About

01 NAME

 

The Society shall be known as the “Singapore Association for the Study of Obesity” hereinafter referred to as the “Association”.

 

02 PLACE OF BUSINESS

 

The place of business of the Association shall be at “111 North Bridge Road #27-01 Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 179098” or at such other address as may from time to time be decided on by the Council and approved by the Registrar of Societies; and its postal address shall be above or such other address may from time to time be decided on by the Council.

 

03 PLACE OF MEETING

 

The place of meeting shall be at the office of the Association or at such other place as the Council may, from time to time, decide. The Association shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

 

04 DEFINITIONS

 

In these Rules unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:-

 

“Association” means “Singapore Association for the Study of Obesity”;

 

“Council” means the group of office bearers of the Association elected in the manner prescribed by these Rules.

 

“General Meeting” means any General Meeting of the Members of the Association, both an Annual General Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting.

 

“Member” means an entity constituting as an ordinary, corporate, life, founding and honorary member of the Association

 

“Trustee” means a person appointed from time to time at a General Meeting to hold trust of any immovable property acquired by the Association.

 

05 OBJECTS

 

The Objects of the Association are to:-

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a) Promote the study of obesity in Singapore including its causes, manifestations, prevention and treatment.

b) Encourage and support research into all facets of obesity.

c) Provide a better understanding and independent opinion regarding various aspects of obesity to healthcare professionals and to the general public.

d) Seek affiliation with international bodies and organise scientific meetings to promote the exchange of information about the study of obesity.

e) Compile, print, publish and distribute educational materials detailing the information about obesity.

f) Receive donations in any form on behalf of the Association and also to borrow or raise money and to invest and deal with money so derived for the purpose of furthering the objectives of the Association.

 

06 MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION AND APPLICATION

 

1. There shall be four types of membership, namely:

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a) Ordinary Membership:

 

Ordinary Membership is open to all healthcare professionals and individuals who support the objectives of the Association. Ordinary Members at the time of the inaugural General Meeting will be known as Founding Members.

 

b) Life Membership:

 

Life Membership is open to all Ordinary Members who have been Ordinary Members of the Association for at least ten (10) consecutive years.

 

c) Corporate Membership:

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Corporate Membership is open to all corporations or institutions who support the objectives of the Association.

 

d) Honorary Membership:

 

Distinguished persons who have rendered notable service to the Association or to the understanding of obesity may on the recommendation of the Council be elected Honorary Members by a majority vote at a General Meeting.

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2. Application for membership shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary of the Association. Applications for membership will be subject to approval by the Council, whose decision is final.

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3. A copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member.

 

07 SUBSCRIPTION FEES AND OTHER DUES

 

a) The membership fee shall be recommended by the Council from time to time, subject to the members’ approval at a General Meeting.

 

Ordinary Members:

 

For Doctors:

- $60 for 1 year

- $110 for 2 years, or

- $155 for 3 years

 

For Non-doctors:

- $30 for 1 year

- $50 for 2 years, or

- $70 for 3 years

 

Life Members:

 

S$800 payable on approval of membership.

 

Corporate Members:

 

$10,000 for (ten) 10 years or S$1,500 per annum.

 

b) For retiree memberships, the yearly subscription is reduced by half.

 

c) All yearly subscriptions are payable in advance within 60 days of the beginning of the financial year. Payment shall be made to the Association. If a member falls into arrears with his subscription or other dues, he shall be informed immediately by the Honorary Treasurer. If he fails to settle his arrears within 4 weeks of their becoming due, the President may order that his name be posted on the Association’s notice board and that he be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his account. A member whose subscription is in arrears for two (2) calendar months of the posting of such notice shall be deemed to have defaulted and shall automatically cease to be a member. The amount in arrears shall be deemed to be an undischarged debt to the Association.

 

d) Any additional fund required for special purposes may only be raised from members with the consent of the General Meeting of the members.

