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The
Constitution of the Lao-American Association
Of
For Lao Constitution Click here
Modify Internal Rule October 30, 2007
ARTICLE
I:
NAME, OFFICE AND LOGO OF THE ASSOCIATION
1.1
The official name of the association shall be "The Lao-American
Association". "LAA" shall
be used as the acronym.
1.2
The principal office of the organization shall be located in
1.3
The Association shall maintain a post office box or an address for the
purpose of conducting mail correspondence.
1.4
The logo for The Lao-American Association shall be the symbol of the
Square Shapes of Houston Map LAA Houston Letter "Lao-American
Association" in both English and Lao, shown inside the map of the State of
ARTICLE
II: PURPOSE OF THE LAO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
2.1
To preserve our heritage by promoting the practice of Lao art, culture,
and tradition.
2.2
To promote unity and strengthen the bonds holding us together as a
community.
2.3
To offer fellow members assistance in the event of any hardships that
may arise in the families.
2.4
To promote the active roles of the Lao women both in the Lao and
American communities.
2.5
To motivate Laotians to take interest in education and self-improvement
both inside and outside of school environment.
2.6
To work on obtaining mutual understanding and respect with other groups
of people when participating in cultural or competitive activities.
2.7
To exercise all the rights and powers conferred on non-profit
organization to ensure that the above mentioned goals are maintained.
ARTICLE
III: THE NON-PROFIT STATUS OF THE ORGANIZATION
3.1
The Lao-American Association exists as a non-profit organization. It was established to serve the community; therefore,
no profit shall be derived, directly or indirectly, from business of any kind,
for the benefit of any individual belonging to the organization.
3.2
The Lao-American shall not engage in political activities such as
endorsing a political candidate, a political party, or a legislature, nor shall
the organization contribute to any political campaign fund.
3.3
Should the Lao-American Association dissolve, the Board of Executives
shall pay off all debts and expenses from the remaining available Association
funds to the limit of said remaining. Any remaining funds or properties shall
be distributed to other non-profit organizations approved by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
IV: MEMBERSHIP
4.1
Membership shall be opened to all Lao descendents, their spouses, their
parents and their children, or their legal dependents of Lao descend who are
legal residents of the United States of America and the state of Texas,
regardless of sex, ethnic, language or religious background, as long as the
member upholds the constitution of The Lao-American Association. If there is a question regarding an
applicant's eligibility, the final decision shall be in the hands of the Board
of Executives.
4.2
Anyone wishing to obtain membership shall provide the following
information as requested in the membership application:
1.
First and Last Name
2.
Date and Place of Birth
3.
Parents' Name when appropriate
4.
Social Security Number when appropriate
5.
Address
6.
Marital Status
7.
Telephone Number
If applicant is head of household, all legal
dependents should be listed on the same application.
4.3
Membership status is divided into three categories:
4.3.1
Permanent Member is an individual 18 years
of age or older who has completed the membership application and has paid his
or her membership fee.
4.3.2
Juvenile Member is a member under 18 years
of age, who is a legal dependent of a Permanent Member as listed on the
application.
4.3.3
Associate Member is an individual or an
organization that supports The Lao-American Association by providing needed
assistance or contributions of any kind.
ARTICLE
V:
FUNDING AND MEMBERSHIP FEE
5.1
Funding shall come from membership fees, contributions from other
organizations, private contributions and fund-raising activities.
5.2
A current yearly membership fee of Twenty Five dollars
($30.00) per family and a one-time
registration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each new Permanent Member. The amount of these fees may change in the
future.
ARTICLE
VI: OFFICERS
6.1 The officers of The Lao-American Association shall be divided
into two categories: Board of Directors and Board of Executives.
6.2 The Board of Directors shall
consist of at least five members including the president of the
association. Permanent members at the
annual conference shall elect the president, along with other board members, to
their offices. Each Director shall hold
office for a term of four (4) years and shall have the right to be nominated
for re-election.
6.3 The number of the Board of
Executives shall not be set. The
President shall appoint members to the Board of Executives as necessary and
appropriate, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to help him carry out
the goals of the association. Each
members of the Board of Executives shall serve four - (4) years term and may be
re-appointed for additional terms.
