1.1.        This Society shall be known as the "Society of Bioscience and Technology", hereinafter in this Constitution referred to as the “Society”.

 

2.0        PLACE OF BUSINESS

 

2.1        Its place of business shall be at 58 Tras Street, #02-01, Tras Street, Singapore 078997 or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Executive Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Society shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

 

3.0       OBJECTS

 

3.1.       Its objects are:

3.1.1.    To promote the study, scientific research and development, and entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences and allied disciplines.

3.1.2.    To promote and establish local and international collaborative networks through various modes including attendance of conferences relevant to the Life Sciences and allied disciplines.

3.1.3.    To serve as a consultative body on matters of public and professional interest pertinent to the Life Sciences and allied disciplines.

3.1.4.    To promote and maintain the highest possible standards of professional competence, practice and ethical conduct among members of the Society.

 

4.0       MEMBERSHIP

 

4.1.       Membership shall be of the following categories: 

• Associate Members

This category of membership is open to students from tertiary institutions, junior colleges and secondary schools. Applicants below 18 years of age shall not be admitted as members without the written consent of their parent or guardian. Applicants who are not from the Life Sciences and the allied disciplines but wish to be affiliated with the Society may also apply. Associate Members do not have the right to vote in any General Meeting. 

• Ordinary Members

Suitably qualified applicants must be tertiary graduates in the field of the Life Sciences and the allied disciplines. 

• Fellow Members

This category of membership is open to tertiary graduates in the Life Sciences and allied disciplines who are active and recognized contributors in research and development with leadership responsibilities in their research areas.  

• Corporate Members

Applicants representing their Companies/Institutes are also welcome to apply for this category of membership. 

• Honorary Members

This prestigious membership is offered to select members of the scientific community in the Life Sciences and allied disciplines by invitation only.

 

5.0       APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

 

5.1.      A person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the Honorary Secretary on a prescribed form.

 

5.2.      The Executive Committee will review each membership application on a case-by-case basis.

 

5.3.      The Executive Committee reserves the right to reject an application without any need to provide a reason.

 

5.4.      After approval of an application, a copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member upon payment of the first subscription fee.

 

6.0        SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

 

6.1.      Annual subscription fees for each financial year are applicable to all members with the exception of Honorary Members.

 

6.2.      Annual subscription fees are payable in advance and shall be due on the last day of January each calendar year and are non-refundable.

 

6.3.      A new member joining the Society in the middle of a month shall be charged a prorated annual subscription from the subsequent month till end of the financial year..

 

6.4.      Should a member fall into arrears with his subscription or other dues, he shall be immediately informed by the Treasurer. If he fails to settle his arrears within 4 weeks of their becoming due, he will be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his account. If he falls into arrears for more than three months, he will automatically cease to be a member and the Executive Committee shall take appropriate action provided that they are satisfied that he has received due notice of his debts.

 

6.5.      Membership for the calendar year terminates at the end of each financial year.

 

 

7.0       SUPREME AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS

 

7.1.      The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a General Meeting of members presided over by the President or his/her named proxy.

 

7.2.      Two types of votes are considered as an official vote; physically present votes and properly verified post-note votes.  

 

7.3.      Voting by proxy is not allowed at all General Meetings.

 

7.4.      Each individual member shall have one vote except:

7.4.1.   Associate Members who do not have the right to vote and

7.4.2.   The President who shall have a casting vote.

 

7.5.      Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he gives notice to the Honorary Secretary one week before the meeting is due to be held.

 

7.6.      At least 25% of the total voting membership or 15 voting members, whichever is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.

 

7.7.       In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to amend any of the existing rules.

 

7.8.       An Annual General Meeting shall be held within the first 3 months after the closure of the last Finance Year to:

7.8.1.   Receive and if approved, adopt the Annual Report

7.8.2.   Receive and if approved, adopt the audited statement of accounts of preceding financial years.

7.8.3.   Elect two Honorary Auditors or a professional Auditor approved by the Comptroller of Income Tax.

7.8.4.   Deal with any other items in the Agenda.

 

7.9.      At least fourteen (14) days’ notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting and at least ten days' notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Honorary Secretary to all voting members. The particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Society's notice board four days in advance of the meeting. 

