CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF CHINESE ARTISTS
WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST JUNE, 1984
The Research Section shall devise plans and manage all affairs appertaining to research. The society shall not be dissolved except with the consent of not less than three-fifth 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.
1.
This society shall be known as the Society of Chinese Artists.
2.
The objects of this association shall be:
a. To cultivate friendly feelings
b. To study arts
c. To promote the fine arts movement
d. To elevate the cultural standard
3.
Those who have made some study of fine arts and are willing to promote artistic enterprises shall be introduced by two members and submit two pieces of paintings and when approval is given by the Executive Committee, they shall formally become members. The membership of this association is divided into 2 categories: ordinary & life members; local & outstation members. All members who fail to pay their subscriptions for more than a year shall be considered as having resigned. Outstation members will not be elected to be office-bearers.
4.
All members shall have the right to elect and to be elected, and to enjoy all other privileges offered by this association. Members of the executive committee shall be elected from among the local members only.
5.
All members of this association shall have to abide by the rules of this association as well as the resolutions adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Meeting of Members.
6.
The highest organ of this association shall be the General Meeting of Members. The executive committee shall carry out the resolutions passed at the General Meeting and shall have such powers as vested by the General Meeting and these rules. The structure of this association shall be as follows:
GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
i)
Executive Committee - President
1
Vice-President
1
General Affairs Section
1
Finance Section
1
Correspondence
1
English Secretary
1
Chinese Secretary
1
Research — Chief
1
Research — Assistant
1
Social Affairs Section
1
Publication Section
1
Committee Member
1
Total
11
ii)
Supervisory Committee — Chairman
1
Committee Member
2
iii)
Auditors
2
iv)
Reserves
2
7.
1. The Society shall have 11 Executive committee members, 3 supervisory committee members and 2 reserves all of whom shall be elected at the General Meeting of Members by ballot. The officers in charge of the various sections shall be elected from among the members selected by the Executive committee in which case the appointment must be ratified at a General Meeting of the members.
8a.
The President shall be responsible for the direction and advancement of the association’s affairs.He shall also co-ordinate the work of the various sections, take the chair at all meetings and represent the association in outside activities and in contact with other societies. Should thePresident be absent, the vice-president shall assume all responsibilities and duties of the resident.
8b.
The General Affairs Section shall deal with all activities not belonging to other sections. It shall also deal with affairs relative to the holding of meetings.
8c.
The financial Section shall be in charge of all financial affairs – receipts and payments and keep in safe custody of relief monies. If cash in hand exceeds $200/=, it shall be deposited with a bank. Withdrawals or payments must bear the signatures of the President and Treasurer. The head of the financial section must submit a full statement of accounts to the meeting of the Executive committee as well as the General Meeting of Members. Any expenditures exceeding $100/= must be passed by the Executive committee.
8d.
The Correspondence Section shall deal with and keep in safe custody all correspondence and minutes of various meetings.
8e.
The Research Section shall devise plans and manage all affairs appertaining to research.
8f.
The Social Affairs Section shall be responsible for internal as well as external social relations and the conduct of negotiations.
8g.
Two persons not members of the committee will be elected as Hon. Auditors at each general meeting and will hold office for two years and 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.
8h.
The publication Section shall be responsible for the editing and issue of various publications of this association.
8i.
The exhibition committee shall be responsible for making preparations for the holding of various arts exhibitions. The members of the Exhibition Committee shall be members appointed to take part in the work.
8j.
The Supervisory committee shall be organised by the chairman and two committee members to see that the work of the society is properly conducted.
8k.
If the society at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in Trustees subject to a declaration of trust. Any trustee may at any time resign his trusteeship. If a trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind or moves permanently or is absent from the State of Singapore for a period of one year, he shall be deemed to have resigned his trusteeship. If s trustee is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee, General Meeting may remove him from his trusteeship. Vacancies in the trusteeship may be filled at a General Meeting but the number shall not be greater than four or less than two. Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy must be given by affixing in the premises of the society a document containing such proposal at least two weeks before the meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such meeting shall then be notified to the Registrar of Societies.
9.
The terms of offices of the members of the Executive & Supervisory Committee shall be for two years. The treasurer shall not be eligible for re-election. The President & Chairman will be allowed to hold office continuously for two terms only.
10.
The General Meeting shall be held once a year while the Executive Committee meeting shall be held once every two month. Whenever there is anything special or whenever one-fourth of the members make a written requisition, the President must convene an emergency general meeting or an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee. At an emergency general meeting, the attendance of one-third of the members shall be required, while for an emergency meeting of the executive committee half of the members present shall form a quorum.
11.
An entrance fee of ten dollars will be levied for every new member. Yearly subscription for ordinary member will be $24/=. Life membership will be $200/=. The rate of yearly subscription may only be varied by a General Meeting of the members. Any special subscriptions for particular purposes may only be raised from members with the consent of a general meeting of the members.
12a.
A regular exhibition of arts shall be held every year; special exhibitions may be held at such a time as may be deemed advisable.
12b.
There shall be an exchange of exhibits with various cultural zones in China and abroad.
12c.
There shall be a monthly meeting for the purpose of research.
12d.
There shall be organised travelling parties for the purpose of engaging in nature painting and arts inspection parties, to go to various places for painting and inspection.
12e.
There shall be organised free arts classes.
12f.
There shall be organised a hall for the display of arts exhibits and the hall shall gradually be developed into a large arts institute.
12g.
There shall be published an arts periodical.
12h.
There shall be established an employment agency for the benefit of members of this association.
12i.
There shall be a co-operative store dealing in arts goods.
13.
Those who are interested in the movement of fine arts and are willing to assist in its promotion may become patrons of this association if they are recommended and approved by the Executive Committee. The patrons shall have the right to attend various meeting of this association but they shall not have the right to elect and to be elected. They shall be obliged to give both material and moral support to this association.
14.
The address of this association shall be at Block 18 Outram Park #03-21, Singapore 0316.
15a.
Gambling of any kind such as the playing paikow or mahjong, whether for stakes or not, are forbidden on the society’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or opium smoking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.
15b.
The funds of the society shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in Court.
15c.
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.
15d.
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.
15e.
The society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/ or premises to used for political purposes.
16a.
The society shall not be dissolved except with the consent of not less than three-fifth 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.
16b.
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.
16c.
Notice of dissolution shall be given within fourteen days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.
17.
These rules shall become valid when they are passed by the general meeting of members. If any of them is found to be unsatisfactory, it may be amended at the general meeting of members but subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies.