CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1:NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION: The Association shall be called the FELLA DECENDANTS ASSOCIATION Here in after referred to as the Association. ARTICLE II:OBJECTIVES SECTION 1. To promote the spirit of brotherhood, sisterhood, family and friendly relationship, mutual respect and understanding among members in accordance with FELLA ethic, social, cultural and traditional values: 2. To assist and support members in times of distress, hardship. And sickness, bereavement and with the identification, and referral to legal aid institutions as the need arises; 3. To encourage cooperation as well as communication with other cultural groups through participation in programs of mutual interest that promote the common good and unity of people, irrespective of their place of origin; 4. To entertain members in a social activity at least once a year; 5. To assist with adjustment in the U.S. of newly arrived potential members and others temporarily unemployed with housing and job search, etc; 6. To keep members informed about major developments in their home countries and facilitate contacts with their family members in their respective countries; ARTICLE III:MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1) Membership shall be accorded to any person of FELLA Ancestry; 2) Spouses of members shall be accorded membership; 3) Active membership shall be accorded those member that ) Abide by principles and objectives of the association ) Attend meetings on a regular basis ) Meet their financial obligations to the Association on time. ARTICLE IV:OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION: The officers of the Association shall include the President, Vice President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Treasurer, Social Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Auditor, and Whip. SECTION 1) PRESIDENT A)QUALIFICATION:shall be at least thirty (30) years of age, intelligent, of good moral character, coherent communication skills, and an active member of the Association. ) DUTIES: 1) Shall convene and chair all Association meetings 2) Shall be chief executive and as such the official spokesperson of the Association and act in a manner that promotes the interests of the Association. 3) Shall appoint an active member in good standing to fill a vacant office for a period not exceeding thirty (30) working days 4) Shall monitor the activities of officers so as to ensure that their duties are properly executed; 5) Shall be empowered to create special committees 6) Shall be a co-signatory of all financial and legal documents of the Association 7) Shall be empowered to disburse not more than $100.00 (one hundred Dollars) of Association funds and shall do so in Consultation with the Executive 8) Shall report to all members at a general meeting on the State and activities of the Association once every three months 9) Shall be empowered to call emergency meeting of both the general body and the executive 10) Limitations: shall have no veto powers. 2) VICE PRESIDENT: 1) Shall, in the absence of the president, be vested with all the powers of the President 2) Shall, through the approval of the executive assume office of the President on the resignation of the president: 3) SECRETARY GENERAL: 1) Record and report proceedings of all meetings 2) Shall inform members of the date, place and time of all meeting and functions of the association 3) Shall be chief of Secretaries of the Association 4) Shall deliver copies of the constitution to all members 5) Inform inactive members about their participation and decisions taken regarding it 6) Shall be informed in advance by members regarding absence from a meeting with valid excuses: 7) Handle all communication/correspondences of the Association 4) ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 1. Shall, in the absence of the secretary general, assume the functions of the secretary general 2. Keep the record of attendance at all meetings 3. Perform other executive duties as assigned to him by the secretary general 4. Serve on committees set up by the President 5) FINANCIAL SECRETARY A) Shall maintain formal and proper accounts of the finances of the Association B) Collect registration fees, monthly contributions, donations and all other monies of the Association C) Provide a comprehensive financial report at each general meeting D) Shall issue a receipt for all payments E) All monies collected on behalf of the Association shall be passed on to the treasurer in not more than three (3) days 6) TREASURER ) Shall be chief custodian of the association’s treasurer ) Shall deposit all monies collected from members in Association account within two (2) business days ) Shall receive and disburse funds, as required by this constitution to executive members including the President and Financial Secretary ) Shall issue receipts upon the collection of funds from the financial Secretary ) Shall present a quarterly report of Association’s income and expenditures ) Shall be a co-signatory of Association Funds ) Shall submit all banking documents statements credit/debit memos to the