C O N S T I T U T I O N

O F

WORLD FEDERATION OF MERINO BREEDERS

As adopted at the 2^nd World Merino Conference, Madrid, Spain, 23^rd April, 1986.

• 1. NAME:  The name of the organisation shall be:
  • 1.1 “WORLD FEDERATION OF MERINO BREEDERS”

   

• 2.AIMS:
  1. 2.1 To facilitate and promote the breeding of Merino sheep and the use of Merino wool, meat and other products throughout the world.
  2. 2.2 To create and maintain an awareness of the merits and benefits of Merino sheep.
  3. 2.3 To improve communication and disseminate information in relation to Merino sheep.
  4. 2.4 To initiate the holding of conferences at regular intervals and determine the location and host nation in each case.
  5. 2.5 To establish and maintain a Secretariat for the purpose of achieving the objects stated above.

   

• 3. MEMBERSHIP:
  1. 3.1 Membership will be open to those Merino breeders’ organisations considered by the members to properly represent the Merino sheep industry in any country.
  2. 3.2 Organisations may be submitted for membership at the commencement of any duly constituted meeting of the Federation and will be accepted by vote of that meeting.
  3. 3.3 Each member shall nominate two persons to be its delegates for the purpose of this Constitution and such persons shall remain such member’s delegates until such time as the member shall nominate substitute delegates.
  4. 3.4 All members participating in the First or Second World Merino Conference will be deemed to constitute the foundation membership of the Federation subject to confirmation by the meeting of delegates held in conjunction with the Second World Merino Conference in Madrid in 1986.
  5. 3.5 Membership may be terminated by either –
     • a) The request of a member wishing to terminate membership.
     • b) By a ballot held at any duly constituted meeting being passed by a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.

   

• 4. OFFICE BEARERS:
  1. 4.1 PRESIDENT: The members shall elect a President being a delegate who shall remain in office until the meeting held at the conclusion of the next conference.
  2. 4.2 A President may be re-elected only once.
  3. 4.3 Upon a delegate being elected as President, he or she shall cease to be a delegate and the member he or she represents shall nominate a substitute delegate.
  4. 4.4 VICE PRESIDENT: The members shall elect four Vice Presidents who shall hold office for the same period as the President.
  5. 4.5 The President and Vice Presidents will constitute the World Executive.
  6. 4.6 Should any member of the executive be unable to function for any reason, he or she will be replaced by another delegate representing the same member.

   

• 5. MEETINGS:
  1. 5.1 Meetings of members will be held in conjunction with and immediately following the conclusion of each World Merino Conference and on any other occasion that a majority of members sees fit.
  2. 5.2 The quorum for each meeting will be one third of those entitled to attend that meeting.
  3. 5.3 Each member shall have two votes at meetings.
  4. 5.4 The President shall have a casting vote.
  5. 5.5 In the absence of the President, the Vice Presidents present will elect one of their number to act as Chairman at that meeting.
  6. 5.6 Each member shall be permitted to have one observer at each duly constituted meeting, such observer having no right of vote.
  7. 5.7 The costs associated with the attendance of delegates at duly constituted meetings shall be the responsibility of the members and not the Secretariat.

   

• 6. SECRETARIAT:
  1. 6.1 The Secretariat shall consist of such full or part-time staff who shall be paid such remuneration, if any, as determined from time to time by the Executive.
  2. 6.2 The Secretariat shall be responsible for the administration of the Federation including:
     1. a) Dissemination of information to and from all members;
     2. b) Assistance to the host in the preparation for each World Conference;
     3. c) The maintenance of literature and information in relation to Merino sheep;
     4. d) The preparation and distribution of newsletters as required;
     5. e) The promotion of the exchange of information and material between members of the Federation in the field of the selection and breeding of Merino sheep;
     6. f) The administration of and proper accounting for all funds of the Federation and the maintenance of a Federation Bank Account;
     7. g) Financial Statements shall be provided to members at such intervals as they shall determine.

   

• 7. FINANCE:
  1. 7.1 The Federation will be a non-profit making organisation, and no dividends of any type will be paid.
  2. 7.2 Annual subscription will be as determined by the Federation from time to time, but will be sufficient to ensure the continuity of the Secretariat.
  3. 7.3 Apart from annual fees, the Federation has the right to collect fees for services from individuals, organisations or countries.
  4. 7.4 The Federation can also accept gifts, legacies or payments from any source provided they will be used directly or indirectly for the promotion or improvement of the Merino breed.
  5. 7.5 A per-capita fee will be included in the registration fee for a Conference.
  6. 7.6 The Executive shall have the right to make investments as it sees fit.

   

• 8. WORLD CONFERENCES:
  1. 8.1 World Merino Conferences will be held at four (4) yearly intervals following the conclusion of the First World Merino Conference in Australia in 1982 and must be held during the period of the calendar year so determined.
  2. 8.2 At the meeting of delegates held at the conclusion of each World Merino Conference, the Host Country for the subsequent conference will be determined, office bearers will be elected and all normal business of the Association will be conducted.
  3. 8.3 The immediate past Host Country will be responsible to provide every possible assistance and advice to the Country conducting the next conference including full details of the mailing lists from the previous conference.