1. Name: The Kiribati Tungaru Association (KTA)

2. Emblem: the emblem of the Association, for the purpose of letter headings, circulars, complimentary slips, etc, shall be two palm trees on a tranquil beach with a sunrise in the distance and two birds flying in the sky. In addition, the initials of the association, KTA, will be displayed on it.

3. Aims:

The aims of the Association shall be:

  • to bring people of I-Kiribati origin and their families into contact with each other through social gatherings and Dance Practices; to teach the younger generation about the culture and traditions of Kiribati through dialogue and dance;

  • to welcome visitors from Kiribati and ensure that they take happy memories home with them of the Kiribati community in the UK;

  • to encourage those from other countries who have worked or visited Kiribati to continue

  • to enjoy those experiences through membership and support of the association;

  • to promote an increased knowledge of Kiribati in the United Kingdom through displays of traditional I-Kiribati dancing and by exhibition of I-Kiribati artefacts.

4. Kiribati Independence Celebration:

The major event in the Association’s calendar shall be a gathering co-ordinated by the Executive Committee known as the Annual Get-Together held close to the 12th July, the date when Kiribati gained its Independence in 1979.

5. Membership:

Membership is open to those of I-Kiribati descent and their families and anyone else who may have worked in or visited Kiribati and wishes to maintain contact with the islands, being willing to co-operate in furthering the aims of the Association. Nothing shall prevent anyone from becoming a member, the only criteria is the payment of subscription fees as detailed below.

Membership shall consist of:

Individual Membership (One adult)

Family Membership (Two adults + any children Under 18)

Family members over the age of 18 must apply for individual membership to be eligible to vote. Companies and other bodies, in agreement with the objects of the Association, may be admitted into membership by the Executive Committee as Corporate Members or kindred organisations as appropriate. Voting rights of members shall be: 1 Vote per Individual Membership and 2 Votes per Family Membership.

6. Subscription:

Members of the Association shall pay such annual subscription as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine, subject to the approval of the subsequent Annual General Meeting.

The subscription shall be for the calendar year ( 1st January – 31st December ) and shall be payable on the 1st January.

Should eighteen months have elapsed since the payment of the annual subscription was due and notice has been given without effect, any member will be deemed to have withdrawn from the Association.

7. Administration:

The administration of the Association and its affairs shall be vested in its officers who serve as members of the Executive Committee.

Officers of the Association shall be elected to the Executive Committee at the AGM for a three years term and shall include: Chairman, Dance Organiser, Dance Coordinator (nominated by the Dance Group), Secretary, Treasurer, Co-Trustee, and Publicity Officer. The role of Chairman is to mediate decision making.

Nominations for the post of Dance Coordinator will be made only by the Dance Group and will be submitted to the Executive Committee on their behalf by the Dance Organiser. If any elected member fails without good cause to attend three consecutive meetings they will be deemed to have resigned from the Executive Committee. An incidental vacancy in the Chairmanship shall be provisionally filled by the majority vote of those present at a meeting of the Executive Committee. In the event of any other Executive Committee post becoming vacant the Executive Committee may fill the post temporarily by co-opting someone to serve until the next AGM when they must stand for election.

The Executive Committee may appoint a sub-committee for any purpose within the objects of the Association and may dissolve any such Committee. A sub-committee should comprise no less than three members of the Association, including at least one member of the Executive Committee through whom the sub-committee will report. Clear Terms of Reference defining the objective, time scale and manner in which the sub-committee will operate, will be provided by the Executive Committee who will name one person to act as chairman.

The Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time when instructed by the Chairman and on such date and at such place as the Chairman shall determine. The Executive Committee will administer the Association within resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting and will normally meet quarterly but not less than twice during the year. A quorum for the Executive Committee shall be 4 members.

All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reached by a majority voting in favour of a proposal. In the event of a tied vote the Chairman will have a casting vote which must be cast in favour of maintaining the status quo. The Chairman’s role is to mediate, and in the event of agreement not being reached regarding a matter of particular significance the decision shall be adjourned to the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting should a proposal for an EGM be carried by a majority decision.

