By Laws

By-Laws of Telugu Samiti of Nebraska

Adopted January 14, 2012

ARTICLE I. NAME, OFFICES AND AIMS

SECTION 1. NAME:

The name of the Association (Hereinafter called the “ASSOCIATION” or “TSN”) is Telugu Samiti of Nebraska

SECTION 2. OFFICES:

The principal office of the Association in the State of Nebraska shall be located in Omaha.

SECTION 3. PURPOSE:

The purposes for which the Association is organized are cultural, educational, literary, civic, social and charitable. The Association will provide members of the “TELUGU speaking” community in Nebraska with an organization dedicated to the above purposes that are consistent with the fostering of a closer association among people with similar beliefs, aims and ideals.

ARTICLE II. ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

The Executive Committee (EC) consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Cultural Secretary, six elected Members and permanent EC members for a term expiring at the end of fiscal year of the Association. These officials constitute the voting members of the Executive committee. The President may appoint additional officers such as Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and Co-Vice President, but these appointed officials would not have voting powers. All elected Executive Committee members at the General Body meeting must be residents of Nebraska and must have legal status to reside in USA for duration of his/her term. The President and Vice President should have served TSN in some other elected official capacity for at least two year before being nominated for their respective posts. All other elected Executive Committee members must be TSN members in good standing for at least 30 days prior to election. State law prohibits President from holding Secretary’s position simultaneously. Any unfilled Executive Committee positions (Vice-President or Secretary or Treasurer) may be appointed by a majority of the Executive Committee if the candidate meets the following requirements:

  1. Must be a resident of Nebraska and has legal status to reside in USA for duration of his/her term.
  2. Must be a TSN member in good standing for at least 30 days prior to appointment.
  3. In the case of Vice President, should have served TSN in an official elected capacity for at least one year.

Services provided as a member of Executive Committee to TSN is on a volunteer basis as per Article II, Section 7.

A.GENERAL POWERS :

(a) PRESIDENT:

The President is the elected chief executive officer of TSN and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of TSN. His/her duties include but are not limited to following:

1. Conduct all meetings of the Executive Committee and General Body.

2. Coordinate the social and cultural functions of the TSN.

3. May recommend names to the Executive Committee for the formation of ad hoc committees to help in the coordinating of TSN functions.

4. Inform TSN activities to the community via TSN newsletter by electronic or printed media.

5. Will be responsible for the safekeeping of TSN books, records, and important papers.

In the event of President’s resignation or inability or refusal to act, the Vice President will take charge. If this is not possible, the Executive Committee may call for new election.

PAST PRESIDENT: The outgoing President of the Association shall be Ex-officio member of the Executive Committee for the following year. He/she shall advise the Executive Committee when deemed necessary, but shall not have voting rights.

(b) VICE-PRESIDENT:

In the temporary absence of the President, the Vice President will perform the duties of the President. Generally, however, the Vice President will help the President in carrying out his/her duties. Vice President’s duties include but are not limited to following:

  1. Will be the President for the next fiscal year.1(a)Take charge as President, in the event of the President’s resignation.
  2. Assist in conducting cultural and social programs.
  3. Representing TSN at city and state levels.
  4. Representing TSN and coordinating with other local cultural and spiritual organizations.
  5. To raise the funds for TSN.
  6. Assisting in the record keeping of TSN, particularly in regard to minutes and financial matters.
  7. Establish and promote liaison with regional and national Telugu Associations.
  8. Responsible for the safekeeping of the assets of TSN and transfer them to the newly elected Executive Committee at the meeting of transition.
(c) SECRETARY:

The Secretary’s duties include but are not limited to following:

  1. Call for meetings as per normal procedures.
  2. Keep minutes of all meetings.
  3. Maintain membership lists, inventories, etc.
  4. Maintain copies of all newsletters, directories and other official publications of TSN.
  5. Send copies of notices and minutes of Executive Committee to all EC members.
  6. Generally assist the other members of the Executive Committee in conducting cultural and social programs.
  7. Assist the President in legal formalities.
(d) TREASURER:

The Treasurer’s duties include but are not limited to following:

  1. Keep proper records of all receipts and payments, maintain books of account and report accounts to the EC at quarterly meetings.
  2. Help the Secretary in maintaining the membership list.
  3. Issue official receipts for all cash transactions.
  4. Generally assist the other members of the Executive Committee in conducting cultural and social programs.
  5. Report financial accounts at the Annual General Body meeting.
  6. Hand over all financial accounts to the newly elected Executive Committee at the end of the fiscal year in the transition meeting.
(e) CULTURAL SECRETARY:

The Cultural Secretary’s duties include but are not limited to following:

  1. Conducting cultural and social programs.
  2. Promote Telugu culture in the community at large.
  3. Generally assist the Secretary in carrying out his/her functions.

