The name of the Club formed under these rules shall be the Sprite Club of South Australia Incorporated, herein referred to as ‘The Club’.

Objectives

1. The primary focus of the Sprite Club of South Australia Inc (here after referred to as the Club) is to promote, foster and preserve Austin Healey Sprites and MG Midgets.
2. To promote, foster and conduct the sports of automobilism and motor sport generally in all of its branches.
3. To promote friendship and courtesy on the road, socially and in competition between members of this Club.
4. To promote and engender social activities.
5. To conduct meetings and classes whereby members may obtain knowledge enabling them to become better drivers and maintain their vehicles to a high standard of efficiency.
6. If necessary, to associate or affiliate with the Marque Sports Car Association (MSCA), Motorsport Australia (MSA), Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs of South Australia Inc (FHMC), and other motoring organisations as required, and to acknowledge their constitution/s.

Membership

Membership is open to owners of Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget or approved associate vehicles (refer Historic Registration below) and their families via one of the following membership schemes. Application for membership shall be in such a form as the Committee shall determine.

Financial Member Categories

Founder, Life and Honorary Membership

Founder Members. The Club recognises the Founding Members of the Club with membership in perpetuity. It recognises the efforts and energy that lead to, and resulted in, the first meeting of the Sprite Club and the forming of the first recognised committee.

Life Members. The club recognises Life Members with membership in perpetuity. Life membership is awarded in recognition of service above and beyond to the Club over an extended period of time and is conferred on members following consultation of the Committee along with surviving Founder and Life Members.

Honorary Membership. The Committee, in consultation with Founding and Life Members may choose to award Honorary Membership to a non-club member. Honorary membership is bestowed on the recipient for a period as determined by the Committee.

• Founder, Life and Honorary Members are exempt mandatory membership fees.
• Founder, Life and Honorary hold equal status to a financial member.
• Founder, Life and Honorary Members have full voting rights.

Standard Membership.

Standard Membership provides Members for adult singles and families and is open to any person interested in the furtherance of the objectives of the Club..

• Standard Members have full access to the Club Conditional Registration Scheme
• All Adults nominated under a Standard Membership will each have one full voting right.
• Children are included up under a Standard Membership until the age of 18 but will not be eligible to vote.
• Names and dates of birth for all family members must be supplied for insurance purposes.

Country Membership.

A Country Membership is offered for singles or families who reside 125km or more from the Adelaide GPO. A Country member shall have full rights with the Club as per a Standard Member.

Youth Membership.

A Youth Membership scheme is offered for members between 18 and 25 years of age to promote classic motoring with younger people.

• A Youth member has full voting rights within the Club.
• A Youth member has access to the Club Conditional Registration scheme for up to two (2) vehicles registered in their name. Should the Youth member have more than two conditionally registered vehicles, Standard or Country Membership rates will apply.

Social Membership.

A Social Membership scheme is offered for members who are interested in the furthering the Objectives of the Club but who do not wish to become full member.

• Social Members shall not have voting rights within the Club.
• Social Members are not eligible to participate in the Club Conditional Registration scheme.

Note: Should a Social member upgrade to a Standard or Country Membership, the fee will be the difference between their Social and the appropriate full membership rate.

Corporate Membership.

The Club offers a Corporate Membership scheme that is open to Sole Trader and Pty Ltd businesses. This provides access to the Conditional Registration Scheme for vehicles that may be owned by a business vide individual so long as the following conditions are met and/or observed:

• Sole Trader. A Sole Trader must also be a Financial Member in their own right.
• Pty Ltd Business. Corporate Membership benefits are restricted to the Director(s) of a Pty Ltd business. Each Director must themselves be a financial member of the Club.
• Voting Rights. A Corporate Membership does not have any voting rights. Voting rights are restricted to the individual members.
• Businesses taking out Corporate Membership may be eligible to be recognised as contributing to the Sprite Club as a sponsor if they so desire.

Reciprocal Members.

Members from other Marque motoring clubs affiliated with the FHMC (or interstate equivalent bodies), and interstate or international Sprite Clubs have reciprocal rights and may attend Club events as a guest.

• Reciprocal Members may be charged a small fee to assist with event running costs.
• Any costs will be announced in advance of the event otherwise a standard $5 fee applies.
• Reciprocal Members do not have voting rights within the Club.

Subscriptions and Other Fees

Annual Membership Subscriptions. The annual subscriptions shall be due on the first day following the Annual General Meeting and payable by the thirty first day of December each year.

New Member Joining Fee. All new members will be changed a one-off Joining Fee on joining the club in addition to the Annual Subscription. The Annual Subscription rate for a new member may be adjusted on a pro-rata basis as determined by the Committee.

Other set fees include (but are not limited to) the cost of a replacement Conditional Registration Logbook and secondary/associate vehicle assessments.

The Membership Fees, Joining Fee and other set fees shall be an amount determined on the recommendation of the Committee and agreed by a majority vote of the members at an Annual General Meeting. Fees for the membership year shall be communicated to members via email and published on the Club website.

Management

The Management of the Club shall be vested in the Committee which shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and three or more other members of the Club as deemed necessary at an Annual General Meeting. The President shall be the Chairperson of all meetings or in the President’s absence, one of the current Committee or a Founding Member.

Office Bearers

The office bearers shall be elected individually at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall consist of at least the President, Secretary and Treasurer (otherwise known as the Executive) and at least three of the following positions: ClubbiesSA Representative, Competition Secretary, Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs Representative, Registrar, Web Master, Social Secretary, External Events Coordinator, Librarian, Regalia Officer and Magazine Editor. Other roles for the continued operation of the Club may be created as needed.

