SATAA Constitution

Preamble

SATAA's guiding principle is to develop, sustain and protect Transactional Analysis (TA) philosophy, theory and practice. Fundamental to this is respect for autonomy and human dignity. SATAA will, therefore, promote individuality, diversity and community. The association will also encourage and promote the training of students in its philosophy. The association is underpinned by a commitment to TA principles, especially those of confidence and trust in self and other (I'm OK, You're OK), a contractual method and a belief in the human capacity to grow and problem solve.

The association is governed by democratic principles and accountability and will co-operate with other TA associations both national and international.

Section1

Name and status

South African Transactional Analysis Association (SATAA) is a non-profit membership association governed by the relevant statutes under South African law.

The organization shall have an identity and existence distinct from its members or office bearers and as such shall:

•  Exist in its own right

•  Be able to own property and other possessions

•  Be able to be sued in its own name

The organization shall continue to exist even when its membership changes and there are different office bearers.

Section2

Purpose

(a)The purpose of the association is to contribute to public well-being through the use of TA. It is the broad task of the association to promote and develop the knowledge and practice of TA as well as to regulate and co-ordinate the activities of its members.

(b)Specific goals are to:

(i) Promote TA knowledge and research and ensure agreed standards of practice.

(ii) Ensure conformity to internationally agreed standards of training, certification and practice in co-operation with the international TSC (Training and Standards Committee)

(iii) Organise local and international events, conferences and examinations on TA.

(iv) Provide information to members and to the broader public about TA.

(v) Support publication of TA articles and documents into African languages.

(vi) Provide codes of ethics and professional practice and facilitate their

implementation by members.

Section3

Membership

A. Type of membership

Membership will be open to anyone who supports the purpose of the association and pays the required fee as determined by the Committee. There will be four categories of members:

(i)Certified members: those who have completed the required training in any of the fields of TA – Psychotherapy, counselling, organisational development, education – and who have received certification from the appropriate body.

(ii)Trainee members: Those who have an agreed training contract with a certified TA trainer.

(iii)Associate members: those who have an interest in the application of TA theory in their personal or professional lives who do not fall into either of the above categories.

(iv) Honorary members: those who have been designated by the Committee in recognition of their service to SATAA

B. Termination of membership

Membership may be terminated

•  by resignation

•  by exclusion which the executive committee may pronounce in the case of harm being caused to the associations interests or breach of obligations inherent to membership. The member must be informed in writing and advised of their right of appeal to the general assembly of members.

(iii)by exclusion, after due notice, in case of non-payment of dues as specified by the committee.

C. Rights, duties and privileges of membership

(i)All members shall be entitled to attend all annual, general or special general meetings of the Association but only ordinary members whose fees are paid up and Honorary members shall be entitled to vote at such meetings

(ii)All members shall be entitled to receive whatever benefits of membership apply to their membership category.

(iii)Any notice or communication of whatever kind to a member shall be addressed to a member at the address registered with the Secretary of the Association, either electronic or postal, and shall be deemed to have been received by him/her within 72 hours of its being placed in the post or emailed.

(iv)The onus shall be on a member to ensure that the Secretary has his/her correct postal or electronic address.

(v)Every member shall be entitled at all reasonable times to inspect the books of account and other documents of the Association, which documents the Secretary or other custodian thereof shall be obliged to produce.

(vi)Members or office bearers do not have rights over things that belong to the organisation

Section4

Organisational structure

The association will consist of

A. The general assembly of members

B. The executive committee elected by the members

•  Sub-committees appointed by the executive committee as appropriate

A. General assembly

The general assembly has, in particular, the following non-transferable powers:

(i) to vote on changes to the constitution

(ii) to elect the executive committee

(iii) to appoint the auditor

(iv) to decide an appeal against expulsion if such an appeal is made within thirty days form the date the decision has been notified in writing.

(v) to approve the following reports:

•  The minutes of the previous meeting

•  The Chairperson's report

•  The audited Financial Statements

(vi) to give discharge to the executive committee and the treasurer

(vii) to vote on changes to the aims / mission of the organisation

(viii) to vote on any special resolution presented. Such resolution must be received by the Secretary in writing 7 days after the notice of a General Meeting

B. Executive Committee and office holders

  The affairs of the Association will be managed by the Executive Committee and office holders as follows:

(a) The executive committee of seven members will be elected by the members at the annual general meeting or by secret postal ballot . The executive committee may take on the power and authority that it believes it needs to be able to achieve the objectives of the organization.

(b) The officer holders are Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

(c)The committee may co-opt ex officio members for specific roles as required. It may also set up one or more sub-committees in order to undertake a specific task e.g. to complete some work quickly or to conduct an inquiry. There must be at least three people on a sub-committee and it must report back to the executive committee on a regular basis.