SECTION 2. TRANSITIONAL MEETING:

All Executive Committee members shall meet after the election/General Body meeting and before the first event (but not later than 20th January). The President will receive the Policy and Procedures Manual from the Past President, and discuss the affairs of TSN for the entire year.

SECTION 3. MEETINGS:

a. REGULAR: A regular quarterly or as needed (as determined by the EC) meeting of the EC shall be held without other notice than these by-laws. The EC may provide for, by resolution, the time and place, within Nebraska, for holding additional regular meetings of the EC without other notice than these by-laws.

b. SPECIAL: Special meetings of the EC may be called with informed agenda at the request of the President or any two (2) EC members. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the EC may fix any place within Nebraska, for such meetings.

c. All founding patrons, as per Article III, Section 5 (a) 1, shall be permanent invitees to all regular and special EC as well as TSN meetings with voting authority.

SECTION 4. NOTICE:

Notice for any meetings of the EC preferably shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. A majority of EC members may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of an EC member at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting.

SECTION 5. QUORUM:

A majority of the EC with minimum of 2/3rd (two-third) of EC members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the EC.

SECTION 6. MANNER OF ACTING:

The act of the EC members present at a meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be considered the act of the EC, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these by-laws.

SECTION 7. SALARIES:

Members of the Association will not receive salaries or perks for their services. All TSN officials and their family will be governed by the same admission rules as applicable to other TSN members.

SECTION 8. VACANCIES:

A vacancy in any office of Executive Committee except President because of death, resignation, disability, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the majority of EC for the unexpired portion of the term as per Article II, Section 1. A vacancy for the President is covered under Article II, Section 1, sub-section A (a).

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY:

Any person, over 18 years of age, of good moral character and interested in the furtherance of the stated aims of the Association, is eligible for membership in this Association. Each member shall pay all dues and fees, which shall be determined by the EC of the Association, and shall be subject to the approval of the General Body. The dues for Founding Patrons (as per Article III, Section 5 A) will be $500.

SECTION 2. APPLICATION:

All applications for the new membership shall be made in writing and mailed to the Association along with necessary dues. All memberships shall be subject to the EC’s approval.

SECTION 3. DUES

All membership dues excluding life membership are for the fiscal year of the Association and due by 1st January on a non pro-rata and non-refundable basis.

SECTION 4. PREROGATIVES:

Each member in good standing and on payment of all current dues and fees shall be entitled to all the benefits of the Association as laid out in these by-laws.

SECTION 5. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS:

A. There are four categories of membership to TSN:

  1. Founding Patrons. Only those families who are involved in the founding of TSN are eligible until Dec31st, 2012. The rights and privileges of Patron members can be changed with 2/3rd majority vote of Founding patrons or 2/3rd majority of GB.
  2. Life Member: Any individual or family member is eligible to become a life member (upon payment of necessary dues). All founding patrons are automatically deemed to be Life members.
  3. Annual Member3 a. Individual3 b. Individual – Student3 c. Family (includes dependents currently living with the member)
  4. Honorary member 

B. Organizations and Corporations may make donations to the TSN but shall not exercise any rights of the individual members.

C. Voting privileges of members in General Body meetings as per Article IV, Section 7:

1. Founding Patrons: Three votes per family

2. Individual (Annual or Life) members: One vote

3. Family (Annual or Life) members: Two votes (husband and wife one each).

Other dependent family members irrespective of age and type of membership are not eligible to vote.

D. STUDENT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS: Such membership shall be granted to full time students under age 25 only, who are enrolled in educational institutions.

E. HONORARY MEMBER:

The Honorary membership shall be limited to scholars, spiritual leaders, civic leaders, visiting dignitaries and others as deemed appropriate by the EC. Only the EC at its discretion shall award this exclusive honor, by simple majority vote.

SECTION 6. RESIGNATION:

Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with any member of the EC, but such resignation shall not relieve the member of any financial obligation to the Association.

SECTION 7. REMOVAL:

Any member who works against the interest and welfare of the Association in the judgment of the EC will be removed from the Association with a 2/3rd-majority vote of the EC. The expelled member shall forfeit his/her membership dues.

SECTION 8. REINSTATEMENT:

Any member expelled under Article II, Section 7 may be reinstated by an affirmative vote of 2/3rd of the EC upon such terms, as the EC may deem appropriate.

SECTION 9. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP:

Membership in the Association is neither transferable nor assignable, EXCEPT in the case of founding patron families, who may bequeath membership to their legal heir and/or successor.

SECTION 10. ADDITIONAL TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS:

The EC shall be empowered to establish additional types of membership when deemed necessary, to define their rights and privileges, and assessing such dues as, in its judgment, are equitable.

SECTION 11.

