PGWNet Constitution
Download the PGWNet Constitution as PDF file.
Article 1
The Name of the organisation shall be Pacific Graduate Women's Network (PGWNet) and it shall be the Pacific Regional grouping of the International Federation of University Women'
Article 2
Purpose:
i. to create opportunities for graduate women of or in Pacific countries to achieve the objectives of the International Federation of University Women
ii. to promote understanding among graduate women of or in Pacific countries of the sociological, economic' and historical background they have in common and also of their differences.
Article 3
Mission:
i. To advocate for improvements in the status of women and girls in the Pacific region so that they can contribute to the social, political and business life of their country and assume decision making and leadership roles.
ii. To promote life-long education for women and girls in the Pacific region in order that they can take their rightful place in business, education and employment sectors, science and technology and the arts.
iii. To enable graduate women in the Pacific region to use their expertise to effect social, political and economic change which recognises the human rights of women and girls.
Article 4
Membership:
i. Any national federation or association (NFA) in the Pacific region which is already a member of IFUW may become a Full Member of PGWNet.
ii. A national organisation in the Pacific region consisting of fewer than 20 women each of whom is eligible for independent membership of IFUW may be accepted as an Associate Member of PGWNet
iii. Only one NFA or Associate Membership organisation in each country shall be accepted as a Member or Associate Member of PGWNet.
iv. Independent membership of PGWNet may be granted to any woman eligible for independent IFUW membership who accepts the aims and mission of PGWNet and is living within the Pacific region in a country where there is no Full or Associate Member of PGWNet.
v. Two or more Pacific countries who do not individually have the number of members to qualify for IFUW membership, but who, as a group, have at least 20 women eligible to be members of IFUW may be accepted as a PGWNet Group Member subject to their affiliation with IFUW. A Group Member shall have all the rights and obligations of a Full Member of PGWNet
Article 5
Administration:
i. The governing body of PGWNet shall be the Council.
ii. The Council shall consist of two registered representatives from each Full or Group Member of PGWNet and one registered representative from each Associate Member of PGWNet.
iii. The Headquarters of the Council shall be located within the country of the President of PGWNet at her designated office.
v. The Presidency of the Council shall rotate every two years among the Full Members of PGWNet and the nomination of the President shall be endorsed by the Council.
Article 6
Council Officers:
i. The Officers of the Council shall be elected every two years and shall be known as the Executive.
ii. These Officers shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Immediate Past-President shall be an ex officio member of the Executive.
iii. The President shall be nominated by a Full Member of PGWNet and elected by Council. The NFA to which the President-elect belongs shall, in consultation with the President-elect, nominate the other three officers from its members.
iv. Executive members may attend meetings of the Council and are entitled to speak but they are not entitled to vote unless they are their country's registered representatives.
v. Each Full or Group Member of the Council shall have two votes. An Associate Member of the Council shall have one vote. Full voting entitlement may be exercised.
Article 7
Meetings:
The Council
i. The Council shall meet at least once per year.
ii. The Council shall determine the time, place, method and/or medium of the meetings.
iii. Council meetings shall be open to all individual members of PGWNet but only registered Council Members are entitled to vote.
The Executive
i. The Executive shall meet at least three times per year.
Article 8
Quorum:
i. The quorum for Council meetings shall be two thirds of the member countries.
ii. The quorum for Executive meetings shall be three of the five members of the Executive
Article 9
Chair:
i. The President, or another member of PGWNet delegated by her, shall preside at meetings of the Council.
ii. The President, or another member of the Executive delegated by her, shall preside at meetings of the Executive.
Article 10
Business of Meetings:
i. A call for business for the Council agenda shall be made at least two months prior to the date of the meeting. All members shall receive the agenda, together with notices of motion, etc. at least one month prior to the date of the meeting.
ii. Names of the Council representatives from Full, Group and Associate Members must be received and registered by the Secretary of the Executive prior to the meeting.
Article 11
Finance:
i. All Members of PGWNet are responsible for the payment of PGWNet dues.
ii. The membership dues for each category of membership of PGWNet shall be set by the Council.
iii. The financial year shall be July 1 to June 30.
iv. The Treasurer shall submit to each council meeting a financial statement for the previous period and a budget for the remaining period of the two year term.
Article 12
Dissolution:
i. Notice of the proposed dissolution of PGWNet, supported by three or more Full Members, must reach the President at least six months prior to a Council meeting.
ii. A copy of the proposal shall be circulated to the members at least four months prior to the date of the meeting.
iii. A two thirds majority of the Full Members of PGWNet Council is required to adopt the proposal.
iv. In case of dissolution, members have no rights to the assets of the association. Such assets shall be allocated to IFUW or an association with similar purposes to PGWNet'
By Laws:
1. The Council shall, if possible, meet in conjunction with the Conference of a PGWNet member; and an IFUW Triennial Conference.
2. Summaries of both Council and Executive meetings shall be distributed as soon as possible after the occurrence of a meeting.
3. The Chair shall have a deliberative vote only.
4. Where a procedure is not specified in the constitution, IFUW's accepted rules of meeting procedure shall be followed.
5. Fees: Annual membership dues shall be determined from time to time by the PGWNet Council.
6. lf there is more than one nomination within the NFA concerned for the President-elect of PGWNet, an election shall be conducted by that NFA.
Terms:
i. Full member: Any national federation or association (NFA) in the Pacific region which is already a member of IFUW may become a Full Member of PGWNet.
ii. Associate member: A national organisation in the Pacific region consisting of fewer than 20 women each of whom is eligible for independent membership of IFUW may be accepted as an Associate Member of PGWNet.
iii. Group member: An association of two or more Pacific countries which has been affiliated with IFUW as a group member may become a Group Member of PGWNet
iv. Independent Member of PGWNet: A woman eligible for independent IFUW membership who accepts the aims and mission of PGWNet and is living within the Pacific region in a country where there is no Full or Associate Member organisation of PGWNet
v. Council: The council is the governing body of PGWNet and consists of two registered representatives from each Full or Group Member of PGWNet and one representative from each Associate Member of PGWNet.
v. Executive: The Officers of the Council shall be known as the Executive and consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer (all members of the same NFA) and (ex officio) the Immediate Past-President of PGWNet. The Executive is collectively responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of PGWNet. [See Article 6, iii and By-law 6 for the process of selection of the members of the Executive]