8. The Annual General Meeting:

The Annual General Meeting will be held during the Independence Celebrations known as the Annual Get-Together when the election of officers will be made for 3 year terms by secret ballot by those paid-up members of the Association present at the meeting. On those occasions that the AGM is to include the election of a member/s to the Executive Committee the KTA Secretary will circulate nomination papers with the AGM Agenda to everyone attending the meeting and will be responsible for conducting the election. He/she will explain the voting procedure and advise everyone present of the time by which they must post their voting papers into a suitable receptacle prominently positioned in the hall. At the commencement of the AGM the Secretary will announce these arrangements and will name anyone assisting him/her with the election process, including checking and counting the votes. At the completion of the election process the Secretary will announce the results and name the newly appointed

Executive Committee member/s who will then take their place/s at the table. In the event of a new Chairman being appointed it is at this point that the chair will be handed overa nd a suitable vote of thanks proposed to the departing Chairman. The proceedings of the AGM will then continue with the new Chairman in place. Any motion by a member affecting the Constitution should be made in writing, seconded and submitted to the Secretary in reasonable time (at least one month prior to the date of the AGM) for inclusion in the AGM Agenda. Other matters may be raised by members at the AGM during “Any Other Business”. The Treasurer will present the Association’s Accounts for the Year, duly audited , for adoption at the AGM, and will advise the meeting of the Auditor nominated by the Executive Committee for the forthcoming year, to be approved by the meeting.

The funds of the Association are at the disposal of the Executive Committee for all expenses connected with the administration of the Association which will normally involve the cost of Meetings and the travel expenses of Committee members, the publication of an annual newsletter, the maintenance of the Associations website, and matters related to the Annual Get-Together. Proposals for any item of extraordinary or exceptionally large expenditure for any other purpose should have the approval of the Annual General Meeting.

Funds cannot be distributed to members. The income or property of the Association will not be distributed to any member during its lifetime. The Annual General Meeting may appoint trustees to care for any property or other assets of the Association.

9. Agenda for the Annual General Meeting:

The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be:

(a) A Report by the Chairman on the Association’s activities during the year.

(b) Motions affecting the Constitution

(c) A Report by the Dance Organiser

(d) Presentation of the Association’s Annual Accounts by the Treasurer

(e) Venue for the next Independence Celebration

(f) Any other business outlined in the Agenda, circulated by email or by post at least 30 days before the event.

10. The Dance Group:

The Dance Group will be managed as a sub-committee of the Executive Committee for the purpose of training, promoting and performing traditional I-Kiribati dances for the entertainment of members of the KTA, and the public, at cultural events. It will consist of all KTA members who want to join in. No one shall have the right to exclude any member of the KTA from belonging to the Dance Group. Being a member of the Dance Group will not preclude membership of any other dance group but they must advise the Dance Organiser should they do so. The Dance Organiser shall have responsibility for arranging practices and performances, training participants and ensuring that standards in traditional dancing, costumes and practices are maintained, and liaising with the Executive Committee.

The Dance Coordinator shall be responsible for managing the activities of the Dance Group, accounting for the funds raised and expended for dancing activities and assisting the Dance Organiser as required. The funds of the Dance Group will be held in a separate account known as the Dance Fund administered by the Treasurer on behalf of the Dance Group. These funds are raised by the Dance Group and are solely for Dance Group purposes and expenses. Dance funds cannot be distributed to any members. The hire of Dance Practice venues and other costs associated with rehearsals and displays including costumes, equipment, and travelling costs are among the customary expenses financed by the Dance fund. In all other respects the Dance Fund will have the same supervision regarding the recording and auditing of accounts as other Association funds.

11. Proceedings at General Meetings:

No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present of ten persons entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted, each being a paid-up member of the Association. A resolution put to the vote of a meeting shall be decided on a show of hands.

12. Dissolution of the Association:

If the Annual General Meeting decides it necessary to dissolve the Association it shall call a Special General Meeting of which not less than 21 days notice (stating the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority present who have paid the necessary subscription and are entitled to vote, the Executive Committee shall have the power to realize any assets held by or on behalf of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to a charity concerned with the Kiribati Republic, or with similar aims to those of the Association, or to more than one of these. A copy of the Statement of Accounts for the final accounting period of the Association must be presented to the Annual or Special General Meeting for approval before any dissolution is completed.

13. Date of Adoption of this Constitution:

This Constitution was adopted by resolution of members present at the AGM held on the 31st July, 2010

Signed by KTA Chairperson on 14.06.2022

Krista Dixon

KTA Chairperson