Proposed Constitution Changes 2018
ABSIA is proposing changes to their current Constitution at their upcoming AGM, please find brief descriptions of these changes below. Members will have received notification about the AGM. Voting instructions and registration details for the AGM will be sent to all eligible voting members in due course.
Clarifying Changes
The following proposed changes are designed to clarify the intent and current contradictions of the Constitution. All resolutions will be
voted on together, unless the special resolution is not passed, in which case each special resolution will be voted on individually.
(a) The difference between Developer and Business Members is now clarified via an explicit definition of Technology Goods and Services.
(b) Legal counsel recommended inserting a definition of "including".
(c) Clarifying the differences between various membership levels.
(d) Remove the possibility for a Director representing an expelled member from continuing to sit as a Director.
Changes to Member Application Process
The current application process requires the ABSIA Board to explicitly approve every new member. Instead, the board has reviewed the constitutions of peer organisations and determined that new applications should be accepted by default unless the board decides to query the new member. The new member appeals process has also been simplified removing the 3rd level of appeal that is the current Clause 9.2.
Introducing a New Member Class of "Lifetime Member"
The addition of a Lifetime Member category is to reward those who have made a significant contribution to ABSIA but are ready to take a step back from the association. Lifetime Members will have all the rights and privileges of an Individual Member (ie no voting right nor the ability to stand as an Elected Director) and have no obligation to pay any membership fees from the date of their appointment.
Modification of Director's and Office Bearer's Terms to be Based on the Calendar Year
Currently, Directors and Office Bearers hold their positions from AGM to AGM. In order to give some time for handover, it is proposed to change the terms to be based on the calendar year.
For more information on these changes, please find an outline of the proposed Constitution changes here.
A copy of ABSIA's current Constitution can be found here.