Association Regulations

This association is named "สมาคมวิศวกรรมเกษตรแห่งประเทศไทย", abbreviated "สวกท." in Thai, with the English name "Thai Society of Agricultural Engineering", abbreviated "TSAE".

The emblem of the association is the official logo of the association.

The office of the association is located at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University.

To act as an advisor and to promote education, research, and dissemination of knowledge in agricultural engineering, bioengineering, and related industries.

To promote unity, uphold honor, provide mutual assistance among members, and offer welfare to members.

To promote charity, sports, and recreation.

To promote the honor of the agricultural engineering profession and members engaged in agricultural engineering work for the public benefit.

To coordinate with institutions both domestic and international that share similar objectives.

There are four categories of members:

• Regular members: those working in engineering, in the field of agricultural engineering, or those interested in the association’s affairs.
• Associate members: students.
• Honorary members: distinguished or highly qualified persons whom the executive committee unanimously resolves to invite as honorary members.
• Corporate members: e.g., companies, limited partnerships, associations, cooperative groups, farmer groups, etc.

Those wishing to apply as associate or regular members shall submit an application in the form and manner prescribed by the association, together with the membership fee, to the Secretary-General.

Applicants must have the following qualifications: good conduct; and not be subject to imprisonment by a court judgment, except for petty offenses or offenses committed through negligence.

Once the executive committee admits an applicant as a member, the Secretary-General shall notify the applicant in writing together with one copy of the regulations, and notify the registrar and treasurer in writing within 7 days.

The registrar shall issue membership numbers and cards, record all categories of members in the register, and announce the names in the journal and at the association’s office.

Membership cards shall be determined and produced by the executive committee, with the President signing the cards.

If the executive committee decides not to admit an applicant, the Secretary-General shall notify the applicant in writing and refund the fee within 7 days, without depriving the applicant of the right to reapply after 1 year.

A regular member may be invited to become an honorary member without losing the original rights, but must fully perform the duties of the original membership.

A member may request a change of category upon meeting the qualifications of that category by submitting a written request to the Secretary-General.

Associate members pay 100 baht per year; regular members pay 200 baht per year or a lifetime fee of 2,000 baht; corporate members pay 1,000 baht per year.

Membership fees are counted from the date of application until completing 12 months, counted as one year.

Annual fees shall be paid after expiry counted from the date of application or renewal.

Charges refer to expenses other than membership fees that the association must pay.

Members have the right to wear the association’s emblem, which the association provides for sale.

Members have the right to use the premises, receive the journal or news of the association, and receive the various services provided by the association.

Members have the right to attend the general meeting, of which the Secretary-General shall give at least 15 days’ advance notice.

Members have the right to propose opinions on the association’s affairs to the executive committee or at the general meeting.

Only regular members have the right to stand for election as President of the association.

Regular and corporate members have the right to vote in the election of the President and other resolutions, on a one-member-one-vote basis; corporate members must vote through an authorized signatory or a certification letter from the authorized signatory submitted to the election committee.

Members have the duty to cooperate in promoting and fulfilling the objectives of the association, uphold its honor, comply with its rules and regulations, and cooperate as committee or subcommittee members to support its operations.

Those who lose membership shall not receive the above rights and duties and have no claim to the association’s assets.

Membership is lost when:

• Death.
• Resignation.
• Removal from the register.
• Losing qualifications under Chapter 3, or seriously damaging conduct toward the association, with the executive committee resolving for removal by a three-fourths vote.

A member wishing to resign shall submit a written intention to the Secretary-General for presentation to the executive committee for acknowledgment.

For a member who does not pay fees or has other debts to the association, the treasurer shall send two warning notices at least 30 days apart; if unpaid or unexplained satisfactorily within 30 days after the last warning, the executive committee may remove the name from the register.

Upon loss of membership, the Secretary-General shall notify the treasurer and registrar within 7 days.

The President appoints the executive committee, comprising at least 9 persons, with the following positions:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary-General
• Treasurer
• Registrar
• Reception Officer
• Editor/Publications Officer
• Chair of Academic Affairs
• Chair of Public Relations
• Other positions as appropriate

The annual general meeting shall elect the President every 2 years, with regular and corporate members voting and selecting by majority vote.

Thirty days before the election, a regular member wishing to stand must submit an application to the Secretary-General, or may be nominated by members on the election day.

Candidates or nominees and voting members must not have lost membership under Chapter 6.

The Secretary-General must announce the numbers and names of candidates at least 3 days in advance at the association’s office.

The Secretary-General must announce the numbers and names of eligible voters at least 15 days before the election at the association’s office.

The outgoing executive committee shall prepare the election, with the general meeting selecting an election chair and four assistants as the election committee to conduct and supervise it fairly; they should not be candidates.

The election chair shall count the votes and announce the results to the annual general meeting within the election day.

The President and executive committee hold office for a term of no more than 2 years, counted from the date of handover from the previous committee.

The President chairs the executive committee and general meetings, leads and is responsible for managing the association’s affairs, and may remove committee members with the committee’s consent.

The Vice President assists the President and acts on his behalf when the President is unable to perform duties.

The Secretary-General manages the association’s work as assigned by the President or Vice President, liaises with members and outsiders, maintains the rules, convenes meetings with at least 3 days’ agenda notice, records minutes, and keeps the association’s documents.

