About IAIA: The Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT (South African Affiliate)
(IAIAsa)

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of the South African Affiliate of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) will be the “International Association for Impact Assessment - South African Affiliate (IAIAsa)” hereinafter referred to as the “Affiliate”. The office of the Affiliate will be the same as the office of the Secretariat.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Section 1. IAIAsa is incorporated as a recognised Affiliate of the IAIA and is subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the IAIA.

Section 2. The Affiliate adopts the following Mission and Values of the IAIA:

To be a regional forum for advancing innovation and communication of best practice in all forms of impact assessment in order to further the development of capacity in impact assessment.
To promote the application of integrated and participatory approaches to impact assessment, conducted to the highest standards.
To promote the assessment of the biophysical and socio-economic implications of project proposals as a critical contribution to sound decision-making processes; and to equitable and sustainable development.

Section 3. All members of the Affiliate shall abide by the IAIA Code of Ethics:

A. A member shall carry out his or her professional activities, as far as possible, in accordance with principles of sustainable development and the highest standards of environmental protection.
B. A member shall at all times place the integrity of the natural environment and the health, safety and welfare of the human community above any commitment to sector or private interests.
C. A member shall ensure the incorporation of environmental protection and social or socio-economic impact considerations from the earliest stages of project design or policy development.
D. A member shall not conduct professional activities in a manner involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or bias.
E. A member shall not advertise or present the member’s services in a manner that may bring discredit to the profession.

Section 4. The Affiliate shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with IAIA which establishes the mutual benefits and responsibilities between the two parties.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.
Membership of the Affiliate shall consist of two categories: Regular and Student.
A. Regular membership is available to any dues-paying individual.
B. Student membership is available to individuals actively engaged in full-time studies related to the purpose of the Affiliate. The National Executive Committee shall determine the length of time members may remain in this category. Such individuals will be obliged to become regular members if they renew their membership the year after completion of their studies.

Section 2.
Members of both categories shall enjoy the privileges of the Affiliate.

Section 3.
Applications for membership shall be submitted together with a statement of support of the Code of Ethics and the payment of current dues, to the National Secretariat. The acceptance of annual dues by the Secretariat shall constitute recognition of membership.

Section 4.
Annual dues for both categories of membership shall be fixed from time to time by the National Executive Committee.

Section 5.
Members failing to pay dues within 6 months of due date shall be considered as having withdrawn from membership.

Section 6.
Members deemed to be in breach of the Affiliate’s Code of Ethics may, by resolution of the National Executive Committee, be denied continuing membership of the Affiliate.

Section 7.
Membership of IAIAsa does not constitute membership of IAIA and vice versa.

Section 8.
Membership of IAIAsa does not constitute professional registration or any form of certification for practitioners of impact assessment.

ARTICLE IV. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Affiliate formally comprises the South African national body of members. These members are served by a National Executive Committee and by regional Branches.

The National Executive Committee conducts the affairs of the Affiliate on behalf of the members.

The National Executive Committee steers the strategic direction of the Affiliate and forms a link to the international body of IAIA.

Branch Committees operating in designated regions throughout the country support the National Executive Committee. The Branches are tasked with promoting the involvement of the members in IAIAsa activities.

In addition Task Groups can be formed at any time on an ad hoc and informal basis to address specific issues of relevance to the objectives of the IAIA and/or the Affiliate.

National Executive Committee

Section 1.
The National Executive Committee shall be elected from the members and shall conduct the affairs of the Affiliate.
Section 2.
Any member of the Affiliate who is in good standing may be elected to serve on the National Executive Committee.
Section 3.
Termination of membership of the Affiliate shall automatically terminate eligibility to be a member of the National Executive Committee.
Section 4.
The National Executive Committee shall consist of at least eight nationally elected members: the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, four office bearers; and each Branch chairperson, elected regionally. The Past President shall be a member of the National Executive Committee ex officio.
Section 5.
Election of the Vice-President, who as President-elect will become the next President, shall occur annually and be elected by members of the National Executive Committee. The President-elect shall serve one term in that capacity, one year as President and one year as Past President. The President-elect must have served on the National Executive Committee for a period of not less that one year prior to election.
Section 6.
Sixty percent of the National Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for decisions of the National Executive Committee. Each member of the National Executive Committee will have one vote on matters decided by the National Executive Committee. Decisions made by the National Executive Committee may be voted by means of a meeting, mail, telephone, facsimile or electronic communication.
Section 7.
All National Executive Committee members shall be elected every second year for a two-year term of office. Terms shall begin at the relevant AGM. Committee members shall only serve two consecutive terms of office. Committee members who stand down after two consecutive terms of office shall be eligible for re-election two years after the date they were obliged to stand down for this reason.
Section 8.
Nominations for the four positions for the National Executive Committee to be filled in a particular year shall be made on an annual basis and shall be supported by at least one member of the Affiliate. Nominations for vacancies on the National Executive Committee which are received by the National Executive Committee, or its agent, by 15 July shall be included on the ballot.
Section 9.
The National Executive Committee, or its agent, shall supervise the preparation of the ballot and assure that it is mailed to each member of the Affiliate by 15 July. Ballots received by the National Executive Committee, or its agent, by end July shall be counted. Nominated candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected.
Section 10.
In the event that a committee member is incapable of completing his or her term, the National Executive Committee shall co-opt as necessary until the following election, at which time it shall conduct an election to fill the office for the remainder of the original two-year term.
Section 11.
All Committee members shall have such duties, powers and responsibilities as determined by the National Executive Committee from time to time, in addition to the duties of the following Committee members:

