Bylaws of the Internet Society Chapter (Singapore)

 

Article I. – Name

1. * This organisation shall be called the Internet Society   Singapore  Chapter.*

2. The Chapter may use the ISOC names (“Internet Society” and “ISOC”) and associated logos and service marks in its name and in connection with its activities only in accordance with the published guidelines established by ISOC and provided to the Chapter.

 

Article II. – Purpose

1. The general purpose of the Chapter shall be to advance and promote the use of the Internet and its associated technologies and applications – both as an end in itself, and as a means of enabling organisations, professions, and individuals worldwide to more effectively collaborate, cooperate, and innovate in their respective fields and interests in Singapore.

2. Without limiting the generality of the Chapter’s purpose, the    Chapter shall:

a) Engage in a wide range of Internet educational initiatives;

b) Promote the expansion of Internet access at all levels of the local community;

c) Promote recruitment and job market development in local technology industries;

d) Provide forums for professional networking and knowledge sharing;

e) Develop and lead initiatives for the expansion of broad community access and infrastructure development;

f) Act as an advocate for the best interests of the members and the local Internet user community (to the extent such advocacy does not adversely affect the non-profit and charitable tax status of the organisation).

3. The Chapter shall be established as a non-profit organisation under the laws of Singapore.

4. This Chapter will serve persons who live or work in Singapore.

5.*This Chapter is chartered by the Internet Society. These bylaws neither supersede nor abrogate any of the Bylaws of the Internet Society that regulate chapter affairs.*

 

Article III. – Membership and Chapter Organisational Bodies

 

1. As set forth more specifically within these Bylaws, the main organisational bodies of this Chapter shall be:

    a) The General Membership;

    b) The Officers (Article IV);

    c) The Standing Committees (Article VII); and

    d) The Executive Committee (Article VI).

2. With the exception of the Executive Committee (in accordance with Article VI hereof), the members shall elect all other Charter leadership, namely, the Officers, and Standing Committee members, in a manner consistent with these Bylaws.

3. The Chapter will be made up of two types of members:

a. Individual members, and

b. Organisational members.

4. The Chapter may also have various classes of members to be determined by the first elected Officers, or by a committee duly organised or designated for such purpose.

5. *All members of a Chapter shall also be members of the Internet Society. Membership is not necessary, however, for participation in activities of the society or its chapters.*

6. *All individuals and organisations falling within the defined scope of the chapter shall be eligible for membership without discrimination.* No one can be denied membership unless the Officers or a committee duly designated or organised for such purpose has determined that such exclusion is warranted for reasons of just cause. Any individual denied membership for whatever reason after such procedures shall be entitled to appeal such denial to the Executive Committee.

7. *Membership in the Chapter shall be open to all ISOC members in the locality served by the Chapter upon request and payment of any local dues, as determined by the Executive Committee.*

8. The Committee shall determine the subscription fees and annual dues for individuals and organisations. Student membership shall be open to all full-time students and shall not exceed 75 percent of regular member dues. The decision of the Committee as to the amount of any subscription payable by any member shall be absolutely binding to all members.

9. A member shall have the following rights:

a. To exercise the right to vote on all matters relating to the affairs of the Chapter.

b. To be eligible to any elective or appointive office of the Chapter.

c. To participate in all deliberations / meetings of the Chapter.

d. To avail of all the facilities of the Chapter.

e. To examine all the records or books of the Chapter during business hours.

 

Article IV. – Officers

1. The officers of this Chapter shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The roles of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined in one person.

2. The Chapter may from time to time by an ordinary Resolution passed by at the Business meeting increase or reduce the number of officers.

3. The officers shall be elected at the annual Election (or Business) meeting. They shall take office on the first day of the fiscal year and serve for one year.

4. In the event that an Officer resigns or is otherwise incapacitated and thereby unable to continue to serve in the role, the Executive Committee shall have the discretion to appoint a replacement who shall serve until the next Business meeting.

5. All officers, with the exception of the Treasurer, shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in such capacity. The Treasurer shall serve only one year in that capacity. After a lapse of a year in that capacity, the member shall be eligible for re-appointment.

