Tuesday 13 November 2012

Sydney Atheist Inc's Annual General Meeting for 2012 concludes

The continued meeting will be held on Sunday, November 18 2012, at 2p.m. in Room CB01.03.18 at University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) Broadway, Ultimo.
(Note this is a DIFFERENT ROOM from the previous meeting, but is in the same building. The room is also described as Room 318, Tower Building and as "the room behind the Students' Association.") (Note also the previous part of the A.G.M. was held on Sunday October 14th 2012.)
Any member is welcome to attend, vote and nominate for an officebearer position or to chair the meeting. As there has been some confusion about membership of the Incorporated body as opposed to the Meetup, come along and we'll work it out.

The agenda will be as follows:
Welcome, Attendance, Apologies
Determining proxies and Chair
Minutes of the 2011 AGM
Reports on the activities of the Sydney Atheists Inc throughout the last financial year
Reception and consideration of the financial statement
Special Resolutions
Calling for nominations and electing Officebearers
Close.

No further business is allowed as part of the AGM, but there will be a regular Committee meeting directly after, where you are all welcome to discuss other business.

The Special Resolutions are about changing the Objects and Rules (Constitution) and so must be dealt with in a General Meeting. If the first resolution passes then the others will be withdrawn, but to make some changes and not others, we will have to go through one by one.

Note that the elections will vary depending on the outcome of the resolutions. If the aspects in question pass, we will be electing a Membership Secretary, a Minutes Secretary, a Correspondence Secretary and a Treasurer. If they do not pass, we will merely be electing a Secretary and a Treasurer. Please think about whether you can contribute to Sydney Atheists by standing for one of these positions. Nominations will be sought at the meeting

If you can't make it and would like to send a proxy to vote for you, the form can be found on the last page of the current Objects and Rules. Proxies must be received by the Secretary secretary@sydneyatheists.org and Public Officer hanaleah@gmail.com before 2pm on Saturday, October 13. Note that one member cannot hold more than five proxies.

Special Resolutions:

Special Resolution 1: Adopt all change
That Sydney Atheists Incorporated adopt the attached Proposed Constitution 2012 as the Constitution of Sydney Atheists, Version 3.

Special Resolution 2: By-laws
In subclause 11(1), insert after the word ‘association’ the words ‘and shall have the power, subject to this constitution, to make by-laws for that purpose’.

Special Resolution 3: Financial year
In sub-clause 23(1), before the word ‘convene’, insert the words, ‘that being the year ending on 30 June,’

Special Resolution 4: Spent provisions
Delete sub-clause 23(3).
Amend Rule 13(5) by deleting the words ‘to be reviewed at AGM’.

Special Resolution 5: Proxy form
Amend Appendix 1 to the form at the end of the Proposed Constitution 2012

Special Resolution 6: No seal
Delete clause 40 and renumber subsequent Rules.

Special Resolution 7: General Meeting Notice
Amend Rule 25 (2) by adding ‘the text of the resolution and’ before the words ‘the intention’.

Special Resolution 8: New Act, Regulation and Model Constitution
Amend Rule (1) by substituting for the figures ‘1984’ and ‘1999’ the figures ‘2009 no.7’ and ‘2010’.
Amend Rule 9(1a) by adding the words ‘or the Act’ after the words ‘these rules’.
Amend Rule 26(d) by deleting the words ‘section 26(6) of’.
Amend every mention of ‘the Rules’ to ‘the Constitution’

Special Resolution 9: Provision of information to public officer
amend Rule 18(2c) by inserting after the word ‘to’ the words ‘the public officer and’.

Special Resolution 10: Separation of roles
Insert the following at the end of Rule 16:
(3) Any one member may not be elected or appointed to hold all offices simultaneously.

Special Resolution 11: Delegation
Insert the following at the end of Rule 15:
(4)       The committee may by resolution designate any member of the committee to discharge any or all of the duties of any office-bearer for any stated period whenever the committee considers it necessary to do so, because of the absence of the office-bearer or for any other cause, in order to ensure that those duties are performed; provided that any such resolution by the committee shall not affect the validity of any action taken by the office-bearer and that any such resolution by the committee may be amended or rescinded by a general meeting.

