THE BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION
NAME:
The name
of the Association shall be "
PURPOSE:
I) To promote sound intercultural relationships
II) between all Canadians and members of the Association.
III) ii) To promote interpersonal relationships between members and their families.
IV)
To undertake philanthropic activities within our
Association, in particular, and
V) To promote the integration and orientation of new immigrant members.
VI) To enhance unity amongst the membership.
VII) To promote the economic, social, and emotional well-being of members.
VIII) To
promote
IX) To create a common forum for public discussions.
ARTICLE 1
BYLAWS
MEMBERSHIP:
i)
Membership shall be open to all persons of
ii) Membership shall be granted upon the completion and acceptance of an application form, payment of a registration fee of $15.00, and duly sponsored by a member.
iii) An interim member shall have no right or privileges of a member until the induction process is completed.
ARTICLE 2
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS:
i) Every member shall have the right to move a motion, and participate in the discussion of the motion.
ii) Every active member shall qualify to vote and be voted for.
iii) Every member shall enjoy equal rights and responsibilities within the confines of the constitution.
iv) Every member shall be entitled to one vote in every election.
v) Every member shall have the right to address the house and be heard without any undue interruptions.
ARTICLE 3
HOUSE PROCEDURES AND RULES:
i) The President may ask any member to say the opening prayers or can choose to say the prayers himself.
ii) The items on the agenda shall be treated one by one as specified.
iii) Members shall be expected to refrain from derogatory statements, and from personal attacks.
iv) Any member that verbally or physically abuses another member shall be liable to a fine. The degree of fine shall be determined by the Association.
v) A member shall be recognized by the Provost to air his/her views.
vi) Three times warning for disturbances during deliberations shall result in a fine.
vii) A late comer shall be subject to a fine.
viii) viii) An absentee who did not call to excuse self from the meeting shall pay a fine.
ix) Only calls made to the Provost shall be accepted.
x) The non-member or visitor shall not be allowed to interrupt, intercept any of the Association’s deliberations nor introduce any deviation(s) or style(s) to the status quo.
xi) The President or the presiding officer has authority to allow the non-member to address or speak to the house before or after the session.
xii) In a voting process where there is a tie, the
xiii) President shall cast the deciding vote.
ARTICLE 4
OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS:
i) Every member shall attend all general meetings, and emergency meetings of the Association.
ii) Family members shall pay a monthly due of fifteen dollars ($15.00) at every general meeting for administration purposes. Adult children shall pay separately.
iii) Every member shall pay other special levies to be determined by the Association.
iv) Every member shall obey all rules and regulations prescribed by the constitution, and abide by all by-laws of the association
v) A member shall have the right to request the financial statement of the Association
vi) Any member shall feel free to bring his/her
vii) personal problems to the attention of the Association for input
viii) if he/she so wishes
ARTICLE 5
RETENTION, FORFEITURE AND WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP:
i) Retention of membership in good standing shall be subject to regular attendance at meetings, payment of monthly dues, and other contributions that may be needed, to meet the periodic needs of the Association.
ii) Failure to attend general meetings for four consecutive months, without an acceptable reason(s), or failure to pay regular monthly dues for four months shall result in forfeiture of all rights and privileges.
iii) Any member may withdraw their membership from the Association by a written notice stating the reason(s) for such action.
ARTICLE 6
SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS:
A member may be suspended or dismissed for cause by a simple majority of the members present including the following:
i) Gross misconduct or behavior deemed to be in conflict with the objectives of the Association.
ii) Constant refusal of a member to abide by the constitution of the Association.
ARTICLE 7
FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION:
i) In the event of a major life experience such as: wedding, birth of a child, death, and the death of an immediate family member; the Association shall hold an emergency executive meeting to discuss the logistics of helping the member in need.
ii) The Association shall donate annually to charitable organizations, at the discretion of the members.
iii) The Association, in conjunction with other organizations, shall sponsor seminars, lectures, and debates related to the objectives of the Association that may benefit Canadian society.
ARTICLE 8
A) MEETINGS:
i) There shall be a general meeting to be held once a month.
ii) General meetings shall be attended by every registered member of the Association.
iii)
Distant members of the Association shall attend at
least four general meetings in one calendar year provided such members are
residents of
iv) The Executive committee shall be the final policy - making body in all matters.
v)
The official languages of address at general meetings,
and other meetings shall be the
vi) Every member shall stand up to address the general house with the exception of the Association’s President and in such other cases where standing up may not be possible.
B) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
i) The annual general meetings of the Association shall be held in December of every year.
ii) It shall be mandatory for all registered members of the Association to attend the annual general meeting.
C) EMERGENCY MEETINGS
Emergency meetings shall be held when necessary at such time and place as may be directed by the President or such other officer acting on his behalf.
D) QUORUM
i) Quorum shall be half of all registered members at general and annual meetings.
ii) Quorum at executive meetings shall be two-thirds of the executive members of the Association.
