Constitution & Rules

Constitution

Any alterations to the Constitution or Competition Rules must occur at the Annual General Meeting, as outlined in the constitution.

  1. Name:

    The name of the club shall be - Adelaide Camera Club Incorporated, hereinafter referred to as "The Club".

  2. Objects:

    The objects of the Club shall be:

    1. To assist and encourage members in various aspects of photography
    2. To associate and collaborate with other persons or bodies of similar interests
  3. Managemen:t
    1. The management and control of the Club, it's property, effects and affairs shall be vested in the Committee, which shall be elected annually, and consist of:-
      • President
      • Immediate Past President
      • Vice-President
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer
      • Four (4) other persons

      The Secretary shall be the Public Officer of the Club.

    2. Five (5) members of the Committee present at a meeting shall form a quorum.
    3. The Committee shall have the power to appoint a financial member of the Club to fill any vacancy occurring in the Committee, or any office of the Club, and any person so appointed shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
    4. Appointment to offices such as Programme Organiser, Competition Organiser, etc., shall be made by the Committee from members of the Club as the Committee may deem necessary.
    5. An auditor, who shall not be a member of the Club, shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Such appointment to be for twelve (12) months.
  4. Qualification for Office

    Any financial member shall be eligible for election to the Committee and any financial member shall be eligible for election as President, Secretary or Treasurer if he/she has been a financial member of the Club for at least twelve (12) months preceding the calling for nominations.

  5. Committee Meetings
    1. The Committee shall meet as often as required by the President for the satisfactory performance of its duties. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, proper minutes of such meetings.
    2. Any resolution carried by the Committee and signed by the President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall be effective for all purposes.
  6. Nomination to theCommittee
    1. Nominations for election to the Committee shall be called for at least four (4) weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and shall close and be in the hands of the Secretary at the Annual General Meeting.
    2. Nominations shall be in writing, and shall state the name of the member nominated, and shall be signed by two financial members of the Club as proposer and seconder, and the member nominated shall sign the nomination form as evidence of his/her willingness to act if elected.
    3. The elections shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, to be held in September.
    4. If no candidate has been nominated for any office, the Chairman may call for nominations at the Annual General Meeting, and may proceed thereon as if the nomination had been duly made in writing at the specified closing date.
    5. At the Annual General Meeting of members, all officers of the outgoing Committee shall retire and shall be eligible for re-election.
    6. At the Annual General Meeting, the outgoing Committee shall complete its general business and election of officers, then the incoming Committee shall take office.
    7. Where more than one nomination is received for any office, a secret ballot shall be held to determine the elected officer and in the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have one casting vote.
    8. Where only one nomination is received, the nominee shall be declared elected.
    9. The President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall be the Chairman of all meetings of the Club. In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the members present may proceed to elect one of their members as Chairman for that meeting.
  7. Membership
    1. Persons desirous of becoming members of the Club shall make application to the Committee, who shall place the application before the next Committee meeting for its decision as to the application.
    2. All members shall have access to a copy of the Constitution and be bound by the Constitution, Rules and By-Laws of the Club.
    3. The membership shall divide into FULL MEMBERSHIP which shall include junior members (18 years and under), and ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP, the latter would not be eligible to compete in any competitions or exhibitions held by the Club, but otherwise shall enjoy the same privileges of the Club as full members.
    4. The annual subscription to the Club, which shall be determined by the members at each Annual General Meeting, shall include affiliation fees and the right of attendance at all ordinary meetings, other than Committee meetings. Junior membership fee is to be set at 60% of full membership providing they are a child of a financial full member.
    5. Honorary Life Membership. The Club, in General Meeting, may confer Honorary Life Membership on any member or past member, nominated by the Committee, in recognition of outstanding services rendered to the Club and at least three (3) years served on Committee. An Honorary Life Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a members, and shall not be required to pay subscriptions. All Honorary Life Memberships previously granted are confirmed.
    6. Any member who is not financial shall not be entitled to any voting rights or to hold office. Any member failing to pay the subscription within three (3) months of the due date, as decided by the Committee, shall cease to be a member. The Committee may, however, if it considers such a step warranted, extend the time for payment.
    7. Any member accused of conduct prejudicial to the Club, shall appear before the Committee and give good reasons why his/her membership of the Club shall not be discontinued. In the event of his/her membership being discontinued, his/her subscription shall be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
  8. Banking

    The treasurer shall pay all monies received by him/her on behalf of the Club into a banking account in the name of the Club at a bank approved by the Committee. Cheques or withdrawals on such account shall be signed by any two (2) out of three (3) members authorised by the Committee to sign.

