About ALLSA
Constitution
1. NAME
The society shall be called the Allergy Society of South Africa, abbreviated ALLSA (hereafter called “The Society”).
2. OBJECTIVE
The object of The Society will be:
2.1.1 To promote the highest possible standards among those engaged in the practice of allergy in the best traditions of medicine and medical ethics.
2.1.2 To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology and to provide and/or distribute information of importance to the practice of clinical allergy.
2.1.3 To convene scientific meetings designed to update clinicians and paramedical professionals involved in the practice of allergy and as a forum for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practice of allergy.
2.1.4 To work towards the recognition of allergy and clinical immunology as a specialised branch of medicine in South Africa.
2.1.1 To promote the highest possible standards among those engaged in the practice of allergy in the best traditions of medicine and medical ethics.
2.1.2 To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology and to provide and/or distribute information of importance to the practice of clinical allergy.
2.1.3 To convene scientific meetings designed to update clinicians and paramedical professionals involved in the practice of allergy and as a forum for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practice of allergy.
2.1.4 To work towards the recognition of allergy and clinical immunology as a specialised branch of medicine in South Africa.
3. MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership and functions of The Society will not be restricted for reasons of race, sex or creed. The Society will adopt a strict non-racial policy.
3.2 The Society will consist of Ordinary Members, Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members.
3.2.1 Ordinary Membership shall be open to all registered medical practitioners, registered health professionals and scientists engaged in the practice, research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology.
3.2.2 Affiliated Members are persons who could aid the aims of The Society, but do not fulfill the criteria for Ordinary and Student membership. They will be considered on merit by the Executive Committee provided that they submit in writing evidence that they are involved in the promotion or science of allergy and or clinical immunology.
3.2.3 Honorary Members: Persons of distinction in science who have contributed significantly to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology shall be eligible for election as an Honorary Member.
3.2.4 Student Members: Student membership may be granted to any student that will fulfill the criteria for Ordinary membership upon his/her graduation.
3.2.5 Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members shall have no voting rights and are not eligible to be elected as office bearers.
3.2 The Society will consist of Ordinary Members, Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members.
3.2.1 Ordinary Membership shall be open to all registered medical practitioners, registered health professionals and scientists engaged in the practice, research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology.
3.2.2 Affiliated Members are persons who could aid the aims of The Society, but do not fulfill the criteria for Ordinary and Student membership. They will be considered on merit by the Executive Committee provided that they submit in writing evidence that they are involved in the promotion or science of allergy and or clinical immunology.
3.2.3 Honorary Members: Persons of distinction in science who have contributed significantly to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology shall be eligible for election as an Honorary Member.
3.2.4 Student Members: Student membership may be granted to any student that will fulfill the criteria for Ordinary membership upon his/her graduation.
3.2.5 Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members shall have no voting rights and are not eligible to be elected as office bearers.
4. INCOME, PROFITS AND FUNDS OF THE SOCIETY
4.1 No member may benefit either directly or indirectly from any income or profits derived by The Society.
The Society is prohibited from distributing any of its funds to any person (otherwise than in the course of undertaking any public benefit activity) and is required to utilise its funds solely for the object for which it has been established, or to invest such funds-
4.2.1 with a financial institution as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.2 in securities listed on a stock exchange as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.3 in such other prudent investments in financial instruments and assets as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service may determine.
4.3 The Society will not carry on any profit making activities and is prohibited from carrying on any business undertaking or trading activity, or participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous service, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.)
4.4 The Chairman mandated by the Executive Committee shall, on behalf of The Society, be entitled:
4.4.1 To acquire movable or immovable or other property or rights, all cessions or consents to cancellation of bonds, securities, leases, servitudes, or other Deeds, or all powers of attorney relating thereto and generally all documents of any nature or kind whatsoever requisite and necessary from time to time in connection with the acquisition or realization of assets or carrying out the terms of this Constitution.
4.4.2 To execute at any time any act or deed with regard to any immovable property or mortgage relating to alienation, partition, exchange, transfer, mortgage, hypothecation or otherwise, in any Deeds
Registry, Mining Titles Office or other Public Office dealing with servitudes, usufructs, limited interests or otherwise, and to make any applications, cancellations, cessions, releases, reductions, substitutions or otherwise generally relating to any deed, bond or documents for any purpose and generally to do or cause to be done any act whatsoever in any such office.
4.5 In the event of The Society dissolving or winding up, the remaining assets are to be transferred to any similar public benefit organisation which has been approved in terms of section 30(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962).
4.6 Any amendments to the Constitution will be submitted to the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service within 30 days of such amendment.