 

08 PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS

 

Members shall be entitled to enjoy the following privileges subject to payment in full of all subscriptions due and payable:

 

1. To attend the Association’s meetings.

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2. To participate in all such activities as may from time to time be organised by the Association.

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3. To receive publications of the Association.

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4. The right to vote and to hold office:

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a) Ordinary Members and Life Members shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Association.

b) Honorary Members shall have no voting rights and shall not hold office in the Association.

c) Corporate Members shall have the right to nominate a representative to vote and to hold office in the Association.

 

09 RESIGNATION

 

A member desirous of resigning from the Association may do so by forwarding a written notice of his intention to do so to the Honorary Secretary. Such resignation shall become effective from the date of receipt of the notice by the President provided that the subscription for the relevant financial year has been paid. Otherwise such resignation shall come into effect from the date the outstanding subscription is paid up.

 

10 COUNCIL

 

1. The administration of the Association shall be entrusted to a Council consisting of the following to be elected at alternate Annual General Meeting:

 

A President

A Vice-President

An Honorary Secretary

An Honorary Treasurer

Three Ordinary Council Members

 

The office bearers of the Association and every officer performing executive functions in the Association shall be Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents or Foreign Citizens working legally in Singapore for at least 2 years and shall be members of the healthcare profession or the academia.

 

2. The Council shall hold office for two (2) years from the date of election to the next election.

 

3. Names of the above offices shall be proposed and seconded and the biennial election will be by a simple majority vote of the members present at the Annual General Meeting. Provided that the Honorary Treasurer shall hold office in the same or related post for a period of not more than one consecutive term, all office bearers shall be eligible for re-election.

 

4. Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

 

5. The function of the Council is to organise and supervise the day-to-day activities of the Association and to make decisions on matters affecting its running within the general policy laid down at the Annual General Meeting. The Council may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the General Meeting. It shall furnish a report to each Annual General Meeting on its activities during the previous year.

 

6. The Council shall meet at least once every four months, and at least seven (7) days’ notice of each meeting shall be given to the Council Members by the Honorary Secretary. The President acting alone, or not less than three (3) of its members acting together may call for a meeting of the Council to be held at any time. At least one half of the Council members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

 

7. Where any urgent matter requiring the approval of the Council arises and it is not possible to convene a meeting, the Honorary Secretary may obtain such approval by circulation. The following conditions must be fulfilled before a decision of the Council is deemed to have been obtained:

a) The issue must be clearly set out in the circular and forwarded to all members of the Council.

b) At least one half of the members of the Council must indicate whether they are in favour or against the proposal; and

c) The decision must be by a majority vote.

 

8. Any member of the Council who fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings of the Council without satisfactory explanation shall be deemed to have resigned from the Council. A successor may be co-opted by the Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

 

9. In the event of the death or resignation of a member of the Council, the Council shall co-opt a suitable member to fill the vacancy.

 

10. Any changes in the Council shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two (2) weeks of the change.

 

11. The Council shall give instructions to the Honorary Secretary and other officers for the conduct of the affairs of the Association. It may appoint such organisers and such staff as it deems necessary. It may suspend or dismiss any organiser or member of the staff for neglect of duty, dishonesty, incompetence, refusal to carry out the decisions of the Council, or for any other reason which it seems good and sufficient in the interest of the Association.

 

12. Except where they are contrary to or inconsistent with the policy previously laid down by the Annual General Meeting, the decisions of the Council shall be binding on all members of the Association unless and until countermanded by a resolution of a General Meeting.

 

13. The Council may at their discretion from time to time form subcommittees and co-opt other members to serve on various sub-committees.

 

11 DUTIES OF OFFICE BEARERS

 

a) The President shall during his term of office preside at all General Meetings and all meetings of the Council and shall be responsible for the proper conduct of all such meetings. He shall sign the minutes of each meeting at the time they are approved. He shall, in conjunction with the Honorary Treasurer and in place of the Honorary Secretary sign all cheques on behalf of the Association.

