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Madingo Association of Texas in Dallas Matex |
Constitution of
Madingo Association of Texas in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Preamble
Whereas the Madingoes and Madingoes Descendants and their Spouses
of all kinds living in the city of Dallas, Texas.
Acknowledging the challenges
facing us as a growing immigrant community.
Cognizant of the enormity
and Complexity of the task of uniting. Have decided to organize and unite
ourselves into a voluntary mass organization of all Madigoes Regardless of
their residential status, socio-economic standing, and political, ethnic, or
sectarian sensibilities.
With the primary objective of providing a focus for organizing the social and cultural lives of our community;
on occasions,
Constitutionally
it shall be a democratic and egalitarian grouping of equals and shall not
entertain any classifications amongst its members on any basis whatsoever.
It
shall engage in social, cultural and educational programs under the authority
of its general body and under the provisions of its constitution, in order to
serve The Madingo Community in particular, and the American society in general.
ion
The
name of the Association shall be The Madingo Association of Texas in Dallas.
(MATEX)
ARTICLE
II:
MISSION
The
Mission of Madingo Association of Texas in Dallas is to Work together hands in
hands to preserve. And Enhance Life of All Madingoes, and plus to address,
Charitable. Educational, Religious, health, Humanitarian, Cultural, And Social
Needs of All The Our Community Members locally. Nationally, and through out the
world
.
The below are some of the missions the group
intends to pursue:
1- To
build mutual relationship, and support networks among all Mandingoes, non Mandingoes, and the community
in which the Association operates
2- To
promote social and cultural heritage of its members for their benefit as well
as for the benefit of the American society in general. And shall use its
resources to enhance intra-communal harmony and shall cooperate with other
organizations pursuing similar objectives.
3- To
work with refugee agencies in charge of resettlement in areas where they might
need assistance
4- To
get involve in City, State, and Federal sponsored programs
6- To
provide basic humanitarian’ assistance to members and non-members here, in
Texas and other places
7- To
assist members and non-members in times of difficulties in areas such as family
death, divorce, immigration matters, counseling, and other legal matters
8- To
help member(s) to baby shower, baby naming ceremony, and wedding in their
behalves
9-
The Association will fund its activities, and programs through dues collected
from members, philanthropists, organizations, and proceeds from accepted items.
Section 1.
The membership of the Association shall be
divided into three (3) distinct categories:
Regular membership, Associates membership,
and Honorary membership.
A.
Regular membership to the Association, with full voting rights, is open to all
people of Madingo descent, their spouse, and families., irrespective of caste,
creed, or color.
B. Associate
membership of the Association, without voting rights, is available to all
others who endorse and support the objectives of the Association. These members
may participate in all activities of the Association.
C. Honorary membership of
the Association, without voting rights, may be awarded to Members of the public
at large, whose contributions towards the goals and objectives of the
Association are recognized by the general body of the Association. ..
D. An up-to-date record of the
Association's membership shall be kept in a membership Register. The voting
rights of the regular members will be contingent upon their being duly
registered
E. The rights and privileges.
as well as duties and responsibilities of the members are equal. Independent of
their social status, and/or economic standing.
Section
2.
For the purpose of Regular membership, the
term persons of Madingo origin will mean persons who are:
A.
Madingo
B.
Descendants of Madin
C.
Presently married either to a Madingo person.
1. Only regular members of the Association
are eligible for voting in the meetings of the Association, provided they have been members of the
Association for at least three months prior to a meeting.
2.
Only regular members of the Association are eligible for seeking an elective
office in the Association, provided they have been regular members of the
Association for a consecutive period of at least one year prior to an election.
3.
Award of an honorary membership will be recommended by the Executive Committee
of the Association, and bestowed in a general body meeting of the Association.
Honorary members will not be required to pay any dues.
Section
3.
.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
A.
Membership
fees shall be as follows:
B.
I. Individual $35.00
C.
2.
Family $70.00
D.
Family
includes wife, husband and all children under age 18.
Section 1.
The governing body of the Association is the Executive Committee,
which is nominated from and elected by the regular members of the Association.