auditory on request ) Shall make available all documents to the financial secretary to facilitate proper recording of all financial transactions 7) SOCIAL SECRETARY ) Shall be responsible for promoting cultural and social activities of the Association ) Shall disseminate information regarding social and cultural engagement of the Association to members and other interest groups ) Shall present a comprehensive report to the Association Following each activity or social event ) Shall explore opportunities for fund raising and discuss plans for their implementation with the executive ) Shall make recommendations for future activities and promote cooperation and understanding with other cultural groups ) Shall be master of ceremonies at all social function of association 8) ASSISTANT SOCIAL SECRETARY G) Shall in the absence of the social secretary assume the functions of the Social Secretary? H) Shall perform duties as assigned to him/her by the social secretary 9) PUBLICITY SECRETARY ) Shall be the chief public Relations officer of the association ) Shall project the image of the Association ) Shall explore and organized membership drives including the explanation to potential members the aims and objectives of the Association ) Promote activities with the social secretary 10) AUDITOR M) Shall audit the financial secretary and treasurer at random and without notice concerning the Associations finances N) Shall request records from the financial secretary or treasures for examination without notice O) Shall report his/her findings to members at a general meeting P) Shall perform at least four (4) audits within a year and report to the executive 11) WHIP Q) Shall maintain order at all meetings R) Shall levy a fine of $2.00 per conduct considered disruptive at a meeting. Monies shall be transmitted to the financial secretary and receipts issued S) Shall keep a record of members who fail to pay fines such members shall be liable to pay their fines at an interest of 100% over and above their monthly contributions. ARTICLE V:TENTURE OF OFFICE SECTION 1) Shall be two (2) years 2) Executive members shall be eligible for reelection 3) Executive members shall hold office for no more than two (2) consecutive terms ARTICLE VI:MEETINGS SECTION 1) An official meeting of the general body shall be held on the last Sunday of each month 2) The venue of subsequent meetings shall be determined and announced at current monthly meeting 3) The executive shall meet one week prior to monthly general meetings 4) A member shall be granted the right to speak only if he/she addresses the chair and is too recognized. He/she shall not be interrupted until he/she quits the floor 5) Madingo shall be the official language of the association and shall be spoken at all meetings. Members not able to communicate fluently in Madingo shall address members in language understandable to the majority of them. ARTICLE VII: STANDING COMMITTEES There shall be three standing committees of the Association each headed by a chairperson. Each committee shall consist of not more than five active members of the Association: SECTION !) GRIEVANCE OR PROBLEM SOLVING COMMITTEE: • Shall conduct a fair hearing of all complaints, emanating from interpersonal conflict among members, and other matters adversely affecting the association members. • Decisions of such hearing shall be transmitted to the executive and subsequently to the general body. • Decision made by the committee, on such matters may be appealed at the executive level. • The executive shall impartially investigate such appeal and make its final decision in consultation with the grievance committee. Member to Member conflicts Except in the case of marital relationships any two FELLA DECENDANTS ASSOCIATION members shall not be allowed to have longstanding conflicts or disputes regardless of whether either parties solicited organizational intervention or not. The grievance committee shall carefully justly or impartially probe into such a matter in a very timely manner. Reports and recommendations of the committees shall be made available to the President in not more than two weeks. 3) SOCIAL/CULTURAL COMMITTEE: • Shall assist with the detail planning and implementation of social and cultural events. • The committee shall canvass the opinions of members concerning interesting social events and trips, provide accommodation of association guests during social activities plan conferences on topics of interest to members. • Extend invitation to interested and qualified performances are duly compensated plan social cultural and educational events for children. As a new creation, the group will be meeting as deemed necessary and shall delegate ways and means to engage all female members relative to FELLA DECENDANTS ASSOCIATION UNDERTAKINGS. A) Women’s wing ) Income Diversification clause Through the approval of the financial committee the organization may undertake other income generation activities other than annual dances and contributions e.g. Annual calendars, FELLA DECENDANTS ASSOCIATION T Shirt, hats, business etc. FELLA DECENDANTS ASSOCIATION A. Each administration shall record by date important events, activities and accomplishments of their administrations. Information collected will be developed into a comprehensive handling over report. This report has to have a clear inventory of all unfinished business of the aid Administration as well as feedback on challenges and problems specific to the period in review . Inter-Organizational cooperation Events, celebrations and activities of sister organizations shall be attend in large numbers. Members are selected for participation by rotation. . Exemplary non-members Community members who have made supportive contributions to the organization shall be recognized at FELLA DECEDANTS ASSOCIATION day celebrations. 