1. NAME
(a) THE name of the Association shall be THE PACIFIC ISLANDS NEWS ASSOCIATION (hereinafter referred to as “the Association” or “PINA”)
(b) The Association’s area of primary concern (hereinafter referred to as “the Region”) shall be that of the island nations of the Pacific Ocean with special reference to members of the South Pacific Commission, South Pacific Conference and/or South Pacific Forum.
2.OBJECTIVES
The objective of the Association shall be to:
Promote and defend freedom of information and expression in the Pacific Islands and in the interests of the association’s members.
Promote and develop professional standards through training and education in all areas of the news media and in the interests of the association’s members.
Promote and develop professional fellowship and cooperation between the association’s members, and in other areas deemed appropriate by the executive.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Association shall comprise:
1a. FULL MEMBERS.
Companies or other organizations based within the Region which publish newspapers or news magazines, operate radio or television stations which include regular news bulletins in their programmes.
When a publishing or broadcasting organization owns more than one media unit in a country only the parent organization will be accepted as a Full Member unless the Executive is directed to the contrary by a general meeting of the Association
National associations or organizations of news media practitioners based within the region and which are determined by the executive to have the same general objectives as PINA and be representative of practitioners in their country.
2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Associate membership will cover all other areas of membership. Membership in this category shall be strictly subject to the approval of the executive. It can include news media suppliers with an interest in the Pacific Islands; educational organizations; newspapers; magazines; radio or television stations or news agencies outside the region; information officers, individual practitioners, freelance journalists; and any other applicants approved by the executive. Associate members will be entitled to attend the annual meeting as observers only and will be entitled to such association services as deemed appropriate by the executive.
3. LIFE MEMBER
(i) Life members shall consist of such individuals as the Association in general meeting shall from time to time elect by no less than two-thirds majority vote, such individuals being nominated for such memberships for special and exemplary service to either the Association or generally for the promotion of freedom of expression.
(ii) Life members shall not be liable for the payment of any subscription fees or levies.
(iii) A Life Member who has rendered exceptional service to the Association may by unanimous vote at a general meeting be appointed a Councillor or the Association
4. VOTING RIGHTS
Only the properly accredited representatives of currently financial Full Members shall have the right to vote at meetings of the Association.
Each Full Member shall be entitled to only one vote
5. REGISTER
A Register of members shall be maintained by the Administrator of the Association
6. RESIGNATIONS
Any member may resign from membership by giving notice in writing to the Administrator of the Association but nothing herein removes any continuing liability for any unpaid annual subscription or any other money due to the Association as at the date of such registration.
7. DISCIPLINE
Any associate member may be suspended or have his or her membership terminated for any failure to maintain the high standard of integrity and conduct expected by the Association or for the non-payment of any subscription fee or levy.
8. SUBSCRIPTION
The Secretariat will draw up a draft budget to be considered and approved by the executive. The executive will then set membership fees for the coming year based on the approved budget. This will then be implemented by the Secretariat.
9. ADDITIONAL LEVY
An additional sum of money may at any time by resolution of a general meeting of the Association be payable as a levy on each member or class of members of the Association. The levy shall be of such amount as the Association may consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of serving interests of the Association. It shall not exceed the amount of the current annual subscription for a particular member or class of member.
10. BANKING MONEY
(a) All monies received by the Association shall be paid into a Bank or Banks to the credit of the Association and all cheques drawn on any Association account shall be signed by two persons appointed by the Executive for the purpose
(b) The executive shall have power to nominate any other person (whether or not a member) to sign cheques or to other documents in the absence or the inability of the officers named to so operate.
(c) All items of expenditure and all payments made by the treasurer of the Association shall be recorded and shall be presented to the first meeting of the Executive following such payment for endorsement or approval as the case may be.
11. AUDITOR
At every Annual General Meeting the Association shall appoint a person qualified to practise accountancy to be an auditor of the Association’s accounts which accounts shall be audited and presented to the subsequent Annual General Meetings. Nothing herein shall prohibit the payment of any agreed fee or disbursement to such auditor. Unless otherwise varied by resolution in General Meeting the financial year shall be the calendar year
12. SOLICITOR
The Annual General Meeting shall appoint one or more Barristers and Solicitors to act as Honorary Solicitor for the Association provided that nothing herein shall prohibit the payment of any fee or disbursement to such person or persons.
