By-Laws

NAME

Registered with the Registry of Societies, Singapore, under the name of Biorisk Association of Singapore (BAS), a not-for-profit organization has been set up with its place of business at 22 Sin Ming Lane #06-76 Midview City Singapore 573969.

PURPOSE

The purpose of Biorisk Association of Singapore is to:

  1. Foster the development and recognition of Biorisk management as a profession
  2. Promote safe management of biological materials
  3. Provide a key platform for knowledge-sharing in biorisk management
  4. Facilitate collaboration within the local and international biorisk management groups/associations
  5. Promote education in biorisk management
  6. Promote applied biorisk research

MEMBERSHIP

  1. Full membership is open to persons involved in the practice of biorisk management (safety personnel, life science professionals and safety regulatory personnel).
  2. Associate membership is open to persons with an interest in biorisk management.
  3. Corporate membership is open to organisations interested in the promotion and support of biorisk management.
  4. Honorary membership may be conferred, at the discretion of the committee, to persons who have rendered extraordinary service to the field of biorisk.
  5. Only full members shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Society.

MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE

The administration of the Society shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of the following to be elected at an Annual General Meeting at alternate years:

At odd years:

A President

A Treasurer

An Assistant Secretary

2 Ordinary Committee members including previous treasurer as ex-officio

At even years:

A Vice President

A Secretary

An Assistant Treasurer

2 Ordinary Committee Members

Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members. All office-bearers, except the Treasurer may be re‑elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The term of office of the Committee is two years. Each office-bearer other than the Treasurer shall serve for a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.

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.

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. At least half (½) of the Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

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.

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.

The Committee has power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding SGD 5,000 per month from the Society’s funds for the Society’s purposes.

Committee members must not have any commercial interests related to biosafety.

DUTIES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

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

The Vice‑President shall assist the President and deputies for him in his absence.

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.

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

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. He is authorised to expend up to SGD 1000 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Society. He will not keep more than SGD 500 in the form of cash and money in excess of this will be deposited in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Vice‑President or the Secretary.

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

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

COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

Meetings shall be held at least twice per year, in addition to the Annual General Meeting.

Quorum means that at least half (½) of the Committee Members must be present.

Decisions, including amendments to the bylaws shall be based on a majority of the votes cast, with each member, including the Chair being entitled to one vote only.