About the Sakai Wellington Association

About the Sakai Wellington Association

The Sakai Wellington Association was founded on July 28, 1994 in the spirit of the sister city relationship formed on February 4 the same year, to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two cities and to contribute to the advancement of international goodwill. The Association has facilitated a variety of exchanges with Wellington, including educational, cultural, sports, and youth exchanges. Our aim is to continue to deepen the friendship between our two cities and among the members of the association, building on that sister city spirit into the future as well.

Membership

President Kazumasa Kuzumura
Vice-presidents Ikuko Nakamoto
Ryuji Amano
Executives 13
Treasurers 2
Advisors 2
Private Members 52
Group Members 17
Corporate Members 10
Annual Fees
Private Membership
¥3,000/person(general)  1,000/person(student)
Group Membership
¥5,000/group
Corporate Membership
¥10,000/company
Date of Establishment July 28, 1994
Contact c/o Plaza of Multicultural Exchange Sakai 5F 2-1 Minamikawara-machi Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi,Osaka 590-0078,Japan TEL：＋81-(0)72-340-1090 FAX：＋81-(0)72-340-1091 E-mail: swa@sakai-sfc-council.com

（Current as of July 4, 2024）

Association Committees

General Affairs and Public Relations Committee

Committee Chairperson Kana Takeyama
Committee Members 3
Activities The committee organises the financial affairs and general meetings, as well as managing the website and the publication of the annual report. Responsible for overseeing the financial management and spreading information on the association’s activities, this committee is charged with a vitally important role.

Project Committee

Committee Chairperson Shiro Tange
Committee Members 9
Activities As the name suggests, this committee is involved in all the Association’s projects. The committee discusses events, like the Association-facilitated Kiwi English Classes, and Cultural Understanding Workshops, and ways to make them more creative and original for the participants. The committee is also working hard to be able to offer even better projects and events in the future.

Yearly Events

In order to promote mutual exchange and understanding between Sakai and Wellington Cities, the Association will hold the following events:

  • Kiwi English Classes
  • New Zealand Cultural Understanding Workshops
  • Organising the reception of students through the Sakai-Wellington Educational Exchange (every second year)

etc.

Sakai-Wellington Association Constitution

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL RULES

Article 1.(NAME)

The name of the Association will be Sakai Wellington Association.

Article 2.(SECRETARIAT)

The Secretariat of the Association will be located in Sakai City.

CHAPTER 2 GOALS AND PROJECTS

Article 3.(GOALS)

The aim of the Association will be to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two cities and among the members of the association and to contribute to the advancement of international goodwill, based on the sister city relationship that Sakai and Wellington, New Zealand share.

Article 4.(PROJECTS)

To achieve the above goals, the Association shall organise projects to promote exchange between the citizens of both cities as well as other necessary projects.

CHAPTER 3 MEMBERSHIP

Article 5.(TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP)

Membership of the Association will consist of private, group, and corporate members.

Article 6. (JOINING)

Persons wishing to become members of the Association shall submit a membership application to the Association President.

Article 7.(MEMBERSHIP FEE)
  1. Members shall pay a membership fee as set down below

     

    1. Private membership ￥3,000 /person (general)  1,000/person(student)
    2. Group membership ￥5,000 /group
    3. Corporate membership ￥10,000 /company
  2. Once paid, the membership fee is non-refundable.
Article 8.(WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP)

Should a member wish to end their membership, they shall submit a notification of withdrawal of membership to the Association President.

2. Members that have failed to pay the membership fee for two years shall be deemed to have ended the membership, even in the absence of notification of withdrawal, and shall be removed from the member list.

CHAPTER 4 EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

Article 9.(EXECUTIVE MEMBERS)

The Association shall include the following positions.

1. President 1
2. Vice-Presidents 2
3. Executives up to 20
4. Auditors 2
Article 10.(EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT)
  1. The Executives shall be appointed from within the Association’s own membership at a general meeting.
  2. The Association President and Vice-Presidents shall be appointed from with the Executive members.
Article 11.(EXECUTIVE DUTIES)
  1. The President shall be in charge of running the Association, and act as the Association’s representative.
  2. The Vice-Presidents shall assist the President, and should the President be absent or unable to fill their duties, the Vice-Presidents shall fulfil these duties.
  3. The Executive members shall comprise the Executive Board, and determine the execution of the Association’s affairs.
  4. The Auditors shall inspect the Association’s finances.
Article 12.(EXECUTIVE TERMS OF OFFICE)
  1. The term of office for all Executives will be 2 years, though reappointment is possible.
  2. Should an Executive member be appointed to fill a vacancy on the board or to increase the total number of board members, that Executive member’s term will be the same as the rest of the term of their predecessor or the other current Executive board members.
  3. Executive members shall continue to fulfil their duties even after the end of their term until the commencement of their successors’ duties.
Article 13.(ADVISORS AND SENIOR ADVISORS)
  1. The Association will have the ability to appoint a small number of Advisors and Senior Advisors.
  2. Advisors and Senior Advisors shall be appointed by the President after being nominated by the Executive Board and receiving approval at the General Meeting.
  3. Advisors and Senior Advisors will be able to give their opinions on Association projects on request of the President.

CHAPTER 5 STRUCTURE

Article 14.(EXECUTIVE BOARD)
  1. The Executive Board shall meet when the President deems it necessary.
  2. The Chairperson of the Executive Board will be the President.
Article 15.(EXECUTIVE BOARD RESOLUTIONS)
  1. The Executive Board shall consider any matters brought up at the General Meeting
  2. Matters will be decided by a majority-vote of the board members present. In the case of a tie, the President shall have a casting vote.
Article 16.(GENERAL MEETINGS)
  1. The President shall call one Annual General Meeting each year.
  2. Special General Meetings may also be called, as the President deems necessary.
  3. The President shall chair all General Meetings.
Article 17.(GENERAL MEETING RESOLUTIONS)
  1. The following matters will be voted upon at General Meetings

     

    1. Matters relating to the Association’s project plans or annual budget
    2. Matters relating to project reporting and account statements
    3. Other matters as the President deems necessary
  2. General Meeting Resolutions will be reached through a majority-vote. In the case of a tie, the casting vote will lie with the Chair.
Article 18.(SUBCOMMITTEES)
  1. The Executive Board will be able to create subcommittees to promote Association projects.
  2. Subcommittee members shall be appointed by the President from among the executive and general members based on decisions by the Executive Board.

CHAPTER 6 ACCOUNTS

Article 19.(EXPENSES)

Association expenses will be covered by membership fees, subsidies and donations.

Article 20.(INTERIM BUDGET)

An interim budget shall be executed until the annual budget of the fiscal year is approved at the general meeting.

2.The interim budget shall be approved at the executive board.

3. The interim budget shall be deemed to have been executed as part of the annual budget of the fiscal year after approval.

Article 21.(FISCAL YEAR)

The Association’s financial year begins on April 1 each year, and concludes on March 31 the following year.

CHAPTER 7 SUPPLEMENTARY RULES

Article 22.(BYLAWS)

The President shall establish bylaws separate to this constitution.

(SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS)
  1. This constitution will come into effect on the date of the Association’s founding (July 28, 1994).
  2. In spite of the provisions in Article 21 above, the first financial year will be deemed to begin on the date of the Association’s founding, finishing on March 31, the following year.
  3. In spite of the provisions in Article 12 above, the term of office for Executive members in the first year, will begin on the date of the Association’s foundation, and end on the day of the Annual General Meeting held in 1996.
(SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS)

This constitution is effective as of June 24, 1999.

This constitution is effective as of July 4, 2024.