xi
(3)
the President is present within that time but is not willing to act as
chairperson of the meeting,
the Vice President (if any) must preside as chairperson at the National General
Meeting unless at the National General Meeting:
(4)
there is no Vice President; or
(5)
the Vice President is not present within the period of time determined in
accordance with rule 3.5(c) after the time appointed for the meeting; or
(6)
the Vice President is present within that time but is not willing to act as
chairperson of the meeting;
in which case the National General Meeting Representatives present must elect as
chairperson of the meeting a director or National General Meeting Representative
who is present and willing to act.
(c)
For the purposes of rule 3.5(b), the period of time is:
(1)
that period of time determined by the National Board from
time to time; or
(2)
where no determination has been made by the National Board under rule
3.5(c) (1), 30 minutes.
(d)
The chairperson of a National General Meeting may, with the approval of the
National General Meeting Representatives present at the meeting, vacate the chair, in
which event the National General Meeting Representatives present must elect a
person who is present and willing to act to replace the chairperson.
(e)
If a person is elected under rule 3.5(d) for a specified period
or until the occurrence
of a specified event, that person will preside over the National General Meeting for
that period until that event occurs, but if no such period or event is specified, that
person will preside for the remainder of the National General Meeting or until he or
she vacates the chair in accordance with rule 3.5(d).
(f)
Nothing in this rule 3.5 prevents a portion of a National General Meeting being
chaired by a person, other than the chairperson, with the consent of the National
General Meeting.
3.6
Conduct of National General Meetings
(a)
An annual National General Meeting may adopt standing orders for the conduct of
business at National General Meetings, which standing orders may include, without
limitation, provision for:
(1)
the
orderly conduct of the meeting;
(2)
the management of the business of the meeting;
(3)
the appointment of a returning officer;
(4)
elections and election procedures;
(5)
committees and the functions of committees including without limitation:
(A)
a preparatory committee; and
(B)
a credentials committee;
(6)
the amendment of standing orders; and
xii
(7)
the suspension of standing orders.
(b)
Standing orders adopted by an annual National General Meeting under rule
3.6(a):
(1)
continue to operate until amended or rescinded at a National General
Meeting; and
(2)
must be consistent with these articles of association, which must be
interpreted so as to promote and not restrict the operation of the standing
orders.
(c)
The person chairing a National General Meeting may, and must
if so directed by the
meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no
business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left
unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
(d)
It is not necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be
transacted at an adjourned meeting unless at the adjourned meeting (before
adjournment) a resolution is passed requiring notice of the adjournment to be given.
(e)
Subject to these rules, the standing orders (if any) adopted for the conduct of
business at National General Meetings, and any other applicable law, any question
arising at a National General Meeting relating to the order of business, procedure or
conduct of the meeting must be referred to the person then chairing the meeting,
whose decision is final.
3.7
Resolutions for consideration at a National General Meeting
A resolution for consideration at a National General Meeting may be proposed by:
(a)
a Branch in accordance with a resolution passed by:
(1)
the Branch General Meeting of that Branch; or
(2)
the Branch Committee of that Branch;
(b)
the National Board;
(c)
a Local Group; or
(d)
any member or members, excluding Non Financial Members, permitted to do so by
law.
3.8
Decisions at National General Meetings
(a)
Except in the case of any resolution which as a matter of law requires a special
majority, questions arising at a National General Meeting are to be decided by a
majority of votes cast by the National General Meeting Representatives present
(whether in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at the meeting and any such
decision is for all purposes a decision of the members.
(b)
A decision of AIA is binding on all members.
(c)
In the case of an equality of votes upon any proposed resolution
the person chairing
the meeting, in addition to his or her deliberative vote, has a casting vote.