Constitution
Article I. Name and Address
Section 1.The name of the organization shall be Huntsville India Association, Huntsville, Alabama, hereafter abbreviated as HIA.
Section 2.The place in the State where the principal office is to be location is the City of Huntsville, Madison County.
Article II. Article of Organization
Section 1. HIA is incorporated under the law of the State of Alabama and is a non-profit organization.
Section 2. The articles of organization of HIA comprise the articles of incorporation and these bylaws as from time to time amended.
Section 3. HIA is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Laws.)
Section 4.No part of the net earnings of the HIA shall accrue to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private person except that HIA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, HIA shall not, except to and in substantial degree engage in any activities, or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of the Association.
Section 5.HIA shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. The names of HIA or its members in office shall not be used in any partisan interest if not related to objectives of the Association.
Articles III. Objectives
Section 1. HIA is established for the purposes of receiving and maintaining a fund or funds and applying these and income thereof to accomplish the following objectives by means as shall be appropriate from time to time.
1. To educate the community about India, its neighboring countries, its people, their heritage and needs through the following:
a. Teach language, dance, music, art, cooking, yoga and other classes.
b. Organize seminars, discussion sessions, visiting guest, lectures, and speakers' bureau to advance intellectual relations between India and U.S.
c. Publish books, magazines, newsletters and other materials.
d. Produce documentary films, radio and TV programs.
e. Sponsor music and dance concerts.
f. Sponsor essay and debate competitions that have their goal to better understand India and its culture.
g. Organize sports events, especially those peculiar to the Indian subcontinent.
2. To enhance Indian culture and heritage through information centers, libraries, and cultural exchange programs.
3. To foster educational opportunities for families of Indian descent and their friends by making grants and loan funds, establishing scholarships, or by making grants to individuals to defray their educational expenses.
4. To undertake the relief and welfare of needy families of Indian descent and their friends either directly or by making grants to organizations in the following manner:
a. Support of needy Indians in America, including emergency loans, medical expenses and hardship grants for unusual and compelling cases.
b. Support for charitable projects and programs in India and USA such as schools, hospitals and clinics, etc.
c. Disburse funds for flood and other natural disaster relief projects.
d. Organize medical support activities such as diagnostic checkups, health care, medical mission, etc.
e. Provide credit at reasonable rates through credit unions and other means.
f. Provide counseling and referral services and other professional services.
g. Obtain justice, equal rights and equal opportunities through legal means.
5. Promote scientific research and means of grants to individuals, institutions, and other organizations for purposes such as:
a. Financing research in population control.
b. Purchase of necessary equipment for existing medical or scientific research projects.
c. Any other research or activity that meet IRS 501 (c)-(3) requirements.
6. Promote and sponsor Indian religious teaching seminars and festivals such as Diwali, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Id-ul Fitr, Christmas, and Guruparab, etc., in a non-sectarian manner.
7. To establish a permanent center and instruments to promote the objectives specified above.
8 To organize other programs that are exclusively for scientific, educational, literary, charitable, or religious purposes.
9. To promote fellowship among the members of the community through cultural and recreational activities, such as picnics, movies, carnivals, camps, etc.
Section 2. HIA resolves that no substantial part of the activities of the Association (Corporation) shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations describe in sections 501 (c) (3), 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding section of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to the federal, state, or local government for exclusive public purpose.
Article IV. Membership and Dues
Section 1. Eligibility: Any person 18 years of age or over and interested in the objectives of the Association, and agreeing to abide by the by-laws of the Association will be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Application with membership dues should be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.
Section 3. Membership in the Association shall be of the following types:
1. Individual Member: They shall be at least 18 years of age and who have paid their dues.
2. Family Member: They shall be at least 18 years of age with two or more people in a household. They should have paid their membership dues for the current year. Children below the age of 18 years will be considered family members with their parents provided their parents are members in good standing. Children below the age of 25 years who are full time students in college will be considered family members with their parents provided their parents are members in good standing.
