Singapore Badminton Association

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Constitution

1 NAME

The name of the Association shall be SINGAPORE BADMINTON ASSOCIATION, herein referred to as "The Association". The Association shall be the national body for badminton in Singapore and shall be affiliated to the Singapore National Olympic Council and such other bodies as the Executive Committee may deem necessary in the interest of badminton.

2 PLACE OF BUSINESS

The Association shall be based at the Singapore Badminton Association, Guillemard Road, or at such other place as the Executive Committee may decide.

3 OBJECTS

The objects of the Association shall be:-

(a) To uphold, as the Singapore national organisation for badminton, the laws of badminton as adopted by the International Badminton Federation as may be varied from time to time;

(b) To promote the game of badminton in the Republic of Singapore; and

4 PROPERTY

The Association shall have power to own property of all kinds.

In the case of real or immovable property such property shall be vested in a Trust Corporation incorporated in the Republic of Singapore or in the Singapore Sports Council as trustee for the Association.

5 PATRONS

Prominent persons who have made a contribution to Badminton may be invited by the Executive Committee to become Patrons of the Association and it may designate one such person to be a Patron-in-Chief.

6 HONORARY MEMBERS

Any person who has served continuously for a period of not less than five years on the Executive Committee and who has rendered outstanding service to the Association, or has excelled in badminton, may, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, be appointed an Honorary Member of the Association.

7 MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Association shall consist of Ordinary Members, associate members and honorary members.

7.1 Ordinary Members shall include entities which are registered with the Singapore Registry of Societies, or which are entities within the Singapore government or statutory boards.

7.2 Ordinary Members must have a minimum of 30 valid paying members and be directly related to promoting badminton through youth development programmes and participation in competitions and/or other related programmes.

7.3 Associate members shall include persons who are supporters and well wishers of the Association.

7.4 Membership shall be by application and the applicant may be required to give such details in writing as the Association shall stipulate.

7.5 The Executive Committee shall have power to accept or reject any application for membership of the Association without assigning any reason therefor. Any rejected applicant shall have the rights to appeal in accordance with the process and procedure of appeal as may be set out in the standard operating procedures ("SOP") of the Association or determined by the Executive Committee from time to time.

8 MEMBERSHIP FEES

Upon acceptance as a member, he shall pay a fee as determined by the Executive Committee from time to time. Membership fees shall be payable in April in respect of each financial year. Any member who fails to pay the membership fee within one month from the due date may be deprived of his membership by the Executive Committee.

9 ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERS

Any member shall not take part or compete in any competition, tournament or game (other than friendly games) not organized or sanctioned by the Association without the approval of the Association.

10 PLAYERS

10.1 Players of Ordinary Members shall be bound at all times to represent the Association in any tournament, match or competition when called upon to do so.

10.2 Any player selected to play for the Association shall not play for any club or organization on the date of the event for which he has been selected or a period prior to such event as the Association or its duly appointed Committee dealing with such matters may decide.

10.3 The Association may take disciplinary actions including suspension of any player for misconduct, for any breach of the constitution or any rules made thereunder and such suspended player shall not play any match with or against a player representing an Ordinary Member.

11 TOURS

11.1 No Ordinary Members shall take part in badminton matches outside Singapore without the prior sanction of the Association.

11.2 An Ordinary Member wishing to play badminton in Singapore against a foreign team shall obtain prior approval of the Association

12 BREACH

Any member or a member of an Ordinary Member who commits a breach of these rules, or who encourages or instigates any player to commit a breach of these rules, may be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

13 COMPOSITION

13.1 The Association shall be governed by an Executive Committee which shall consist of a President, a Deputy President, a Vice-President, a Secretary General, an Honorary Treasurer, and eight (8) Committee members. The President, Deputy President, Vice President, the Secretary General and the Honorary Treasurer shall be Singapore Citizens. For the eight (8) Committee members , they shall be permanent residents of Singapore or Singapore citizens.

13.2 The Executive Committee may co-opt not more than 5 persons to be members of the Executive Committee. Such persons shall be permanent residents of Singapore or Singapore Citizens.

13.3 The Executive Member may co-opt members of the outgoing Executive Committee who have reached the maximum accumulative tenure for the purpose of representing the Association in any regional or international federation or equivalent entities.

13.4 Members of the Executive Committee shall not hold any salaried position within the Association and receive no compensation for his/her services rendered as a member of the Executive Committee.

