CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION OF THE ST. ANDREW'S ALUMNI

[Registered - 22nd May 1961]

[Amended - 8th April 1999]

[Re-Amended – 9th October 2003]

NAME

1. The name of the Alumni shall be the ST. ANDREW'S ALUMNI (hereinafter referred to as `the Alumni").

DEFINITIONS

2. In this Constitution –

(1) “Former Students” shall include all former male or female students of the School;

(2) “Junior School” shall mean St. Andrew’s Junior School;

(3) “Secondary School” shall mean St. Andrew’s Secondary School;

(4) “Junior College” shall mean St. Andrew’s Junior College;

(5) “St. Andrew’s School” shall mean the Junior School and the Secondary School; and

(6) “School” shall include the Junior School, the Secondary School, the Junior College and any other extension of the School with the same Colours, Motto, Hymn and Song of the School.

PLACE OF BUSINESS

3. The place of business of the Alumni shall be at 9 Raffles Place #12-01, Republic Plaza, Singapore 048619 or at any other place as may from time to time be decided upon by the Management Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee"), subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies. The Alumni shall only carry out its activities in places or premises which have the prior approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

COLOURS

4. The Colours and Motto of the Alumni shall be the same as those of the School.

OBJECTS

5. The objects of the Alumni shall be:-

(a) to foster a spirit of friendship and mutual co-operation among its members;

(b) to preserve the love of the Alma Mater;

(c) to mobilise support for and cooperate with the School and render whatever assistance that may from time to time be required for the benefit of the School;

(d) to maintain ties and uphold the “Spirit of the Saints” among former students of the School;

(e) to provide for sports, games, debates, lectures and other literary pursuits for the members;

(f) to initiate, assist and organise such forms of relief and schemes of social service as may be deemed desirable by the Alumni; and

(g) to bring about a better understanding and goodwill among all races living in Singapore.

MEMBERSHIP

6. The Alumni shall consist of Life Members, Honorary Members, Associate Members and Patrons.

(a) Life Membership shall be confined to former students of the School who have completed not less than 12 months in the School as a student.

(b) Honorary membership shall be confined to the current principal and members of the teaching staff of the School. They shall not have any vote, hold office or have any say in the management of the Alumni. This restriction shall not apply to any principal or member of the teaching staff of the School who is a member of the Alumni.

(c) Associate membership may be extended by the Committee to all other persons who share in the objects of the Alumni. Associate members shall not have any vote nor hold office, nor have any say in the management of the Alumni.

(d) Patrons may from time to time be appointed by an ad hoc committee appointed by the President of the Alumni for that purpose which shall consist of the current President and not less than four past Presidents of the Alumni. Voting shall be by a simple majority. There shall be two classes of Patrons. One class shall be Life Patrons and the other class shall be Patrons for a fixed term. The Patrons shall not have any vote nor hold office, nor have any say in the management of the Alumni.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

7. Applications for Life Membership shall be made in the form provided by the Honorary Secretary who shall place them before the Committee for consideration.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

8. Any person duly approved as a member shall pay a subscription and upon such payment shall become a full member of the Alumni, entitled to the benefits and privileges thereof.

9. Life members shall pay a one-time subscription fee of $100.00 or such other sum as may be determined by the Committee from time to time.

10. All subscriptions shall fall due for payment within 30 days of the applications for membership being approved. Where members are required to pay their subscriptions annually, their subscription shall fall due for payment within 30 days of the anniversary of the date of their admission into the Alumni.

ARREARS OF SUBSCRIPTION

11. The Committee may in its absolute discretion waive or defer the payment of the whole or any part of such subscriptions or arrears of subscriptions which have become payable .

12. Subject to Rule 11 above, any Life Member whose subscription has been in arrears for more than one year shall cease to be a member of the Alumni and lose all the benefits and privileges of such membership. A Life Member who has so ceased to be a member may re-apply for membership if he desires to rejoin the Alumni.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

13. (1) The Management of the Alumni shall be vested in a Committee comprising the

following members to be elected at the annual general meeting:-

(a) A President;

(b) A 1st Vice-President;

(d) An Honorary Secretary;

(e) An Honorary Assistant Secretary;

(f) An Honorary Treasurer ;

(g) An Honorary Assistant Treasurer;

(h) 5 Committee Members; and

(i) The immediate past President who shall be an ex-officio member. Ex-officio members shall not have the right to vote nor constitute part of the quorum at the Committee meetings.

(2) Members of the Committee shall hold their office for a period of 2 consecutive years and shall be eligible for re-election thereafter except the Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Assistant Treasurer who shall not be elected to the same or related position for more than two consecutive years without an intervening period of at least one year.

