ATOAI- Adventure Tour Operators’ Association of India, was founded in 1994 with mere handful of members. Now in 2008, 14 years after its nascence, it is a national body comprising over 150 members from across the country actively promoting Adventure and Eco Tourism in India. The association was founded with an aim to create awareness about the immense potential for adventure tourism in India and to harness this potential in a safe, sensitive and environment friendly manner. ATOAI members are recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India..

They are committed:

a) to strictly follow environmental practices,
b) employment of the local community
c) social responsibility of helping the community where ever possible in integrity, learning and employment with the help of adventure tours activities.
d) to bring professionalism in the adventure tour industry and foster fellowship and friendship among the professionals.

The Adventure Tour Operators’ Association of India was conceptualized by seven dynamic founder members from the adventure travel trade, who visioned ATOAI to be strong support group that led to both group and individual profits by establishing adventure as one of the main tourism attractions to India. With her natural topography of towering mountains, steep cliffs & dizzying heights on one hand and swiftly flowing currents, cascading rapids & fierce swells on the other – India is a natural paradise for the discerning traveler.

The ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA has been founded to promote adventure tourism in India and to create an awareness overseas about the potential of adventure tourism in India. All income of the Association shall be utilized towards the promotion of the aims and objectives of ATOA.

The Aims and Objectives of the society are as follows :-

To promote national integration, international welfare and goodwill.

To assist students by scholarship to pursue higher education, study and research in the field of Development of Adventure Tourism in India .

To institute chairs and fellowship in India.

To conduct, seminars, group discussions, course of studies, cultural meetings, to promote adventure tourism in India.

To take all steps which may be necessary for promoting, encouraging and assisting in the development of Adventure Tourism throughout the country and to take initiative to secure the welfare of the Adventure Tourism Trade.

To encourage and promote interaction within the adventure tour operators fraternity and with other travel agents on all subjects involving their common good and benefit.

To promote equal opportunity for all visitors to enjoy the adventure tourism and travel facilities without distinction of race, colour, creed or nationality.

To set up and maintain high ethical mores in the industry.

To undertake such welfare activities as the members cannot take individually.

To communicate with Chambers of Commerce, other Mercantile and public Bodies in India, Government Departments or Committees, Department of Tourism and various foreign and local associations and corporations, companies and concerns and promote measures in the interests of the and nominate members to act on them.

To get affiliations with similar organizations in other countries.

To produce regular reports about the achievements of the members of the Association and to do all such things as all incidental or conducive to attainment of the above objectives.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall mean the members of the Executive Committee of the Association constituted as provided by these rules. The Executive Committee shall be entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Association. The minimum numbers of the Executive shall be seven and maximum shall be nine consisting of the following:

Four office bearers namely:

President
Vice-President
Hony. Secretary
Hony. Treasurer

Five members.

The immediate past President shall be one of the members of the Executive Committee.

ELECTION

The election of the Executive Committee of the association shall take place at every alternate Annual General Meeting of the Association. A person who has been a member of the Association for a period of one year shall be eligible to offer himself for election to the Executive Committee. Retiring Executive Committee Members shall be eligible for re-election. The office bearers i.e. The President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall not hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms. The election of the committee shall be by Secret Ballot and only those candidates securing an absolute majority shall be declared elected. If, necessary, a second ballot shall be held at which a simple majority shall be accepted.

THE TERMS OF OFFICE

The terms of office of the Executive Committee shall commence immediately after its election at the Annual General Meeting and shall continue until the next Annual General Meeting. The elected members shall hold office for two consecutive terms. Any member of the committee who, without leave of absence being granted, does not attend three consecutive committee meetings, is considered to have resigned. The committee may co-opt any member of the Association in order to fill a vacant postion on account of this or any other reason until the date of the next Annual General Meeting.

POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall be entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Association.

At any meeting of the Executive Committee, four of the members of the Executive Committee present in person shall constiture a quorum.

The decision of the Committee shall be taken in the form of a resolution passed by a majority of the members present. In case of an equality of votes on any resolution the President shall have a casting or second vote.

Any member of the Executive Committee present at the meeting may demand a secret ballot.

SOURCES OF INCOME AND ITS UTILISATION OF FUNDS

1. The committee shall have full control over the funds of the Association and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Association and in particular may from time to time raise or borrow or secure the repayment of any sums of money in all respect as they think fit.

2. The committee shall have power to invest and deal with any of the monies of the Association not immediately required for the purpose thereof in such manner and in such assets, properties, securities, share deposits or in investments of any kind whatsoever including immovable property of any tenure or otherwise as they may determine from time to time as per the Income Tax act and Rules framed thereunder and from time to time to sell, vary or realise all or any of such assets, properties, securities, shares, deposits and investments.

3. All expenditure shall be sanctioned by the Committee.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

a) Maintaining a Membership Register of members.

b) Preparing the Minutes of the Committee Meetings and/or the Annual General Meetings.

c) Preparing and dispatching notices of the Meetings.

d) Maintaining the attendance register of members at meetings.

e) Receiving, preparing and dispatching of all correspondence.

f) Presenting applications from candidates for membership.

g) Preparing the Agenda of all meetings in consultation with the President.

h) Producing an Annual Report on the activities of the Association which shall be considered by the Committee and submitted at the Annual General Meeting.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

The Treasurer is empowered to receive or pay on behalf of the Association all income arising from:

(a) Admission fee approved by the Executive Committee.