At least two members of the Committee must be current or past Sprite and/or Midget owners, including at least one member of the Executive.

All Committee positions shall retire at the end of each twelve months. All Office Bearers shall be eligible for re-election. Any office becoming vacant within the period of twelve months will be filled by a vote of financial members at the next General Meeting and that member elected shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

The Secretary will be the Public Officer, whose identity and address is to be lodged within one month after the change (Form 10) with the Office of Consumer and Business Services or the relevant Government regulator.

For the Club to offer Conditional Registration it must nominate a person/s as the Club Registration Authorised Officer with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. That member shall be the Club Registrar/s. If this role is not filled the Club cannot offer Conditional Registration. The role may be combined with another Committee position if required.

The Committee shall have the power to make and publish any bylaws for better management and control of the Club which shall not be inconsistent with this constitution and shall have the power to invite any person to committee meetings who may be of assistance to the Committee in a professional and technical or skilled manner for their advice and guidance thereon provided that such persons shall not be entitled to a vote upon the Committee.

The Committee shall meet at least six times per year. These meetings may be in person or via an appropriate electronic means. A Committee member is deemed to be present in person whilst using a means of remote communication to virtually attend with other members at the meeting. Any office bearer of the Committee failing to attend three consecutive Committee Meetings without apology or just cause shall thereby render themselves liable for expulsion from that office or Committee.

Financial Year

The Financial Year of the Club shall conclude on the 31st of December in each year.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held not later than the last day of November in each year when the Annual Report shall be presented.

Proxy voting form for notices of motion only to be attached to notice of AGM/Special Meeting and returned to the Secretary prior to the meeting.

Quorum

At Annual General Meetings, Special Meetings or Ordinary Meetings a quorum shall be defined as at least 20% of voting members present or registering their vote with the Committee via a proxy vote.

Notice of a Special Meeting

At least two calendar month’s clear notice by email, newsletter or magazine of intention to convene a Special or Annual General Meeting shall be given by the Secretary to all members. Any notice of motion to be put to a meeting shall be delivered to the Secretary not later than six weeks prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

It is the responsibility of all members to notify the Secretary of any change of address.

Funds

The funds of the Club shall be banked in the name of the Club, and the bank account shall be operated by any two of the President, Secretary and Treasurer or other Committee Member or Member authorised to operate the account.

Accounts

Routine payments up to an amount decided by the Annual General Meeting may be made by any 2 of the committee authorised to operate the account.

All major accounts for payment shall be presented to the Committee for consideration prior to payment.

A petty cash or EFT advance of an amount to be determined by the Annual General Meeting may be made to the Social Secretary to cover meeting catering costs.

Audit

Audits shall be conducted at regular intervals of twelve months. The auditor shall be independent of the Committee (but may be a member of the Club) and be competent in financial auditing. An audited Balance Sheet shall be presented to members by the March General Meeting.

Historic Registration

The Club’s authorised person/s is responsible for the acceptance and approval, along with the maintenance of appropriate documentation, of all vehicles eligible for Conditional Registration. That authorised person shall be the Club Registrar. Each and all new applications for conditional Registration will be judged on its own merits. Applications for Conditional Registration will be checked against the relevant Codes of Practice as governed by the South Australian Government and the FHMC. Any vehicle not meeting these criteria will remain on full registration.

Whilst there is no longer a State mandated requirement for the Club Registrar to inspect a vehicle on entry or every three years, the Registrar may choose to confirm any vehicle meets the statutory requirements for Conditional Registration at any time. If requested, owners are required to arrange with the Registrar for their inspection within 60 days. Not complying with the request may result in the Club revoking the Conditional Registration. Owners of conditionally registered vehicles are responsible for ensuring that they comply with the requirements as listed in the Code of Practice and any guidelines or regulations as determined by the Club.

The Club Registrar/s retains right to refuse any vehicle that they believe does not comply with the Code of Practice. Additionally, the Registrar may review any existing Club vehicle they feel may not comply with the Code of Practice. Following a review, the Club Registrar may choose to report the vehicle to the South Australian Registrar of Motor Vehicles if such action is deemed appropriate.

Associate Vehicles. An Associate Vehicle is a vehicle that complies with the regulations for Conditional Registration that is neither an Austin Healey Sprite nor an MG Midget. An Associate Vehicle will be accepted if they comply with the current requirements for Conditional Registration and considered by the Committee as being within the Spirit of the Club. The Club considers vehicles of the BMC and British Leyland marques and Clubman style vehicles as being within the spirit of the Club; however, all vehicles presented will be considered. The decision of the Committee shall be final. Any vehicle deemed unsuitable for the Club will be referred to a suitable club or the FHMC.

NB: Financial members seeking to register more than three (3) vehicles under the Conditional Registration scheme may be levied a once-off assessment fee per additional vehicle. This fee will be determined by the Committee and voted on by the members at the Annual General meeting.

Amendment of Constitution

This Constitution may be amended at an Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting, attended by a quorum, convened for that purpose, provided that the amendment is accepted by a majority of not less than three quarters of the members present (and eligible to vote) at the meeting. Any decisions of the Committee or of the members at any meeting save and except as aforesaid shall be decided by the majority of those present and voting.

Dissolution

The Club shall be dissolved in the event of membership being less than five persons or upon the vote of an absolute majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting convened to consider such a question. Upon dissolution, assets and funds on hand shall, after payment of all expenses and liabilities be handed over to such other Club or similar association having objectives such as are stated under the heading “Objectives” of this Constitution or such registered charity as a majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting may decide.

This Constitution was presented to the members of this Club at the Special Meeting on the 3^rd of July 2023 and was adopted.