j-greens

**J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC)

Terms Of Reference (Endorsed by State Executive, 17. August 2017) (Amended by State Council, 6. July 2019) (Amended by Membership Engagement Committee, 8. June 2020) ABBREVIATIONS AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 (Victoria) QDMGQuick Decision Making Group Quick Decision Making Group J-GreensJewish Greens Jewish Greens

NAME

1. The name of the working group shall be the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC).

PURPOSE OF THE GROUP

2. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall promote the alignment of progressive Jewish community with that of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626, and support opportunities for the membership and participation of Jewish people within the Greens.

MEMBERS & OFFICE BEARERS

3. Membership of the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall be open to all financial paid up Jewish members of the Australian Greens Victoria and to non-Jewish members of the party who support this group.

   3.1. The J-Greens (VIC) shall encourage attendance and participation by Greens aligned Jewish citizens who
   shall hold non-voting member status, subject to the consensus decision of the Members of the Meeting to which
   they are attending.
   
   3.2. Non-voting member shall be excluded from any matters which are subject to party confidentiality.
   
   3.3. Member status may be revoked and such revocation may take place by special majority of wither existing
   members or, when there is urgency, the QDMG will make a immediate determination which subsequently will be
   confirmed in the following meeting.

4. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall annually elect a Convenor, Treasurer and Secretary at an Annual General Meeting.

5. The group may elect co-office bearers. In the event that the group elects to have co-office bearers, it is desirable that at least one of these identify as a woman.

6. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may elect additional office bearers when required.

7. Should any office bearer position become vacant, it shall be filled by a vote of all members present at the next J- Greens (VIC) meeting.

8. The Secretary will maintain a list of current members of J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) for the purposes of advertising and conducting meetings, and conducting ballots to elect office-bearers.

9. A member of the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) cannot hold multiple office bearer positions within the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC).

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS

10. The Convenor or Co-Convenors shall be responsible, among other things, to: a)convene meetings; b)ensure meetings are adequately facilitated; and c)be the main contact person for J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC).

11. The Secretary or Co-Secretaries shall be responsible, among other things, to: a)provide notice of meetings; b)prepare and distribute meeting minutes;

c)prepare and distribute meeting agendas; and
d)keep a record of all proceedings.

12. The Treasurer will be responsible for all records of financial decisions and transactions. The Treasurer will be responsible for ensuring the J-GreensJewish Greens adheres to all relevant AGVAustralian Greens Victoria By-laws regarding financial governance, including those relating to ethical review of donations.

13. The Treasurer will be a signatory, with the Convenor or Co-Convenors and Secretary or Co-Secretaries of J- Greens (VIC), for the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) bank account.

14. Two out of three office bearers must authorise financial transactions.

15. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall offer access to an reference experts group to give advice on Jewish matters during normal Parliamentary business, during elections, on election strategy and to all elected representatives.

16. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may work with members, branches, working groups and all levels of the Greens to promote effective means of engagement with the Jewish community.

17. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may develop resources, provide training and mentorship to elected representatives and Greens spokespeople about Jewish issues, and the way local Victorian issues can be deeply affected by Israel & Palestinian affairs.

18. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall support other groups and bodies within the confederation of Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 to share and develop multicultural awareness.

BUDGET

19. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) has no authority to incur debts or secure loans on behalf of the party.

20. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may make arrangements with the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Treasurer to open and operate a bank account.

21. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) will only expend funds provided by the party where this is an accordance with a budget that has been ratified by State Council.

22. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) Convenor and Treasurer will be responsible for approving expenditure in the budget, although any J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) member may request funding for activities

23. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) Convenor and Treasurer are responsible for acquittal in co-ordination with the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Treasurer.

COMMUNICATION AND DECISION MAKING

24. J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) meetings will be conducted in accordance with AGVAustralian Greens Victoria meeting procedures.

25. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may operate an internal AGVAustralian Greens Victoria email list.

26. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall meet at least once per quarter, either in person or by phone or videoconference.

27. Valid meetings of the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall be those advertised to the group’s membership in advance and attended by at least five J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) members, including at least one convenor.

28. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall not make decisions on behalf of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria, except when delegated by State Council to do so.

29. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) members and its office bearers shall be bound by the Membership Code of Conduct.

30. Any decisions made by meetings of the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall be minuted and sent to the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Secretary within ten days of the meeting.

31. Decisions will be made by a serious at consensusthe circumstance in which no member of the party body who is in attendance objects to the proposal being passed, having been given the opportunity to do so at all times (as described part 48. of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution).

32. So far as is practicable and possible, each meeting will set a date, time and venue for the next meeting. Where the date has not been set, or must be changed, the Secretary shall advertise the date, time and venue at least five days ahead. However, an urgent meeting may be called with no less than 12. hours notice if at least four of the members, including one office bearer, agree that it is necessary.

33. Notice of meetings shall be provided to all members, and an agenda will be distributed in advance of each meeting.

34. Unconfirmed minutes will be distributed by the Secretary within five days of each meeting to all members and to others who were present.

35. The confirmation of previous minutes will be considered at each meeting, and copies are to be sent to state office

36. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall manage a secure online forum (such as Facebook) for members and observers that has the following purpose: To provide an avenue for progressing matters related to Jewish Greens Victoria’s mission to “​ promote the alignmentof progressive Jewish community with that of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626, and support opportunities for the membershipand participation of Jewish people within the Greens ​.” Posts, discussions, and comments should stick to matters relevant to this mission. The convenor holds responsibility of removing any items which depart or distract from furthering our mission with approval of QDMGQuick Decision Making Group.

QUICK DECISION MAKING GROUP

37. J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) may establish a Quick Decision Making Group (QDMGQuick Decision Making Group) for instances where urgent decisions need to be made before the next scheduled meeting of J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC). It shall operate in accordance with the provisions set out in parts 50-55. of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution, the main points of which are as follows:

    1. QDMGQuick Decision Making Group membership shall consist of any two of the office bearers and two ordinary other member;

    2. the QDMGQuick Decision Making Group quorum shall be three members;

    3. QDMGQuick Decision Making Group decisions must be made by consensusthe circumstance in which no member of the party body who is in attendance objects to the proposal being passed, having been given the opportunity to do so;

    4. all QDMGQuick Decision Making Group decisions shall have immediate effect, but be put to the next meeting for ratification; and

    5. a written record shall be kept of all QDMGQuick Decision Making Group decisions.

ANTICIPATED LONGEVITY

38. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) is an ongoing Working Group.

39. In the event that the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) fails to meet its minimum meeting and reporting requirements, or in any instance where the J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) is seen to be breaching party rules, the State Council of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 Victoria may choose to dissolve the group.

REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY

40. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall provide a written report to each AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Annual State Conference on: a)current membership; b)meeting activity; and c)progress on areas that are within the purpose.

41. The J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) Secretary must respond to any written correspondence from the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Convenor and/or Secretary at the next available meeting.

ACCOUNTABILITY

42. All records of the proceedings of J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) shall be kept by the Secretary.

43. If there is a change of Secretary, all records will be passed on within 7. days.

44. J-GreensJewish Greens (VIC) will provide State Council – immediately following the conclusion of a general election campaign – with a written report of its campaigning.