1. NAME

The Society shall be known as the St Patrick's Society of Singapore

2. PLACE OF BUSINESS

Whilst the Society is without a fixed place of business, its records, books of account and other relevant documents shall be retained by the responsible committee member during his term of office, and at the termination of his office, such records, books and documents shall be handed over to his successor in office, to be kept in his house, office or other suitable place.

3. OBJECTS

The Society is established for the purpose of bringing together Irish people to further their culture, and celebrate in a loyal manner each year the birthday of their National Patron Saint.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Ordinary membership shall consist of persons who

[a] have at least one parent or grandparent of Irish blood; or

[b] are married to persons who are members or qualified to become members; or

[c] have resided in Ireland; or

[d] have a special interest in Ireland

5. ENTRANCE FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

Each Ordinary member shall subscribe the sum of $50.00 if they are single membership or a couple without children. Couples with children will pay $75.00 membership fee. Any other amount or change in fees shall be determined from time to time by an Annual General Meeting annually. The subscription shall become due on 1 July each year.

Each Ordinary member on first admission shall pay a subscription of $50 or $75 or other amount as shall be determined from time to time by an Annual General Meeting to the funds of the Society. This sum shall be deemed the member's subscription to the June 30th next following or, if paid after March 31st , until the June 30th second next following.

All subscriptions shall be deemed to cover a married couple. Children of paid up members shall be entitled to all privileges of membership.

6. MANAGEMENT

The management and control of the Society shall be vested in a committee comprising a President, Vice President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and not less than six or more than ten ordinary members who shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting of the members.

The President shall ordinarily have been a committee member for at least one year, however nominations for non committee members can be accepted with the signatures of at least 10 members.

Furthermore, all past Presidents of the Society, while resident in Singapore, shall be entitled to be members of the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies that may occur in its composition pending the next annual general meeting and to appoint additional officers. At all meetings of the Committee, six members shall form a quorum. All office bearers except the Hon. Treasurer may be re-elected year after year.

Any member of the Committee absent from three consecutive meetings without satisfactory explanation shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next annual general meeting.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Society shall be held not later than the 3lst October of each year at which the annual report of the Committee and a statement of the Hon. Treasurer's account for the year ending 30 June shall be submitted and the office holders and committee members for the ensuing year be elected. Such meeting shall be competent to discuss any matter relating to the business of the Society provided three days notice in writing of the matter shall have been given to the Hon. Secretary. At all general meetings a quarter of the total membership shall form a quorum.

If at the appointed time of the meeting, a required quorum is not present, the meeting shall be deferred for a period of 30 minutes and shall again be convened thereafter. If the required quorum is still not present at the commencement of the deferred meeting, then those members present shall be considered as forming a quorum and the deferred meeting as convened may proceed, but without the power to change the Constitution of the Society. A vote on a motion submitted to either an Annual or Special General Meeting shall be cast by a member personally at the meeting. A member entitled to vote at Annual or Special General Meeting shall be in good standing at date of such meeting and must have paid the annual subscription in respect of the period in which such general meeting is convened

8. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The Committee may convene at any time a special general meeting of members for the transaction of business duly specified in the notice calling the meeting and no other, and the Hon. Secretary shall call a special general meeting of the members on receiving a requisition in writing specifying the subject to be discussed and signed by at least ten members or ten per cent of the total membership of the Society, whichever is least.

9. FUNDS

The Administration of the Society's funds shall be vested in the President, Vice President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer. If any of the aforementioned officers be unavailable for the time being, the administration aforesaid shall be vested in a majority of the officers available. Any expenditure to be incurred in connection with matters possessing a local or national interest shall be first sanctioned by a decision of the Committee thereon. The Hon. Treasurer is authorised to incur expenditure not exceeding $500.00 (Five Hundred Dollars) in the total before calling for further authority from the Committee. The Hon. Treasurer shall be entitled to keep a sum not larger than $500.00 (Five Hundred dollars) for petty expenses of the Society and any monies in excess of this amount shall be deposited in an approved bank. Withdrawals from the bank shall be signed by any two of the President, Vice-President and Secretary in addition to the Treasurer.

10. OFFICE BEARERS

[a] The President shall act as Chairman at all general committee meetings. He/she shall also represent the Society in its dealings with outside persons.

[b] The Vice President shall deputise for the President in the latter's absence.

[c] The Hon. Secretary shall keep all records except financial, of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness. He/she will keep minutes of all general and committee meetings.

[d] The Hon. Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all monies on behalf of the Society and shall keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness. Money in excess of $500 will be deposited in a bank to be named by the Committee.

11. AUDIT

Two persons not members of the Committee will be elected as Hon. Auditors at each annual general meeting and will hold office for one year only and may not be re-elected. They will be required to audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the annual general meeting. They may be required by the President to audit the Society's accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

12. PROHIBITIONS

Gambling of any kind such as the playing of paikow or mahjong, whether for stakes or not, is forbidden on the Society's premises or any premises for the time being being used by the Society. The introduction of materials for gambling or opium smoking and of bad characters into such premises is prohibited.

The funds of the Society shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in Court.

The Society shall not attempt to restrict or in any other manner interfere with trade or prices or engage in any trade Union activity as defined in the Trade Union ordinance, 1940.

The Society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Society or its Office bearers, Committee or members.

The Society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

13. AMENDMENT TO RULES

No alteration or additions to these rules shall be made except at a general meeting and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies.

14. DISSOLUTION

The Society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent, of not less than 3/5 of the members of the Society expressed, either in person or by proxy at a General Meeting convened for the purpose or by postal vote.

In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Society shall be fully discharged and the remaining funds will be divided equally amongst the members.

Notice of dissolution shall be given within 14 days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.

Certified as correct, true and accurate copy of the Constitution of the St Patrick's Society of Singapore.