JETAA WA Charter
CONTENTS
PREAMBLE
The full name of the Chapter shall be “The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme Alumni Association of Western Australia”, hereinafter referred to as JETAAWA.
JETAAWA has been formed to provide an avenue for members to maintain an active and ongoing interest in Japan, Japanese society and the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, and to facilitate contact among members.
OBJECTIVES
1. JETAAWA aims to:
1.1 Provide support for alumni of the JET Programme by:
1.1.1 maintaining a network of alumni of the JET Programme;
1.1.2 maintaining a link between members of JETAAWA and members of other Chapters of JETAA in Australia and overseas through JETAA International;
1.1.3 assisting in identifying relevant employment opportunities for members; and
1.1.4 assisting alumni to adjust to life after returning to Australia after completing the JET Programme.
1.2 Provide support for the JET Programme by:
1.2.1 assisting with the promotion and advertising of the JET Programme;
1.2.2 assisting with the selection of future participants in the JET Programme;
1.2.3 assisting with any pre-departure orientation programmes for JET participants, their partners and/or families;
1.2.4 supporting current JET participants and their partners/families in Japan;
1.2.5 support network for returning and returned JET participants, other JET participants new to the area and their partners/families; and
1.2.6 providing a link between the JET Programme and members.
1.3 Foster a broad and deep understanding between Japan and Australia by:
1.3.1 maintaining and supporting members’ interest in Japan and Japanese society;
1.3.2 supporting and interacting with other organisations concerned with Japan/Australia relations; and
1.3.3 providing members with the opportunity to share views about their experiences with local groups, in-services, community clubs and at multi-cultural events.
MEMBERSHIP
2. Membership of JETAAWA shall be open to all people who are former participants of the JET Programme, either living in Western Australia or Northern Territory, or who departed on the JET Programme as a Western Australian participant.
2.1 The Executive Committee may decide from time to time to admit members who are not former JET participants, but who fulfil the following criteria:
a) Spouse/partner of a JETAAWA Member; or
b) Has lived in Japan; and
c) Has a keen interest in Japan and supporting the continued operation and success of the JET Programme and JETAAWA.
These members will be given honorary status, and will be afforded all the same rights and entitlements afforded existing members as regards JETAAWA organised activities, including the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting and the right to stand and be elected to the Executive Committee. Honorary membership status will become effective following an official vote at the Annual General Meeting.
3. All returned JETs will be deemed members unless and until they request to be taken off the membership list.
ACTIVITIES
4. To achieve the objectives of the association, the following activities and functions will be carried out:
4.1 Meetings
4.1.1 At least four (4) meeting will be held each year. One meeting will be the Annual General Meeting with committee positions being open for election.
4.1.2 Details of each meeting, along with proposed agenda items, will be advertised in the newsletter immediately preceding that meeting.
4.1.3 All members should be invited to attend each meeting. All members will have equal voting rights on each item of business.
4.1.4 No item of business will be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members is present. A quorum shall be not less than three (3) members.
4.2 Social functions
4.2.1 At least four (4) social functions will be held each year. The nature and timing of these functions should be determined by the Executive and at the suggestion of members and will be advertised to all members in the newsletter.
4.2.2 All members and their partners/families will be invited to each function. Staff of the Consulate-General of Japan in Western Australia and their partners/families may also be invited to each function.
4.3 Newsletter
4.3.1 At least one official newsletter will be published each year. Notification of other events may be circulated through newsletters or invitations circulated by either mail or email and may include, but is not mandated to include:
(i) a message from the President detailing recent events and developments;
(ii) details from the minutes of the previous meeting;
(iii) details of the next social function;
(iv) details of the next meeting and proposed agenda items; and
(v) any other items as deemed suitable by the editor.