6.3.1
The Board of Executives
shall consist of at least the following members:
1.
President
2.
Vice-Presidents
3.
Secretary
4.
Treasurer
5.
Director of Budget and Fund
Raising Department
6.
Director of Art and Culture
Department
7.
Director of Family Assistance Department
8.
Director of Education
Department
9.
Director of Sports
Department
10.
Director of Public Relations
Department
6.3.2
In order to fulfill their
obligations, Directors listed above shall have the privilege of appointing as
many assistants as necessary to various roles.
The President shall be informed each time a Director appoints an
assistant. The Secretary shall be
informed of each meeting held by each department. Record of each meeting shall be kept and a
copy be given to the Secretary for permanent record keeping.
6.4.3 The president of the association shall
serve as Head of the Board of Directors
as well as Head of the Board of Executives.
The President shall be elected by permanent members in a general meeting
to a term of four - (4) years with the right to run for re-election.
7.1
Members of the Board of Executives shall develop their own specific
objectives and action plans for execution.
These plans must support the overall objectives of the association and
must be approved by both the president and vice-presidents of the association.
7.2
The President, having the highest office, shall be responsible for all
activities engaged in by each department of the association. Specifically, the president shall have the
following responsibilities:
1. To
closely oversee all activities engaged in by each department of association.
2.
To keep the Board of Directors and Executives focused on the objectives
of the association.
3.
To chair meetings of the Board of Directors and Executives.
4.
To represent the Lao-American Association outside of the Lao community.
5.
To co-sign important documents along with other officers or directors.
7.3
The Vice-Presidents shall be responsible for carrying out various tasks
assigned by the president or tasks determined from various meetings. In case the President is unable to perform
his or her duties, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the president
as listed above.
7.4
The Secretary shall be responsible for organizing meetings, setting the
meeting agendas, keeping records, sealing various documents, and other tasks
assigned by the President or tasks determined from meetings.
7.5
The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping records of the finances
of the Association. He or she should
keep records of accounts payable and accounts receivable, open bank accounts of
the association, keep inventory of properties belonging to the association, and
cut checks for various expenses incurred by the association. The treasurer shall co-sign checks with the
President or other officers as determined by the Board of Directors.
7.6
Director of Budget and Fund-Raising shall be responsible for setting
the association's fiscal budget, keeping expenses within budget, and organizing
fund-raising activities.
7.7
Director of Art and Culture shall be responsible for planning cultural
activities, promoting traditional dance and music, promoting the practice of
Lao customs and rituals, and familiarizing the younger generation with these
activities.
7.8
Director of Family Assistance shall be responsible for developing, and
overseeing the program(s) to assist the fellow members in event of hardship, such as
death in the family as being traditionally practiced from generations to generation .
7.9
Director of Education shall be responsible for developing and
overseeing program(s) to encourage fellow members to inculcate the value of
education in themselves and their children.
7.10
Director of Sports shall be responsible for organizing various sport
teams and activities to participate in competitions within the Lao community
and with other communities and cultures to promote teamwork and friendship.
7.11
Director of Public Relations shall be responsible for informing fellow
members of the news and activities of the association via the use of various
means of communication (i.e. flyers, newsletters, magazines)
7.12
The Board of Directors shall be responsible for establishing policies,
overseeing various programs conducted by the association, and serving as
council to the Board of Executives in order to keep the association focused on
its goals.
ARTICLE
VIII: ELECTION
8.1
Permanent Members shall have the right to run for office, nominate
other members for an office (with consent of the nominees), attend meetings,
and cast a vote.
8.2
Nominees for Board of Directors shall have the right to run for the
presidency as well.
8.3
Board of Directors shall be composed of ten (10) candidates with the
highest votes. The candidate with the
eleventh highest vote shall be the first runner up to fill in a position on the
Board of Directors when there is a vacancy.
8.4
The President shall be elected with a majority vote (more than fifty
percent of the votes). Should there be a
tie between two final candidates, the top two
candidates with the highest votes shall have a run off election during the same
meeting. If the tie cannot be broken
after two (2) subsequent votes, the tie will be settled by a coin toss.