4.7 The Society is prohibited from accepting any donation which is revocable at the instance of the donor for reasons other than a material failure to conform to the designated purposes and conditions of such donation, including any misrepresentation with regard to the tax deductibility thereof in terms of section 18A: Provided that a donor may not impose conditions which could enable such donor or any connected person in relation to such donor to derive some direct or indirect benefit from the application of such donation.
The Society is prohibited from distributing any of its funds to any person (otherwise than in the course of undertaking any public benefit activity) and is required to utilise its funds solely for the object for which it has been established, or to invest such funds-
4.2.1 with a financial institution as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.2 in securities listed on a stock exchange as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.3 in such other prudent investments in financial instruments and assets as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service may determine.
4.3 The Society will not carry on any profit making activities and is prohibited from carrying on any business undertaking or trading activity, or participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous service, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.)
4.4 The Chairman mandated by the Executive Committee shall, on behalf of The Society, be entitled:
4.4.1 To acquire movable or immovable or other property or rights, all cessions or consents to cancellation of bonds, securities, leases, servitudes, or other Deeds, or all powers of attorney relating thereto and generally all documents of any nature or kind whatsoever requisite and necessary from time to time in connection with the acquisition or realization of assets or carrying out the terms of this Constitution.
4.4.2 To execute at any time any act or deed with regard to any immovable property or mortgage relating to alienation, partition, exchange, transfer, mortgage, hypothecation or otherwise, in any Deeds
Registry, Mining Titles Office or other Public Office dealing with servitudes, usufructs, limited interests or otherwise, and to make any applications, cancellations, cessions, releases, reductions, substitutions or otherwise generally relating to any deed, bond or documents for any purpose and generally to do or cause to be done any act whatsoever in any such office.
4.5 In the event of The Society dissolving or winding up, the remaining assets are to be transferred to any similar public benefit organisation which has been approved in terms of section 30(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962).
4.6 Any amendments to the Constitution will be submitted to the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service within 30 days of such amendment.
4.7 The Society is prohibited from accepting any donation which is revocable at the instance of the donor for reasons other than a material failure to conform to the designated purposes and conditions of such donation, including any misrepresentation with regard to the tax deductibility thereof in terms of section 18A: Provided that a donor may not impose conditions which could enable such donor or any connected person in relation to such donor to derive some direct or indirect benefit from the application of such donation.
5. RULES
1. The affairs of The Society shall be conducted by an Executive Committee of Seven (7).
Officers – Chairman, Vice-Chairman (who will become the next Chairman), Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) additional members, one of whom shall be the Immediate Past Chairman. At least five (5) of the seven (7) officers should be Medical Practitioners.
2. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who are not connected persons in relation to each other, accept fiduciary responsibility of The Society.
3. Members of the executive committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may be eligible for re-election. In the event of any of these retiring before his/her term of office has expired, a substitute may be elected to the Executive Committee by the Executive Committee. The substitute is to hold office for the remainder of the retired member’s term.
4. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to co-opt a maximum of three (3) additional members to the committee. Co-opted members have the same rights as elected members and can exercise a vote when called upon to do so.
5. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be two-thirds of the voting members of The Committee. The Chairman or the Secretary must be
present. In the absence of the former, the Past Chairman will substitute for the Chairman; if the Past Chairman is not present, the Secretary shall ask The Committee to appoint an Interim Chairman.
6.1.1 Prior to the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall call for nominations for impending vacancies on the Executive Committee. Nominations for the vacancies must be received in writing by the Secretary before the closing date. Nominations must contain a proposer and two (2) seconders as well as the agreement of the nominee. The above must all be paid-up Ordinary Members of ALLSA. If more nominations are received than are required to fill the number of vacancies an election will be done electronically by the Secretary and the nominees with the greatest number of votes will be elected to The Committee. The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
6.1.2 The elected office bearers will be announced at the following Annual General Meeting.
6.1.3 Directly following the Annual General Meeting the Past Chairman will call for an Executive Committee Meeting where:
6.1.3.1 The Committee will decide upon the number of members to be co-opted.
6.1.3.2 The additional members are co-opted.
6.1.3.3 The full Executive Committee will then – by means of secret ballot – elect the individual members in the following portfolios:
6.1.3.3.1 Chairman
6.1.3.3.2 Vice-Chairman
6.1.3.3.3 Secretary
6.1.3.3.4 Treasurer
6.2 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings:
6.2.1 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings is by way of majority of those members present at the meeting. Voting by proxy will not be permitted.
6.2.2 The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
Members who fail to pay subscriptions for two consecutive more than three years will have their names removed from the Register of Members after due notice has been given by means of a letter from the Secretary.