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b) The Vice-President shall deputise for the President during the latters’ absence.

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c) The Honorary Secretary shall conduct the business of the Association in accordance with its Rules, and shall carry out the instructions of General Meetings and of the Council. He shall be responsible for conducting all correspondence and keeping all books, documents and papers except the accounts and financial records of the Association and shall be responsible for their correctness. He shall attend all meetings, and record the proceedings. In conjunction with the Honorary Treasurer and in place of the President, he shall sign all cheques on behalf of the Association. He shall maintain a proper membership register of the members consisting of details such as name, occupation, name and address of employer, citizenship status and contact details.

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d) The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the Association. He shall keep accounts of all financial transactions of the Association and shall be responsible for their correctness. He shall, in conjunction with either the President or the Honorary Secretary sign all cheques on behalf of the Association. He is authorised to expend up to $500.00 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Association.

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e) The Ordinary Council members shall assist the other officers in carrying out their duties as decided by the Council and perform other duties assigned by the Council from time to time.

 

12 GENERAL MEETING

 

1. The supreme authority of the Association is vested in a General Meeting of the members. At least 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is lesser must be present at a General Meeting for its proceedings to be valid and to constitute a quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.

 

2. In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum and shall have the power to proceed with the business of the day, but they shall have no power to amend any of the existing rules or make decisions affecting the whole membership.

 

3. An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in the 1st quarter of the year on a date and at a time and place to be decided by the Committee. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:

 

a) To receive the Council’s report on the working of the Association during the previous year;

b) To receive the Treasurer’s report and the audited accounts of the Association for the previous financial year;

c) To elect a Council and to appoint auditors for the ensuing two years (only during election years);

d) To deal with such other matters as may be put before it.

 

4. The Secretary shall send to all voting members at least 14 days before an Annual General Meeting a notice of meeting and an agenda including copies of minutes and reports, together with the audited accounts of the Association for the previous year. Copies of these documents will also be made available at the registered place of business of the Association for the perusal of members. Notice of meeting shall state the date, time and place of meeting.

 

5. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association shall be convened:

a) Whenever the Council deems it desirable; or

b) At the joint request in writing of not less than one quarter of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is lesser, stating the objects and reasons for such meeting.

 

6. Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, an Extraordinary General Meeting requisitioned by members shall be convened for a date within thirty days of the receipt of such requisition.

 

7. Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, notice and agenda for an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be forwarded by the Honorary Secretary to all members at least ten days before the date fixed for the meeting.

 

8. If the Council does not within two months after the date of receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten days’ notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and the date, time and place of the meeting.

 

9. Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he gives notice to the Honorary Secretary one week before the meeting is due to be held.

 

10. Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy shall not be allowed at all General Meetings.

 

11. The Honorary Secretary shall forward to all members a copy of the draft minutes of each Annual and Extraordinary General Meeting as soon as possible after its conclusion.

 

13 FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

 

a) Subject to the following provisions in this Rule, the funds of the Association may be expended for any purposes necessary for the carrying out of its objects, including the expenses of its administration, the payment of salaries, allowances and expenses to its office bearers and paid staff and the audit of its accounts, but they shall on no account be used to pay fines of any member who may be convicted in a court of law. In such a circumstance, payments will be decided by a majority vote at a General Meeting.

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b) The Honorary Treasurer may hold a petty cash advance not exceeding $500.00 at any one time. All money in excess of this sum shall within seven (7) days of receipt be deposited in a bank / banks approved by the Council. The bank account shall be in the name of the Association.

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c) All cheques or withdrawal notices on the Association’s account shall be signed jointly by the Honorary Treasurer and either the President (or in his absence, the Vice-President) or the Honorary Secretary. In the absence of the Honorary Secretary or the Honorary Treasurer, the Council shall appoint one of its members to sign in his place.

