1 NAME

1.1 This Society shall be known as the “Singapore Association of Motion Picture Professionals”, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Association’.

2 PLACE OF BUSINESS

2.1 Its place of business shall be at “155 Middle Road, Singapore 188977”, or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Association shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

3 OBJECTS

3.1 The objects of the Association shall be to develop, nurture and uplift the skills, professionalism and image of motion picture professionals (comprising film, television and other new broadcast media) in Singapore, as well as the standards of motion picture content, through organising the appropriate activities which include the following:
a) Establishing and maintaining a register of practising professionals;
b) Advising members on professional practice, marketing approaches, strategies, campaigns and image building;
c) Publishing information (technical or otherwise of relevance) for circulation among members;
d) Connecting and consulting with recognised institutions of learning to advise on motion picture education programs for students and professionals; and
e) Promoting and encouraging cooperation amongst motion picture professionals on a national and international level.

3.2 In furtherance of the above objects, the Association may conduct workshops in collaboration with educational institutions, professional organisations and other creative industries and seek affiliation with related interests.

3.3 The Association shall not engage in any activities that may undermine national interest or public confidence and trust in public institutions.

3.4 The Association shall act responsibly and its activities shall be in conformity with Singapore laws.

4 MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION AND RIGHTS

4.1 Membership is open to all motion picture professionals, who hold above- and below-the-line screen credits that shall be stipulated in the Association’s membership application forms and as determined by the Committee, and is assessed using the following criteria:
a) professional integrity;
b) minimum of 1 year’s experience with majority of income derived from motion picture production; and
c) quality of work.
Unless the applicant meets and/or exceeds these criteria and standards, he/she will not be admitted as a member.

4.2 There shall be three (3) categories of membership – Active Members, Associate Members and Student Members. All fees to be payable under the membership of these three categories are to be fully-paid and are non- transferable.
(a) ACTIVE MEMBERS (ORDINARY MEMBERS): Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents above the age of 18 years of age and who are full-time motion picture professionals. Those who are above the age of 21 years shall have the right to vote at General Meetings, nominate or second a candidate and stand for election.
(b) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Motion picture professionals who are neither Singapore citizens nor Singapore Permanent Residents. They shall be accorded the same privileges and benefits of an Active Member except the right to hold office or the right to nominate or vote.
(c) STUDENT MEMBERS: Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents who are undergoing studies in the field of professional motion picture production. They shall have the same rights and benefits of an Associate Member.

4.3 All members shall abide by all decisions made by the Committee in the daily running of the Association and abide by all decisions made by majority vote in the Annual General Meeting and the Extraordinary General Meeting.

4.4 All members shall endeavor to abide by a code of professional conduct and best practices as shall be imposed by the Committee from time to time.

5 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

5.1 Any persons desiring to be admitted to the Association’s membership shall make an application to the Secretary in accordance with such procedures as may be laid down by the Committee who may approve or reject any application without assigning any reason thereof.

6 ENTRANCE FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

6.1 The entrance fees for Active and Associate members is S$15 (Singapore Dollars Fifteen Only) while it is waived for Student members. The entrance fees shall be reviewed and determined by a General Meeting on recommendation from the Committee from time to time.

6.2 Annual subscriptions for the three membership classes shall be:
(a) Active Members: S$100.00 (Singapore Dollars One Hundred Only)
(b) Associate Members: S$100.00 (Singapore Dollars One Hundred Only)
(c) Student Members: S$30.00 (Singapore Dollars Thirty Only)

6.3 The rate of Annual Subscriptions may only be varied by a General Meeting.

6.4 Annual subscriptions are non-refundable, and are payable in advance on admission, and thereafter annually in advance within the first month of the financial year. Any new member joining before June of each year, will be charged full annual subscription fees as per membership class, and any new member joining from June onwards of each year, will be charged the partial subscription fee of S$50 (Singapore Dollars Fifty Only) for Active and Associate members for the remainder of that year, and S$20 (Singapore Dollars Twenty Only) for Student members for the remainder of that year.

6.5 If a member falls into arrears with his subscription or other dues, he shall be informed immediately by the Treasurer. If he fails to settle his arrears within 12 weeks of their becoming due, the President may order that his name be posted on the Association’s notice board and that he be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his account. If he falls into arrears for more than 3 months, he will automatically cease to be a member and the Committee may take legal action against him provided that they are satisfied that he has received due notice of his debts.

6.6 Any special levy for particular purposes in furtherance of the objects of the Association may only be raised from members with the consent of the General Meeting.

6.7 The income and property of the Association whensoever derived shall be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the persons who at any time are or have been members of the Association or to any of them or to any person claiming through any of them.

7 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

7.1 Subject to any other rules herein, a member shall cease to be a member if:
(a) He dies or becomes of unsound mind or whose estate is liable to be dealt with in any way under the law relating to mental disorder; or
(b) He becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or
(c) He has been convicted of any offence which in the opinion of the Committee is a serious criminal offence; or
(d) He resigns in writing by giving one month’s written notice; or
(e) His membership ceases or is deemed to have ceased pursuant to Rules 6.6.

7.2 It shall be the duty of the Committee if at any time it is of the opinion that any member has acted in any way prejudicial to the interests of the Association or its members or is in breach of any Rule or regulation of the Association, by letter to invite such member to withdraw from the Association within a specified time stated in the letter and in default of such withdrawal to submit the question of his expulsion to a Committee meeting to be held within six (6) weeks after the date of the letter.