3. Associate Member: These shall be nominated by the executive committee of the Association and approved by the trustees. This is an honorary membership.
4. Life Member: Anyone making a donation equivalent to 20 years membership dues.
5.Patrons: Anyone making a donation of $1,000 or more shall be a patron of HIA.Section
4. Dues: Annual membership for individual members and family members shall be decided by the Executive Committee and approved by the general body. No dues shall be required of associate members and life members. Dues shall be for one calendar year beginning in October and ending in September of the following year.
Article V. Officers and Executive Committee
Section 1. HIA will have a Board of six trustees. Each member of the Board will have to be elected by the general body of the membership for a period of three (3) years. The President of the Association will serve as the Secretary of the Board and will be a member.
Section 2. The Board of Trustees will be responsible to the general body for the continuity of the Association.
Section 3. The association will have a President and a Vice-President. The Vice-President will automatically become President of the association in the succeeding term. The President will appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Public Relations Officer. No member of the Executive Committee shall be elected in the office more than two consecutive terms.
Section 4. Office holders of Article V, Section 3 and the immediate past president will form the Executive Committee of the Association.
Section 5. Duties of the Executive committee shall be to help formulate and execute the policies and programs approved by the general membership of the Association and fill vacancies of the Executive Committee until the next election.Section 6. The President is authorized to appoint committees to conduct various functions.
Article VI. Meetings
Section 1. There shall be at least one general body meeting within one calendar year.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every three (3) months for proper functioning of the Association.
Section 3. At least a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Trustees will be required to overrule the action of or dissolve the Executive Committee.
Section 4. A minimum of three (3) meetings of the Board of Trustees is required each year.
Section 5. Each trustee member is required to attend all meetings and will be considered inactive if fails to attend at least 50 percent of the meetings.
Section 6. The presence of at least three (3) members will be required for a quorum for the meetings of the Board of Trustees or Executive Committee.
Article Vll. Election Procedure
Section 1. All members on the current roster of membership shall have the right to vote and contest in the election except for associate members and family members under the age of 18 years.
Section 2. Two months prior to the Annual General Meeting the Board of Trustees shall select three (3) members for an election committee.
Section 3. The Election Committee shall conduct all election procedures and report the results to the general membership.
Section 4. All nominations for the officers shall be duly nominated and seconded by the members of the Association with the consent of the nominees concerned.
Section 5. The election shall be conducted by secret ballot at the discretion of the election committee.
Article VIII. Disciplinary Action
Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall take appropriate disciplinary action against any member found guilty of gross misconduct.
Article IX. Amendments and Rules of Order
Section 1. These by-laws may be modified by a two-third majority vote of members present at a General Body meeting which should consist of any 50 percent of the regular members on the current roster of membership.
Section 2. Amendments should be circulated to the membership at least fifteen (15) days prior to the General Body meeting mentioned above.
Section 3. The business of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the rules contained in the latest edition of "Robert's Rules of Order," provided these do not contradict the bylaws of HIA.
Section 4. The decision of the majority of the trustees, on any question involving the interpretation of the by-laws and any definition therein, shall be final.
Section 5. Fifty percent of the members present on the current roster of the membership for general meetings shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. Special General Body meetings shall be called by the secretary with a minimum of fifteen (15) days notice under the advice of the Executive Committee on a written petition of 20 percent of the members on the current roster of members.
Article X. Finances
Section 1. The Association shall keep the funds in a Bank. The President and/or Treasurer will sign checks on the above bank account of the Association for their approval.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall keep financial records current and report it at the general body meeting.
Section 3. The operating budget of the Association will be pre-approved by the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. The financial records shall be audited at the end of each calendar year.Section 5. Should the Association disband, after paying or making provisions for payments of all the liabilities of the HIA, the remaining assets of the Association shall be transferred to an organization with similar objectives chosen by the General Body at a special meeting called for the purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of exclusively for such organizations as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.1988 Amendment * (Vide Article III, Section 2)
Section 1.The name of the organization shall be Huntsville India Association, Huntsville, Alabama, hereafter abbreviated as HIA.
