Name

This Association shall be known as the "Maharashtra Mandal (Singapore)", hereinafter referred to as the "Association".

Place of Business

The place of business of the Association shall be at "5,Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9, #07-01 Far Horizon Gardens Singapore 569760" or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Association shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities,where necessary.

Objectives

The objectives of the Association are
To preserve and promote the Maharashtrian culture.

To cultivate musical and artistic talents amongst the youth and adults.

Membership

Membership of the Association is open to any person interested in the Maharashtrian culture. Any reference to the masculine gender shall also mean to include the feminine gender in this document.

Only Members who are above the age of 18 years of age shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Association.

A person wishing to join the Association should submit his particulars to the Secretary on a prescribed form. The Committee shall decide on the application for membership. A copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved Member upon payment of the entrance fee.

Entrance Fees, Subscriptions and other Dues

An entrance fee of $5.00 is payable within two weeks of election to membership, in default of which membership may be cancelled by order of the Committee.

Yearly subscriptions are payable as follows

For existing members and for new members joining MMS during the first half of each Financial year.

For members under 18 years of age: S$10.00 per annum.
For Members 18 years of age and above S$20.00 per annum.
For a new member joining the MMS during the second half of each Financial Year.

For members under 18 years of age: S$10.00 per annum

A concessionary Fee of S$10.00 per annum for members above 18 years only for the current financial year

New or existing members who pay a one-time subscription of $300.00 will enjoy life membership in MMS.

For retiree Members, the entrance fee is waived and the yearly subscription is $5.00.

Yearly subscriptions are payable in advance within the first three months of each financial year. If any member falls into arrears with his subscriptions or other dues, he shall be informed immediately by the Treasurer. If the Member fails to settle the arrears within three months of their becoming due, the President may order that the Member be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his accounts. If a Member falls into arrears for more than six months dues, his membership shall automatically cease.

The Committee is authorize to request voluntary contributions from the Members to meet the expenses towards social or cultural events being organized by the Committee on behalf of the Association.

Any additional fund required for special purposes may only be raised from Members with the consent of the General Meeting of the Members.

Supreme Authority and General Meetings

The supreme authority of the Association is vested in a General Meeting of the Members presided over by the President.

An Annual General Meeting, hereinafter called "AGM" shall be held in August.

At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting, hereinafter called "EGM" must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than one-quarter of the total voting membership or thirty voting Members, whichever is the lesser".

An EGM may be called at any time by order of the Committee.

The notice in writing for calling an EGM shall be given to the Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The EGM shall be convened within two months from receiving the notice to convene the EGM.

If the Committee, does not within two months after the date of receipt of the written request, proceed to convene the EGM, the Members who requested for the EGM shall convene the EGM by giving ten days' written notice to voting Members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously mailing the agenda to the President of the Association.

At least two weeks' notice shall be given of an AGM and at least ten days' notice of an EGM. Notice of meeting, stating the date, time and place of meeting as well as the agenda shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting Members.

The following points shall be considered at an AGM

• The previous financial year's accounts and annual report of the Committee.
• Where applicable, the election of office bearers and Honorary Auditors for the following term.
• Any other business.

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

At least one-quarter of the total voting membership or thirty voting Members, whichever is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum.

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.

Management and Commitee

The administration of the Association shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of the following office bearers to be elected at each AGM:

• A President
• A Vice-President
• A Secretary
• An Assistant Secretary
• A Treasurer
• An Assistant Treasurer

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

Election shall be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting Members present, by secret ballots. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

A Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every quarter of the financial year, after giving seven days' notice to Committee Members. The President may call a Committee meeting at any time by giving five days' notice. At least half of the Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

Any Member of the Committee absenting himself from three meetings consecutively without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next AGM. Any change in the Committee shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two weeks of the change.

The duty of the Committee is to organize and supervise the daily activities of the Association. The Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and always remains subordinate to the General Meetings.

The Committee has power to authorize the expenditure of a sum not exceeding S$ 5000.00 per month from the Association funds for the Association's purposes.

Duties of Office-Bearers

The President shall act as Chairman at all General and Committee Meetings. He shall also represent the Association in its dealings with outside persons or organizations.

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

The Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Association and shall be responsible for their correctness. He shall keep minutes of all General and Committee Meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all times.

The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary and deputize for him in his absence.

The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on behalf of the Association and shall be responsible for their correctness. He is authorized to expend up to S$ 500 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Association and money in excess of this shall be deposited in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Vice-President or the Secretary.

The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer and deputize for him in his absence.

Ordinary Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of the Association and perform duties assigned by the Committee from time to time.

Audit and Financial Year

Two voting Members, not being Members of the Committee, shall be elected as Honorary Auditors at each AGM and shall hold office for a term of one year only and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive term. They:

• Shall be required to audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the AGM.
• May be required by the President to audit the Association's accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

The financial year shall be from 1st July to 30th June.

Trustees

If the Association at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in Trustees subject to a declaration of trust.

The Trustees of the Association shall:

• Not be more than four and not less than two in number.
• Be elected by a General Meeting of Members.
• Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of Members.

The office of the Trustee shall be vacated:

If he dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.

If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one year.

If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a Trustee.

If he submits a notice of resignation from his Trusteeship.

Notice of any proposal to remove a Trustee from the Trusteeship or to appoint a new Trustee to fill a vacancy must be given at least two weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be informed to the Registrar of Societies.

The addresses of immovable properties, names of Trustees and any subsequent changes shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

Prohibitions

The following prohibitions shall apply to the Association.

Gambling of any kind, whether for stakes or not, is forbidden on the Association's premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or any drug taking and persons of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

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

The Association shall not engage in any trade unionactivity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.

The Association shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its Members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or services which adversely affect consumer interests.

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

The Association shall not hold any lottery whether confined to its Members or not, in the name of the Association or its office bearers, Committee or Members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

The Association shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Director, Criminal Investigation Department and other relevant authorities.

Amendments to Rules

No alteration or addition/deletion to these Rules shall be made except at a General Meeting and with the consent of at least two thirds of the voting Members present at the General Meeting, and they shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Registrar of Societies.

Interpretation

In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration of the Association which is not expressly provided for in the Rules, the Committee shall have power to use its own discretion. The decision of the Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of Members.

Disputes

46 In the event of any dispute arising amongst Members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an EGM in accordance with the Rules in the Constitution. Should the Members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring it to a court of law for settlement.

Dissolution

The Association shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than three-fifth of the total voting membership of the Association for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.

In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Association shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds shall be disposed of in such a manner as the General Meeting of Members may determine or donated to an approved charity or charities in Singapore.

A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.

 

Addendum to the Constitution {Operation Framework / Guidelines}