  9. Annual Report

    The annual report shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting by the President and/or Secretary.

  10. Balance Sheet

    The treasurer shall prepare a balance sheet for the Annual General Meeting. This balance sheet shall be audited and signed by the duly appointed auditor for presentation at the Annual General Meeting each year.

  11. Rules For Competition etc.

    Rules for the conduct of competitions and any other activities, which in the opinion of the Committee, require rules, shall be drawn up by the Committee and approved by the members at a Special General Meeting. Until altered, the rules in the schedule of this constitution shall apply.

  12. Special General Meeting

    The president may call a Special General Meeting or a Special Committee Meeting whenever he/she may think fit, and shall call a General Meeting within fourteen (14) days of receiving a requisition signed by five (5) members of the Committee, such requisition to state the object of the meeting.

  13. Funds

    The funds of the Club shall be used to provide for the working expenses of the Club.

  14. Rules, By-Laws And Standing Orders

    The Committee shall, subject to confirmation by the members, have the power to make rules, by-laws and standing orders not inconsistent with or repugnant to the Constitution and in like manner amend the same.

  15. Non-Profit

    The income and property of the Club whenever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Club and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the members or relatives of members of the Club, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or servant of the Club or to any member of the Club in return for any services actually rendered to the Club or reasonable and proper rental for premises let by any member to the Club.

  16. Dissolution

    If upon winding-up or dissolution of the Club there remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, such property shall be distributed to another body or bodies having similar objects to the Club and approved under the provisions of section 78 (1) (a) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 as amended.