 

7.10.    At other times, any Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than 33% of the total voting membership. The notice in writing shall be given to the Honorary Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened within two months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.

 

7.11.    If the Executive Committee does not within two months after the date of the receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten days' notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Society's notice board.

 

8.0       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

8.1.      The administration of the Society shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee consisting of the following to be elected at each Annual General Meeting:

 

• President

• 2 Vice-Presidents

• Honorary Secretary

• Assistant Honorary Secretary

• Honorary Treasurer

• Assistant Honorary Treasurer

• 3 Ordinary Committee Members

Unless with the prior approval in writing of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar of Societies, all Executive Committee Members shall be either Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.

 

8.2.       Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members. All office-bearers, except the Honorary Treasurer and Assistant Honorary Treasurer may be re-elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The term of office of the Executive Committee is one year.

 

8.3.       Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie, a re­vote shall be taken and if it still results in a tie, a lot shall be drawn to determine who shall be the successful candidate unless the contesting candidate(s) withdrew in favour of one of themselves.

 

8.4.       An Executive Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every 3 months after giving seven days' notice to Executive Committee Members. The President may call an Executive Committee Meeting at any time by giving five days' notice. The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall not be less than four.

 

8.5.       Any member of the Executive Committee absenting himself from three consecutive meetings without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Executive Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the Executive Committee to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the Executive Committee shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two weeks of the change.

 

8.6.       The Executive Committee may fill by co-option any casual vacancy that may occur in their number.

 

8.7.       The duty of the Executive Committee is to organise and supervise the day-to-day activities of the Society. The Executive Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting of members without prior reference to it and always remains subordinate to the General Meetings of members.

 

8.8.       The Executive Committee may from time to time prescribe the circumstances under which any member may be expelled from the Society and expel such members; provided that in all cases before a member is expelled he shall be given a written notice sent by registered post of the proposal to expel him and shall be given the opportunity of being heard.

 

8.9.       The Executive Committee has power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding $2000/= per month from the Society's funds for the Society's purposes.

 

8.10.     The Executive Committee may regulate its own proceedings by standing orders or otherwise, as it may deem fit.

 

8.11.     No act or proceedings of the Executive Committee shall be invalidated by any vacancy on the Executive Committee or of a sub-committee thereof, or on the ground that a member of the Executive Committee or of a sub-committee thereof was not qualified at or had become disqualified after the date of this appointment.

 

8.12.     The Executive Committee may appoint any sub-committee to consider and report on any matter and unless otherwise decided by the Executive Committee, members of all sub-committees shall elect their own office-bearers and the poser to co-opt other members.

 

8.13.     The Executive Committee may alter the membership of any sub-committees at any time and no sub-committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Society including the spending of any money or the entering into any obligation unless expressly authorized to do so by a minute in writing of the Executive Committee.

 

8.14.     In the event of any ambiguity or differences of opinion concerning the interpretation of any articles and to deal with any matter not provided for in this Constitution, the Executive Committee shall decide on the matter and its decision shall be deemed final and binding upon all parties.

 

8.15.     Notwithstanding the provisions of these articles, the supreme authority of this Society shall be vested in a General Meeting of the Society.

 

9.0       DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

 

9.1.       The President shall chair all General and Executive Committee meetings. He shall also represent the Society in its dealings with outside persons.

 

9.2.       The Vice-President shall assist the President and deputise for him in his absence.

 

9.3.       The Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for:

9.3.1.   Summoning all General and Executive Committee meetings.

9.3.2.   Keep the minutes of all General and Executive Committee meetings and all records except financial, of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness.