Charter of ACTCG

Charter of ACT Construction Guild

Chapter I General
Article 1 The name of the Guild in Chinese is: 澳大利亚首都建筑协会, in English: ACT
CONSTRUCTION GUILD, abbreviated: ACTCG.
Article 2 The Guild is an industry, non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization voluntarily
formed by individuals and enterprises engaged in construction and real estate industries in the
Australian capital and its surrounding areas, as well as by other interested persons.
Article 3 The purpose of the Guild
(1) Connect individuals, enterprises and other groups who are working in the construction and
real estate industries;
(2) Establish a platform to share resources, and to promote the industries;
(3) Assist members to understand and smoothly enter the construction and real estate
industries, and to offer the industries’ knowledge to the wider community;
(4) Listen to members’ concerns, and provide assistance where possible, as well as safeguard
the legitimate rights and interests of members;
(5) Unite and expand the Guild and give back to the community;
(6) Promote communication and cooperation between the Australian and Chinese
construction and real estate industries for mutual benefits.

Chapter 2 Membership
Article 4 The membership of the Guild consists of individual and corporate members.
Article 5 An applicant may be eligible to join the Guild if the applicant meets the following
requirements,
(1) Consent to accept the Charter of the Guild;
(2) Willing to participate in events organized by the Guild and comply with relevant
resolutions;
(3) Individuals (age over 18) and enterprises engaged in construction and related industries in
Canberra and its surrounding areas.
Article 6 Procedures to join the Guild
(1) Submit a membership application to the Guild;
(2) The Council of the Guild will process the application;
(3) The Council will issue a membership card if approved.
Article 7 Members’ privileges include,
(1) The privilege to elect, be elected and vote in the Guild;
(2) The privilege to participate in various events and meetings organized by the Guild, and to
make recommendations and initiatives for the Guild to consider;
(3) Priority in obtaining the services of the Guild;
(4) The right to criticize, to suggest and the right to request clarifications from the Guild;
(5) Freedom to join the Guild and freedom to withdraw.
Article 8 Members’ obligations,
(1) Comply with resolutions passed by the Guild;
(2) Safeguard reputation of the Guild and the legitimate rights and interests of its members;
(3) Complete the tasks assigned by the Guild;
(4) Participate in the events organized by the Guild;
(5) Pay the dues as required;
(6) Inform potential issue to the Guild and provide relevant information;
(7) Comply with the laws and the provisions of the Guild, and respect the privacy of the Guild
and its members;
(8) When members of the Guild encounter hardship, help and support them when possible;
(9) Safeguard members’ legitimate rights and interests in Australia;
(10)Maintain the unity and harmony of the Guild, be honest and kind, be consistent in words
and deeds, and resolute opposition to all separatist activities within the Guild.
Article 9 A member shall notify the Guild in writing to cancel membership and return the
membership card. If a member fails to pay any membership fee for more than two years or if the
member does not participate in any event organised by the Guild for two years, his/her
membership will be automatically removed.
Article 10 If a member has committed a serious breach of this statute, his or her membership will
be cancelled by a vote of the Council.

