CONSTITUTION of the
Peptides and Proteins Society (Singapore)
UEN: T18SS0089L

NAME

 

1 The Society shall be known as the “Peptides and Proteins Society (Singapore)”, hereinafter referred to as the “Society”.

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PLACE OF BUSINESS

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2 Its place of business shall be at “8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore 138648” or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Society shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

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OBJECTIVES

3 The objectives of the Society are as follows:
To pursue its mission of advancing and promoting knowledge and understanding of the sciences relating to peptides and proteins, through education, advocacy and scholarly exchange of scientific information.

 

 

4 It will achieve its Mission by striving without compromise to:

 

• Promote and champion the pursuit of knowledge and high quality scientific research in peptides and proteins in Singapore, and promote Singapore’s peptides and proteins research internationally.

• Promote a culture of discovery, and provide an independent forum for the exchange of scientific information relating to peptides and proteins research.

• Provide catalytic leadership to develop intellectual, strategic and financial support for peptides and proteins scientific research.

• Promote broad and responsible educational programmes for training future generations of peptides and proteins researchers and clinicians, increasing understanding and shaping public policy.

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5 By recruiting, nurturing, and mentoring the next generation of peptides and proteins research scientists, the Society will be a financially robust and self- sustaining organization.

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6 Principles and Values of the Society
The Society, through the actions and guidance of its Office Bearers, will promote and defend the principles of:

• Truth and fairness in the pursuit of research

• Integrity and Professionalism

• Cooperation and collaboration

• Creativity and innovation

• Leadership and Mentorship

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MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION AND RIGHTS

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7 Membership is open to all peptides and proteins researchers with a vested interest in peptides and proteins biology, peptides and proteins research and clinical application of good faith. Researchers can draw from various types of organizations, including academia, government and clinical institutions, as well as industry and biotechnology.

 

 

8 Full Active members of the Society are:

• Active members of the Society are those who attend 75% of the society’s events on an annual basis.

• Active professionals in the area of peptides and proteins biology, peptides and proteins research or clinical application. This includes individual corporate members.

• Active trainees, including but not limited to students, interns, postdoctoral fellows and qualified individuals with a non-scientific background.

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9 Persons who are below 18 years of age shall not be accepted as members without the written consent of their parent or guardian.

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10 Only Full members who are above 21 years of age shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Society.

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11 A person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the Secretary on a prescribed form available on the Society’s webpage.

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MEMBERSHIP POLICIES

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12 Membership is not transferable. Unless stated otherwise in this Constitution, a right, privilege or obligation which a person has by reason of being a member of the Society is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person; and terminates upon cessation of the person’s membership.

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13 Resignation of membership is by way of written notice to the Secretary of the member’s intention to resign and, upon the expiration of the period of notice, the member ceases to be a member. The required period of notice is two weeks. Membership fees already paid are not refundable upon resignation.

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14 A person ceases to be a member of the Society if the person –
a) dies,

b) resigns that membership,
c) fails to pay his dues after three months (see clause 22),
d) is expelled from the Society.

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15 Members are not allowed to speak on behalf of the society in any official discourse or communiqué unless given prior approval by the Committee.

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16 Members may be expelled if, in the opinion of the Committee, he/she has:
a) Through his or her actions, or comments, brought the Society into disrepute.
b) Persistently refused or neglected to comply with the whole or any part of this Constitution.
c) Through his or her words or conduct, demonstrated that he/she no longer shares the Principles and Values as stated in clause 6 hereto.
d) Failed to pay the annual subscription as stipulated in clause 22.

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17 Decision on expulsion shall be made by a majority vote by the Committee. An aggrieved member may appeal within a month from the date of his expulsion, to the General Meeting of members, whose decision shall be final.

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18 Acceptance of applicants for membership will be decided by the Committee.

19 A copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member.
 

20 Lifetime membership will be available to all active members of Society.

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21 Voting members of the Society are Active Professionals including Permanent Staff from academia and industry and Active Trainees including but not limited to post-doctoral fellows, students, and interns.

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ENTRANCE FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

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22 The membership fees and subscriptions shall be determined by the General Meeting on recommendation from the Committee from time to time.

