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Convention Standing Orders

(INCORPORATING ALL ACCEPTED AMENDMENTS THROUGH MARCH 1999)

Chairman

1. The Chairman shall have discretion in selecting speakers, in deciding on the number of speakers to any resolution/amendment and in terminating discussion whenever he considers it appropriate.

2. The Chairman, being entirely neutral, shall not be a delegate of his Club and if at any time he wishes to express a personal opinion on a matter under discussion he shall vacate the Chair for this purpose.

Speakers

3. On the Chairman standing any speaker shall yield to the Chair and immediately resume his seat.

4.  (a) Any person wishing to speak on any report/resolution/amendment or other matter of business, must use a microphone, announce his name and Club, and address the Chair.
 
     (b) With the exception of the provision for the Chairman in accordance with Clause 2 above, a member of Cabinet speaking on any report/resolution/ amendment or other matter of business shall be deemed to be representing his personal views unless he states otherwise.
 
     (c) Unless Convention decides otherwise, only the Chairman, and the mover of a resolution in exercising his right of reply, shall speak more than once on any report/resolution/amendment.

Resolutions and amendments

5.   (a) Resolutions/amendments will be moved by:
        (i)  Nominees on behalf of Cabinet; or
        (ii) A member on behalf of the Club submitting the resolution/amendment.


     (b) Resolutions/amendments will be seconded by a member on behalf of a Club other than in Clause 5(a)(ii) above.
 
6.   Resolutions to be taken as read.

7.  (a) If no member is present from a Club submitting a resolution/amendment then, unless that Club advises the Resolutions Officer in writing before the commencement of the Convention of the names of a mover and seconder each from other separate Clubs, the resolution/amendment shall be withdrawn unless Convention shall otherwise decide. With this one exception no resolution/ amendment may be withdrawn after the Convention Call has been issued and Clubs have been notified of the proposed resolution/amendment, without the consent of Convention;

     (b) If a resolution be withdrawn with the consent of Convention and there has been an amendment submitted to that resolution then that amended resolution shall become the substantive resolution;

    (c) Each resolution/amendment shall be moved and seconded before consideration by Convention, and not more than one resolution/amendment shall be discussed at any one time:

    (d) No person shall move more than one amendment to any resolution nor shall the mover of a resolution move any amendment to such resolution;

    (e) Where appropriate, resolutions/amendments will be put for consideration immediately following the adoption of the relevant District Officer's report.

Time limits for speeches

8.  (a) The mover of a resolution/amendment will be permitted a maximum of three minutes to put their case, and after doing so shall formally move the resolution/amendment, Normally the seconder will second the resolution/ amendment without being called to the rostrum and may exercise the right to speak in debate by ‘catching the eye of the Chairman'. At the conclusion of the debate and before a vote is taken on a resolution the mover of the resolution only shall have the right of reply for the purpose of answering questions or clarifying points raised, and shall not be allowed more than two minutes for this purpose. They will not be permitted to introduce fresh arguments.

    (b) The mover of an amendment shall not be entitled to the right of reply except when an original resolution has been displaced by an amendment which has became a substantive resolution in accordance with Clause 6(b) above when the right of reply ensues to the mover of the amendment.

9. (a) With the exception of the time limits stated in Clause 8(a) each speaker in general debate will he limited to one minute and must direct their comments directly to the report/resolution/amendment under discussion.

     (b) The times specified for speakers may be exceeded only with the approval of convention.

Voting

10. The Voting on any report/resolution/amendment on general business shall be by a show of Delegate Cards of those present and Voting.  The Chairman shall declare the result or order a count.  If the Chairman's declaration is challenged by 20 (twenty) or more registered delegates, the votes shall be counted.

11. Any elections of candidates for office shall be by secret written ballot and such elections shall be carried out by the method commonly called the Single Transferable Vote or Preferential Voting or the Alternative Vote.
 
12. In the event of a tie following a show of hands or secret ballot the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote.

Motion proceed to next business

13. Any person, provided he has not already spoken on the matter under discussion, may move at any time that Convention proceed to next business, and if this proposal be seconded the Chairman shall put the matter to Convention after discussion and the mover of the resolution has been offered the right of reply.

Point of order or question

14. Any person may at any time ask a question or raise a point of order through the Chair but       must confine the question or point of order to the subject before Convention.

Implementation of, and amendments to Standing Orders

15  (a) These Standing Orders shall take full force and effect following adoption by a duly proposed resolution accepted at Convention by a majority vote of not less than two-thirds of voting registered delegates, or their alternates, as the case may be.

      (b) These Standing Orders can only be amended by a duly proposed resolution adopted at Convention by a majority vote of not less than two-thirds of voting registered delegates, or their alternates, as the case may be.

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NOTES ATTACHING TO, BUT NOT FORMING PART OF, DISTRICT 105D CONVENTION STANDING ORDERS

District 105D Constitution (incorporating all accepted amendments through March 1999) includes, inter alia, the following provisions relating to District Conventions:

Article IX, Section 3

CHAIRMAN

The Governor should preside at all sessions of the Convention. In his absence the Vice-Governor should preside, failing this the Immediate Past Governor should preside. In the event of non-availability of any of the foregoing persons the most recent Past Governor available will preside.

Article VIII, Section 2

EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

(a) The Governor shall have power to accept an emergency resolution or amendment at Convention if, in his opinion, such resolution or amendment could not have reasonably been submitted in writing to the officer appointed on or before the date stipulated.

(b)  Such emergency resolution or amendment shall only be presented for consideration with the approval of Convention.

Article IX, Section 2

QUORUM

(a) The delegates (or their alternates, as the case may be) in attendance at a Convention session shall constitute a quorum provided that there shall be at least one representative from each of a majority of the total number of Clubs making up the District.

(b)  If no quorum is present the session shall be adjourned to a time and place to be appointed by the Governor.  

Article IX, Section 5(b)

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

Convention may suspend all or part of Standing Orders by a majority decision of registered voting delegates at any time during the business of Convention.

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