Section 2.The place in the State where the principal office is to be location is the City of Huntsville, Madison County.
Article II. Article of Organization
Section 1. HIA is incorporated under the law of the State of Alabama and is a non-profit organization.
Section 2. The articles of organization of HIA comprise the articles of incorporation and these bylaws as from time to time amended.
Section 3. HIA is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Laws.)
Section 4.No part of the net earnings of the HIA shall accrue to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private person except that HIA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, HIA shall not, except to and in substantial degree engage in any activities, or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of the Association.
Section 5.HIA shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. The names of HIA or its members in office shall not be used in any partisan interest if not related to objectives of the Association.
Articles III. Objectives
Section 1. HIA is established for the purposes of receiving and maintaining a fund or funds and applying these and income thereof to accomplish the following objectives by means as shall be appropriate from time to time.
1. To educate the community about India, its neighboring countries, its people, their heritage and needs through the following:
a. Teach language, dance, music, art, cooking, yoga and other classes.
b. Organize seminars, discussion sessions, visiting guest, lectures, and speakers' bureau to advance intellectual relations between India and U.S.
c. Publish books, magazines, newsletters and other materials.
d. Produce documentary films, radio and TV programs.
e. Sponsor music and dance concerts.
f. Sponsor essay and debate competitions that have their goal to better understand India and its culture.
g. Organize sports events, especially those peculiar to the Indian subcontinent.
2. To enhance Indian culture and heritage through information centers, libraries, and cultural exchange programs.
3. To foster educational opportunities for families of Indian descent and their friends by making grants and loan funds, establishing scholarships, or by making grants to individuals to defray their educational expenses.
4. To undertake the relief and welfare of needy families of Indian descent and their friends either directly or by making grants to organizations in the following manner:
a. Support of needy Indians in America, including emergency loans, medical expenses and hardship grants for unusual and compelling cases.
b. Support for charitable projects and programs in India and USA such as schools, hospitals and clinics, etc.
c. Disburse funds for flood and other natural disaster relief projects.
d. Organize medical support activities such as diagnostic checkups, health care, medical mission, etc.
e. Provide credit at reasonable rates through credit unions and other means.
f. Provide counseling and referral services and other professional services.
g. Obtain justice, equal rights and equal opportunities through legal means.
5. Promote scientific research and means of grants to individuals, institutions, and other organizations for purposes such as:
a. Financing research in population control.
b. Purchase of necessary equipment for existing medical or scientific research projects.
c. Any other research or activity that meet IRS 501 (c)-(3) requirements.
6. Promote and sponsor Indian religious teaching seminars and festivals such as Diwali, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Id-ul Fitr, Christmas, and Guruparab, etc., in a non-sectarian manner.
7. To establish a permanent center and instruments to promote the objectives specified above.
8 To organize other programs that are exclusively for scientific, educational, literary, charitable, or religious purposes.
9. To promote fellowship among the members of the community through cultural and recreational activities, such as picnics, movies, carnivals, camps, etc.
Section 2. HIA resolves that no substantial part of the activities of the Association (Corporation) shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations describe in sections 501 (c) (3), 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding section of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to the federal, state, or local government for exclusive public purpose.
Article IV. Membership and Dues
Section 1. Eligibility: Any person 18 years of age or over and interested in the objectives of the Association, and agreeing to abide by the by-laws of the Association will be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Application with membership dues should be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval.
Section 3. Membership in the Association shall be of the following types:
1. Individual Member: They shall be at least 18 years of age and who have paid their dues.
2. Family Member: They shall be at least 18 years of age with two or more people in a household. They should have paid their membership dues for the current year. Children below the age of 18 years will be considered family members with their parents provided their parents are members in good standing. Children below the age of 25 years who are full time students in college will be considered family members with their parents provided their parents are members in good standing.