Special Resolution 12: Streamlining membership and exclusion
Amend Rule 3(c) by inserting after the word ‘committee’ the words ‘within 6 months after the fee is due’.
Amend Rule 12 to read:
‘12. Committee Membership
(1) Membership of the committee will be offered to any member of the association at the third Committee meeting that he or she attends within twelve months, unless excluded by a resolution of the committee. provided that any resolution by the committee to exclude a member from the committee may be rescinded by resolution of a general meeting.’
(2) Membership of the committee will lapse if the member is absent without the consent of the committee from all meetings of the committee held during a period of 6 months. A lapsed committee membership shall be reinstated at the first committee meeting attended while the member is eligible for committee membership as of Rule 12(1).’
Insert the following at the end of Rule 13:
(9)       Any member of the association may attend and speak at any meeting of the committee.
Amend Rule 19(f) by substituting for the figure ‘6’ the figure ‘3’.

Special Resolution 13: Secretarial role division
Amend Rule 15(1) to read:
‘The office-bearers of the association are to be:
            (a)       the membership secretary
            (b)       the correspondence secretary
            (c)        the minutes secretary
            (d)       the treasurer.’
Replace the whole of Rule 17 with the following Rules and renumber accordingly:
17.       Membership secretary
Duties of the membership secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as membership secretary
(2) keeping the register of members and keeping the public officer informed of any changes to it
(3) handing over records to the next membership secretary
18.       Correspondence secretary
Duties of the correspondence secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as correspondence secretary
(2) receiving correspondence and ensuring that it is reported promptly to the committee
(3) ensuring that notice of all general meetings and committee meetings is given as required by these rules
(4) ensuring that correspondence is prepared and despatched as required by any resolution of the committee or a general meeting
(5) handing over records to the next correspondence secretary
19.       Minutes secretary
Duties of the minutes secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as minutes secretary
(2) keeping minutes of all general meetings, including the names of those present, and ensuring that they are tabled at the next subsequent general meeting
(3) keeping minutes of all committee meetings, including the names of those present, and ensuring that they are tabled at the next subsequent committee meeting
(4) keeping records of committee meeting attendance and of elections and appointments of office-bearers and ensuring that the committee is kept informed of any changes in committee membership and office-bearers
(5) handing over records to the next minutes secretary
Amend Rule 1(1) by removing the words ‘Secretary means the person holding office under these rules as secretary of the association, or if no such person holds that office, the public officer of the association.’
Insert the following at the end of Rule 19:
‘(2)      While a vacancy exists, the role is to be held by the public officer of the association.’
Amend Rule 2(1) and Rule 3(b) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, in each case, the words ‘the public officer, the membership secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.
Amend Rule 5(1) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’ the words ‘the membership secretary’.
Amend Rule 10(1) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, the words ‘the correspondence secretary, committee or public officer’.
Rule 13(3) and Rule 13(4) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, in each case, the words ‘the correspondence secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.
Amend Rule 24(2c) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’ the words ‘the public officer, the correspondence secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’ and amend rule 24(3) by deleting the words ‘with the secretary’.
Amend Rule 25 and Rule 29 by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, wherever appearing, the words ‘the correspondence secretary’.
Amend Rule 33 by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, the words ‘the public officer, the minutes secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.

Special Resolution 14: Numbering
Remove the Part numbering and renumber all Rules according to changes made.

Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Friday 12 October 2012

Sydney Atheist Inc's Annual General Meeting for 2012

 It will be on Sunday, October 14, at 2pm in room CB02:05:36 at UTS, 15 Broadway, Ultimo.
From the main entrance of the tower building take the escalator up a floor, turn left and continue up a few stairs and to the end. Room 36 is down the corridor on the right.
There is also access via the Building 2 elevator, but not the main ones.

Any member is welcome to attend, vote and nominate for an officebearer position or to chair the meeting. As there has been some confusion about membership of the Incorporated body as opposed to the Meetup, come along and we'll work it out.

The agenda will be as follows:
Welcome, Attendance, Apologies
Determining proxies and Chair
Minutes of the 2011 AGM
Reports on the activities of the Sydney Atheists Inc throughout the last financial year
Reception and consideration of the financial statement
Special Resolutions
Calling for nominations and electing Officebearers
Close.

No further business is allowed as part of the AGM, but there will be a regular Committee meeting directly after, where you are all welcome to discuss other business.

The Special Resolutions are about changing the Objects and Rules (Constitution) and so must be dealt with in a General Meeting. If the first resolution passes then the others will be withdrawn, but to make some changes and not others, we will have to go through one by one.