No member of TSN shall speak or make public statements on behalf of TSN unless authorized by the President.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING:

An Annual meeting of the members shall be held on any Saturday in the month of December. This meeting is held for the purpose of electing the EC and for transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the election of the President and Secretary is not held on the day designated herein for any Annual meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, the EC by majority shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the members as soon as possible thereafter. The EC and appointed Executive Committee members shall continue until new election.

SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS:

Special meetings of the members may be called by the EC or by a signed petition of not less than 1/5th of the members having voting rights.

SECTION 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS:

The EC may designate any place within the State of Nebraska as the place for the Annual meeting or any special meeting called by the EC.

SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETING:

Written, printed or e-mail notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called for and the person or persons calling the meeting, shall be delivered either personally or by mail or by e-mail, to each member entitled to vote at the meeting. If mailed, such a notice shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days and not more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting and shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the member at the registered address, with postage prepaid. If delivered personally or e-mail, such a notice shall be delivered not less than five (5) days or more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting and shall be deemed delivered when actually received by the member.

SECTION 5. INFORMAL ACTION BY MEMBERS:

Any action that requires a meeting of the members can also be taken without such meeting provided that a 2/3rd (two-third) majority of the members eligible to vote as per Article VIII, Section 2, sign in favor of such action and submit it to the EC for implementation.

SECTION 6. QUORUM:

For a General Body meeting twenty-five voting members or one-fourth (1/4) of the total voting membership as per Article VIII, Sections 1 & 2 shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 7. PROXIES:

No proxy voting shall be allowed.

SECTION 8. MANNER OF ACTING:

A majority of the vote entitled to be cast on a matter to be voted upon by the members present at a meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be necessary for the adoption of the resolution unless a greater proportion is required by law or by these by-laws.

SECTION 9. ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER:

The rules contained in the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable when they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. COMMITTEES:

The EC may from time to time authorize the formation of the committees defining the powers and duties of such committees as deemed necessary. Services provided as a member of such committee to TSN is on volunteer basis as per Article II, Section 7.

ARTICLE VI. CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS

SECTION 1. CONTRACTS:

The EC by majority may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Association, in addition to the officers so authorized by these by-laws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of the Association and on its behalf. Such authority may be specific or general.

SECTION 2. CHECKS, DRAFTS etc.:

All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Association, must be signed by two members of the EC (one of them must be elected members) who are authorized to sign as per Policy & Procedures Manual.

SECTION 3. DEPOSITS:

All funds of the Association shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Association in such banks, trusts or other depositories as the EC may select.

SECTION 4. GIFTS:

The EC may accept on behalf of the Association any contribution, gift, bequest or devise for the general purpose or for any special purpose of the Association.

ARTICLE VII. CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. CERTIFICATES:

The EC may determine the issuance of a membership certificate evidencing membership in the Association, which shall be in such form as determined by the EC. Such certificates shall be signed by the President or Vice-President and by the Secretary. The name and address of each member and the date issuance of the certificate shall be entered in the records of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII. BOOKS AND RECORDS

SECTION 1. BOOKS AND RECORDS:

The Association shall keep complete records of its accounts, minutes of the meeting of its members, EC and a record of the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote at its registered principal office, or by a person designated by the EC. The Association shall keep the books and records for three (3) years. Any member can inspect the books and records but the inspection can only be done at an Annual meeting. A member desirous of viewing the books and records must send written notice to the EC at least one (1) month ahead of the Annual meeting specifying reasons for viewing the books and records.

SECTION 2. CLOSING OF BOOKS AND RECORDS:

The Association’s membership shall be closed thirty (30) days prior to the Annual or General Body meeting. The members as of record on this closing date (or in exceptional cases as determined by the EC) are eligible members entitled to participate and vote at the Annual or General Body meeting. The Association’s membership reopens after the Annual or General Body meeting. The Association’s account books shall be closed on the last day of Association’s fiscal year.

ARTICLE IX. FISCAL YEAR

The Fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December each year.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS:

Amendments to these by-laws consistent with the TSN may be made only by membership with approval of 2/3rd (two-thirds) of the members present at General Body meeting, voting in favor of such amendments. The EC must incorporate all amendments passed by the General Body into by-laws.

SECTION 2. NOTICE:

The President must communicate notice of all proposed amendments to by-laws in writing to the membership at least ten days (10) prior to the meeting called to consider the amendments.

SECTION 3. AMENDMENT PROPOSAL:

Requests for amendments to by-laws made by a member and only seconded by another member must be submitted in writing to the President at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of an Annual meeting each year.

SECTION 4. OFFICIAL AMENDMENTS:

Requests for amendments to by-laws made by a majority vote of the EC may be submitted to the General Body by the President at any time provided due notice of such amendments has been given to the members of the Association as required under Article IV, Section 4.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS

A1. TSN_By_Laws_Amendments_2014

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