ARTICLE 9
AD HOC COMMITTEES:
Ad Hoc committees shall be set up and approved by the general house on such matters as Discipline, Auditing, Visitation, Loan, Elections, Investments and any other matter that may arise from time to time. The committee shall be dissolved after their work.
ARTICLE 10
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The Association shall have the following officers who shall constitute the executive council viz., the President, Vice-President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary, Social Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Public Relations Officer, and Provost.
A) PRESIDENT
The President shall preside over all general and executive meetings, shall direct the Secretary- General to summon all emergency meetings, be a signatory to the Association’s account, endorse minutes of meetings, be the custodian of the Associations seal, and perform all such other functions as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Association.
B) VICE-PRESIDENT
Shall assist the President in his duties, perform the functions of the President in his absence, and carry out all other such functions as may be assigned to him on behalf of the Association by the President.
C) SECRETARY GENERAL
Shall summon all meetings in consultation with the President, record minutes of all meetings, engage in correspondence with other organizations on behalf of the Association, and perform such other functions as may be assigned to him from time to time.
D) ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Shall assist the Secretary General in the performance of his duties, shall assume the duties of the Secretary General in his absence, and such other functions as may be assigned to him from time to time.
E) SOCIAL SECRETARY
Shall be chairperson of the social committee, shall organize and direct all social engagements subject to approval of the Association, introduce new members, and perform all such other functions as may be assigned to him from time to time.
F) TREASURER
Shall be in possession of the Association's funds before they are deposited into the bank,a period not exceeding forty eight hours, be a signatory to the Association's account, issue cheques subject to approval of the President and the Financial Secretary. Submit all the necessary papers to the Audit committee members, and give an account of the financial position of the Association to the General meeting on a monthly basis.
G) FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Collect all dues on behalf of the Association, and transfer the funds to the Treasurer with duplicate of all receipts; keep all records of the Association's finances, present a financial report at the Annual General meeting, and Secretary of any fund-raising committee.
H) PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Shall be responsible for the publicity activities of the Association as approved by the executives and the house, assists the Social Secretary in organizing all social events, and assumes charge of journals and production of all newsletters.
I) PROVOST
Shall be responsible for peace and order during meetings, shall collect all funds arising from fines like noise-making, tardiness.
ARTICLE 11
SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL OF OFFICERS
An officer may be suspended or dismissed for cause by a simple majority of the members present including the following:
Gross misconduct or behaviour deemed to be in conflict with the objectives of the Association.
Constant refusal of the officer to abide by the bylaws and Constitution of the Association
ARTICLE 12
ELECTIONS (PROCEDURES): A
i) Elections shall be held every two years in the month of March.
ii) Officers elected in March shall assume office the following meeting day.
iii) In the event of vacancies in any executive office, election for that particular position shall be held in the general meeting.
iv) A candidate receiving a majority votes cast shall be declared the winner.
v) One member shall be entitled to only one vote. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
vi) Voting by proxy is absolutely disallowed; constitutional process shall be upheld at all times.
vii) The newly elected President and his cabinet shall be given a formal "swearing-in ceremony" by the election chairman by which they are installed into office.
viii) The President and his cabinet members shall be invested with the powers, rights, and privileges of their statutory functions by the election committee chairman.
ix) Officers of the Association shall not be entitled to salaries.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS: B
For a candidate to be voted for he or she must meet all the requirements listed below:
i) Dues paid in full.
ii)
Reside within
iii) Candidate must be a member in good standing
ARTICLE 13
ACCOUNTS:
i) The Association shall maintain a current savings account.
ii) The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall exercise borrowing power on behalf of the Association after due deliberation and approval by the members
iii) The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be signatories to the account of the Association.
ARTICLE 14
SOURCES OF REVENUE:
i) Membership dues.
ii) Special levies.
iii) Fines.
iv) Donations.
v) Returns on Investments.
vi) Registration fee of $ 15.00 for each new member.
vii) Any other legitimate source(s) not herein mentioned.
ARTICLE 15
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION:
This constitution shall be amended whenever necessary if a motion to that effect is duly supported by 75% of members.
ARTICLE 16
LEGAL ADVISER:
The Association shall seek legal advice whenever deemed necessary by the house. This advocate shall be knowledgeable in, and sympathetic to the needs of the Association.
ARTICLE 17
SOLICITATION:
No member shall solicit for funds unless authorized by the Executive committee. Any member that participates in such activity shall automatically be dismissed from the Association.
ARTICLE 18
HISTORICAL:
To recollect all past historical events from the birth of the Association to present date, such past records/statistics shall be documented into files, cassettes and albums.
ARTICLE 19
SCOPE OF THE CONSTITUTION:
The constitution is a tool for the effective operation of the Association's activities. The Association is thus bound by the constitution. The constitution is subject to change as deemed necessary by majority of members.
Witness(es)
Jacob N Aigbe
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APPLICANTS FOR INCORPORATION
1. BOBBY OSAGIE
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2. OSAKUE UKPONREFE
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3. FRANK AMADASUN
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4. DAVID OMOBOWIE
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5. DENNIS AIGBEKAEN
Signature---------------------
6. COURAGE JOHNSON
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