 

Article V. – Duties of Officers

 

1. The President is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Chapters and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Internet Society and these bylaws. The President shall preside at all meetings of this Chapter and of its Executive Committee.

2. With the advice of the Chapter’s Executive Committee, the President shall appoint all members of committees of this chapter and all Committee chairmen.

3. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President.

4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings. Other duties of the Secretary include:

a. Preparation of the Annual Chapter Report for presentation to the Chapter at the Annual Business Meeting.

b. Preparation of the Chapter’s Activity Report and submission of this report to ISOC Headquarters.

c. Notification to ISOC Headquarters of any changes in the elected officers of the Chapter.

d. Maintaining the register of members, a list of containing full particulars of all Executive Committee members, officers, committees and/or advisory group.

e. Convening meetings as provided in the Articles herein.

5. The Treasurer shall collect membership fees, pay all bills, and maintain the Chapter’s financial records. Duties of the Treasurer shall also include:

a. Preparation of the Chapter’s Annual Financial Report and Budget for the following year. Completion and submission of the Annual Financial Report to ISOC Headquarters.*

 

Article VI. – Executive Committee

 

1. The Chapter shall have an Executive Committee whose duties shall be to (i) oversee all operations of the Chapter; and (ii) oversee the operations of all Officers and Charter committees.

2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following individuals:

a. Each of the current Chapter Officers for the relevant period: (1) President; (2) Vice President; (3) Secretary; and (4) Treasurer.

b. The immediate past President (if applicable and if available);

c. The chairpersons of each of the three (3) Chapter Standing Committees;

d. Up to three (3) other members-at-large. The members-at-large may include past Officers, if applicable.

3. The term of the members of the Committee shall coincide with the terms of the officers. They shall take office on the first day of the fiscal year and serve for one year.

4. The Executive Committee shall be vested with the power to set up the sub-committees and/or advisory groups from time to time.

5. The President of the Chapter shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee. However, other than in the case of the need for a tie-breaking vote, the President shall have no other voting power while serving on the Executive Committee.

6. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to all members as observers, unless a special meeting has been called in which participation by Executive Committee members only is deemed appropriate by the President of the Executive Committee. Only members of the Executive Committee shall have voting rights in these meetings. All other members may submit their questions online. Minutes of Executive Committees shall be made available online.

 

Article VII. – Standing Committees

1. The Chapter shall have at least two Standing Committees.

2. Only active members of the Chapter shall be permitted to serve on these Standing Committees.

3. All Chairs of Standing Committees shall also serve on the Executive Committee.

4. The Standing Committees of the Chapter may include but shall not be limited to:

a. Programme Committee,

b.    Education Committee.

5. The Programme Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the technical programmes of the Chapter’s meetings in accordance with the membership’s interests and the aims of the Chapter as set forth in Article II.

6. The Education Committee shall identify information and education programs on internet and its related topics.

 

Article VIII. – Temporary Committees

1. The President with advice from the Chapter Executive Committee may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.

2. A Nominating Committee, consisting of at least three members of this Chapter, at least two of whom shall not be members of the Executive Committee, shall be appointed by the Chapter President at least two months prior to the Election meeting for the purpose of conducting the elections.

3. An Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter President to assure the accuracy of the accounting of the Chapter’s funds for the year. This Committee should also verify the accuracy of the Financial Report prepared by the Treasurer.

4. Every account and balance sheet of the Chapter when audited and approved by the annual Business meeting, shall be conclusive except as regards any error discovered therein within three months next after the approval thereof. Whether any such error is discovered within that period, the account and balance sheet shall forthwith be corrected and thenceforth shall be conclusive and to be submitted to ISOC HQ.

 

Article IX. – Suspension, Expulsion and Termination of Membership

1. Membership of the Chapter may be terminated by:

a. Resignation, which shall be tendered in writing to the Chapter at least one month before the intended date to end the membership. However, membership fund paid shall not be refundable.

b. Death if the member is an individual member.

c. Becoming of unsound mind, or a person whose person or estate is liable to be dealt with in any way under the law relating to mental disorder.

d. Dissolution if the member is a company or association or by liquidation whether voluntary or involuntary if the member is a corporation.

e. Expulsion, which must be resolved upon by the Committee.

f. Default if the member is more than six months in arrears in payment of the annual membership fee.