14 APPOINTMENT/ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

14.1 All elected members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for two years.

Subject to this Constitution, a retiring member of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election at the meeting at which he/she retires. An individual, representing an Ordinary Member, may be elected to serve in the Executive Committee for a maximum accumulative tenure of 8 years other than as the President (Non-President Tenure). An individual may be elected to serve as the President for a maximum accumulative tenure of 8 years excluding the Non-President Tenure of such individual.

14.2 The Executive Committee shall comprise the following:-

The President, Vice President, the Hon Treasurer and eight Committee members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

14.3 No individual may be elected to serve as the Honorary Treasurer for more than 2 consecutive terms.

14.4 The Deputy President and the Secretary General shall be appointed by the President of the Association. The President at his discretion, may appoint any one or two Committee members to be the Deputy President and/or Secretary General. For the
avoidance of doubt, in the event that the President exercises his discretion as aforementioned, the total number of members of the Executive Committee shall be reduced accordingly.

15 POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

15.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to act in all respects for and in the name of the Association including the following powers:-

(a) to carry out the objects of the Association;
(b) to appoint sub-committees to assist the Executive Committee in carrying out the objects of the Association;

(c) to receive and approve reports from sub-committees;
(d) to consider applications for membership;
(e) to approve expenditure;
(f) to decide on appeals against any decisions of any Sub-Committee set up to deal with disciplinary matters;

(g) to do all other acts as are consistent with the objects and interests of the Association.

16 MEETINGS

The Executive Committee shall meet as often as it may decide but not less than once in 3 months.

17 ABSENCE FROM MEETINGS

Any member of the Executive Committee absenting himself from three consecutive Committee meetings, without giving good and sufficient reason in writing shall cease to be a member unless the Executive Committee decides otherwise.

Absent members of the Executive Committee may write or call in to vote on any voting matters or proposed resolutions in the meetings of the Executive Committee.

18 REPLACEMENT

In the event of any person (other than the President) ceasing to be a member of the Executive Committee for whatever reason during his term of office, the Executive Committee may appoint any other person to fill the vacancy and that person shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the person who had ceased to be a member of the Executive Committee. In the event the post of the President is vacant, the Deputy President or in the event that the post of the Deputy President is also vacant, the Vice President shall act as the President until the Executive Committee appoints a President.

19 QUORUM

At least 50% of members of the Executive Committee with voting rights shall be present to form a quorum. Provided Always that two of those present are amongst these 5 office bearers:
" The President
" The Deputy President
" The Vice President;
" The Secretary-General; and
" The Honorary Treasurer

Proxy voting may be allowed if formal authorization for a particular meeting of the Executive Committee is given in advance.

20 VOTING

Voting at Executive Committee meetings shall be by a show of hands. Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote except that the President shall have a casting vote where there is an equal division of votes cast.

All non-elected members shall have no voting rights at the Executive Committee meetings.

21 CHAIRMAN

The President shall chair all Executive Committee meetings. In his absence, the Deputy President shall chair the meeting and if both are absent, the Vice-President shall chair the meeting.

22 DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

The duties of office-bearers shall be as follows:-

22.1 The President shall be the Executive Head of the Association and shall preside at all General and Executive Committee meetings and shall represent the Association in all matters.

22.2 The Deputy President shall deputise for the President when the President is absent and shall take on such responsibilities as directed by the President from time to time.

22.3 The Vice-President shall take on such responsibilities as may be designated by the President from time to time.

22.4 The Secretary General shall:-

(a) Arrange all meetings of the Executive Committee;
(b) Record the minutes of such meetings;
(c) Maintain and keep up to date all records and registers of the Association;
(d) Keep in proper custody all papers and documents pertaining to the Association;
(e) Carry out the business of the Association;
(f) Attend to or deputise an executive staff of the Association to attend to all correspondence on behalf of the Association; and

(g) Prepare the Annual Report for submission to the Annual General Meeting.

22.5 The Honorary Treasurer shall:-

(a) Be responsible for all funds of the Association;

(b) Keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness;

(c) Report on the financial position of the Association at every Committee Meeting and render a Statement of Account and Balance Sheet at the Annual General Meeting;

(d) Maintain an Imprest Account of an amount as the Executive Committee may determine; and

(e) Apart from the Imprest Account, he shall not keep more than $500.00 in the form of cash, and money in excess of this amount shall be deposited with the Association's bankers.