8.2 Affiliated Members must submit written evidence that they are involved in the practice, promotion or science of allergy so that each individual application can be considered by the Executive Committee on merit.
8.3 Honorary Members may be elected either on recommendation of the Executive Committee or after submission by any member of ALLSA or a Curriculum Vitae of the proposed Honorary Member to the Annual General Meeting.
8.4 Honorary Life Membership may be conferred on a member in recognition of distinguished or meritorious services rendered by that member to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology. Honorary Life Members shall have the same privileges as Ordinary Members in regard to voting and election to office. The election of an Honorary Life Member shall be made on:
8.4.1 A recommendation signed by not less than twenty-five (25) Ordinary Members giving detailed grounds for the recommendation to the Executive Committee.
8.4.2 The submission to and approval of the recommendation by the Executive Committee.
10.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year to transact business.
10.3 An Annual General Meeting, of which not less than fourteen (14) days notice will be given, will be held every year not later than six (6) months after the year end of The Society’s financial year. Ideally the Annual General Meeting should coincide with the Scientific Meeting. A quorum at an Annual General Meeting is to constitute twenty-five (25)
Ordinary Members. The Executive Committee shall present a report on all the activities of The Society during the past year which should specifically include the following:
10.3.1 The previous Annual General Meeting’s minutes should be tabled and any necessary amendments made and approved. 10.3.2 The Annual Financial Statements should be tabled and approved.
10.3.3 The Accounting Officer’s Reports should be considered and approved.
10.3.4 The appointment of an Accounting Officer for the ensuing year should be made. 10.3.5 Appointments of officials to replace retiring Officers.
10.3.6 Report of any special resolutions adopted at previously held Special General Meeting(s).
10.4 A Special General Meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or must be called by the Secretary if a requisition is sent to him stating the objects for which it is to be convened and signed by a minimum of six (6) Ordinary Members. At such a meeting twenty-four (24) Ordinary Members shall constitute a quorum and no business shall be transacted other than that for which the meeting was convened. The decision shall be by majority vote of the Ordinary Members present. If fifteen (15) minutes after the officially notified starting time of the meeting a quorum cannot be formed, then the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day, time and place of the following week. If the same place is not available, the Executive Committee must advise an alternative venue. If a quorum is again not formed at this meeting, the members present will be deemed to represent a quorum to deal with the business at hand.
11. No Rule shall be made or altered except at the Annual General Meeting of The Society or at a Special General Meeting under Rule 10.4.
12. The Society’s Financial Year will be from 1st March to 28th February.
13. The Society’s registered address is: TEL: FAX:
14.2 Annual Financial Statements must be prepared by a duly qualified Accounting Officer with three (3) months from the end of The Society’s financial year.
15.2 The liability of members is limited to membership fees.
16. The Name and/or Logo of The Society shall not, under any circumstances whatsoever, be used for gain, endorsement or otherwise, without written authorization by the Executive Committee of The Society and under those conditions that may be determined from time to time by the said Executive Committee. The authorization is revocable at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee of The Society.
Officers – Chairman, Vice-Chairman (who will become the next Chairman), Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) additional members, one of whom shall be the Immediate Past Chairman. At least five (5) of the seven (7) officers should be Medical Practitioners.
2. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who are not connected persons in relation to each other, accept fiduciary responsibility of The Society.
3. Members of the executive committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may be eligible for re-election. In the event of any of these retiring before his/her term of office has expired, a substitute may be elected to the Executive Committee by the Executive Committee. The substitute is to hold office for the remainder of the retired member’s term.
4. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to co-opt a maximum of three (3) additional members to the committee. Co-opted members have the same rights as elected members and can exercise a vote when called upon to do so.
5. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be two-thirds of the voting members of The Committee. The Chairman or the Secretary must be
present. In the absence of the former, the Past Chairman will substitute for the Chairman; if the Past Chairman is not present, the Secretary shall ask The Committee to appoint an Interim Chairman.
6. Voting
6.1 Election of Office Bearers:6.1.1 Prior to the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall call for nominations for impending vacancies on the Executive Committee. Nominations for the vacancies must be received in writing by the Secretary before the closing date. Nominations must contain a proposer and two (2) seconders as well as the agreement of the nominee. The above must all be paid-up Ordinary Members of ALLSA. If more nominations are received than are required to fill the number of vacancies an election will be done electronically by the Secretary and the nominees with the greatest number of votes will be elected to The Committee. The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
6.1.2 The elected office bearers will be announced at the following Annual General Meeting.
6.1.3 Directly following the Annual General Meeting the Past Chairman will call for an Executive Committee Meeting where:
6.1.3.1 The Committee will decide upon the number of members to be co-opted.
6.1.3.2 The additional members are co-opted.
6.1.3.3 The full Executive Committee will then – by means of secret ballot – elect the individual members in the following portfolios:
6.1.3.3.1 Chairman
6.1.3.3.2 Vice-Chairman
6.1.3.3.3 Secretary
6.1.3.3.4 Treasurer
6.2 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings:
6.2.1 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings is by way of majority of those members present at the meeting. Voting by proxy will not be permitted.