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d) No expenditure exceeding S$30,000 at any one time shall be incurred without prior sanction of the Council. The Council has the power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding $50,000 per month form the Association’s funds for the Association’s purposes and no expenditure exceeding $50,000 in any one (1) month shall be incurred without the prior sanction of a General Meeting.

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e) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year, a statement of receipts and payments and a balance sheet for the year shall be prepared and audited by the Auditor/ Auditors. The audited accounts shall be submitted for the approval of the next Annual General Meeting, and copies shall be made available at the registered office of the Association for the perusal of members of the Association.

 

f) The financial year of the Association shall be from 1st January to 31st December every year.

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g) The income and the property of the Association whencesoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profits, to members of the Association. Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or servant of the Association or to any member of the Association in return for any service actually rendered to it or of allowances and travelling expenses to a member of the Association when engaged on any business connected with or arising out of the carrying out of any of the objects of the Association.

 

14 AUDIT

 

a) Two voting members, who are not office bearers of the Association shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting during biennial elections as Auditors. They shall hold office for two years (or one term) and shall not be re-appointed.

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b) The Auditor/Auditors shall be required to audit the accounts of the Association for the year, and to prepare a report or certificate for the Annual General Meeting. He/They may also be required by the President to audit the accounts of the Association or for any period within their tenure of office at any date, and to make a report to the Council.

 

15 TRUSTEES

 

1. If the Association at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.

 

2. The trustees of the Association shall:

a) Not be more than four and less than two in number.

b) Be elected by a General Meeting of members.

c) Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.

 

3. The office of the trustees shall be vacated:

a) If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.

b) If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one year.

c) If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee.

d) If he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.

 

4. Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy must be given by posting it on the notice board in the Association’s premises at least two weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

 

5. The address of each immovable properties, name of each trustee and any subsequent change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

 

16 VISITORS AND GUESTS

 

Visitors and guests may be admitted into the premises of the Association but they shall not be admitted into the privileges of the Association. All visitors and guests shall abide by the Association’s rules and regulations.

 

17 AMENDMENT OF RULES

 

These rules may not be altered or amended except by resolution of not less than two thirds (⅔) of the voting members present at a General Meeting and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies. Notice of the proposed alterations must be made in writing at least sixty days before the meeting to the Honorary Secretary who shall notify all members of the proposal at least twenty-eight days before the meeting. Any amendments of the rules shall be forwarded to the Registrar of Societies within 28 days of being passed at the General Meeting.

 

18 AFFILIATION

 

The Association may be affiliated or associated with national or international societies for the study of obesity or related fields devoted to objects substantially similar to those of the Association.

 

Any step in this direction shall be taken by a recommendation of the Council and agreement by a General Meeting.

 

19 GENERAL

 

Press Release:

 

No press release and no communication to any public or Government body shall be made except:

 

1. by the President of the Association; or

2. by the Honorary Secretary when authorised by the Council of the Association; or

3. by any member of the Association authorised by the Council.

 

20 PROHIBITIONS

 

1. Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private lottery which has been under the Private Lotteries Act Cap 250, is forbidden on the Association’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

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2. The funds of the Association shall not be used to pay fines of members who have been convicted in a court of law.

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3. The Association shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade union for the time being in force in Singapore.

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4. The Association shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or services which adversely affect consumer interests.

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5. The Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

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6. The Association shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Association or its office-bearers, Committee or members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

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7. The Association shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Head, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and other relevant authorities.

 

21 INTERPRETATION

 

In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration which is not expressly provided for in this Constitution, the Council shall have the power to use its own discretion. The decision of the Council shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.

 

22 DISPUTES

 

In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with this Constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.

 

23 DISSOLUTION

 

a) The Association may be voluntarily dissolved by a resolution of not less than two-thirds (⅔) of the total voting membership of the Association for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.

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b) In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on its behalf shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds shall be donated to one or more charitable organisations in Singapore as approved by the General Meeting.

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c) A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given to the Registrar of Societies within seven (7) days of its dissolution.