14. The President and the Honorary Secretary shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees and in case they are unable to attend any meetings of the sub-committees the Vice President nominated by the President and the Honorary Assistant Secretary shall attend in their place.

15. A Committee meeting shall be held at least once every 3 months after giving 7 day’s notice to committee members. The President may call a committee meeting at any time by giving 5 day’s notice. At least half of the committee members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

POWERS OF COMMITTEE

16. (1) The Committee shall have power:-

(a) to appoint two members of the Alumni to the Board of Governors of St. Andrew’s School in accordance with the Constitution of St. Andrew’s School;

(b) to appoint one member of the Alumni, preferably a former student of the Junior College, to the Board of Governors of the Junior College in accordance with the Constitution of the Junior College;

(d) to incur expenditure in furtherance of the objects of the Alumni and for the day to day administration of the Alumni not exceeding $10,000 a month.

(e) to appoint sub-committees as it thinks fit in furtherance of the objects of the Alumni and to appoint members to serve on such sub-committee;

(f) to approve or reject applications for membership without assigning any reason therefor;

(g) to collect subscriptions and voluntary donations from members for the Alumni;

(h) to establish scholarships to the name of the Alumni for the students of the School;

(i) to donate to charitable organisations sums not exceeding $500.00 at any one time;

(j) to assist poor and necessitous employees of the School who in the opinion of the Committee deserve assistance;

(k) to recognise long and faithful service to the School and to make suitable awards in respect of such service jointly with the Board of Governors and St. Andrew’s Parent-Teacher Association or severally;

(l) to engage employees and to pay their remuneration as and when required; and

(m) to frame by-laws and/or regulations which shall be binding on all the members of the Alumni.

(2) One half of the duly elected Committee shall form a quorum at any Committee meeting.

DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

17. The Honorary Secretary shall -

(a) keep an up-to-date register of membership, minutes of meeting, all other documents relating to the affairs of the Alumni, and transact all correspondence; and

(b) send out notices for all meetings.

18. The Honorary Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Honorary Secretary during the absence of the Honorary Secretary.

19. (1) The Honorary Treasurer shall -

(a) collect subscriptions;

(b) keep vouchers and records of receipts and expenditure;

(d) draw up monthly statements of account and such other statements that may be necessary for the due administration of the Alumni;

(e) deposit all monies received on behalf of the Alumni in an account of a bank approved by the Committee; and

(f) ensure that all cheques issued by the Alumni are signed by the President or the Secretary in addition to the Treasurer.

(2) Monies in excess of that required for the day to day administration of the Alumni and all or any other surplus funds shall be invested by the Honorary Treasurer with the approval of the Committee from time to time in a fixed deposit account with a reputable bank in the name of the Alumni for the benefit of the Alumni.

20. The Honorary Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Honorary Treasurer during the absence of the Honorary Treasurer.

21. The chairman of each sub-committee shall be responsible to the Committee for the activities of his sub-committee. He shall keep records of the activities of his sub-committee and shall report thereon to the Committee as and when called upon to do so. He shall not have the power to incur any expenditure in respect of his sub-committee without the prior approval in writing of the Committee or the Alumni in general meeting.

AUDITORS

22. (1) An approved company auditor registered with the Public Accountants Board

shall be appointed, at the general meeting to be held each year, to audit the accounts of the Alumni.

(2) The Honorary Treasurer and the auditor, or the Honorary Assistant Treasurer and the auditor shall not be employed by the same firm of accountants or auditors.

(3) The auditor shall report on the accounts prepared by the Honorary Treasurer to the general meeting in each year.

(4) The auditor may be required by the President to audit the Alumni’s accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

(5) The auditor shall hold office for one year and may be re-appointed.

(6) The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

23. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in May each year at such time and place as the Committee shall determine, for the purpose of:

(a) Confirming the minutes of the immediately preceding General Meeting;

(b) Receiving and, if approved, adopting the annual report and audited statement of account;

(d) Appointing an auditor; and

(e) Transacting any other business of which not less than three days written notice has been duly given to the Honorary Secretary at the principal place of business of the Alumni.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

24. An extraordinary general meeting may be convened by the Committee as and when necessary provided that at least 7 days notice thereof in writing is given, stating the business to be transacted.

CONVENING GENERAL MEETING

25. At least 14 days before an annual general meeting or any extraordinary general meeting a notice of the meeting and of the business to be transacted thereat shall be sent to every member, and no business other than that of which 7 days notice in writing has been given shall be considered at that meeting.

