INDO-U.S.
CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF
Article 1:
Name
The name of the association
shall be the Indo – U. S. Cultural Association of Columbus, Georgia
(hereinafter called the Association) and shall be incorporated by that name as
non-profit organization under the state of
Article 2:
Objective
The objectives of the
Association shall be:
A. To bring together in the active fellowship all persons interested in the cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent and the USA to promote a better understanding harmonious relationship between the two communities.
B. To carry out educational and cultural programs beneficial to the membership and to the community.
C.
To promote the social, economical and cultural welfare of the
membership and the American Society.
Article
3: Membership
Section
1:
Membership of the Association shall be
open to all who seek membership without reference to race, religion, sex or
national origin.
Section
2:
Membership shall be of five types:
1.
Individual
2.
Family: Family membership shall include husband, wife
and dependent children.
3.
Life: This
may be a family or individual membership.
4.
Associate: This
will be a non-voting member.
5.
Honorary: This will be a non-voting member.
Article
4: Voting
The voting members of the
association shall hold the following type of membership:
1. Individual
2. Family:
Husband, Wife and dependent children under 18.
3. Life
The non-voting members of
the Association shall hold the following types of membership:
1. Associate
2. Honorary
Article
5: The duties of the members
Section 1:
To participate actively in the functioning of the association.
Section 2:
To abide by the rules and regulation of the association.
Section 3:
To pay the annual dues as determined by the association.
Article
6: Officers
Section 1:
The officers of the association shall be:
A:
President
B:
Vice-President
C:
Secretary
D:
Treasurer
Section 2:
There shall be a Board of Directors, not more than five (5) directors.
The officers and the board of directors shall constitute the executive
committee of the association. The
former president will serve as a director for one year on executive committee.
Article
7: Election of members of the
Executive committee
Section 1:
Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected for the following
terms:
A. One director (the former-president) shall serve in this position for one year. In the event that the president is re-elected to the president’s position, another director will be elected as a director for one year term. During the first year of the association, however, one, director will be elected for one year as there will not be an former president to fill this position.
B. Two directors will b elected for two years term.
C. Two directors will be elected for three years term.
Section 2:
Nominations for election of the members of the Executive committee shall
be duly proposed and seconded by members of the association in good standing.
Nomination, along with a written consent, of the nominees shall be
presented to the president at lease seven days prior to election.
Section3:
Election shall be held at a meeting of the membership for which a notice
of two weeks will be given.
Article
8: Special meeting of the association
Section 1:
Such meeting may be called by a petition signed by 25% of the voting
membership and presented to the president in writing stating the purpose of the
special meeting.
Section 2:
The president shall call the special meeting within thirty days of
receiving the petition.
Article
9: Dissolution of the association
Section 1:
The membership shall have the right to seek dissolution of the
association.
Section 2:
Such an act of dissolution shall be carried out at a specially convened
meeting for which any member may petition. Such
petition, in order to be valid, must bear the signatures of majority (51%) of
the voting members and must be presented at least thirty(30) days prior to the
date of the meeting.
Section 3:
The vote of no confidence must be sustained by two thirds (67%) of the
voting membership present and voting.
Section 4:
In the event the vote for dissolution is passed, the assets of the
association shall be distributed to charitable organizations as determined by
the membership at the same meeting.
Article
10: Quorum
Section 1:
The quorum for the meetings of the executive committee shall be 50% of
the executive committee.
Section 2:
The quorum for the meetings of the membership shall be 50% of the
membership, with the exception of he special meeting for dissolution of the
association.
Article
11: Computation of the year
Section 1:
The computation of time shall be on the basis of business year (January
– December) Which shall also be fiscal year.
Article
12: Duties of the executive committee
President:
To preside at all meetings of the association and its executive and to
generally discharge all such responsibilities toward the well being of
association.
Vice-President:
To assist the president in all duties and to function as president in the
absence of the president.
Secretary:
To perform all secretarial functions including sending out notices of
meetings, maintaining minutes of meetings, and carrying out all functions
essential to the activities of the association in consultation with the members
of the executive committee.
Treasurer:
To collect dues/contributions, maintain appropriate financial records
pertaining to the annual budget and financial
statement of income and expenses at the end of the fiscal year.
Article
13: Remuneration
No member of association or
its executive committee shall receive any remuneration for his or her work
except reimbursement for expenses incurred (submitted with proper documentation)
on behalf of the association with the proper consent of the executive committee.
Article
14: Committee
The President, in
consultation with the executive committee, shall have the power to appoint committees
to perform special functions at special times.
Article
15: Meetings
Section 1:
The executive committee of the association shall meet once every three
months or as often as deemed necessary. Meeting
of the executive committee shall be open to the membership.
Section 2:
The membership shall meet once a year, in the month of May, to approve
the budget and accounts form the treasurer and to elect the members of the
executive committee. Notice of this
meeting shall be given to the membership at least tow weeks prior to the date of
the meeting by the secretary.
Article 16: Amendments
Section 1: Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of the association.
Section 2: A member desiring to propose an amendment must prepare a petition, to be signed by at least 20% of the membership, and present the proposed amendment to executive committee meeting. The executive committee shall review the proposed amendment and make a recommendation for the general membership. The President may call a special meeting of the membership for review of the proposed amendment.
Section 3:
The proposed amendment, in order to be effective, shall receive the
support in voting of at least two thirds (67%) of the membership present and
voting.
Article 17: By-Laws
The executive committee
shall have the power of issuing By-Laws for the proper discharge of the work of
the association. These by-laws may
be amended or nullified by a simple majority (51%) of the membership.
Article
18: Effective Date
This constitution shall become effective on its adoption by at least two-thirds (67%) of the membership present and voting at a meeting specially convened for the adoption of the constitution.