It is responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the Association on
behalf of its members and is directly responsible to its general body.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee of
the Association shall consist of the following officers:
1.
President
2.
Vice President
3.
Secretary general.
4.Speaker/
Public Relations.
5.
Treasurer/ Financial Secretary.
6.
And a Chairlady.
A. QUALIFICATIONS and fuctions
of the officials
All members of The Executive Committee must
have an academic qualification no less than high school. Education, he or she
must have demonstrated high level of committement. To the interest of the
community. He./she shall be person who command the respect of the members of
the Community. He/she must be in
excellent financial standing as far as dues payments and other obligations.
He/she must be at least 25-30 years of age or older, and must be enjoying
excellent health.
The
President of the Executive Committee represents the Association at all
occasions and supervises and coordinates all of its activities. In addition the
President:
1.
Presides over the meetings of the Executive Committee and the general body of
the Association.
2. Is
responsible for overall management of Association's administrative and
financial affairs.
3.
Institutes various committees and sub-committees as needed.
4.
Prepares and presents the Annual Report to the general body of the Association.
5.
Co-signs with the Treasurer all checks issued on behalf of the Association.
C.
Vice President .
The
Vice President represents the President in his/her absence. In addition the
Vice President:
1.
Assists the President in discharging the duties of his office.
2.
Looks after the administrative details of the Association's activities.
3. Is responsible for overall community
relations.
The
General Secretary maintains and preserves all records of the Association. In
addition the General Secretary:
1.
Prepares
agenda for meetings and records the minutes.
2.
Notifies the Association membership about
the meetings and activities of the Association.
3. Tracks internal and external
correspondence.
The
Treasurer is responsible for the management of the Association's financial
affairs. In addition the Treasurer:
1.
Prepares
the annual budget and the annual financial report of the Association. 2.
Maintains records of
2.
collections and disbursements of
Association's funds.
3.
Manages
the Association's bank account, prepares all cheques to be issued on behalf of
the Association and signs them with the President.
4.
Receives
and deposits all monies on behalf of the Association. 5. Maintains up-to-date
dues payment records of the members.
F.
Speaker /or Secretary of Public Relations
The
Secretary of Public Relations is repository of all information about the
Association its goals and its activities. The Secretary:
1.
Prepares, maintains, and provides such information to the general public and
the media.
2. Is
responsible for maintaining liaison with the public media and other
organizations.
G.
Chairlady /secretary of women affairs.
Shall be responsible for women activities.
And shall head all activities regarding ladies. And shall also help on
collection of dues. And other obligation upon the direction of the president
Section
2.
Duties
and responsibilities of Executive Committee.
1.
As
the governing body of the Association, the Executive Committee shall strictly
abide by the constitution of the Association, and the State and Federal
constitutions of the United States of America.
2. Among other things, the
day-to-day activities and functions of the Executive Committee include planning
and execution of activities to further the objectives of the Association,
preparation of budgets, and appropriation, collection and disbursement of
Association's funds, representing the Association in public and private forums,
maintenance of its records, and assets and convening of general body meetings.
3. The Executive Committee is
responsible for all preparations needed to hold the General elections.
4. The Executive Committee is responsible for
keeping the general membership informed of all significant activities and
developments pertaining to the interest of the Association.
5.The Executive Committee
shall meet at least four times a year. For those meeting four members will
constitute a quorum , and all decision will be made by a simple majority vote.
ARTICLE
Vll: STANDING COMMITTES OF THE ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
For
the purpose of smooth execution of the Association works. The following
standing Committees shall be established:
a-Elders Committee
b-social
and / welfare Committee
c-Educational
committee
d- Ad
Hoc committee.
SECTION
2.
A The Elders Committee:
In keeping with our tradition, the Elder
Committee shall serve as the principle Advisers to the entire Association,
including the Executive Committee. And shall be responsible for all conflicts
resolutions.
Section 3.
a.