Chapter III Organization
Article 11 The Council is the highest authority of the Guild with the following responsibilities,
(1) Formulate and amend the Charter of the Guild;
(2) Appoint or dismiss the president, vice president, secretary-general and director;
(3) Review periodic reports and financial reports of the Guild;
(4) Set up and amend the guideline for membership fees;
(5) Decide to accept or dismiss a member;
(6) Establish policy and rules to operate the Guild;
(7) Decide on other major issues;
(8) Decide on termination of the Guild.
Article 12 The president, vice president and secretary-general of the Guild may serve for a term of
two years with no more than two consecutive terms. If a term needs to be extended, it may not be
extended longer than one year.
Article 13 There are five members in the Council, who are nominated by members, to lead the
Guild to carry out its operations during the intersessional period, they have direct responsibility to
the Guild. The Guild also has honorary presidents and consultants (there may be several of them),
who are recommended by the president and appointed by the Council. Honorary Presidents and
consultants offer advice and help to promote the Guild’s image.
Article 14 There must have more than two third of the council members present before a council
meeting can be convened, and its resolutions shall enter into force by a vote of more than two
third among those members.
Article 15 The Council shall meet at least once a year. In special circumstances, it may also be
conducted via correspondence.
Article 16 The general meeting shall be convened at least once a year. In special circumstances, it
may also be conducted via correspondence.
Article 17 The president, vice president and secretary-general of the Guild must satisfy the
following requirements:
(1) Ensure personal interests are never above the interests of the organisation, endeavour to
serve and contribute;
(2) Dedication and integrity. Particularly enthusiastic about the work of the Guild with
dedication;
(3) Significant influence in the relevant industries;
(4) Healthy and able to work;
(5) Strong management and leadership skills;
(6) Endeavour to increase the influence of the Guild.
Article 18 The president of the Guild is the official representative of the Guild, and has the power
to sign documents on behalf of the Guild. However, in special circumstances, the president may
entrust, subject to the approval of the Council, the vice president or the secretary-general to
exercise such a power. The official representative of the Guild shall not concurrently act as an
official representative of other groups without the approval of the Council.
Article 19 The President of the Guild may exercise the following powers,
(1) Convene and preside over general assembly and council meetings;
(2) Examine the preparation of the general assembly and council meeting;
(3) Set annual goals and execution plans to achieve them;
(4) Sign official documents on behalf of the Guild;
(5) Handle any major issues in the implementation of the Charter.
Article 20 The Secretary-General of the Guild may exercise the following functions and powers
(1) Organise internal bodies of the Guild to carry out daily operations;
(2) Facilitate execution of the annual plans;
(3) Nominate a deputy secretary-general and principal heads of offices for the Council to
approve;
(4) Recruit full-time staffs to work in the office;
(5) Entrusted by the president to sign the relevant documents of the Guild;
(6) Handle other daily affairs.

Chapter IV Fund Management
Article 21 Sources of funding for the Guild includes,
(1) Membership fees;
(2) Donations;
(3) Income from provided services within the appropriate scope;
(4) Banking interest;
(5) Other legitimate income.
Article 22 The Guild collects membership dues from individual and corporate members according
to the guideline determined by the Council.
Article 23 The funds of the Guild shall only be used for the usual operations of the Guild and may
not be distributed among the members.
Article 24 The Guild establishes a rigorous bookkeeping and accounting system to ensure the
funding and expenditure are open and transparent, and to ensure the source of funding is
legitimate, figures are accurate and sound.
Article 25 The Guild shall have a delegated accounting personnel, who shall not concurrently serve
as a cashier or bookkeeper. The accounting personnel must reconcile with supervision. When the
accountant moves on, he or she must do a complete handover to a new person.
Article 26 The Guild must have the necessary financial audit before a new term or a new president
is appointed, and the existing personnel must clear the handover procedures with the takeover
personnel.
Article 27 The assets of the Guild shall not be encroached, privately taken, or misappropriated by
any individual or organisation. If such disciplinary violations are detected, the Guild will use all
means to hold them accountable for their return and, if necessary, to make them public. In the
event of an offence, the Guild may pursue legally according to the law.
Article 28 The wage, superannuation and other benefits of a full-time staff working for the Guild
shall be remunerated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the local government.

Chapter V Amendment to the Charter
Article 29 Any amendment to the Charter shall be presented to the Council for consideration and
vote.
Article 30 The amended Charter shall be immediately notified to all members for review, and it
shall take effect after seven days if there is no objection.

Chapter VI Termination and Asset Disposure
Article 31 When the Guild completes its purpose or dissolves itself or needs to cancel due to
reasons such as division or merger, the Council shall propose a termination motion.
Article 32 The termination motion of the Guild shall be consulted with all members. If the majority
has no objection, the Council shall submit an application to relevant authority to terminate the
Guild.
Article 33 Before the termination of the Guild, a liquidation committee shall be setup to clear all
debts and deal with any matter in relation to the termination. During the liquidation, activities
other than liquidation are not carried out.
Article 34 The Guild shall terminate upon approval and written notification given by the local
authority.
Article 35 Any surplus assets after the termination of the Guild shall be donated to the
development of undertakings in relation to the purposes of the Guild.

Chapter VII Supplementary
Article 36 The interpretation of this Charter is vested in the Council of the Guild.
Article 37 This Charter shall be in force from the date of promulgation. If the Charter is to be
amended, the existing Charter shall be repealed at the same time as the date of entry into force of
a new Charter.