13. EXECUTIVE
a) The executive of the Association shall be as follows:-
President: The president is effectively the chairperson and should be nominated and elected by chief executives and presidents of full members or their appointed representatives. The president shall be employed by a full member organisation and have the support of that organisation in taking on the president’s position
Vice-President: The vice president should be nominated and elected by the chief executives and presidents of full members or their appointed representative. The vice president shall be employed by a full member organisation and have the support of that organisation in taking the position.
Executive member radio: Should be nominated and elected by chief executives of full member radio stations or their appointed representatives and come from any full member radio station.
Executive member print media: Should be nominated and elected by chief executives of full member newspapers and magazines or their appointed representatives and come from full member newspaper or magazine.
Executive member television: Should be nominated and elected by chief executives of full member television stations or their appointed representatives and come from a any full member television station.
Executive member national associations: Should be nominated and elected by presidents of full member national associations or their appointed representatives and come from any full member national association.
(b) A minimum of four executive members shall constitute a quorum. The Administrator should try and schedule executive meetings whenever this number of executive members will be in the same place at the same time.
(c) Outside of this the administrator, in consultation with the president, will distribute regular “flying minutes” to executive members. These can be for comment or approval on all matters requiring executive approval.
(d) The administrator will provide monthly reports to the executive, including a monthly financial report.
(e) The Executive shall have all the powers necessary to duly run and develop the Association including the power to borrow for any major project PROVIDED THAT any loan or loans totaling over the amount of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS (USD$10,000.00) shall be approved by two thirds (2/3) majority at a general meeting
14. SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Special committees maybe appointed from time to time by the Executive to consider and report to it on subjects requiring investigation or study. The Committee will be under the Chairmanship or one member of the Executive and shall consist of other persons as the Executive shall determine.
15. GENERAL MEETINGS
(a) All general meetings shall be chaired as specified in 13(c) . At every general meeting the chairman shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote.
(b) Quorum: There must be a quorum of no less than one third (1/3) of the currently financial full members for a General Meeting or an Annual General Meeting. If at any general meeting a quorum is not present the meeting shall adjourned to a later date decided by those present and if a quorum is still not present at the adjourned meeting the full members present there at shall constitute a quorum. A duly appointed proxy shall be counted for the purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
(c ) Usual rule for conduct of meetings shall apply at any general meeting
(d) An Annual General Meeting shall be held within 18 months or as soon as practicable thereafter following the previous Annual General Meeting. At least six weeks notice of the meeting shall be given to all financial members of the meeting.
(e) A special general meeting may be called by the Executive on their own motion or on the written request of Five (5) Full Members of the Association stating the purpose of the meeting. No less than six (6) weeks notice shall be given to members stating the purpose of the meeting.
(f) All resolutions passed at any general annual meeting shall be binding on all members whether present or not.
16. MINUTE BOOK RESOLUTIONS
A resolution circulated to the offices of all Full Members and assented to by no less than two thirds (2/3) thereof shall be binding and effective as a resolution passed at a duly convened meeting of the association , and shall be recorded as such in the records of the Association.
Such Resolutions maybe assented to on separate sheets of paper of which copies are transmitted by so that the results of such resolutions will in the case of a General Meeting resolution, be advised to all members.
17. BY-LAWS
Unless otherwise restricted, by the Association in general meeting the Executive may make any by-laws regulating its affairs.
18. PROPERTY
The Association may:
Purchase or take on lease or in exchange or hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property upon terms and in such manner as the Association may think necessary or convenient to the attainment of any of its objects.
Sell, exchange, lease or otherwise deal with the or dispose of any property of the Association upon such terms as the Association may think fit.
Construct, maintain and alter any building or carry out works necessary or convenient for all or any of its objects.
Borrow or raise or secure payment of money in such manners as the Association thinks fit and in particular by the issue of debentures stock or by way of mortgage debenture or other charge upon all on any of the Association’s property whether for the direct benefit of the Association or any affiliate thereof to purchase satisfy and pay off all such securities.
Apply all the funds of the Association in furtherance of any or all of the objects of the Association and pending such application invest such funds or any part thereof in any manner authorised by the Executive.
19. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
An application in writing made to the Executive by one third (1/3) of the FULL MEMBERS signifying their desire that the Association shall be dissolved or upon the motion of the Executive an extraordinary general meeting shall be called to consider the question at which meeting the votes of at least two thirds (2/3) of the Full Members on the books of the Association shall be necessary to carry the proposition for dissolution and upon such resolution being carried the assets of the Association shall, subject to the liquidation of the existing liabilities, be disposed of as shall be determined by the Full Members of the Association in General Meeting.
20. GENERAL
If any question arises which is not determinable under these rules or any by-laws made hereunder it shall be determined by the Executives in such manner as they think fit.
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