The
Social and Welfare Committee:
The social /Welfare Committee of the
Association shall be responsible for all social activities, including the organization of special occasions, festivities, Carnivals,
celebrations, feasts, baby showers or naming, and the like. It shall also be
responsible for seeking venues, and making every necessary preparation for such
programs.
SECTION 4. The Educational Committee
The Educational Committee of the Association
shall be responsible for seeking ways and means of educational opportunities
for the Association members. Such opportunities may include but not limited to
scholarships, grants, donations, renovation of existing facilities and the
reconstruction of others. And instituting elder’s schools and day care for our
community members.
SECTION 5. THE AD HOC COMMITTEE
The Ad Hoc Committee the president of
Presiding Officer may from time to time Designate Ad hoc Committee to Deal with
specific issues or concerns for which there are no standing committee. As such
an Ad Hoc Committee may be Automatically dissolved upon the completion of such
task of duties for it was created.
ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS
.
MEETINGS
A.
In
general, meetings of the general body of the Association are convened by the
Executive Committee and are presided over by the President of the Executive
Committee.
B.
Regular
voting members of the Association may also initiate the convention of a general
body meeting. Such special meetings shall be convened by the Executive
Committee after it has received a written request, stating the purpose of the
general body meeting, signed by a least 25% of the voting membership of the
Association or twenty five voting members, whichever is less.
C.
Agenda
for a general body meeting will be sent to the Association members at
least a week before the scheduled date
of the meeting.
D.
Except for general body meetings to consider a vote of no confidence, or an
amendment to the Constitution, or dissolution of the Association.
1.
All
general body meetings would be considered valid if 50% of the voting
membership of the Association is
present.
2.
All
decisions at general body meetings would be by a simple majority vote of those
in attendance.
3.
Any member of the Association can attend any
meeting of the Executive Committee as an observer.
4.
.
The meetings shall be presided over by the President or in his/her absence by
another office bearer in the following order of succession:
a . Vice President
b.
General
secretary
c.
Financial
secretary/treasure
Section
1.
A.
The head of the Executive Committee (president and vice president) are elected
by secret ballot at a general body meeting of the Association held once every 3 years in July. While the
rest of the executive committee members are appointed by the president.
.
B.
The elections are conducted by the Executive Committee under the supervision of
an Elections Commission Consisting of five members. The general body elects the
members of this Commission on the day of the election prior to the election of
the Executive Committee.
C.
Each candidate for an elective office is nominated by at least one voting
member of the Association and is seconded by another voting member. The
candidates must accept the nominations before the names can be placed on the
list of candidates.
D.
The nominations can be withdrawn by the nominators with the consent of the
nominee or by the nominee on his own at any time during the election
proceedings.
E.
After the nominations have been filed, the candidates shall have the right to
address the general body for a time interval to be specified by the Elections
commission.
F.
The time, date and place for annual elections will be set and notified to the
Association membership at least four weeks before the proposed date of the
elections.
G.
The results of the voting shall be announced on the floor of the meeting. A
formal notification of the results of the election shall be prepared by the
Elections Commission and circulated in the community after the election is
over.
H. In matters of procedmes and any disputes
related to the election, the decisions of the Election Commission is final and binding on parties concerned.
Section
2.
The
formal succession and handing over of the charge of the Association’s Board of
Derector includes, but is not limited to the following:
A.
Membership
& Mailing lists.
B.
Records
of resolutions and minutes of Association meetings.
C.
Records of correspondence.
D.
Account ledgers, check books, and bank records.
E.
Instruments of incorporation of the
Association.
F.
Certificate of
registration, Seals, and stamps.
G.
An inventory of the
assets of the Association.
H.
8. All assets as
recorded in the inventory.
SECTION
1.
The
entire Executive Committee, or any member thereof, can be removed from the
office by a vote of no confidence passed in a general body meeting, by a two
thirds majority of the attending voting members, provided that:
A.
The resolution of no confidence has been moved by a voting member and is
supported by at least four other voting members.
B. At
least 50% of the total-voting members of the Association are present.
C.
The proceedings of the general body meeting or a portion thereof, considering a
vote of no confidence shall be conducted by a Presiding Officer elected for
this purpose by the general body.
