6. THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS

a) The affairs of the association shall be managed and controlled by the Council which in addition to any powers and authorities conferred by this constitution, may exercise all such powers and do all such things as are within the objects of the association, and which are not by the Act or by this constitution required to be done by the association in a general meeting.

b)The Council shall have the full management and control of the funds and other property of the association.

c) The Council shall have the authority to interpret the meaning of this constitution and any other matter relating to the affairs of the association on which these rules are silent.

6.1 Council Appointments

a) The Council shall comprise of a Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Public Officer and two other Council Elders.

b) The position of Public Officer shall be a permanent position until such time as the member resigns from the position, becomes deceased, by their actions brings the position and/or the association into disrepute, or is charged with a serious criminal conviction making them ineligible to remain in office.

c) A Council Elder must be a current financial Ordinary or Clerical Member.

d) No Associated Coven shall have more than one of its members as a Council Elder without the express and written authority of the existing Council.

e) Council Elders may hold up to two Council positions where there are insufficient nominations for a Council role. However, where a person holds two Council positions, they shall only have the privilege of a single vote.

f) A senior member of Oak and Mistletoe shall always hold the position of Council Chair.

g) The Chair holds the deciding vote in a tie.

h) The first Council of the association shall be appointed from the members of Oak and Mistletoe and shall hold office until a new Council is elected from the general membership at the second AGM. The first Council Elders can remain in office if unopposed. A new Council of Elders shall be elected at each subsequent AGM.

i) All Council Elders may be re-elected to council for a maximum of five consecutive terms.

j) Any Ordinary or Clerical Member seeking a Council position must be nominated by another Ordinary or Clerical Member of the association. All nominations must be delivered to a Council Elder no later than 28 days before the AGM. Each nomination must be signed either in hardcopy or electronically by both the nominee and the proposer.

k) Notice of all persons seeking election to the Council shall be given to all members of the association along with the notice calling for the AGM at which time the election shall take place.

l) Postal, email and proxy votes will be accepted forms of voting in addition to those votes delivered through a physical show of hands where appropriate.

m) The Council may appoint a person to fill a casual vacancy and such a Council Elder shall hold office until the next AGM and shall be eligible for election to the Council without nomination.

6.2 Proceedings of the Council

a) The Council shall meet at least once each quarter. This meeting can occur online with all members present as long as the Secretary keeps a record of the meeting in printed form. An online forum or other such conferencing technology will be utilised for this purpose.

b) Questions arising at any meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority of votes and in the event of a tied vote, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.

c) A quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be at least half of the members of the Council.

6.3 Disqualification of Council Elders

The office of a Council Elder shall become vacant if a Council Elder (excluding the Public Officer (see 6.1.b), is:

a) Disqualified from being a Council Elder by the Act,

b) Expelled as a member under this constitution,

c) Permanently incapacitated by ill health or similar means,

d) Absent without apology from more than two consecutive Council meetings,

e) He/she submits in writing, his/her resignation to a Council Elder,

f) He/ she cease to be a member of the association.