2. No right or privilege of any member shall be in any way transferable or transmissible save and such rights and privileges shall cease upon a member ceasing to be such.

3. A member who has been suspended shall be liable to pay all sums including but not limited to any subscription that may be due to the Chapter.

 

Article X. – Meetings

1. The annual Business meeting shall be held within four (4) months of the end of the fiscal year, which shall be from June to May. At this meeting, the Secretary and Treasurer each shall present a report. Also, the election of officers shall be held.

2. *Notices of the place and time of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at 28 days prior to any meeting, by Internet mail or by oral, telegraphic, or other written notice, duly served on or mailed.* The incidental omission to give such notice to or the non-receipt of such notice by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings at the annual Business meeting or any special meetings.

3. Special meetings of the members shall be called as the need thereof arises, by the Executive Committee or the President or upon 1/3 of the general membership.

4. The special meeting requisition shall express the object of the meeting proposed to be called and be submitted to the Secretary.

5. Upon the receipt of such requisition, the Secretary shall inform the Committee, which shall forthwith proceed to convene a special meeting. If they do not proceed to convene the same within 60 days from the date of receipt of the requisition the requestor making such a requisition may themselves convene a special meeting.

6. Decisions at any meeting of the  Committee shall be unanimous so far as practiceable but otherwise to be decided by the majority of votes of the Executive Committee present in person and in the case of equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall gave a second or casting vote. The Secretary or his Deputy or Assistant shall not have the right to vote.

 

Article XI. – Funds, Disbursements and Dues

1. The funds of the Chapter shall be derived from admission and registration fees, annual dues and special assessments of members, gifts or donations.

2. Disbursements from the Treasury for Chapter expenditures shall be made by the Treasurer with authorisation of the Executive Committee and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.

3. A minimum of two signatures shall be required in any financial transaction. The Treasurer and at least one of the Executive Committee members must sign the cheque or any other fund withdrawal instruments.

4. Membership fees should cover the operation and administration costs and shall be fixed annually by the Executive Committee.

5. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from June 1 to May 31 of each year.

 

Article XII. – Amendment and Voting Procedures

1. *All proposed changes to these Chapter Bylaws shall have been approved by the ISOC Membership Team before being presented to the Chapter membership for a vote.*

2. All changes to the Chapter Bylaws shall require a quorum of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present at the General Meeting.

3. No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum of the meeting is present.

4. A quorum of a meeting shall be defined as 25% of the voting membership of the Chapter or 30 members, whichever is fewer. If the quorum for the Annual Business Meeting is not met at the meeting time, there should be a 30-minute adjournment, after which those present would be considered the quorum.

5. A simple majority of the members present and voting shall be required to carry a motion.

6. Each member shall be entitled to one vote and voting may be done in person or by proxy, which shall be in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Chapter before the scheduled meeting. A proxy must be a member of the Chapter and each proxy shall not hold more than three proxies at any Business meeting.

7. The candidates’ list will be presented at the annual Business meeting by the Executive Committee.

8. No more than half of the officers may be replaced in any given year. In the event that term limits do not allow some officers to serve another term, the Executive Committee shall have authority to allow one officer to serve another term.

9. Members with at least one year of membership with the Chapter and shall have paid up all sums including but not limited to the subscription at least three months before the election can propose a candidate in writing to the Executive Committee at least one (1) month before the annual Business meeting.

 

Article XIII. – Dissolution of the Chapter

1. Dissolution of this Chapter by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicised in advance to all members of the Chapter for the purpose of taking this vote.

2. In the event of the dissolution of this Chapter, all remaining assets leftover after shall be transferred to the Community Chest of Singapore.

 

Article XIV. – Indemnity

1. Every Executive Committee members or other officer of the Chapter shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Chapter against all losses or liabilities which he may sustain or incur in or about the execution of the duties of his office or otherwise in relation thereto and no such Executive Committee members other officer shall be liable for any loss, damage or misfortune which may happen to or be incurred by the Chapter in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto, but this Article shall only have effect in so far as its provisions are not avoided by the act.