7.3 Not less than four (4) weeks’ notice of such a meeting shall be given to the Committee members.

7.4 It shall be the duty of the Secretary to inform the member in question of the time and place of the meeting and of the nature of the complaints against him at least four (4) weeks before the meeting to afford him a proper opportunity of offering his explanation.

7.5 At such meeting, the member shall be allowed to offer an explanation of his conduct verbally or in writing and if thereupon all of the Committee members present at the meeting shall vote for his expulsion, he shall thereupon cease to be a member. The voting at such meeting shall be by secret ballot if not less than five Committee members present thereat shall so demand.

7.6 A person ceasing to be a Member shall forthwith cease to enjoy the rights and privileges of membership.

7.7 A member expelled under Rule 7.5 may within one (1) month of the notification of his expulsion, appeal to the General Meeting of members against the decision of the Committee. The decision of the General Meeting shall be final.

8 SUPREME AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS

8.1 The supreme authority of the Association is vested in a General Meeting of the members.

8.2 An Annual General Meeting shall be held within 3 months from the close of its financial year.

8.3 At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is the lesser, and may be called at anytime by order of the Committee. The notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened within 2 months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.

8.4 If the Committee does not within 2 months after the date of the receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving 10 days’ notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Association’s notice board.

8.5 At least 2 weeks’ notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting and at least 10 days’ notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members. The particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Association’s notice board 4 days in advance of the meeting.

8.6 Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy is allowed at all General Meetings.

8.7 The following points will be considered at the Annual General Meeting:
a) The previous financial year’s accounts and annual report of the Committee.
b) Where applicable, the election of office-bearers and Honorary Auditors for the following term.

8.8 Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he gives notice to the Secretary one week before the meeting is due to be held.

8.9 At least 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.

8.10 In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to amend any part of the existing Constitution.

9 MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE

9.1 The administration of the Association shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of the following to be elected at alternate Annual General Meeting:
A President
A Vice-President
A Secretary
A Treasurer

9.2 Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members. All office-bearers, except the Treasurer, may be re- elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The term of office of the Committee is 2 years. Only persons who have been Active Members for a total of at least 2 years are eligible to stand for election to the Board.

9.3 Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie, a re- vote shall be taken and if it still results in a tie, a lot shall be drawn to determine who shall be the successful candidate unless the
contesting candidate(s) withdrew in favour of one of themselves.

9.4 A Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every 4 months after giving seven days’ notice to Committee Members. The President may call a Committee Meeting at any time by giving five days’ notice. At least 1/2 of the Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

9.5 Any member of the Committee absenting himself from three meetings consecutively without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the Committee shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two weeks of the change.

9.6 The duty of the Committee is to organise and supervise the daily activities of the Association. The Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the General Meetings.

9.7 The Committee has the power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding $5,000 per month from the Association’s funds for the Association’s purposes.

10 DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

10.1 The President shall chair all General and Committee meetings. He shall also represent the Association in its dealings with outside persons.

10.2 The Vice-President shall assist the President and deputise for him in his absence.

10.3 The Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Association and shall be responsible for their correctness. He will keep minutes of all General and Committee meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all times.

10.4 The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on behalf of the Association and shall keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness. He is authorised to expend up to $200 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Association. He will not keep more than $300 in the form of cash and money in excess of this will be deposited in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Vice-President or the Secretary.

11 AUDIT AND FINANCIAL YEAR

11.1 Two voting members, not being members of the Committee, shall be elected as Honorary Auditors at alternate Annual General Meeting and will hold office for a term of 2 years only and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive term.

11.2 They:
a) Will be required to audit each year’s accounts and present a report upon them to the Annual General Meeting.
b) May be required by the President to audit the Association’s accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

11.3 The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

12 TRUSTEES

12.1 If the Association at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.
12.2 The trustees of the Association shall:
a) Not be more than 4 and not less than 2 in number.
b) Be elected by a General Meeting of members.
c) Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.

12.3 The office of the trustee shall be vacated:
a) If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.
b) If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one year.
c) If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee.
d) If he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.

12.4 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 posting it on the notice board in the Association’s premises at least two weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

12.5 The address of each immovable properties, name of each trustee and any subsequent change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

13 VISITORS AND GUESTS

13.1 Visitors and guests may be admitted into the premises of the Association but they shall not be admitted into the privileges of the Association. All visitors and guests shall abide by the Association’s rules and regulations.

14 PROHIBITIONS

14.1 Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private lottery which has been permitted under the Private Lotteries Act Cap 250, is forbidden on the Association’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

14.2 The funds of the Association shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in court of law.

14.3 The Association shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.

14.4 The Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

14.5 The Association shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Association or its office-bearers, Committee or members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

14.6 The Association shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Assistant Director Operations, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and other relevant authorities, where necessary.

15 AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

15.1 The Association shall not amend its Constitution without the prior approval in writing of the Registrar of Societies. No alteration or addition/deletion to this Constitution shall be passed except at a general meeting and with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present at the General
Meeting.

16 INTERPRETATION

16.1 In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration which is not expressly provided for in this Constitution, the Committee shall have power to use their own discretion. The decision of the Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.

17 DISPUTES

17.1 In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with this Constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.

18 DISSOLUTION

18.1 The Association shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than 3/5 of the total voting membership of the Association for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.

18.2 In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Association shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds will be disposed of in such manner as the General Meeting of members may determine or donated to an approved charity or charities in Singapore.

18.3 A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven (7) days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.