22.6 Signatories

The President, the Deputy President and the Secretary General may act in the name of the Association and any two of them may sign documents on behalf of the Association except that the Hon Treasurer shall be one of the two signatories in respect of all Accounts and all financial documents.

23 COMMITTEES

23.1 The Executive Committee shall at its first Executive Committee meeting, or at the earliest opportunity thereafter, appoint the following Sub-Committees to assist it in its work:-

(a) Finance and Corporate Services Sub-Committee

(b) Tournament Sub-Committee

Only members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed to be the chairman of each of the abovenamed Sub-Committees. The secretary of each Sub-Committee shall be appointed by that Sub-Committee. In addition, each chairman may co-opt members to their respective Sub-Committee.

23.2 Membership of Sub-Committees and all such Committees as the Executive Committee may sanction need not be confined to members of the Executive Committee.

23.3 The Executive Committee shall have power to remove a member, including a co-opted member from a Committee or Sub-Committee without giving reasons therefor.

23.4 Three members, one of whom must be a member of the Executive Committee, shall constitute a quorum at all Sub-Committee Meetings.

In the case of the Standing Sub-Committee two members shall constitute a quorum.

24 SCOPE OF DUTIES OF SUB-COMMITTEES

24.1 The duties of Sub-Committees shall be as follows:-

(a) Finance and Corporate Services Sub-Committee:

The Sub-Committee shall be responsible for all financial matters, all matters relating to the use, upkeep and maintenance of all the Association premises and such other matters as may be directed by the Executive Committee.

(b) Tournament Sub-Committee

This Sub-Committee shall be responsible for:-

Organising and managing all competitions and tournaments including the appointment, of court officials - umpires, line judges and referees.

The Sub-Committee shall be responsible for:-

i) the coaching, training and selection of players to represent the Association in competitions and tournaments in Singapore and abroad;

ii) the development of all programmes and activities which promote badminton and improve the quality and standards of badminton in Singapore and iii) all matters relating to badminton coaches and training and development of court officials.

(d) Discplinary Committee:

A Disciplinary Committee shall be constituted as and when necessary by the Executive Committee and its composition and terms of reference shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

(e) Independent Appeals Committee ("IAC")

The Executive Committee shall form an independent appeals committee to deliberate queries and appeals lodged by athletes. The IAC shall comprise individuals not involved in the original athletes selection committee.

24.2 The President, the Deputy President and the Secretary General shall have the right to attend all Sub-Committee meetings. Notice of all meetings together with all supporting papers shall be sent to the Association at least 3 days before any meeting of the sub-Committee.

25 AUDITOR

An Auditor who shall not be a member of the Executive Committee, shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting. He will be required to audit the annual accounts and present his report to the Annual General Meeting. The President may ask the Auditor to audit the Association's accounts for any other period and make a report to the Executive Committee.

26 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held not later than June in each year.

27 NOTICE OF MEETINGS

27.1 At least 21 days' notice in writing specifying the place, date and time of an Annual General Meeting shall be sent to members and such notice shall include the agenda for the meeting, the Annual report, the duly Audited Accounts for the preceding year and all resolutions proposed to be adopted at the General Meeting.

27.2 Any Ordinary Member wishing to propose any resolution or resolutions must forward such resolution or resolutions to the Secretary General at least 14 days before the date fixed for the General Meeting.

27.3 The business to be transacted at the Annual General Meeting shall be:-

(a) to receive and approve the Annual Report and Accounts of the Association for the preceding year;

(b) to elect members of the Executive Committee whenever due;

(d) to transact any other business of which at least 14 days' notice in writing shall have been given to the Secretary General by any member.

27.4 Persons entitled to vote at General Meetings shall be:-

(a) Two delegates from each Ordinary Member.

(b) Each person entitled to be present at a general meeting shall have one vote only irrespective of the fact that he is present at the meeting in more than one capacity.

(c) The names of delegates of Ordinary Members shall be notified to the Secretary General at least one week before the date of the general meeting.

27.5 The outgoing President will chair the election process unless he/she is seeking re-election, in which case the next most senior outgoing key appointment holder will take the chair.

27.6 In the event that the President and the next most senior outgoing key appointment holder or holders are seeking re-election, a Chairman shall be elected from those delegates present. However, he/she shall not be a person who is seeking election to the Executive Committee.