Note that the elections will vary depending on the outcome of the resolutions. If the aspects in question pass, we will be electing a Membership Secretary, a Minutes Secretary, a Correspondence Secretary and a Treasurer. If they do not pass, we will merely be electing a Secretary and a Treasurer. Please think about whether you can contribute to Sydney Atheists by standing for one of these positions. Nominations will be sought at the meeting

If you can't make it and would like to send a proxy to vote for you, the form can be found on the last page of the current Objects and Rules. Proxies must be received by the Secretary secretary@sydneyatheists.org and Public Officer hanaleah@gmail.com before 2pm on Saturday, October 13. Note that one member cannot hold more than five proxies.
Special Resolutions:
Special Resolution 1: Adopt all change
That Sydney Atheists Incorporated adopt the attached Proposed Constitution 2012 as the Constitution of Sydney Atheists, Version 3.

Special Resolution 2: By-laws
In subclause 11(1), insert after the word ‘association’ the words ‘and shall have the power, subject to this constitution, to make by-laws for that purpose’.

Special Resolution 3: Financial year
In sub-clause 23(1), before the word ‘convene’, insert the words, ‘that being the year ending on 30 June,’

Special Resolution 4: Spent provisions
Delete sub-clause 23(3).
Amend Rule 13(5) by deleting the words ‘to be reviewed at AGM’.

Special Resolution 5: Proxy form
Amend Appendix 1 to the form at the end of the Proposed Constitution 2012

Special Resolution 6: No seal
Delete clause 40 and renumber subsequent Rules.

Special Resolution 7: General Meeting Notice
Amend Rule 25 (2) by adding ‘the text of the resolution and’ before the words ‘the intention’.

Special Resolution 8: New Act, Regulation and Model Constitution
Amend Rule (1) by substituting for the figures ‘1984’ and ‘1999’ the figures ‘2009 no.7’ and ‘2010’.
Amend Rule 9(1a) by adding the words ‘or the Act’ after the words ‘these rules’.
Amend Rule 26(d) by deleting the words ‘section 26(6) of’.
Amend every mention of ‘the Rules’ to ‘the Constitution’

Special Resolution 9: Provision of information to public officer
amend Rule 18(2c) by inserting after the word ‘to’ the words ‘the public officer and’.

Special Resolution 10: Separation of roles
Insert the following at the end of Rule 16:
(3) Any one member may not be elected or appointed to hold all offices simultaneously.

Special Resolution 11: Delegation
Insert the following at the end of Rule 15:
(4)       The committee may by resolution designate any member of the committee to discharge any or all of the duties of any office-bearer for any stated period whenever the committee considers it necessary to do so, because of the absence of the office-bearer or for any other cause, in order to ensure that those duties are performed; provided that any such resolution by the committee shall not affect the validity of any action taken by the office-bearer and that any such resolution by the committee may be amended or rescinded by a general meeting.

Special Resolution 12: Streamlining membership and exclusion
Amend Rule 3(c) by inserting after the word ‘committee’ the words ‘within 6 months after the fee is due’.
Amend Rule 12 to read:
‘12. Committee Membership
(1) Membership of the committee will be offered to any member of the association at the third Committee meeting that he or she attends within twelve months, unless excluded by a resolution of the committee. provided that any resolution by the committee to exclude a member from the committee may be rescinded by resolution of a general meeting.’
(2) Membership of the committee will lapse if the member is absent without the consent of the committee from all meetings of the committee held during a period of 6 months. A lapsed committee membership shall be reinstated at the first committee meeting attended while the member is eligible for committee membership as of Rule 12(1).’
Insert the following at the end of Rule 13:
(9)       Any member of the association may attend and speak at any meeting of the committee.
Amend Rule 19(f) by substituting for the figure ‘6’ the figure ‘3’.

