Constitution

ARTICLE 1

The Association shall be called the “Australian Association of von Humboldt Fellows (AAvHF)”.

ARTICLE 2 ­ OBJECTIVES

The objects of the Association shall be:

(a) To further the objects of the Alexander von Humboldt­ Stiftung (the “Foundation”) by

(i) disseminating information about the Foundation in tertiary institutions and other institutions of higher education and research and to all persons engaged in scholarly or scientific activities in Australia in order to ensure the widest possible knowledge of the work of the Foundation, and

(ii) supplying the Foundation with information on research and other scholarly work in Australia provided that the Association (as distinct from its individual members) will take no part in the selection of Fellows or in the granting of assistance to Fellows by the Foundation.

(b) To reciprocate the Foundation’s generous assistance to Australian scholars and researchers by

(i) promoting and supporting post­doctoral scholars and researchers from the Federal Republic of Germany who wish to undertake research and/or establish or maintain scholarly contacts in Australia.

(ii) enlisting the financial support of Government and other public institutions in order to establish a fund to provide assistance for scholars from the Federal Republic of Germany who intend to undertake postdoctoral research in Australia, and

(c) To encourage and support all forms of scholarly exchange between the Federal Republic of Germany and Australia and amongst its members.

(d) To provide a means of contact amongst Fellows in Australia.

ARTICLE 3 ­ MEMBERSHIP

(a) Membership shall be open to any Australian resident who is, or has been at any time, a recipient of an Award or Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (including a Feodor Lynen Fellowship).

(b) Membership shall be established and maintained by payment of a biennial subscription, the amount of which shall be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time. Such annual subscriptions shall be paid for the period from 1 January in one year to 31 December of the next. Membership will lapse where payment of the current biennial subscription has not been made by 31 March in the year following the relevant two-year period. New young researchers who have returned from a Humboldt Fellowship within the last year, or who are current Feodor Lynen Fellows, are offered FREE MEMBERSHIP for the first two years. Memberships expire on the 31 December of ODD YEARS.

(c) Members who have been financial for ten years or more are eligible for life membership following the payment of a one-off fee, the amount of which shall be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time.

(d) Members shall have the right to vote under, and shall be bound by, this Constitution.

(e) An Australian resident who supports the objectives of this Association may be nominated for Associate Membership with acceptance resting on a simple majority decision of the Committee.

(f) Associate Members shall have the same rights and obligations as Members except in that they shall not vote on matters under this Constitution.

ARTICLE 4 ­ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a) The Executive Committee (the “Committee”) shall consist of up to thirteen members, including at least one from each State, one from the Australian Capital Territory and one from the Northern Territory, and including the immediate Past President as an ex-officio member.

(b) Only members of the Association are eligible to be elected to the Committee.

(c) The Committee shall be elected at the General Meeting of the Association in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5 (d) (i) and shall hold office for the two calendar years, beginning the first of January immediately following the election. Committee members may stand for reelection.

(d) From the members of the Committee, there shall be a further election in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5 (d) (i) of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, to hold office for the term of the Committee.

(e) (i) The Committee shall carry out the wishes of members pursuant to resolutions passed at the General, or other, Meeting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 5 (d), and use its best endeavours in the interests of all members to fulfil the objectives of the Association.

(ii) The President shall submit a biennial report and the Treasurer a financial statement (Article 6 (d)) to the General Meeting for adoption and subsequent distribution to all members.

(f) The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub­-committees of members, including, but not confined to, members of the Committee, to carry out any of the purposes contained in Article 4 (e) (i).

(g) In the event that the Office of President shall become vacant during a term the Vice President shall succeed to the Presidency. In the event that any other office shall become vacant during a term, the Committee shall appoint a member to fill that vacancy.

ARTICLE 5 ­ MEETINGS AND VOTING

(a) A General Meeting shall be held every two years. At least ninety days’ notice of the date and location of the Meeting shall be given to all members by the Secretary. Such notice shall be accompanied by a call for nominations to the Executive Committee on a form prepared by the Secretary, which should include a nominator, a seconder and a signature from the nominee, confirming his/her acceptance of the nomination.

(b) The agenda for each General Meeting shall include a biennial report presented by the President and a financial statement.

(c) A special Meeting shall be held upon the receipt by the Secretary of a written request signed by ten or more members. Such request shall state the purpose of the meeting. Upon receipt of such request, the Secretary shall call the meeting, giving at least sixty days’ notice of its date and location.

(d) (i) Except for the purposes of amending this Constitution (Article 5 (d) (ii)), a resolution shall be passed by simple majority of those voting. Each member is entitled to only one vote but a proxy to vote and/or move a motion may be given in writing by any member to any other member who is in attendance at the meeting.

(ii) Any amendment to this Constitution shall be passed only if approved by more than half the number of all members.

ARTICLE 6 ­ FINANCE

(a) A bank account shall be kept in the name of the Association and all monies received on behalf of the Association shall be deposited to that account. In addition, monies in excess of those required to conduct the regular business of the Association may be deposited in a capital-secure interest-bearing, investment account by the Treasurer, with the approval of the Executive Committee.

(b) Cheques drawn on the Association account and any other financial transactions shall be effected under any two of the approved signatorees to the Associations account.

(c) The Committee shall appoint auditors to audit the annual accounts of the Association.

(d) A biennial financial statement containing the audited annual accounts shall be prepared by the Treasurer.

(e) The assets of the Association shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the Association and no part of the assets shall be paid directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise to any member, or relative of a member, provided that nothing contained herein shall prevent payment to any member in respect of monies advanced by such member on behalf of or for the purposes of the Association or otherwise owing to such member by the Association, or for reimbursement of expenses incurred by such member on behalf of or for the purposes of the Association.

(f) Members of the Committee shall not be held personally liable for any acts performed by them in good faith on behalf of the Association.

(g) If upon winding­ up or dissolution of the Association, there remains, after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid or distributed among members of the Association, but shall be distributed to another body or bodies having similar objects or to such charitable body or bodies which prohibit the distribution of income and property to members.

Drafted in 1984, items 3 (d), 3(e) and 6(g) added in 1989 by a written vote of a majority of the members. Items 4 (a), 5 (a) and 6 (a) were modified and item 5 (b) was added, by a vote of the membership, according to Article 5 (d) (ii) at the Special General Meeting held on Monday, 9 May, 2011.