3. Associate Member: These shall be nominated by the executive committee of the Association and approved by the trustees. This is an honorary membership.
4. Life Member: Anyone making a donation equivalent to 20 years membership dues.
5.Patrons: Anyone making a donation of $1,000 or more shall be a patron of HIA.Section
4. Dues: Annual membership for individual members and family members shall be decided by the Executive Committee and approved by the general body. No dues shall be required of associate members and life members. Dues shall be for one calendar year beginning in October and ending in September of the following year.
Article V. Officers and Executive Committee
Section 1. HIA will have a Board of six trustees. Each member of the Board will have to be elected by the general body of the membership for a period of three (3) years. The President of the Association will serve as the Secretary of the Board and will be a member.
Section 2. The Board of Trustees will be responsible to the general body for the continuity of the Association.
Section 3. The association will have a President and a Vice-President. The Vice-President will automatically become President of the association in the succeeding term. The President will appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Public Relations Officer. No member of the Executive Committee shall be elected in the office more than two consecutive terms.
Section 4. Office holders of Article V, Section 3 and the immediate past president will form the Executive Committee of the Association.
Section 5. Duties of the Executive committee shall be to help formulate and execute the policies and programs approved by the general membership of the Association and fill vacancies of the Executive Committee until the next election.Section 6. The President is authorized to appoint committees to conduct various functions.
Article VI. Meetings
Section 1. There shall be at least one general body meeting within one calendar year.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every three (3) months for proper functioning of the Association.
Section 3. At least a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Trustees will be required to overrule the action of or dissolve the Executive Committee.
Section 4. A minimum of three (3) meetings of the Board of Trustees is required each year.
Section 5. Each trustee member is required to attend all meetings and will be considered inactive if fails to attend at least 50 percent of the meetings.
Section 6. The presence of at least three (3) members will be required for a quorum for the meetings of the Board of Trustees or Executive Committee.
Article Vll. Election Procedure
Section 1. All members on the current roster of membership shall have the right to vote and contest in the election except for associate members and family members under the age of 18 years.
Section 2. Two months prior to the Annual General Meeting the Board of Trustees shall select three (3) members for an election committee.
Section 3. The Election Committee shall conduct all election procedures and report the results to the general membership.
Section 4. All nominations for the officers shall be duly nominated and seconded by the members of the Association with the consent of the nominees concerned.
Section 5. The election shall be conducted by secret ballot at the discretion of the election committee.
Article VIII. Disciplinary Action
Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall take appropriate disciplinary action against any member found guilty of gross misconduct.
Article IX. Amendments and Rules of Order
Section 1. These by-laws may be modified by a two-third majority vote of members present at a General Body meeting which should consist of any 50 percent of the regular members on the current roster of membership.
Section 2. Amendments should be circulated to the membership at least fifteen (15) days prior to the General Body meeting mentioned above.
Section 3. The business of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the rules contained in the latest edition of "Robert's Rules of Order," provided these do not contradict the bylaws of HIA.
Section 4. The decision of the majority of the trustees, on any question involving the interpretation of the by-laws and any definition therein, shall be final.
Section 5. Fifty percent of the members present on the current roster of the membership for general meetings shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. Special General Body meetings shall be called by the secretary with a minimum of fifteen (15) days notice under the advice of the Executive Committee on a written petition of 20 percent of the members on the current roster of members.
Article X. Finances
Section 1. The Association shall keep the funds in a Bank. The President and/or Treasurer will sign checks on the above bank account of the Association for their approval.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall keep financial records current and report it at the general body meeting.
Section 3. The operating budget of the Association will be pre-approved by the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. The financial records shall be audited at the end of each calendar year.Section 5. Should the Association disband, after paying or making provisions for payments of all the liabilities of the HIA, the remaining assets of the Association shall be transferred to an organization with similar objectives chosen by the General Body at a special meeting called for the purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of exclusively for such organizations as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.1988 Amendment * (Vide Article III, Section 2)