Our Rules

These are the formal rules under which our Society operates.

1. Name

The name of the Society is – Vision Hearing Technician’s Society Incorporated.

2. Objectives

The objectives for which the Society was established are to:

• have a collective and representative voice of member Vision Hearing Technicians nationally
• co-ordinate and maintain national standards
• keep up to date with current practices
• maintain standards of knowledge and skill
• ensure safety and effectiveness of health care delivery
• be the official channel of communication with stakeholders.

3. Membership

Any person wishing to become a member of the Vision Hearing Technicians Society Inc. must be employed as a Vision Hearing Technician. Persons wishing to become members may apply to the Secretary in writing requesting to join and by forwarding the current joining fee.

The membership year is aligned to the calendar year, being 1 January to 31 December. All subscriptions shall become due and payable on 1 January.

4. Subscription

There will be an annual membership subscription with the rate of subscription to be set by the Annual General Meeting.

5. Resignation/termination of membership

A member may resign from the Society at any time if they so wish. Resignation must be in writing to the Secretary. A membership may be terminated for non-payment of fees or for any infringement of the rules, as determined by the Committee.

6. Rules of the Society

The rules of the Society may be altered, added to or rescinded as seen fit by a majority vote of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Voting may be by a show of hands or by a postal ballot – as agreed by that meeting or the Committee (in an emergency).

7. Governance

Governance of the Society shall be vested in a Committee who shall be elected annually by the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and up to five other members. The Committee can co-opt members onto the Committee.

If an elected member of the Committee, for any reason, ceases to be a member of the Committee or if all the places are not filled at an Annual General Meeting, the Committee may co-opt any member of the Society to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

8. Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held within one calendar year of the previous AGM. Twenty-one days’ notice of time and place and an agenda stating the business to be discussed shall be given to all members.

The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall:

• receive the Minutes of the previous meeting
• receive the Annual Report and Accounts
• elect a Committee comprising of three officers (the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer), and up to five other members
• consider Notices of Motion, which may be received from the Society, Committee or any two Society' members
• consider any other business received at the AGM with the agreement of the majority of members
• set the Membership Fees.

9. Special General Meeting

A Special General meeting may be called if required, by the Chairperson or by five Society’ members. All members will be given 21 days notice of the meeting time, place and Agenda (stating the business to be discussed).

10. Voting

At any meeting, each member shall have one vote, except the Chairperson who also has a casting vote. Proxy votes shall be accepted at the meeting if they have been received by the Committee.

11. Quorum

A quorum at General Meetings shall be 15 members of the Society. A quorum at a Committee Meeting shall be 50 percent of Committee members.

12. Seal of the Society

The Seal of the Society shall be of a design approved by the membership and kept in the custody of the Secretary. The Seal may only be used as authorised by the three officers of the Society (Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer) or a Quorum of the Society.

13. Funds of the Society

Control of the funds of the Society shall be the responsibility of the Committee. Any of the officers (Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer) are authorised to receive money and issue receipts. The Treasurer will be responsible for writing cheques, with a second member of the Committee as co-signatory. The bank of the Society shall be Westpac New Zealand Limited and shall remain so unless changed by  agreement at an AGM.

14. Borrowing

The Society shall have no power to borrow money.

15. Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by a majority decision of members present at an AGM or Special General meeting. In the event of the winding up of the Society, all sums of moneys that remain shall be donated to a charity or charities as decided by a majority vote.