Special Resolution 13: Secretarial role division
Amend Rule 15(1) to read:
‘The office-bearers of the association are to be:
            (a)       the membership secretary
            (b)       the correspondence secretary
            (c)        the minutes secretary
            (d)       the treasurer.’
Replace the whole of Rule 17 with the following Rules and renumber accordingly:
17.       Membership secretary
Duties of the membership secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as membership secretary
(2) keeping the register of members and keeping the public officer informed of any changes to it
(3) handing over records to the next membership secretary
18.       Correspondence secretary
Duties of the correspondence secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as correspondence secretary
(2) receiving correspondence and ensuring that it is reported promptly to the committee
(3) ensuring that notice of all general meetings and committee meetings is given as required by these rules
(4) ensuring that correspondence is prepared and despatched as required by any resolution of the committee or a general meeting
(5) handing over records to the next correspondence secretary
19.       Minutes secretary
Duties of the minutes secretary include
(1) lodging notice with the association and with the Public Officer of his or her address for correspondence as soon as practicable after being appointed as minutes secretary
(2) keeping minutes of all general meetings, including the names of those present, and ensuring that they are tabled at the next subsequent general meeting
(3) keeping minutes of all committee meetings, including the names of those present, and ensuring that they are tabled at the next subsequent committee meeting
(4) keeping records of committee meeting attendance and of elections and appointments of office-bearers and ensuring that the committee is kept informed of any changes in committee membership and office-bearers
(5) handing over records to the next minutes secretary
Amend Rule 1(1) by removing the words ‘Secretary means the person holding office under these rules as secretary of the association, or if no such person holds that office, the public officer of the association.’
Insert the following at the end of Rule 19:
‘(2)      While a vacancy exists, the role is to be held by the public officer of the association.’
Amend Rule 2(1) and Rule 3(b) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, in each case, the words ‘the public officer, the membership secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.
Amend Rule 5(1) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’ the words ‘the membership secretary’.
Amend Rule 10(1) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, the words ‘the correspondence secretary, committee or public officer’.
Rule 13(3) and Rule 13(4) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, in each case, the words ‘the correspondence secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.
Amend Rule 24(2c) by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’ the words ‘the public officer, the correspondence secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’ and amend rule 24(3) by deleting the words ‘with the secretary’.
Amend Rule 25 and Rule 29 by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, wherever appearing, the words ‘the correspondence secretary’.
Amend Rule 33 by substituting for the words ‘the secretary’, the words ‘the public officer, the minutes secretary, the committee, or any member of the committee designated by the committee for that purpose’.

Special Resolution 14: Numbering
Remove the Part numbering and renumber all Rules according to changes made.

Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Physoc Talks Presents:"Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?"

Wednesday, 30th May 2012, 
12:00pm until 1:00pm
 
Lecture Theatre 2, Physics Builiding
 
Professor Tim Bedding giving a public talk on his thoughts on science and religion.

This week, he will be giving us some insight into the role of religion in the scientific realm - a topic close to the heart of many physicists!

As always, there will be cake.
Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/297270313701014/


Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Flock of Dodos screening

Flock of Dodos film screening and Q & A on evolution and intelligent design

Randy Olsen is a filmmaker whose work addresses contemporary controversies in science, including the evolution vs. intelligent design debate that is current in the USA. His feature documentary, Flock of Dodos: the Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus uses humorous animation in addition to extensive interviews to explore how and why intelligent design has emerged and how and why debate about evolution is influenced by politics, educational policy, and scientific and popular culture.

Randy Olsen joins Sydney Ideas for a screening of Flock of Dodos and for a panel discussion and Q & A about the intelligent design debate from a range of perspectives.

Panellists:

Professor Paul Griffiths, University Professorial Research Fellow, Department of Philosophy and Sydney Centre for the Foundations of Science, University of Sydney and Professor of Philosophy of Science, ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society, University of Exeter
Professor Ben Oldroyd, an expert in the behavioural, evolutionary and population genetics of bees and professor of Behavioural Genetics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney 
Randy Olson, scientist-turned-filmmaker and director of Flock of Dodos. Previously a professor of marine biology, his other feature documentaries include Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy. His book Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style takes a critical look at science communication.
Dr Steven Orzack, biologist and Senior Research Scientist at the Fresh Pond Research Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Currently a visiting fellow at the Sydney Centre for the Foundations of Science.

Event details
When: Monday 14 May, 6.00pm - 8.00pm (includes 84 min film screening)
Where: Eastern Avenue Auditorium
Cost: Free event but registration required at this page http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-flock-of-dodos-screening
Contact: Sydney Ideas, sydney.ideas@sydney.edu.au
More info: sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas

Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Not shopped - The problem with Christianity

 This is the actual sign at St John's Church in Ashfield, they're inviting doubters to engage over the next few weeks.

not shopped

The Ashfield Anglicans continue with their message.

The Problem with Christianity 2

Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Friday 20 April 2012

Monday 16 April 2012

SBS radio coverage of the Global Atheist Convention 2012

 Atheists meet to discuss faith, or lack of it

16 Apr 2012 By Clare Atkinson
Listen: 
 
  • Duration00:04:49
  • Download2MB
Richard Dawkins speaking to journalists at the atheist conference (Clare Atkinson)

Many of the world's best-known atheists have met in Melbourne to discuss faith, or the lack thereof.
Thousands of people came to hear the likes of Richard Dawkins speak out against religions of all kinds.
As Clare Atkinson reports, speakers used both science and comedy to argue the case for non-belief.

 Originally posted by Ian Woolf

Monday 19 March 2012

Mardi Gras 2012!



Originally posted by Ian Woolf