4.4 Executive Committee
4.4.1 An Executive Committee shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting. All members shall be eligible for election and may hold one or more positions on the Executive committee. The Executive Committee will consist of a President and any or all of the following positions:
(i) Vice President
(ii) Treasurer
(iii) Secretary
(iv) Employment Representative
(v) Social Representative
(vi) Media/Newsletter Representative
(vii) Chapter Representative – Regional
(viii) Chapter Representative – International
(ix) Regional Representative
(x) Promotions Representative
(xi) Webmaster
4.4.2 All positions should be deemed vacant prior to each Annual General Meeting. Any member should be eligible to nominate for any position.
4.4.3 It will be possible for one person to hold one or more of these positions at any one time.
4.4.4. Specific duties of these positions will be:
(i) President
(i.a) The President shall have general supervision of the business and affairs of the Association.
(i.b) The President shall determine a date and time for each meeting and ensure it is published in each newsletter.
(i.c) The President shall chair each meeting.
(ii) Vice-President
(ii.a) The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of a President.
iii Treasurer
(iii.a) The Treasurer shall manage budgets for the Association
(iii.b) The Treasurer shall keep accurate accounts and ensure funds received are deposited in the Association’s account.
(iv) Secretary
(iv.a) Secretary shall maintain a database of names, addresses and contact numbers of all JETAA members and be responsible for sending out letters and newsletters to members.
(iv.b) Secretary shall record and circulate minutes from all meetings.
(v) The Employment Representative
(v.a) The Employment Representative shall conduct an employment workshop for members and recent returnees.
(v.b) The Employment Representative shall keep up to date with the job market in Western Australia, Australia and Japan.
(v.c) The Employment Representative shall be available to offer advice to members who are searching for work.
(vi) The Social Representative
(vi.a) The Social Representative shall ensure that social functions are held throughout the year.
(vi.b) The Social Representative shall ensure that all members and other appropriate people are invited to and made welcome at each function.
(vi.c) The Social Representative shall be responsible for ensuring that venues are booked, numbers and prices confirmed, etc.
(vi.d) The Social Representative shall ensure that the details of the next social function are provided to the Newsletter Editor in time for inclusion in the next newsletter.
(vii) Media/Newsletter Representative
(vii.a) The Media/Newsletter Representative shall ensure that a newsletter is published and sent to each member at least once a year.
(vii.b) The Media/Newsletter Representative shall ensure that the newsletter is uploaded on the internet.
(viii) Chapter Representative – Regional
(viii.a) The Regional Representative shall be the chief representative for the Association in the community and liaise with the Consulate-General of Japan, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations and the JETAA worldwide.
(ix) Chapter Representative – International
(ix.a) The International Representative shall be the chief representative for the Association to JETAA International and liaise with the Consulate-General of Japan and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations and will be responsible for keeping all members informed on International activities.
(x) Regional Representative
(x.a) The Regional Representative shall attend or coordinate JET Programme promotion activities organised by JETAA WA, Consulate-General of Japan or other, in regional areas, as available. This may include career seminars, orientation days, school visits and other promotional events.
(x.b) The Regional Representative shall endeavour to raise awareness of the JET Programme and JETAAWA to business and academic communities outside the metropolitan area.
(x.c) The Regional Representative shall endeavour to increase collaboration between JETAAWA, other Japanese-interest groups and the Japanese community in regional WA.
(xi) Promotions Representative
(xi.a) The Promotions Representative shall attend or coordinate other representatives to attend JET Programme promotion activities run by JETAAWA, Consulate-General of Japan or other. This may include career seminars, orientation days, school visits and other promotional events.
(xi.b) The Promotions Representative shall endeavour to raise awareness of the JET Programme and JETAAWA in the local business and academic communities.
(xi.c) The Promotions Representative shall endeavour to increase collaboration between JETAAWA, other Japanese-interest groups and the Japanese community in Perth.
(xii) Webmaster
(xii.a) The Webmaster shall ensure that the JETAAWA website is updated and maintained.
(xii.b) The Webmaster shall maintain the JETAAWA internet presence.
GENERAL
This charter may be reviewed at the Annual General Meeting.
JETAAWA