27.7 Once elected, the newly elected President will then oversee the election process.

27.8 The Chairman chairing the election process under paragraph 27.5 or 27.6 above shall have no casting vote in relation to the election.

27.9 All nominees for the election of the President, Vice President, Honorary Treasurer and the 8 Committee members shall be representatives of the Ordinary Members. Such nominations are to reach the Secretary General not later than 14 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting where elections of all such posts are involved.

27.10 After the closing date and for the purpose of paragraph 27.9, in the event that there is only 1 nomination for each of the respective positions of the President, Vice President, the Honorary Treasurer and not more than 8 nominations for the positions of the Committee members, such nominees will be declared and deemed to be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

27.11 In the event that there are more than 1 nomination for each of the respective positions of the President, Vice President and the Honorary Treasurer, there shall be election for the respective positions. For the Committee members, there shall be elections if there are more than 8 nominations. However in the event that the nominations for the Committee members are less than 8, then the remaining number of Committee members shall be nominated and elected by the Ordinary Members present. If there is no such nomination for the remaining number of Committee members by the Ordinary Members present, the number of the Committee member shall be that deemed elected under paragraph 27.10 above and no further nomination and election of Committee member will be required.

27.12 In the event that there is no nomination for a position, nominations for such position shall be made and election shall be held by Ordinary Members present.

27.13 If there is no nomination for all the positions, the Annual General Meeting shall be postponed for another 14 working days. The date of this deferred Annual General Meeting shall be communicated to all Ordinary Members by the next working day. This notice shall also inform the Ordinary Members that new nominations can be accepted, but such nominations shall reach the Secretary General not later than 3 working days prior to the rescheduled Annual General Meeting.

28 GENERAL MEETINGS

28.1 The quorum for any general meeting shall not be less than one third of persons entitled to vote.

28.2 In the event there being no quorum at a general meeting, the meeting shall stand adjourned for half an hour, members present at the adjourned meeting shall be deemed to constitute a quorum.

Provided that such adjourned meeting shall have no power to alter, amend or make additions to any of the existing rules.

29 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

29.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Executive Committee or on receipt of a written requisition by at least one third of the total number of Ordinary Members of the Association. The requisition shall be signed by the President or the Secretary of the Ordinary Members and shall state the reasons for requesting such a meeting.

29.2 Upon receipt of a requisition the Executive Committee shall call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held within 21 days from the date of receipt of such requisition.

30 VOTING

30.1 Voting at any general meeting shall be by a show of hands unless the meeting by a majority vote decides otherwise.

Subject to paragraph 27.8 above, the chairman shall have a casting vote.

30.2 Notwithstanding paragraph 30.1 above, voting for the election of the Executive Committee as mentioned in paragraph 14 above shall be through secret ballot.

31 CHAIRMAN

Subject to paragraph 27.5 and 27.6 above, the Chairman at all general meetings shall be the President, or if he is not present ten minutes after the time specified for the meeting, the Deputy President of if he is also not present then the Vice-President shall chair the meeting.

32 FINANCIAL YEAR

The financial year of the Association shall end on the 31st March in each year.

33 PRESS RELEASES

Only the President or the Deputy President or the Secretary General or other person authorized by the President or Deputy President, shall be entitled to make press releases.

34 PROHIBITIONS

34.1 The funds of the Association shall not be used to pay the fines of any member who has been convicted in court.

34.2 The Association shall not indulge in any political or trade union activity or allow its funds to be used for such purposes.

34.3 The Association shall not operate as a sports club affiliated to the Association.

35 ALTERATIONS TO RULES

No alterations, amendments or additions to these Rules shall be made except at a general meeting by a resolution which shall be carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the votes properly recorded at the meeting. Such alterations, amendments or additions shall only take effect after approval from the Registrar of Societies has been received.

36 FINAL DECISION

In all matters not provided for in this Constitution the decision of the Executive Committee shall be final.

37 DISSOLUTION

37.1 The Association shall not be dissolved except with the consent of not less than three-fifths of those entitled for the time being to vote at general meetings.

37.2 In the event of the Association being dissolved the funds of the Association shall be used for the settlement of all its debts and liabilities and any surplus shall be transferred to the Singapore Sports Council or such organisation set up by the Government of Singapore.