Athletes Commission
DEFINITIONS
"Athlete" means a person who:
• is an active athlete in that he or she competes or has competed in Weightlifting at a national or international level within the previous 4 years of being elected or appointed to the Commission;
• is over the age of 18 years; and
• has not been sanctioned for a doping offence during his or her sports career; and
• continues to be a member of the State / Territory Association he or she is representing.
"Athletes Commission" means the Athletes' Commission of the AWF.
"Commission" means an athletes' commission of the AWF.
“AWF” means Australian Weightlifting Federation.
ROLE OF A COMMISSION
The Athletes' Commission represents the views of athletes within its AWF and will advise it of all matters relating to the Sport.
COMPOSITION OF A COMMISSION
The AWF Athletes' Commission must:
• be comprised solely of Athletes;
• ideally be represented by 1 male and 1 female from each State Association. A minimum of 1 person from each State is required.
• include within its membership persons of both genders;
• have a majority of its members elected by their peers; and
• include as an ex officio member any member of the AOC Athletes' Commission who competes or competed in the Sport.
A National Federation may appoint Athletes to a Commission.
STRUCTURE
Each member of a Commission must be elected or appointed for a term of 4 years. Members can be re-elected or re-appointed provided they continue to satisfy eligibility requirements. In the event that a Athletes' Commission member retires from the Commission then an election within the respective State is to be held to appoint a new member.
Each Commission must meet at least once a year, and for such meetings a quorum must consist of a majority of its members.
Members of a Commission must have equal voting rights provided the Chairperson of a Commission may have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote.
Within its financial means, each National Federation must assist the organisation of the meetings of its Commission and communications between the members of its Commission.
CHAIRMAN
The Chairman and Vice Chairman will be elected for a period of 1 year.
Elections for Chairman and Vice Chairman are to be held during the National Championships of each year.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman can re-nominate for the positions.
REPRESENTATION OF COMMISSION WITHIN THE NATIONAL FEDERATION
Each Commission is to be represented at the general meetings of the AWF by at least one member, elected by the Commission. It is optional for the AWF whether these representatives will have the right to vote, but the representatives must have the right to be heard on any matter affecting athletes within the Sport.
Each Commission is to be represented within the board or executive committee of the AWF by at least one member, elected by the Commission, and who will have the right to vote. In such capacity the representative must act solely in the best interests of the National Federation and its members as a whole.
Devised and Adopted by the AWF Athletes Commission, during the Inaugural Meeting, held September 6, 2003 .
Amended by the AWF Athletes Commission , during its meeting held June 26, 2004