23 Lifetime membership subscriptions are payable at any time throughout the year.

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24 If a Member falls into arrears with his subscription or other dues, he/she shall be informed immediately by the Treasurer. If the Member fails to settle the arrears within 4 weeks of their becoming due, the President may order that the Member be denied the privileges of membership until the account is settled. If the Member fails to settle the arrears for more than three (3) months, he/she will automatically cease to be a member and the Committee may take legal action against him/her, provided that the Committee is satisfied that the Member has received due notice of the debts.

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25 Any additional fund required for special purposes may only be raised from members with the consent of the general meeting of the members.

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26 The income and property of the Society whensoever derived shall be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Society 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 persons who are, or at any time have been, members of the Society, or to any of them, or to any person claiming through any of them.

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SUPREME AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS

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27 The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a General Meeting of the members.

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28 An Annual General Meeting shall be held within 5 months from the close of the local financial year.

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29 At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President, upon the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting membership or thirty (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 two (2) months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.

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30 If the Committee does not within two (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 ten (10) days' notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Society's notice board.

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31 At least two (2) weeks' notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting and at least ten (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 Society's notice board four (4) days in advance of the meeting.

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32 Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy shall not be allowed at all General Meetings.

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33 In order for members to be able to attend Society’s annual general meeting remotely, the option of digital platform is allowed.

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34 The following points will be considered at the Annual General Meeting:

 

• The previous financial year's accounts and annual report of the Committee;
   

• Where applicable, the election of office-bearers and Honorary Auditors for the following term;
   

• 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 (1) week before the meeting is due to be held.

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35 At least 20% of the total voting membership or thirty (15) 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.

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36 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.

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MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE

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37 The administration of the Society shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of the following:
A President
A Vice-President
A Secretary
An Assistant Secretary
A Treasurer
An Assistant Treasurer
Up to 6 Ordinary Committee Members

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38 The duty of the Committee is to organise and supervise the daily activities of the Society. 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.

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39 Nominations for the Committee offices shall be proposed (with the approval of the Nominee) and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members.

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​40 The term of office of the Committee membership is two years.

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41 All office-bearers except the Treasurer may stand for re-election to the same or related post for a second consecutive term of office. 30% of the Committee, or 4 people, shall stand for election (or re-election) at every alternate Annual General Meeting.

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42 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, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

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43 The vice-treasurer will be considered as the incumbent Treasurer at end of Treasurer’s 2-year term.

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44 A Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every six (6) months after giving seven (7) days' notice to Committee Members. The President may call a Committee Meeting at any time by giving five (5) days' notice. Majority of the Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

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45 Any member of the Committee absenting himself from three (3) 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 (2) weeks of the change.

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DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

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

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

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48 The Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Society 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.

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49 The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary and deputise for him in his absence.

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50 The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on behalf of the Society and shall keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will be signed by any of the three Office bearers either President, or Secretary, or Treasurer (up to S$5,000) or any two of the Office bearers either President and Secretary, or President and Treasurer, or Secretary and Treasurer (beyond S$5,000.01).

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51 The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer and deputise for him in his absence.

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52 Ordinary Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of the Society and perform duties assigned by the Committee from time to time.

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AUDIT AND FINANCIAL YEAR

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53 Two (2) 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 two years only and shall not be re-elected for a consecutive term. Alternatively, the accounts of the Society may be audited by a firm of Public Accountants and Chartered Accountants. The accounts of the Society shall be audited by firm of Public Accountants and Chartered Accountants if the gross income or expenditure of the Society exceeds $500,000 in that financial year, in accordance with Section 4 of the Societies Regulations.

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54 The Honorary Auditors will/may be required to:

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• Audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the Annual General Meeting.

• Audit the Society's accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date as required by the President, and to make a report to the Committee.

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​55 The financial year shall be from 1 January to the 31 December.

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TRUSTEES

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56 If the Society at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.

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57 The trustees of the Society shall:

 

• Not be more than four (4) and not less than two (2) in number.

• Be elected by a General Meeting of members.

• Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.

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​58 The office of the trustee shall be vacated:

 

• If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.

• If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one (1) year.

• If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee.

• If he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.

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59 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 Society's premises at least two (2) 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.

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

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​61 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 Society's premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

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

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​63 The Society 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.

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

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

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66 The Society 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.

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AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

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67 The Society 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.

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INTERPRETATION

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68 In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration that 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.

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DISPUTES

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​69 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.

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DISSOLUTION

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

71 In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Society 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.

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

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