Rules

  1. All competitions shall be open to financial members of the Club only.
  2. The objects of the competitions shall be:
    1. To allow members the opportunity of viewing and comparing the work of other members.
    2. To select exhibits which are adjudged to be of sufficient pictorial and technical quality to receive merit certificates or highly commended certificates.
    3. To discuss the merits of each exhibit and thus to encourage improvement in members' work, such discussion to take place after judging has been completed.
    4. To decide, by means of points awarded, which members in each grade are adjudged the foremost
      exhibitors during the year.
  3. Competitions shall be held at the meeting in the month as set out by the committee in the club programme.
  4. Competition Secretaries (and assistants, if necessary) shall be appointed annually. Their duties shall be:
    1. To receive entries of prints and slides, to record the authors and titles of same, and to record awards, if any, gained by such entries.
    2. To exhibit the prints and slides in a satisfactory manner so that they may be viewed by the members and judge or judges.
  5. The President or committee or a deputy nominated by the President or committee shall appoint a competent person or persons to act as judge and critic or each monthly competition.
  6. Competitions shall be conducted in two grades, namely 'A' (advanced) and 'B' (novice) grades.
    1. Members commence in 'B' grade and shall advance to 'A' grade under Rule 6.2. or 6.3
    2. "B" grade members may submit an application to the committee for advancement to "A" grade status.
    3. Any 'B' grade member, after receiving six (6) merit certificates in either print or slide competitions may, should he or she so desire, immediately receive advancement to 'A' grade in that section.  Should he or she not desire such immediate promotion it shall be made at the end of the Club year during which the member qualified for such advancement.
    4. In the case of any dispute, the decision of the committee shall be final.
  7. 'Silver Star' and 'Gold Star' Members.
    1. Any member obtaining fifteen (15) merit certificates in either print or slide sections in the 'A' grade monthly competitions shall be designated 'Silver Star Member' for that particular section.
    2. Any member obtaining fifty (50) merit certificates in either print or slide sections in the 'A' grade monthly competitions shall be designated 'Gold Star Member' for that particular section.
  8. Sections:
    1. There shall be three (3) sections in each competition, e.g. Colour prints, Monochrome prints and Slides (refer definitions below)
    2. Entries shall be limited to two (2) Colour prints and two (2) Monochrome prints, and two (2) slides per member in each monthly competition in each category. Special allowances, as advised in the calendar, will be made by the committee if more than the stipulated two entries are eligible.
    3. Monochrome prints, Colour prints, and transparencies (slides) may be home or commercially processed.
    4. Minimum print size 6.5" x 4.5" (16.5cm x 11.5cm), or 29.25 square inches (190 square cm). 
    5. Maximum presentation size (including mount) 16" x 20" (40.6cm x 50.8cm) or 320 square inches (2062 square cm).
    6. All images, including portion(s) used in montage etc, must have been taken by the member.
    7. All images must have had a start as a dye-coupled negative, silver halide negative, colour reversal film or digital capture.
    8. Images may be manipulated later in the printing stage or by using a computer.
    9. Slides or transparencies will be limited to 2" x 2" (5cm x 5cm) mounts.
    10. Slides must be spotted in the lower left corner, as viewed normally.
  9. Awards:
    1. Awards of merit and highly commended certificates shall be as decided by the judge or judges for each monthly competition.
    2. Entries not awarded a merit or highly commended certificate in a monthly competition, may be entered one more time only in a monthly competition, regardless if it is not awarded a merit or highly commended certificate the second time around.
    3. A print or slide which has been awarded a merit or highly commended certificate in a monthly competition shall not be eligible for entry in any future monthly competition but is deemed eligible for entry in a Club Annual Competition, if it has not been entered previously in an annual competitions.
  10. A competitor's name on prints or slides shall not be visible when such prints or slides are viewed or projected in the normal manner.
  11. Substantially similar images by the same author may not be entered in any one competition, regardless of categories and format.
  12. Images substantially similar to an entry in previous competitions , regardless whether they are slides or prints, are not eligible (Entrants may be required to prove eligibility)
    .
  13. Entries in monthly competitions and special competition will not be accepted more than 30 minutes after the designated starting time of the competition unless by previous arrangement.
  14. Any exhibit not taken away from the Club room before the expiration of three (3) months from the date of the monthly competition in which it was entered shall become the property of the Club and may be sold, destroyed, or otherwise dealt with as the committee determines.
  15. Aggregate Points System:
    1. Each entry in the monthly competition shall receive one (1) point.
    2. Each highly commended certificate shall receive an additional three (3) points.
    3. Each merit certificate shall receive an additional five (5) points.
    4. Each entry in a set subject deemed 'in category' by the judge or judges shall be awarded an additional one (1) point.
    5. The member gaining the highest total of points in each grade in Monochrome print, Colour print, or slide sections shall be the aggregate winner for the year for that grade. In event of a tie, joint winners will be declared.
  16. Special competitions
    1. Speciall competitions Include but are not limited to: The Vince Calo Perpetual Trophy, The John Addison Memorial Trophy, The Eric Robertson Trophy for Portraiture and The Iris Millikan Memorial Trophy. 
    2. These competitions are to be held separate from the monthly competition.
    3. For each special competition, prints/slides previously submitted are not eligible.  i.e, each print/slide may only be submitted to each of the special competition once, regardless of how it scores, and regardless of whether it has or has not been entered in the monthly competitions.
