CONSTITUTION OF THE ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN ASSOCIATION OF PALAEOANTHROPOLOGISTS

1.THE NAME

The name of the Association shall be the "ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN ASSOCIATION OF PALEOANTHROPOLOGISTS" (hereinafter referred to as "AAAP").

2.CAPACITY AND PROPERTY

AAAP shall be a juristic person with capacity, inter alia, to institute and defend legal proceedings in its own name, to own fixed and movable property in its own name, to buy and sell it, to let, mortgage or pledge it or to encumber it any other way, and jointly to do all acts which are necessary in law for the promotion and protection of its objects and interests.

The property of AAAP shall be vested in the Executive Committee as constituted in terms of the Constitution.

AAAP is a not-for-profit organization, and no profits or gains shall be distributed to any person; any funds AAAP may accrue will be utilized solely for investments or the objects for which AAAP was established.

Upon winding up or liquidation, AAAP will be obliged to give or transfer its assets remaining after the satisfaction of its liabilities to some other company, society or association with objects similar to its own.

3.OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION

To:

(a)   Provide a professional network for the exchange of ideas, research developments, news and information in palaeoanthropology and its related fields.

(b)   Strengthen professional relationships and cultural understanding among palaeoanthropologists and allied researchers in the Asian-Australasian region.

(c)   Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration within the Asian-Australasian region.

(d)  Facilitate skills transfer and to help support research in regions of Asia and Australasia with limited capacity and infrastructure.

(e)   Promote the value of science and the benefits of a career in science (especially palaeoanthropology) to the broader community.

(f)    Provide a public voice for palaeoanthropologists in the region to engage with other professional scientific associations, the media, government, multinational organisations and broader society.

(g)   To provide opportunities for palaeoanthropologists in the Asian-Australasian region to promote and publish their research findings in an affordable and easily accessible manner and according to international scientific publishing standards.

4.MEMBERSHIP

Membership of AAAP may not be denied on the grounds of race, gender, language, religion, political affiliation, or national origin. AAAP recognises three categories of membership:

(a)Individual Members

Any person engaged in palaeoanthropological research or an allied discipline in Asia-Australasia or interested in supporting the purposes of AAAP may apply for individual membership.

(b)Institutional Members

Any bona fide institution or society with an interest in paaleoanthropology or any other objective of AAAP is eligible for Institutional membership.

(c)Student Members

Any bona fide student at any school, university or other educational institution with an interest in supporting the objectives of AAAP, is eligible for Student Membership, provided he or she has not been a post honours or equivalent student for more than four years, or is not in full time employment. The term of student membership cannot exceed seven years.

5.PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS

AAAP has no membership fees applying to any category of membership.

The Executive of AAAP may at any time propose the introduction of membership fees. However, these cannot be introduced unless there has been extensive e-mail consultation and a majority of members in agreement to the introduction of membership fees.

If and when membership fees have been introduced, they can be altered only at the Triennual Meeting and then only following extensive discussion with AAAP members and following a vote of members at such meeting. 

6.ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS

The AAAP Executive Committee will be elected at the Triennual Meeting, which will be held at a time that is generally acceptable to the Membership, as ascertained by e-mail consultation and a minimum of 14 days notification. Terms of office will extend for three years and are renewable. Terms of office shall begin at Triennual Meetings.

7.MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIETY

The management of AAAP shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee, which will consist of at least three office bearers, representing at least two member countries of AAAP, one of whom must take responsibility for communicating with the Membership by email and/or updating the AAAP website.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members to assist with the organisation of particular events (e.g., symposia, field excursions) or tasks requiring special skills (e.g., website design, publishing etc.).

These co-opted members do not thereafter become responsible for the general management of AAAP.

8.TRIENNUAL MEETINGS

The Triennual Meeting shall be held every three years at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee in consultation with the Membership. At least 60 days notice of any such meeting must be given. The event should take the form of a scientific meeting at which information on palaeoanthropology research and research within related fields in Asia-Australasia is shared among AAAP Members (the “Triennual Conference and Workshop”). Any additional scientific meetings may be called by the Executive Committee after due consultation with the AAAP Membership.

9.Vote at Triennual Meetings

All members shall exercise one vote each in any issue requiring to be settled democratically.

10.SUBCOMMITTEES

The Membership shall have power to appoint committees to deal with such matters as occasion may require.

11.FINANCE

If and when membership fees are introduced, the financial affairs of AAAP shall be controlled by the Executive Committee, which will operate a banking account and all financial transactions shall be authorised by three office bearers. A fourth signatory may be designated at the Triennual Meeting, with the agreement of the Membership.

12.AUDITING OF ACCOUNTS

The accounts of the Society shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the Executive Committee.

The end of the AAAP financial year shall be 31 December.

14.ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

No item of the constitution shall be altered, rescinded or added to without the consent of at least two-thirds of those members present and entitled to vote at an Trieenual Meeting. Four weeks' notice of such proposed alterations, which must be explained in full, shall be given to the Membership.

15.DISSOLUTION

AAAP may be dissolved if at least two-thirds of the voting members present at a meeting convened for the purpose of considering such a matter are in favour of dissolution. If AAAP is dissolved, all debts must be settled. The members or office-bearers do not become liable for any of the obligations and liabilities of AAAP solely by virtue of their status as members or office-bearers of the organization. After any debts have been settled, if there is property or money left over it should not be paid or given to members of the organization but distributed to another non-profit organization that has similar objectives to AAAP. The membership will decide which organisation should be the beneficiary.