8.
Promote,
organise and assist in conferences and seminars on various aspects of child
welfare in general and foster care in particular.
6.9.
Present
submissions to Select Committees, Royal Commissions and other appropriate
bodies.
6.10.
Make
submissions to political parties on matters of child welfare policy.
6.11.
Make
public statements.
6.12.
Publish
a regular newsletter.
6.13.
Enter
into association with or membership of appropriate bodies in New Zealand or
overseas which the Controlling Body may from time to time consider appropriate.
6.14.
Acquire
by purchase, take on lease or otherwise lands or buildings and all other
property, real or personal which the
Controlling Body
may from time to time think proper, or dispose of such property or any part
thereof, and to erect on any such land any building and to alter, add to and
maintain any building erected upon such land.
6.15.
Raise
or borrow money in such manner and upon such security (if any) as the
Controlling Body of the Society shall think fit.
6.16.
Employ
and dismiss servants and agents.
6.17.
Invest
and deal with monies of the Society not immediately required upon such
securities or otherwise in such manner as may be from time to time determined.
6.18.
Apply
for and obtain any Act of Parliament for the purpose of carrying out the
objects of the Society.
6.19.
Enter
into any arrangements that the Controlling Body may from time to time consider
appropriate, with any Government, Municipal, Local or other Authority that may
be conductive to attaining the objects of the Society.
6.20.
Engage,
assist and advise in litigation on any matter concerning the welfare of
infants, children or young persons or related to the affairs of the Society.
6.21.
Undertake
any activity, which, in the opinion of the Controlling Body, advances the
objects of the Society.
8.1.
A
Local Foster Care Association Society Member or Agency as described in clause
(5.3) of these Rules.
8.2.
Any
organization incorporated, under "The Act" as per clause 5.14, being
financial, whose aims are not in conflict with the aims of the Society and
whose application for membership is accepted by the Controlling Body of the
Society.
8.3.
Any
individual, being a member of a Local Foster Care Association, Society Member
or Agency or support group as described in clause (5.5) of these Rules.
9.1.
Associate
members being a Local Foster Care Association or Agency not incorporated and
recognised and accepted as such by the Controlling Body.
9.2.
Corporate
members being corporate bodies which support the Society's objectives but do
not form part of the Controlling Body or send voting delegates to general
meetings, and whose application is accepted by the Controlling Body of the
Society.
9.3.
Associate
members who support the Society's objectives, who do not have voting power at
general meetings and whose application is accepted by the Controlling Body of
the Society.
9.4.
Life
members who are deemed to be worthy by deeds and actions, and who are approved
by the Controlling Body of the Society.
10.1.
Upon
receipt by the Executive Body of written notice of resignation.
10.2.
By
resolution of the Society in General Meeting, notice having been given.
10.3.
Upon
a member ceasing to be qualified as such.
14.1.
All
matters to be decided at any Annual or Special Meeting of the Society, shall be
decided by ordinary resolution and voting shall be by show of
hands or on the voices as the Chairperson shall direct, provided that any
matter may be decided by secret ballot upon the request of members and where
the Chairperson in his discretion considers that a secret ballot would be in
the circumstances be appropriate and that all ballot papers be destroyed after
voting is complete
14.2. The
Annual Meeting may adopt by ordinary majority statements of policy consistent
with these Rules and to be appended to these Rules, provided that notice is
given.
14.3. Such
policy may be revoked or amended by ordinary majority at any general meeting
provided that notice is given.
14.4.
Such policy shall be binding on the
Society but shall not be binding on its incorporated members except where acting
for the Society.
14.5.
Membership
dues shall be fixed at the annual meeting to be payable at such time and
according to such formula as the meeting may decide.
15.1.
Publicity
15.2.
Journal
Editor
15.3.
Family
Home Liaison
15.4.
Fund
Raising
15.5.
Voluntary
Agency Liaison
15.6.
Education
Conference/Seminar Organiser
15.7.
Research,
etc…
16.1.
Chairperson
16.2.
Treasurer
16.3.
Secretary
/ Executive Officer
16.4.
Regional
Member Representatives / Elected Officers, one (1) elected by and from, each
member organization.
16.5.
One
of the Regional Member Representative / Elected Officer shall be designated
Vice Chairperson
17.1.
Cultural
Officer
17.2.
Honorary
Solicitor
17.3.
Honorary
Auditor
17.4.
Patron
18.1.
Call
and chair general meetings and meetings of the Executive Body.
18.2.
Approve
the agenda and notices of motion for such meetings.
18.3.
Interpret
policy and decisions of the Society.
18.4.
Oversee
the affairs of the Society.
18.5.
Present
written reports of these meetings to the membership.
18.6.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
19.1.
Assist
the Chairperson in the performance of his duties.
19.2.
Fulfil
the duties of Chairperson in the Chairperson's absence or ceasing to hold
office.
19.3.
Call
Special Meetings and meetings of the Executive Body if he so deems necessary.
19.4.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
20.1.
Attend
general meetings and keep accurate minutes.
20.2.
Convene
such meetings and prepare agendas and notices of motion as instructed by the
Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson or five (5) or more Society members.
20.3.
Circulate
to all voting delegates a report of each Executive Body meeting within
twenty-eight (28) days of such meeting.
20.4.
Conduct
the correspondence of the Society.
20.5.