The Treasurer receives, disburses, and safeguards funds; keeps accounts of receipts/payments, debts, and financial documents; prepares monthly financial accounts, budgets, and annual balance sheets for the executive committee.

The Registrar maintains the register and records of members.

The Reception Officer handles liaison and hospitality.

The Publications Officer is responsible for producing the association’s documents and journal.

The Chair of Academic Affairs organizes seminars and exhibitions and compiles academic documents.

The Chair of Public Relations manages photography and dissemination of the association’s activities.

Other committee members assist in various affairs and perform duties as assigned by the President.

A committee member vacates office by:

• Completion of term.
• Resignation.
• Death.
• Loss of membership.
• Resolution of the executive committee to remove.
• Imprisonment by court judgment, except for petty offenses or offenses committed through negligence.
• Causing serious damage to the association, with the general meeting passing a vote of no confidence to remove all or some members by a three-fourths vote of members present.

When a committee member vacates office, duties shall be handed over to the incoming member within 30 days; in cases of removal for serious cause, the remaining committee shall carry out the handover.

Administration may be carried out once the committee is fully constituted under Chapter 7, with the President as chair.

The executive committee has the following powers and duties:

• Manage the association’s affairs in accordance with its objectives.
• Issue rules that do not conflict with the objectives.
• Appoint advisory members, subcommittees, or invite distinguished persons as honorary members, whether temporary or permanent.
• Appoint, employ, and dismiss staff of the association.
• Consider and resolve on admission and removal of members.
• Consider giving mementos in the association’s name to those who assist its affairs.
• Consider receiving and giving assistance from government, state enterprises, institutions, and individuals without binding the association in debt, except with approval of the general meeting.

While the new committee has not yet received the handover, the old committee remains responsible as necessary and must complete the handover within 30 days of the new committee’s election, documented in writing.

If the President cannot perform duties, the Vice President acts on his behalf; if both cannot, the committee selects one member to act.

If the presidency becomes vacant for reasons other than end of term, the Vice President serves until the term ends; but if it is vacant due to the President’s resignation, that committee is deemed dissolved and a new election held within 30 days.

If any committee position becomes vacant, the President appoints a regular member to fill it until the term ends.

Advisory members invited by the executive committee provide advice on general affairs and hold office for the term of the appointing committee.

Subcommittees appointed by the executive committee act as assigned from time to time and hold office as assigned or for the term of the appointing committee.

Advisory members and subcommittee members have no right to vote in executive committee meetings.

There are three types of meetings: executive committee meetings, extraordinary general meetings, and annual general meetings.

Executive committee meetings:

• The committee shall meet to discuss affairs at least twice a year, convened by the Secretary-General with the President’s consent or by five or more committee members.
• A quorum requires at least 7 committee members present, chaired by the President; if absent, the meeting selects a temporary chair.
• Resolutions are by majority vote; in a tie, the chair decides.

Extraordinary general meetings:

• The committee may call one by a vote of not less than half.
• At least 20 regular members may request one by written notice to the Secretary-General at least 15 days in advance; if fewer than 20 attend, there is no quorum.
• The Secretary-General arranges and sends the agenda to members at least 7 days before the meeting.
• A quorum requires at least 20 members present.

Annual general meetings:

• The committee shall convene at least once a year; a quorum requires at least 40 regular and corporate members combined; if not met, a new meeting is called within 60 days at which any number attending forms a quorum. The agenda includes: the President’s annual report, the Treasurer’s audited balance sheet, budget proposal, discussion of affairs, and election of the President when due.
• The committee shall notify members in writing at least 15 days in advance, with the venue and agenda.

The President chairs every general meeting; if the President is absent or unable, the Vice President chairs; if both are unable, the meeting selects one committee member as chair.

Unless otherwise required, resolutions are by majority vote; in a tie, the chair of the meeting decides.

At every general meeting and executive committee meeting, the Secretary-General or assistant records the minutes, which the chair signs to certify and keep as evidence.

The President and Treasurer are legally responsible for the association’s finances and assets and shall report on finances and assets to the committee every 6 months.

The association’s funds must be deposited in a reliable bank or financial institution in the association’s name, with a portion in fixed deposits or otherwise to earn returns as the committee deems appropriate, except for donations with donor conditions.

The Treasurer may keep petty cash of no more than 10,000 baht; any excess must be deposited in a bank.

Bank withdrawals require joint signatures of the President or Secretary-General and the Treasurer, up to 50,000 baht each time; amounts over 50,000 but not exceeding 100,000 baht require committee approval; amounts over 100,000 baht require general meeting approval case by case.

Every payment must have written evidence for audit.

The committee shall appoint a legally registered auditor to audit the association’s accounts.

Amendments or additions to the regulations may be made only with approval of the general meeting by at least a two-thirds vote of eligible members present.

The general meeting may pass a resolution when at least 20 eligible members are present, or upon proposal by the executive committee, submitted in writing to the Secretary-General at least 30 days in advance.

The Secretary-General, with the committee’s consent, shall send copies of the proposal to eligible members at least 20 days in advance and post it at the office at least 10 days before the meeting.

Amended or added regulations take effect upon registration with the competent official.

Dissolution requires a three-fourths vote of all eligible members at the general meeting.

The general meeting shall appoint a liquidator, and liquidation shall proceed in accordance with the law.

Any assets remaining after liquidation shall go to a juristic person with the same objectives or to other charitable purposes as the general meeting deems appropriate.