    4. Where not stated otherwise special competitions are subject to the same rules as other monthly competitions.
  17. The Vince Calo Perpetual Trophy:
    1. The competition for the Vince Calo Perpetual Trophy shall be held annually for the most outstanding portrait of a human being(s) (refer definition below).
    2. It shall be open for 'B' grade members only.  Members who have attained 'A' grade in any one section are ineligible.
    3. Entries shall not count toward aggregate points or awards.
    4. Entries are limited to two (2) per member in each category, ie two (2) slides and/or two (2) colour prints and/or two (2) monochrome prints.
    5. Entries are judged by A Grade members.
    6. The entrant with the highest aggregate score is deemed the winner and awarded the trophy for that year.
  18. The John Addison Memorial Trophy:
    1. The competition for the John Addison Trophy shall be held annually for the most outstanding Landscape and or Seascapes.
    2. Entries shall not count toward aggregate points or awards.
    3. The competition is an "open" competition and both 'A' and 'B' grade members are eligible.
    4. Entries are limited to two (2) per member in each category, i.e two (2) slides and /or two (2) colour prints and/or two (2) monochrome prints.
  19. The Eric Robertson Trophy:
    1. The competition for The Eric Robertson Trophy shall be held annually for the most outstanding portrait of a human being(s) (refer definition below).
    2. The competition is an "open" competition and both 'A' and 'B' grade members are eligible.
    3. Entries shall not count toward aggregate points or awards.
    4. Entries are limited to two (2) per member in each category, i.e two (2) slides and/or two (2) colour prints and/or two (2) monochrome prints.
  20. Annual Club Exhibition/Competition
    1. The committee shall have discretion to hold an annual Club competition on a date as determined by the committee in setting out the yearly programme.
    2. Provided that if the committee does not exercise such discretion, a motion to hold an annual Club competition passed at a General Meeting of members shall be binding on the committee.
    3. The sections in the annual competition, the number of entries per member in each section and the awards to be made shall be as determined by the committee.
    4. The committee shall appoint a competent person or persons as judge or judges for the annual competition and any person so appointed shall not be a member of the Club.
    5. The committee shall appoint organisers for the print and slide sections of the annual competition, and the duties of the organisers shall be:
      1. To receive entries of prints and slides from members.
      2. To record authors and titles of exhibits and to collate same in manner satisfactory for judging.
      3. To present exhibits to the judge for judging.
      4. To collect exhibits after judging and to record awards made.
      5. To advise the President of awards made, so that any necessary inscribing of trophies or certificates may be carried out.
      6. To return exhibits to competitors after the conclusion of the annual competition.
    6. The annual competition shall be open to financial members of the club only.
    7. Eligibility:
      1. Prints or slides shall be eligible for entry in the annual competition, whether previously submitted in monthly competitions or not, irrespective of whether any award was gained at a monthly competition.
      2. Entries are still eligible for entry to future monthly Club competition provided it has not previously gained an award in a monthly competition (as per Awards rule above).
      3. Substantially similar images may not be entered in any one Annual competition, regardless of categories or format
      4. Images substantially similar to an entry in a previous Annual competitions, regardless whether they are slides or prints, are not eligible (entrants may be required to prove eligibility).
  21. Definitions: Entrants are urged to use common sense in assessing whether or not an image conforms to this definition. If in doubt, consult with the committee.
    1. Monochrome prints include black & white prints, and prints made on black & white paper and completely or partially toned in one colour, or prints made on black & white paper that have had the addition of one colour added by any means.
    2. Colour prints include all colour prints and prints made on black & white paper completely or partially toned in more than one colour, or having had the addition of more than one colour by any means.
    3. Landscape: A picture featuring the natural scenery of the terrain. Buildings, people or animals may be included providing it or they are subordinate to the scene depicted in the photograph.
    4. Seascape: A picture in which the sea or waves predominate. Coastal features or the shore line may be included to a lesser degree.
    5. Portrait of a human person or persons (definition for The Vince Calo and The Eric Robertson Trophy)
      1. A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face
      2. may include more than one person, but preferably not more than two
      3. may show all or part of the person ie may range from tightly cropped face to full length figure
      4. may include settings and objects pertinent to the nature of the subject, e.g. home, work, leisure etc., but such settings or objects must be subordinate to the subject
      5. subject should not be engaged in any activity to the total exclusion of the viewer
      6. The following examples would not be acceptable as portraits:
        1. A figure study, where the portrayal of the figure is the dominant theme of the photograph
        2. A photograph where the subject is actively engaged in any activity to the total exclusion of the viewer eg a football player taking a mark
        3. A landscape where a figure is included but the landscape is dominant.

 

Amended April 2007

Disclaimer

The constitution and rules detailed here are reproduced from the official Adelaide Camera Club Incorporated Constitution and Rules booklet. In the event of any discrepancy, the booklet takes precedence.

Rules Summary

For a summary of the competition rules as supplied to each member in the programme handed out at the start of each year, refer to competition rules.

Altering the Constitution or Rules

Any alterations to the Constitution or Competition Rules must occur at the Annual General Meeting, as outlined in the constitution.