Keep
and maintain a register of the Society members.
20.6.
Ensure
compliance with the provisions of the Act dealing with the filing of returns and
giving of notice of any changes in the registered offices of the Society.
20.7.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
20.8.
Prepare
reports for presentation to funding authorities
21.1.
Keep
accounts and issue receipts.
21.2.
Prepare
annual accounts for audit and report to the annual meeting.
21.3.
Prepare
and submit Inland Revenue tax and statistical returns as required.
21.4.
Prepare
and submit funding applications as directed by the Executive Body.
21.5.
Operate
the Society's bank accounts with the Chairperson along with one (1) other
Executive member as determined by the Executive Body.
21.6.
Place
before the Executive Body any accounts for payment.
21.7.
Prepare
and present to General Meeting an annual financial budget.
21.8.
Seek
approval from the Governing Body for any extraordinary expenditure not allowed
for in the presented financial budget.
21.9.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
22.1.
Liaise
with and support Incorporated Members within the region.
22.2.
Liaise
with Regional Offices of the Department of Social Welfare.
22.3.
Liaise
with Associate and Corporate organizations in the region.
22.4.
Liaise
with groups, and agencies in the region whose activities relate to the objects
of the Society.
22.5.
Forward
copies of all correspondence to the Chairperson and the Executive
Officer/Secretary as soon as practicable.
22.6.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
22.7.
Represent
the Society on committees and organizations where appropriate to their
designated role.
23.1.
Develop
and promote activities for the Society that enhances Cultural sensitivity.
23.2.
Advise
the Society on the cultural appropriateness of policy, procedures and
practices.
23.3.
Liaise
with Members, people, organizations and agencies appropriate to the Office.
23.4.
Represent
the Society on select committees, policy meetings, hui and other organizations
that support the aims of the Society.
23.5.
Present
a written report to the annual meeting.
26.1.
Whenever
requested by the Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson or in writing by five or
more members, the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
26.2.
Notice
of such meeting shall be given within seven (7) days of receiving the request,
and if not so given, any Officer Member may convene such a meeting.
26.3.
Not
less than fourteen (14) days notice of the date, place and time of any general
meeting and of the agenda and any notices of motion shall be given by
registered mail to the last known address of the voting delegate.
27.1.
Each
voting delegate/member or proxy present at a general meeting shall have one (1)
definitive vote.
27.2.
The
Chairperson shall have a casting vote.
27.3.
Any
voting delegate/member unable to be present and not represented by a proxy may
exercise a vote by mail to the Executive Officer or the Secretary on any motion
of which notice has been given.
27.4.
Decisions
shall be by simple majority of votes cast, except in the case of amendments to
these Rules as provided for in clauses (33.1) below, and except that;
27.4.1. the motion shall be counted
as voting against the motion.
27.4.2.
on
any motion to amend a motion of which notice has been given, any voting
delegate voting by mail on such motion, if any such amendment is passed then
any votes by mail on the original motion, wether for or against shall not be
counted.
27.5.
Association
and Agency members, as per clause 5.2 of these Rules, shall have one (1) head
office vote at any General Meeting.
27.6.
At
Annual General Meeting there will be a Conference / Attendee Vote, which will
be an indicative vote only.
28.1.
Executive
Body members may attend any meeting and shall have the right to speak and to
propose but not to second motions and amendments to motions.
28.2.
The
Executive Body of the Society shall comprise the elected Member Representatives
/ Elected Officers of the Society (except the Honorary Solicitor) and the
Immediate Past Chairperson. It shall be
responsible to the Controlling Body for managing the day-to-day affairs of the
Society and for implementing the Society's policy and resolutions according to
priorities and guidelines determined by the Controlling Body in general
meeting.
28.3.
A
quorum shall be half the voting delegates at the time, except that where voting
delegates and their proxies do not constitute a quorum, voting delegates voting
by mail on any particular motion shall count towards a quorum for the purpose
of considering and voting on that motion.
28.4.
The
Treasurer shall operate bank accounts, with either the Chairperson or one other
Executive member as determined by the Executive.
29.1.
A
quorum shall be half the elected executive members at the time.
29.2.
The
Executive Body may co-opt further Executive members to fulfil identified tasks,
each of whom shall be from a membership as designated in clause eight (8) of
these Rules.
29.3.
The
Executive Body may co-opt Executive members to fulfil casual vacancies that may
occur within the elected Executive positions, each of whom shall be from a
membership as designated in clause eight (8) of these Rules.
29.4.
The
Executive Body may appoint an Executive Officer or Secretary with the rights as
defined in clause (30.9) of these Rules.
29.5.
The
Executive Body shall set and review conditions for the employment and dismissal
of an Executive Officer or a Secretary or
an Agent, within guidelines and a budget approved by the Controlling
Body.
30.1.
To
carry out secretarial tasks as specified in Rule twenty (20) of these rules.
30.2.
To
keep files and records for the Society.
30.3.
To
operate the library of the Society.
30.4.
To
assist in the preparation and distribution to the membership a regular
newsletter.
30.5.
To
assist in editing and the preparation for publication of the Foster Care
Journal.
30.6.
To
carry out such other tasks and duties as may from time to time be negotiated
with the Executive Body.
30.7.
To
present a written report to annual meeting.
30.8.
The
Executive Officer shall be responsible to the Executive Body.