(b) Subscription of members.

(c) Revenue from organised events.

(d) Donations etc. approved by the Executive Committee

The treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association. He shall receive and deposit with a Bank all the funds of the Association in accordance with this Rule. He shall present an Annual Report and Audited Balance Sheet to the Committee latest by 30th September, which shall consider it and submit it at the Annual General Meetings. All payments on account of the association shall be subject to the approval of the committee.

BANK ACCOUNT

A bank account for the Association be opened with any scheduled bank and that such account be operated upon, by any two of the following persons (jointly) and that the Bank be and is hereby authorised to meet cheques drawn by any two of them (jointly) and to negotiate any bills of exchange and promissory notes made drawn or accepted or endorsed by any two of them (jointly).

The President
The Vice President
The Secretary
The Treasurer

FINANCIAL YEAR

The financial year of the Association shall close on 31st March every year.

AUDITORS

An auditor or auditors shall be appointed by the members at every Annual General Meeting. The Auditor or Auditors shall hold office till the following Annual General Meeting. Retiring Auditor or Auditors shall be eligible for re-appointment. The Auditors shall be responsible for inspection of accounts and verification of the state of funds of the Association and shall present to the members a report on the state of account of the Association.

POWER AND DUTIES OF THE GENERAL BODY (Meeting of the Association)

The General Body shall constitute of all members of ATOA as provided by these:

Annual General Meeting

Within six months of the closing of the account each and every year there shall be held a General Meeting which shall be called Annual General Meeting to transact the following business:

a) To receive, consider and pass the account of the Association and the report of the Executive Committee and Auditors Report thereof which shall be submitted to the meeting.

b) To elect members of the Executive Committee.

c) To review the work of and discuss the policy of the Association.

d) To appoint an Auditor for the ensuing year.

e) To transact any other business or matters which members of the Association may wish to place before the General Meeting.

f) The exact date of the Annual General Meeting shall be fixed by the committee.

g) For the Annual General Meeting twenty one days notice will be given to all the members at their last known address and/or by advertisement in such newspapers as may be decided by the Executive Committee.

h) All decisions shall be taken by a majority of members present. In the event of any equality of votes, the President will have a casting vote.

Quorum for the General Meeting

The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be one third of the total number of members.

If an Annual General Meeting cannot proceed with the business due to lack of quorum it shall automatically be postponed to the day one week later and at the postponed Annual General Meeting members present shall form the quorum.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

An extra ordinary General Meeting may be called by the secretary either on request in written by a two third majority of the Members of the Executive Committee or on request by one third of the total members of the Association. The quorum for an Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be one third of the total number of members. All resolutions at the extra ordinary General Meeting shall be passed by a majority of the members present.

The Secretary shall inform in writing the members about the date of the Extra ordinary meeting at least twenty one days in advance and shall state in the notice the details of the matter for discussion at the meeting with a brief explanatory note. Nothing shall be considered by the extra ordinary General Meeting except the matters for the consideration of which the meeting has been convened and any amendments to such motions of which notice in writing has been given to the secretary at least seven days before the date of meeting.

Filing of Annual List of the Executive Members of the Association as per Section 4 of the Act

Once in every year as required under section 4 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 a list shall be filed with the Registrar of Societies of the names and addresses and occupations of the members of the Executive Committee then entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Association.

The amendment or extension of the purpose of the Association and amendment of the rules is to be made as per section 12 and 12A of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

The memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations shall not be amended except at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting called specifically for the purpose and no new rule shall be made except on motion considered at an Extra Ordinary General Meeting/ Annual General Meeting of the Association. But no such proposition shall be carried out into effect unless such reports shall have been delivered or sent by post to every member of the Association 10 days before the Extraordinary Meeting convened for the consideration thereof nor unless such proposition shall have been agreed to by the votes of 3/5th of the members delivered in person or by proxy, and in the case of amendment or extension of the purpose of the Association confirmed by the votes of 3/5th of the members present at second Extraordinary Meeting convened at an interval of one month after the former meeting.

Sue and be sued as per Section 6 of the Act

The Association may sue or be sued as per section 6 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in the name of the President, Vice President, Secretary of the Association or any other person appointed by the Executive Committee.

Jurisdiction

That if any dispute arises between the members of the Association, such dispute be referred to the Courts of Original Jurisdiction of Delhi.

Dissolution as per Section 13 and 14 of the Act

The Association shall not be wound up or dissolved as per section 13 & 14 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 except by a Resolution to wind up or dissolve the Association passed by a majority of not less than 3/5th of the voting members of the Association who vote personally at an Extra Ordinary General Meeting of which notice shall have been given to every member twenty one clear days before the date of meeting setting out full particulars of the Resolution proposed and the reason therefore.

If upon winding up or dissolution of the Association there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any money or property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other institution the votes of not less than 3/5th of the Members present personally or by proxy at the dissolution or in default thereof by the court of the District Judge of Delhi.

All the provisions of the Societies Act, XXI of 1860 (Punjab Amendment Act of 1957) as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi shall apply to this Association.

We the undersigned members of the Association, certify that this is a correct copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Association, the authorized abbreviation of which is ATOA.