(d) The executive committee shall meet as often as required by the association's affairs, but at least twice a year. It shall be convened by the chairperson or upon request of the majority of the members of the committee.

(e)The chairperson, or two members of the committee may call a special meeting but they must inform the other executive committee members of the date of the proposed meeting not less than 21 days before it is due to take place. They must also tell the other members of the committee which issues will be discussed at the meeting. However, if one of the matters to be discussed is to appoint a new executive committee member, then those calling the meeting must give the other committee members not less than 30 days notice.

(f)The chairperson shall act as the chairperson of the executive committee. If the chairperson does not attend the meeting, then members of the committee who are present choose which one of them will chair that meeting. This must be done before the meeting starts.

(g)There shall be a quorum of four whenever an executive committee meeting is held.

(h)Minutes of all meetings must be kept safely and always be on hand for members to consult

(i) Executive members will be elected from Nominations received in writing, by the Secretary, at least 10 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting.

Duties of the Executive Committee will be:

(i)To manage the affairs of the Association;

(ii)To formulate the policy of the Association;

(iii)To ensure that the affairs of the association are effectively administered and that formulated policies are implemented.

(iv)To accept the fiduciary responsibility of the Association.

Section5

The annual general meeting

(i)This shall be convened by the Chairperson once a year by a notice to all members sent out, with the agenda, no less than 30 days in advance, provided that inadvertent omission to give such notice to any member, or the non-receipt of such notice by a member, shall not invalidate any proceedings at such meeting.

(ii)The chairperson, in agreement with the committee, may at any time convene an extraordinary general meeting as in the above procedure.

(iii)The minutes of the annual general meeting or any special general meeting shall be signed by two members of the committee. The minutes must be kept safely and always be on hand for members to consult.

(iv)The resolutions of the general meeting shall be adopted by majority vote of those voting

(v)Each paid up or honorary member shall have one vote

(vi)At general meetings the member may be present in person or vote by postal ballot or may be represented by a duly authorized representative.

(vii)A quorum for each general meeting is represented by 15 members present.

Section6

Finances

(a)The association is not for private gain.

(b)The organization may not give any of its money or property to its members or office bearers. The only time it can do this is when it pays for work that a member or office bearer has done for the organization. The payment must be a reasonable amount for the work that has been done. Any expenses must be fully accounted for.

(c)Its resources consist of the members' contributions, any donations, legacies or bequests and any resources deriving from its own activities, and may be used only for the purposes outlined in Section 2 of the constitution.

(d)The treasurer is accountable for ensuring good management of the finances of the association and submitting the accounts to a professional auditor, who shall be a non member of the association and is appointed by the annual general meeting.

(e)The treasurer will make the financial report available to members for the annual general meeting within 4 months of the end of the financial year.

(f) The Association will operate such bank accounts as are required for its functioning.

(g) Financial year end will be 31 st October

Section7

Liability

(a)The association is only financially liable to the extent of its assets; the association is not liable for the professional misconduct of a member; the members are not personally liable for the association's debts and liabilities.

(b)The financial liability of the members is limited to the payment of the yearly membership fee and fees for any other services provided.

(c)No organ or officer of the association is personally liable for the debts or other liabilities of the association.

Section8

Amendment of Constitution

This Constitution may only be amended, added to, or deleted from, by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for the specific purpose, provided that:

(a)If the proposed amendments, addition or deletion is to be proposed by a member who is not a member of the Committee, written notice of the proposed amendments, additions or deletions must be delivered to the Chairperson not less than 28 (twenty eight) days before the date of the meeting at which the proposals are to be moved; and

(b)The terms of the proposed amendments, additions or deletions are notified to each member of the Association not less than 21 (twenty one) days prior to the date of the Meeting.

(c)No amendment of this constitution shall be valid until the Association has complied with the provision of Section 19 of the Non profit Organisations Act 1997 (Act 71 of 1997) and until the Director of Non-profit Organisations shall have registered the amendment in terms of section 19 (3) (a) of the said Act.

(d)No amendment of this Constitution shall similarly be valid until a copy of the amended Constitution shall have been submitted to the Commissioner for Inland Revenue and the Commissioner does not rule that such amendments jeopardizes the Association's exemption from the payment of income tax in terms of Sections 10 (1) (f) of the Income Tax Act 1962.

Section 9

Business undertakings OR trading activities

Once the Association has been approved by the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in terms of section 30 of the Income Tax Act, 1962 it shall not carry on any business undertaking or trading activity otherwise than in compliance with the provisions of that section

Section 10

Dissolution

•  All members must be consulted in a postal vote. The dissolution must be approved by a 51% majority of those voting.

•  The executive would carry out the liquidation or appoint a liquidating body.

•  Any remaining assets can only be used according to section 2 of this constitution. (i.e. can only be given to non-profit associations with equal or similar purpose and goals).