The Bluegum Sangha

Bluegum Sangha

Constitution

1. Name

The name of the association is the Bluegum Sangha (hereafter ’the sangha’).

2. General principles

1. The sangha has been established to help people understand and practise the dharma (Buddhist teachings) using the diverse practices of, and approaches to, insight meditation as its fundamental orientation.
2. Teachers in this tradition receive no payment or stipend for teaching. They rely on dana (donations) directly from students.

3. Objectives

The objectives of the sangha are to:

1. provide the opportunity for people to listen to and understand  the dharma, and in particular insight meditation teachings and practice;
2. provide the opportunity for people to practise insight meditation;
3. organise and manage residential and non-residential courses and retreats that further the general principles above;
4. provide a library or resource centre for Buddhist books, tapes, CDs, magazines, videos and DVDs;
5. support people in their practice of meditation and their understanding of the dharma;
6. invite, on occasion, teachers from other Buddhist centres and traditions to speak at group events;
7. provide information on the activities of other Buddhist groups.

4. Membership

All participants in the sangha’s activities are invited to become members by filling out a membership application form and paying $10 per year at or before the annual general meeting (AGM).

5. Committee

1. The committee consists of a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and three other members, all current members of the sangha, and their tenure runs between the AGM that elects them and the next AGM.
2. Committee members are eligible for re-election.
3. The committee may fill casual vacancies from the sangha’s membership. It can also coopt up to two members for special purposes.
4. The functions of the committee are to:

(a) exercise leadership of the sangha between AGMs and have general control of the management and administration of the affairs, property and funds of the group;

(ii) implement all resolutions passed at a general meeting of the sangha;

(iii)  promote the objectives set out in this  constitution.

(iv) maintain a current membership list, including members’ email addresses.

6.  Three committee members constitute a quorum for committee                 meetings.

6.  General Meetings

1. The AGM will be held on a Wednesday evening in December each year, and an interim general meeting on a Wednesday evening in June.
2. The committee shall give at least three weeks’ notice by email of any general meeting.
3. At the AGM reports will be presented on the activities of the group in the previous year and the financial accounts for that year. Nominations for all positions on the committee will then be called for from the floor, and the new committee members elected.
4. The quorum for any general meeting will be twelve.
5. An extraordinary general meeting can be called by the committee or on the request to the committee of at least ten members of the sangha.
6. Voting at general meetings will be by a show of hands, or by secret ballot if the meeting so chooses. Subject to section 8 below, each member of the group has a single vote, and a simple majority is needed for motions to be carried. Contested elections will be by secret ballot.

7. Funds

1. The income and assets of the group will be applied solely to the promotion of the objectives.
2. No member of the group is to receive any payment or stipend or any other asset or money from the group, with the exception of reimbursement for expenses incurred in promoting the objectives of the group.
3. No teacher of the group is to receive any payment or stipend or any other asset or money from the group, with the exception of reimbursement for expenses and dana (donations) given specifically for that teacher.

8. Amendments to the constitution

1. This constitution can be changed by a resolution at a general meeting on the condition that:

(i) if the proposal is to change sections one,  two or three of this constitution,  there needs to be a majority of 75%;

(ii) if the proposal is to change sections other than section one, two or three, there needs to be a majority of 66%.

1. Notice of the meeting and details of the proposed changes to the constitution are to be sent to all members by email at least three weeks before the date of the meeting.

9. Dissolution

If the sangha:

(i)  has less than three members or

(ii) less than 10 members and there is an 85% majority vote to dissolve the group at a meeting which is called to consider the question and where all members have been notified at least two weeks in advance,

then the sangha may be dissolved, provided that:

(i) none of the assets or funds go to a member or members of the sangha, and

(ii) the assets and funds of the group go to the Bodhgaya Development Association Inc. and/or another Buddhist group which has similar or comparable aims and which has a similar clause preventing its funds or assets going to its members.