A. The Past President shall serve ex officio on the National Executive Committee of the Affiliate, and advise the members of the National Executive Committee, where appropriate.
B. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and the National Executive Committee, represent the Affiliate at meetings of the IAIA and act for IAIAsa where required.
C. The Vice-President shall perform all of the duties of the President in the event of the absence or disability of the President. The Vice-President will take over the functions of the President in the event of the inability of the President to complete his/her term of office.
D. The Secretary, or his/her agent, shall conduct the correspondence of the Affiliate, keep minutes of all proceedings of meetings of the members and the National Committee and maintain a record of these proceedings.
E. The Treasurer, or his/her agent, shall collect dues and other monies received by the Affiliate, keep record of dues and status of each member, deposit and properly disperse the funds of the society, and keep adequate records of transactions.

Section 12.
The financial accounts of the Affiliate shall be reviewed by an external auditor every year. The financial year will be from 1 August to 30 July, or as determined by the National Executive Committee. The Annual General Meeting should be held within two months of the end of the financial year.
Section 13.
The National Executive Committee may establish such committees, branches, task groups or other organisational structures as may be necessary to conduct the affairs of the Affiliate. All affairs and activities of any and all of the sub-structures described shall be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Affiliate, as appropriate and subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee.
Section 14.
The Affiliate shall recognise the following forms of organisational structure:
A. Branches – A geographically based group comprised completely of Affiliate members.
B. Associated Organisations – Independent organisations that have a purpose similar to that of IAIAsa and with which a mutually beneficial relationship may result.
Section 15.
Designation of a Branch or Associated Organisation shall be reviewed annually by the National Executive Committee. These designations are reviewed on the basis of the Associated Organisation’s consistency of purpose with the objectives of IAIAsa, and other such requirements as the National Executive Committee may from time to time impose.

Branch Committees

Section 16.
Designated Branches of the Affiliate shall be delineated by region, as agreed with the National Executive Committee and all Affiliate members within that region will be served by the designated Branch.
Section 17.
Branch members in good standing may be elected to serve on a Branch Committee from the membership of the Branch. Any individual member of the Affiliate who is in good standing may be elected to serve on the Branch Committee.
Section 18.
The Branch Committee shall conduct the affairs of the Branch.
Section 19.
Members of the Branch Committee are required to be paid-up members of IAIAsa.
Section 20.
Termination of membership of the Affiliate shall automatically terminate eligibility to be a member of the Branch Committee.
Section 21.
The term of office of members of the Branch Committees shall be in line with that of the National Executive Committee. To this end the Branch should hold its own AGM shortly before the national AGM.
Section 22.
The financial accounts of the Branch shall form part of the accounts of the Affiliate. Branch accounts shall be submitted to the Treasurer for review not less than one month before the Annual General Meeting. The fiscal year shall be in keeping with that of the Affiliate.
Section 23.
Each member of the Branch Committee will have one vote on matters decided by the Branch Committee.
Section 24.
The Chairperson of each Branch Committee shall be a member of the National Executive Committee and represent their Branch at all Affiliate meetings.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1.
There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the members of the Affiliate as determined by the National Executive Committee. The timing of this meeting should be to maximise attendance by the members. The time and place of meetings shall be announced to the members at least thirty days in advance.
Section 2.
In addition to an Annual General Meeting, Special meetings of the Affiliate may be called by the National Executive Committee or by a petition signed by at least twenty five bona fide members, giving ninety days’ notice to the President and indicating the purpose and the business of such Special meeting.
Section 3.
The voting members present at a meeting of the Affiliate shall constitute a quorum. Acts of the majority of voting members present at a meeting shall be deemed acts of the members of the Affiliate, unless the National Executive Committee has previously indicated that a mail ballot of the membership should be taken on a particular issue.
Section 4.
Only fully paid-up, bone fide members of the Affiliate may vote.
Section 5.
All records of the Affiliate shall be open to the inspection of any member at any reasonable time, provided reasonable notice is given.
Section 6.
All meetings of the Affiliate, including business and committee meetings, shall be open to all members except those meetings that are specifically designated by the President for that meeting as being “in camera”.
Section 7.
The Annual Conference will be co-ordinated by one of the Branches each year, and an amount corresponding to their needs for a conference cycle of any surplus from the conference will be retained by the Branch for their activities. The rest of the surplus is retained in the Treasury of the Affiliate for purposes of organisational development and operation.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION

Section 1.
The constitution of the Affiliate may be amended by:

• A two-thirds majority vote of members of the Affiliate present at an Annual General Meeting of the Affiliate or at a special meeting of the Affiliate called for this purpose.

• A two-thirds majority vote of members responding to a mail ballot held for this purpose.

• Those present and voting at the Annual General Meeting or at a special meeting called for such a purpose.

Section 2.
Proposals for amendments and ballots must be submitted in writing to the members at least thirty days in advance of a meeting described in Article VI, Section 1. Amendments may be proposed by the National Executive Committee, or by petition signed by at least twenty-five bone fide members of the Affiliate.

ARTICLE VII. DISSOLUTION
Section 1.
Any proposal for the dissolution of the Affiliate shall be treated as an amendment of the constitution and shall comply with the provisions of Article VI.
Section 2.
Upon the dissolution of the Affiliate the National Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Affiliate, dispose of all the assets of the Affiliate exclusively for the purposes of the Affiliate in such a manner, or to such organisation or organisations organised and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes.