Constitution changes 2021

The committee would like to make changes to the Club Constitution in the following areas for the following reasons.

Life Members

Given the long absence of Life Membership the committee are anticipating a number of long overdue applications in the next few years. As such we believe it prudent to amend the Life Membership clause in relation to the free lodge hut fees. This is to manage any financial impact to the club in the future.

Use of Electronic Media

This committee would like to add a new clauses to the constitution to formally allow the use of any electronic media such as video or voice conferencing while conducting club business in any General Meetings. We believe this is necessary given the current circumstances and increased use of technology. It will also allow a greater number of members outside of Auckland to participate in meetings.

Committee indemnification

The committee has taken out indemnity insurance in the past few years and would like to add a new clause to reflect this and align the constitution with this.

SPECIFIC CHANGES:

5. MEMBERSHIP

Current Paragraph

a) Life Members

On the recommendation of the committee, any person who has rendered special service to the Club or to the furtherance of its objects may be elected a Life Member at any General Meeting of the Club and shall thereafter be entitled to all the privileges of membership without payment of the annual subscription or entrance fee (if any) or any lodge or hut fees. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting shall be necessary for such an election. There shall be no restriction on the number of Life Members.

Suggested Amendment

a) Life Members

On the recommendation of the committee, any person who has rendered special service to the Club or to the furtherance of its objects may be elected a Life Member at any General Meeting of the Club and shall thereafter be entitled to all the privileges of membership without payment of the annual subscription or entrance fee (if any). Life members will be entitled to a special nightly tariff at the club lodges that the committee may set from time to time. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting shall be necessary for such an election. There shall be no restriction on the number of Life Members.

11. COMMITTEE MEETINGS

New Rule

d) Committee meetings may be held via electronic video or voice conferencing. Participation by any Committee Member in this manner at a meeting shall constitute the presence of that Committee Member at that meeting.

12. GENERAL MEETING

New Rule

h) The Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Special General Meeting (SGM) may be held via electronic video or voice conferencing. Participation by any Member in this manner at a meeting shall constitute the presence of that Member at that meeting. 13. VOTING

a) At all General Meetings every member present in person shall be entitled to one vote except as provided in rule 5 hereof. Absent members may vote by proxy which proxy shall be in writing and in a form satisfactory to the Chairperson of the meeting. Such proxy form must be delivered to the Secretary at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting. Subject to Rule 9 (c) hereof, voting shall be by show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by ten (10) members or more present. Such ballot shall be taken at the same meeting. A postal ballot shall be allowed only for those occasions specifically provided herein.

Addition

Electronic means may be used for the purposes of membership voting at any General Meetings.

21. INDEMNIFICATION

New Clause The Club shall indemnify any and all of its Committee Members or officers or former Committee Members or officers or any person who may have served at its request or by its election as a Committee Member or officer, against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defence or settlement of any action, suit or proceeding, in which they, or any of them, are made parties, or a party, by reason of being or having been a Committee Member or officer of the club. Notwithstanding the forgoing, this indemnification obligation shall not extend to matters as to which any such Committee Member or officer or former Committee Member or officer or person shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for wilful misconduct in performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on existence of such liability. The indemnification provided hereby shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which anyone seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of members, or disinterested Committee Members or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity, while holding such office.