4) FINANCIAL COMMITTEE: • Shall all have extra executive duties regarding; the maximization of association income and financial welfare of members. • These shall include special fund raising events, such as; implementation of suitable insurance plans such etc. Financial Red Flags The financial sec. must either on month-to-month basis or quarterly basis track total income and total expenses for the period. Under no circumstances should expenses exceed income for period in review. ARTICLE VIII: IMPEACHMENT SECTION 1) Through a 2/3 (two-third) majority of members at a meeting, executive member shall be removed from office on the grounds of embezzlement of Associations funds, inactivity, and a contravention of the normal code of conductor befitting an executive. Embezzlement of Associations funds may constitute the grounds for legal action. ARTICLE IX:QUORUM SECTION 1) Shall be formed by 2/3 (two-third) of the total registered membership; 2) Constitutional amendments shall be mandated by a quorum; 3) Expenses in excess of 100.00 shall required a quorum of authorization ARTICLE X:ELECTIONS/VOTING SECTION 1) Elections shall be held every two (2) years (except when a post is vacated and the President shall call a special election to fill the position; 2) An officer may stand for reelected only if he/she is in good standing and active as stipulated by this constitution’ 3) Voting shall be by secret ballot for the election of the executive. 4) All registered member shall be eligible to vote if they have met their finical obligations for the proceeding three months. 5) Honorary and affiliate members shall not vote or hold offices. 6) Nominations shall be accepted one month prior to elections. 7) Presidential Election Candidate . The candidate must be of FELLA ancestry. . Not in violation of meeting attendance for at least 6 months proceeding nominations and elections. . Must be of exemplary conduct to the membership especially in terms of activity . Must be up to date regarding all financial obligations. This does not mean payment of any outstanding arrears either on the day of the week before nominations. . Must be eloquent and capable of carrying out leadership responsibilities ARTICLE XI:DUES SECTION 1) A registration fee of $20.00 (single) and 40.00 (legally married couples) must be paid on admission to the Association: 2) Monthly dues of $20.00 shall be paid prior to, or during each monthly general meeting one time annual of $2400 paid during the first quarter (march) 3) Members in arrears of their dues for three consecutive months shall be inactive and be so informed in writing by the general secretary shall be informed in writing of their forfeiture of all benefits. ARTICLE XIII:DISBURSEMENTS SECTION !) Death— . On the death of a member each member contributes 100.00, on the death of a child, spouse, parent of members; $200.00 shall be presented to the bereaved family. This rule does not apply to extended family members, each member contributes $10.00 - $300.00 goes to bereaved family and the extended family. . On the death of a non-member, an amount not exceeding $100.00 shall be presented to the bereaved family. . On the death of a member, appropriate action shall be taken for funeral and other related expenses, as agreed by the general body. . Naming ceremony and showers, each member contributes $ 25.00. For weddings ceremonies, each member contributes $50.00. This amount shall be presented but the recipient shall be up to date with all financial obligations, if not arrears become deductible form benefits. . Additional voluntary contributions may also be made. ARTICLE IV:BY-LAWS SECTION 1) Gross misdemeanor such as fighting—defined as physical confrontation or assault and battery. Intended to cause pain, harm or injury is punishable by a fine of $50.00 and a three month suspension of a first offenses and expulsion on a second offences. 2) Use of foul language or profanity at a member during a meeting shall be punishable by a fine of $20.00 and for member leaving a meeting, suspension for one month and readmission by publicly apologizing to the general body. 3) Registered members who fail to attend 3 consecutive meetings without notification in advance of the secretary general, in advance with a valid reason shall be inactive; such members shall be informed in writing and forfeiture of benefits with loss of all rights benefits and privileges.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:33:12 +0000
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