8.5
Two (2) months prior to term expiration, the President shall name the
Election Director who should seek new candidates for the Board of Directors to
run for offices. Any members wishing to
become a candidate must contact the Election Director.
8.6
The Election Director shall be responsible for organizing and
overseeing the election in all fairness.
The Election Director must form an Election Committee to conduct the
election.
8.7
The Election Director shall have the right to nominate himself to run
for a position. However, should others
nominate the Election Director, he or she shall regain the right to be a
candidate. In such case, he must resign
his position as Election Director. If
the Election Director resigns, the president must nominate a new Election
Director.
8.8
In the election meeting, the President must give a summary of his/her
service during his/her term.
8.9
The Election Director shall announce the name of the candidates, state
the procedure for the election, and allow the candidates to introduce
themselves and their platforms to the members.
Members must have adequate time to question candidates before casting
their votes.
8.10
The existing administration must continue to hold their positions until
a transfer of duties takes place. This
transition must take place within two months after the Election Date.
ARTICLE
IX: OPERATING GUIDELINES AND MEETINGS
9.1
A conference must be held once a year (between the 1st and
15th of November) for the administration to give a yearly report and
to hold an election every four (4) year.
The Secretary must consult with the President and Vice-Presidents about
the location, date and time of the meeting and notify members in advance.
9.2
Non-scheduled meetings shall be convened as determined by the Board of
Directors. A special meeting must be
held if petitioned for by ten (10%) percent of total permanent members.
9.3
Board of Executives should have a monthly meeting. Additional meetings may be held as required
by the Board of Directors and the Board of Executives.
9.4
The Secretary must announce the conference in writing to members at
least two weeks in advance. Announcement
must contain information regarding location, date, and time of the conference
as well as the agendas. Meetings between
the Board of Directors and the Board of Executives may be announced by
telephone at least 24 hours in advance.
9.5
The Secretary will start the conference by giving a report of past
meetings and announcing the agendas. The
President will then have the floor.
Additions to the agenda may be added if there is unanimous approval by
attending members.
9.6
Members may be called upon to vote on an issue either openly or
secretly. If there is a secret ballot,
the votes must be counted and recorded openly.
The Secretary shall be in charge of counting, recording, and announcing
the outcome of the vote.
9.7
Members are required to give signature, name, address and telephone
number as record of attendance.
9.8
Members shall have the right to make a speech in a given amount of time
as appropriately set by the President.
9.9
In order for referendum to be adopted, it must be explained and debated
thoroughly and adopted by the majority of the attending members.
ARTICLE
X:
TERMS OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
10.1
Membership is lifetime unless it is revoked due to a serious wrong
doing by a member.
10.2
Term of office for the Board of Directors and Executives shall be
subjected to these following terms:
1.
Term expiration
2.
Resignation
3.
Death
4.
Dismissal due to wrong doing or inability to serve.
10.3
Termination of membership or termination of an officers' term should
ONLY BE CARRIED OUT THE BY THE BOARD OF EXECUTIVES IN A CLOSED MEETING. The accused could be invited to defend himself and bring
with him witnesses and or evidences. The
decision by the majority of the Board of Executives must be upheld as the
verdict.
ARTICLE
XI: RECORD KEEPING
11.1
The organization must keep correct and complete books and records for
review. The following are records that
must be kept:
1.
Accounts receivable and accounts payable
2.
Records of bank accounts and inventory of all belongings
3.
Meeting notes
4.
Membership status
ARTICLE XII: FISCAL YEAR
12.1
Fiscal year shall begin on the 1st of January and end on the
31st of December.
ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
13.1
This constitution may be amended as necessary in order to facilitate
the achievement of objectives.
Amendments may be introduced at the annual conference or special
meetings. Such amendments will be
studied and considered by the Boards and, if approved, brought before the next
annual conference or special meeting to be approved or disapproved by the
majority of attending and proxy voting members.
ARTICLE XIV: COMPENSATION
14.1
There is no compensation. All
position functions are performed on a voluntary basis. However, the Association can reimburse all
legitimate expenses incurred during the performance of activities for the
Lao-American Association as long as all receipts are verified and retained for
accounting purposes.