6.2.2 The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
7. The Annual Subscription
The annual subscription for Ordinary Society Members, Affiliated Members and Student Members shall be determined prior to the Annual General Meeting.Members who fail to pay subscriptions for two consecutive more than three years will have their names removed from the Register of Members after due notice has been given by means of a letter from the Secretary.
8. Membership:
8.1 The Executive Committee must approve all applications for membership (ordinary or affiliated).8.2 Affiliated Members must submit written evidence that they are involved in the practice, promotion or science of allergy so that each individual application can be considered by the Executive Committee on merit.
8.3 Honorary Members may be elected either on recommendation of the Executive Committee or after submission by any member of ALLSA or a Curriculum Vitae of the proposed Honorary Member to the Annual General Meeting.
8.4 Honorary Life Membership may be conferred on a member in recognition of distinguished or meritorious services rendered by that member to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology. Honorary Life Members shall have the same privileges as Ordinary Members in regard to voting and election to office. The election of an Honorary Life Member shall be made on:
8.4.1 A recommendation signed by not less than twenty-five (25) Ordinary Members giving detailed grounds for the recommendation to the Executive Committee.
8.4.2 The submission to and approval of the recommendation by the Executive Committee.
9. Affiliation of Groups:
Groups applying for affiliation to ALLSA must submit a written, detailed report regarding their reason(s) for applying, their involvement and experience in the practice of allergy and/or clinical immunology and must be prepared to give all reasonable additional information required by the Executive Committee in order to evaluate their application. Should the Executive Committee find the application meritorious, it will be submitted to the next annual General Meeting.10. Meetings:
10.1 Scientific Meetings of The Society should be held at least every second year for the purpose of promoting continuing allergy education and good allergy practice.10.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year to transact business.
10.3 An Annual General Meeting, of which not less than fourteen (14) days notice will be given, will be held every year not later than six (6) months after the year end of The Society’s financial year. Ideally the Annual General Meeting should coincide with the Scientific Meeting. A quorum at an Annual General Meeting is to constitute twenty-five (25)
Ordinary Members. The Executive Committee shall present a report on all the activities of The Society during the past year which should specifically include the following:
10.3.1 The previous Annual General Meeting’s minutes should be tabled and any necessary amendments made and approved. 10.3.2 The Annual Financial Statements should be tabled and approved.
10.3.3 The Accounting Officer’s Reports should be considered and approved.
10.3.4 The appointment of an Accounting Officer for the ensuing year should be made. 10.3.5 Appointments of officials to replace retiring Officers.
10.3.6 Report of any special resolutions adopted at previously held Special General Meeting(s).
10.4 A Special General Meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or must be called by the Secretary if a requisition is sent to him stating the objects for which it is to be convened and signed by a minimum of six (6) Ordinary Members. At such a meeting twenty-four (24) Ordinary Members shall constitute a quorum and no business shall be transacted other than that for which the meeting was convened. The decision shall be by majority vote of the Ordinary Members present. If fifteen (15) minutes after the officially notified starting time of the meeting a quorum cannot be formed, then the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day, time and place of the following week. If the same place is not available, the Executive Committee must advise an alternative venue. If a quorum is again not formed at this meeting, the members present will be deemed to represent a quorum to deal with the business at hand.
11. No Rule shall be made or altered except at the Annual General Meeting of The Society or at a Special General Meeting under Rule 10.4.
12. The Society’s Financial Year will be from 1st March to 28th February.
13. The Society’s registered address is: TEL: FAX:
14. Record Keeping:
14.1 All financial aspects of The Society will be the direct responsibility of the Executive Committee.14.2 Annual Financial Statements must be prepared by a duly qualified Accounting Officer with three (3) months from the end of The Society’s financial year.
15. Legal Identity:
15.1 The Society is a separate legal entity and may transact business in its own name. All its assets and liabilities are for it’s own account and do not in any way form part of any member’s estate/property.15.2 The liability of members is limited to membership fees.
16. The Name and/or Logo of The Society shall not, under any circumstances whatsoever, be used for gain, endorsement or otherwise, without written authorization by the Executive Committee of The Society and under those conditions that may be determined from time to time by the said Executive Committee. The authorization is revocable at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee of The Society.