D.
Supplementary elections to fill a vacant position in the Executive Committee
shall be held within 8 weeks of the position becoming vacant, or the next
general body meeting, Whichever is earlier.
SECTION 1.
A. All regular and associate
members are required to pay an annual membership fee. The Memberships are due
for renewal on the 1 st of
July of each calendar year, and the dues
are
payable within four weeks of the annual elections.
B. Standard accounting
procedures are to be followed for keeping the ledgers of the Association.
C. The Association receives
gifts, donations, and contributions, provided their tenns do not violate the
constitution of the Association. All such gifts are publicly received and
Acknowledged.
D. The accounts and ledgers
of the Association are open to all its members. These would be available at all
general body meetings of the Association, and at other reasonable times when
requested by the members.
E. Receipts of such gifts and
donations shall not
be used to affect the rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties of any member or members of The Association.
Specifically no Special rights or privileges shall be accorded to the donors that are not
available to the other
members of the Association.
F. The dues paid by the members are on an monthly
basis and are not prorated.
G.
The Executive Committee shall prepare an annual budge within one month of its
election and circulate it in the con1l1lunity for information.
I.
Any
member of the Executive Committee can spend up to $100.0 on behalf of the
Association by getting approval from the President or the Treasurer of the
Association.
J.
Amounts
above $100.00 shall require formal prior approval of the Executive Committee.
K.
The
Association shall maintain a bank account in a local bank to manage the
finances of the Association.
L The
checks are prepared by the Treasurer and co-signed by the Treasurer and the
President.
M. Monies received by the
Treasurer or the Treasurer's appointees are always deposited directly in the
Association's bank account. Private accounts are not to be used under any circumstances
to keep Association's funds for any period of time.
N. No indebtedness shall be
undertaken by any member of the Executive Committee on behalf of the Executive
Committee without prior or explicit approval of the full Executive Committee.
O.
Any financial indebtedness which require the Association’s commitment and
involves sums of monies larger than 50% of the Association’s annual revenues
derived from membership dues shall have to be approved by a general body
meeting of The Association.
ARTCLE
XlI: DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIAllON
SECTION
1.
The
general body shall have the authority to dissolve the Association at a general
body Meeting convened for this purpose by a two thirds majority vote of the
attending members provided that:
a. A dissolution proposal in writing has been
submitted to the Executive Committee before the convening of the general body
meeting.
b.
The proposal is made by a voting member and is supported in writing by at least
45% of the total voting membership of the Association.
d. At
least two thirds of the total voting-members of the Association are present in
the Meeting.
e.
The dissolution shall become effective only if the voting on the proposal has
been preceded by an approval by two-thirds majority vote of an appropriate plan
for the Disposal of the assets and liabilities of the Association.
ARTICLE
XlII: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION
1.
A.
The Articles of the Constitution and its by-laws can be amended at a general
body meeting Convened for this purpose by a two thirds majority vote of the
attending members provided that:
B. A
written amendment proposal has been submitted to the Executive Committee before
the convening of the general body meeting.
C. The proposal is made by a
voting member and is supported by at least four other voting members.
D. At
least 50% of the total-voting members of the Association are present.
E.
The Executive Committee will initiate the process for convening a general body
meeting to consider a proposed amendment to the Constitution, within two weeks
of the receipt of such a proposal.
ARTICLE
XIV: ARTICLE OF ASSOCIATION
The
rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order will govern
the meetings of the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and
in which they
are
not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the
Association may adopt.
a. For the purpose of the first
elections of the Association the pertinent provisions of the Constitution and
its by-laws may be waived as needed.
SECTION
3.
ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
a.
The Constitution and the by-laws laid down heretofore will become the
Constitution and By-Laws of the Mandingo Association of Texas in Dallas.(MATEX)
. when adopted in the general body meeting of the Association for this purpose.
The
original Madingo Association of Texas in Dallas. Constitution was Reviewed and
Adopted by the general body of Matex. on this 26th days of August,
2007.
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