26. (1) Not less than one-tenth of total membership or 30 members, whichever is less

shall form a quorum for an annual general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting.

(2) In the event that a quorum is not present at the scheduled extraordinary general meeting or an annual general meeting, the Chairman at the meeting may adjourn the meeting for 30 minute and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum subject to Rule 27.

27. Unless there is a quorum the Constitution shall not be amended and it would be unconstitutional for any general meeting which has been adjourned due to a lack of quorum and continued, to consider any proposals for any amendment to the Constitution.

28. A requisition signed by at least 10 members stating in writing the business to be transacted at an extraordinary general meeting shall be sufficient to require the Committee to convene such a meeting.

29. All other meetings, except Committee meetings, shall be deemed to be extraordinary general meetings.

30. At all meetings the President shall take the chair and in his absence the senior most Vice-President.

VOTES

31. Every Life Member shall be entitled to one vote.

CASTING VOTE

32. The Chairman shall not have a casting vote except where the votes in support and against the motion are equal in number.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

33. (1) Any member, infringing any existing Rules or By-Laws or whose conduct is in the

opinion of the Committee detrimental to the good name and welfare of the Alumni may at the sole discretion of the Committee be required to show cause why his membership should not be suspended or terminated by the Committee.

(2) Before the Committee arrives at a decision the Committee shall hear the member in his defence.

(3) The member may make a verbal representation or make his submission in writing or elect to be represented by an Advocate and Solicitor: Provided that if he wishes to be represented by an Advocate and Solicitor he shall give not less than 7 days notice of his intention to do so to the Honorary Secretary.

(4) All hearings by the Committee shall be in camera and the decision of the Committee shall be a majority decision of not less than two-thirds of those present and voting. There shall be no appeal against the decision of the Committee.

(5) All legal costs incurred by a member for representation by an Advocate and Solicitor shall be payable by the member concerned.

(6) The Committee shall have no power to make any award as to costs.

REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

34. (1) Two members, preferably former students of St. Andrew’s School, shall be

appointed by the Committee to serve on the Board of Governors of St. Andrew’s School and one member, preferably a former student of the Junior College, shall be appointed by the Committee to serve on the Board of Governors of the Junior College. Such members shall, from time to time, report to the Committee on matters which may affect the well-being of the Alumni and its members.

(2) The Committee may require any one of the two members so appointed to make representation to the Board of Governors on matters which will affect the well-being of the Alumni and its members.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

35. (1) Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private lottery

which has been permitted under the Private Lotteries Act (Cap. 250), is forbidden on the Alumni’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or opium smoking and of bad character into the premises is prohibited.

(2) The funds of the Alumni shall not be used to pay fines of members who have been convicted in court nor shall they be used for donations, presents or any other purposes in connection with any political parties or trade unions or any purposes which are not for the furtherance of the objects of the Alumni.

(3) The Alumni shall not attempt to restrict or in any other manner interfere with trade or prices or engage in any Trade Union activity as defined in the Trade Unions Ordinance.

(4) The Alumni shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Alumni or its office-bearers Committee or member.

(5) The Alumni shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its premises to be used by political parties or trade union or for any purpose incompatible with the objects of the Alumni.

(6) The Alumni shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purpose without the prior written approval from the Head, Licensing Division, Singapore and other relevant authorities.

PRESS RELEASE

36. All public statements of whatever kind including circulars, letters, press releases, pamphlets and the like shall first have the written approval of the Committee before they are released for circulation.

INTERPRETATION

37. (1) In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not

expressly provided for in this Constitution, then such question or matter shall be referred to the Committee who shall have power to resolve such question or matter, and if need be subject to the consent of the members, to seek professional advice on such question or matter, the cost of which shall be borne by the Alumni.

(2) If any question is not satisfied with the decision of the Committee on such question or matter, he may request the Honorary Secretary to invoke Rule 26 and convene an extraordinary general meeting to resolve the issue.

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

38. No alterations or additions to these rules shall be made except at a general meeting, and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies.

DISSOLUTION

39. (1) The Alumni shall not be dissolved unless 60% of all the Ordinary and Life

members of the Alumni on record vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting convened for the purpose.

(2) In the event of the Alumni being dissolved all debts and liabilities of the Alumni legally incurred on behalf of the Alumni shall be fully discharged and the balance therefrom shall be donated in the name of the Alumni to the school for the benefit of the School and its students.

(3) Not less than 25 members of the Alumni may requisition a meeting for the dissolution of the Alumni and notice of such meeting shall be given to the Registrar of Societies within 7 days of the dissolution.