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(b)
The contemporaneous linking together by telephone or other method
of audio or
audio visual communication of a number of Branch Committee members sufficient
to constitute a quorum, constitutes a meeting of a Branch Committee and all the
provisions in these rules relating to meetings of a Branch Committee apply, so far as
they can and with such changes as are necessary, to meetings of a Branch Committee
by telephone or audio or audio visual communication.
(c)
A member of a Branch Committee participating in a meeting by telephone or audio
or audio visual communication is to be taken to be present in person at the meeting.
(d)
A meeting by telephone or audio or audio visual communication is to be taken to be
held at the place determined by the person chairing of the meeting provided that at
least one of the Branch Committee members involved was at that place for the
duration of the meeting.
(e)
National General Meeting Representatives and directors of AIA may attend but must
not vote in that capacity at meetings of the Branch Committee.
4.26 Convening of meetings of the Branch Committee
(a)
A meeting of a Branch Committee may be convened by:
(1)
that number of Branch Committee members determined by the National
Board from time to time on the recommendation of the relevant Branch
Committee; or
(2)
where no determination has been made by the National Board under rule
4.26(a)(1), six or more Branch Committee members, whenever they think fit.
(b)
A Branch Secretary must convene a meeting of the Branch Committee on the
requisition of:
(1)
that number of Branch Committee members determined by the National
Board from time to time on the recommendation of the relevant Branch
Committee; or
(2)
where no determination has been made by the National Board under rule
4.26(b)(1), six or more Branch Committee members.
(c)
At least the number of Branch Committee meetings determined in accordance with
rule 4.26(d) (excluding meetings held under rule 4.25(b)) must be held in each
financial year.
(d)
For the purposes of rule 4.26(c), the number of meetings is that number of Branch
Committee meetings determined by the National Board from time to time on the
recommendation of the relevant Branch Committee, unless:
(1)
otherwise determined by a National General Meeting; or
(2)
no determination has been made by the National Board under this rule
4.26(d) and no determination has been made by a National General Meeting
under rule 4.26(d)(1), in which case the number of Branch Committee
meetings is six.
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4.27 Notice of meetings of a Branch Committee
(a)
Subject to these rules, notice of a meeting of a Branch Committee must be given to
each person who is at the time of giving the notice a Branch Committee member,
other than a Branch Committee member on leave of absence approved by the Branch
Committee.
(b)
A notice of a meeting of the Branch Committee:
(1)
must specify the time, date and place of the meeting;
(2)
need not state the nature of the business to be
transacted at the meeting;
(3)
may be given immediately before the meeting; and
(4)
may be given in person or by post, facsimile transmission, telephone or other
method of written, audio or audio visual communication.
(c)
A Branch Committee member may waive notice of any meeting of a Branch
Committee by notifying the Branch Committee to that effect in person or by post,
facsimile transmission, telephone or other method of written, audio or audio visual
communication.
(d)
The non-receipt of notice of a meeting of a Branch Committee by, or a failure to give
notice of a meeting of a Branch Committee to, a Branch Committee member does
not invalidate any act, matter or thing done or resolution passed at the meeting if:
(1)
the non-receipt or failure occurred by accident or error;
(2)
before or after the meeting, the Branch Committee member :
(A)
has waived or waives notice of that meeting under rule 4.27(c); or
(B)
has notified or notifies the Branch Committee of his or her agreement
to that act, matter, thing or resolution personally or by post, facsimile
transmission, telephone or other method of written, audio or audio
visual communication; or
(3)
the Branch Committee member attended the meeting.
(e)
Attendance by a person at a meeting of the Branch Committee waives any objection
that person may have to a failure to give notice of the Branch Committee meeting.
4.28 Quorum
(a)
No business may be transacted at a meeting of a Branch Committee unless a quorum
of Branch Committee members is present at the time the business is dealt with.
(b)
A quorum consists of:
(1)
if the members of the Branch Committee have fixed a number for the
quorum, that number of members of the Branch Committee;
(2)
if the members of the Branch Committee have not fixed such a number:
(A)
that number of members of a Branch Committee determined by the
National Board from time to time on the recommendation of the
relevant Branch Committee; or