Pakistan Association of Tri City, New YorkConstitution

Preamble

We, the Pakistani residents of the Tri City, New York, reaffirming our National objectivesof Unity, Faith and Discipline, have agreed and hereby resolve to establish a non-profit,cultural and charitable organization, to be known as the Pakistan Association of Tri City,New York with the following objectives:

1. To promote better understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people ofthe United States of America and other nations, through organizing social andcultural events discussions and seminars and other means within the framework ofits constitution, this may become necessary to achieve these objectives.

2. To provide its members and fresh Pakistani arrivals in this area the security andcomfort of associating with people from similar background and culture, to theextent dictated by the resources of the Association.

3. To cater for such communal needs (both religious and persona) of its members asthe Association may decide from time to time. This may include for example,congregational prayers on religious days, social and ceremonial requirements ofbirths, matrimony and occasions of sorrow.

4. To undertake other actions which the Association may decide from time to time,which my contribute to the betterment and happiness of this region and humanity atlarge.

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this organization shall he the Pakistan Association of Tri City, New York

ARTICLE II: Headquarters and area of jurisdiction

The headquarters of the Association shall always be located in the Tri city area. Untilsuch date the Association can afford its own office, the records and assets of theAssociation will he the direct charge of the president of the Association, who shallhave the responsibility of transferring them to his successor at the end of his term ofoffice.

The area of jurisdiction of the Association shall include, besides the capitol district ofthe N.Y., Utica, Rome and Syracuse in the west, Saratoga and Glens Falls in thenorth, and Hudson, Kingston and Poughkeepsie in the south.

ARTICLE III: Membership and subscription

Member: All persons of Pakistani origin residing in this area, their spouses andchildren above 18 years of age, who accept the constitution of the Association, shallbe eligible to full membership of the Association.

Associate member: All other persons who accept the constitution and objectives ofthe Association shall be eligible to Associate Membership, provided proposed by atleast one full member.

Requirements and privileges:1. Admission to either type of membership shall be subject to the approval by the

executive committee, of a writer application made by the interested person to thepresident of the Association.

2. A full member, provided his dues are not in arrears for more than a year, henceforthto be referred to as a member in good standing, shall have the right to vote and beeligible for election to the offices of the Association to be described under Article VI.

Subscription: Member $5.00 per annum; Students $1.00 per annum; Associatemember $l.00 per annum.

ARTICLE IV: Funds

The funds of the Association will be derived from the annual subscription of themembership. The Association shall also welcome donations from all such sourceswhich may support its aims and the objectives.

The financial transactions of the Association shall be transacted through anaccredited bank, conveniently located in the tri city area. Withdrawals shall be underthe joint signatures of the treasurer and the president of the Association, or hisnominee who must be a member of the executive committee.

ARTICLE V: The General Body

The General Body shall consist of members in good standing, and shall have thefollowing functions:

1. The General Body shall meet at lease once a year (preferably in November) todiscuss and take decisions on items of business presented by the executivecommittee.

2. The General Body shall have the powers to formulate its own rules of procedure.3. Approve policies and program of activities recommended by the executive

committee, and enact measures for the smooth and progressive performance of theAssociation.

4. The General Body may from time to time lay down rules to regulate the proceduresof election of the executive committee members.

5. Elect the members of the executive committee.

6. Approve the annual report of the activities of the Association, audited statement ofincome and expenditure of the past year, budget for the coming year and the futureplans of the activities of the Association. The General Body shall be responsible tomake arrangements for the auditing of the financial statements prepared by thetreasurer.

7. Discuss and take decisions on any other business matters as the General Body maydeem fit and proper.

ARTICLE VI: The executive committee

The executive powers of the Association shall be vested in the executive committeeto be implemented by the president. It shall be composed of the following:

1. President2. Vic President3. Secretary4. Treasurer5. Executive Member

Functions:

1. Prepare memorandum of policy and program of activities (both for the term of theiroffice and long range, statements of income and expenditure, annual budget andreport for the approval of the General Body.

2. Execute the program and activities as approved by the General body, whileremaining within the limits of the approved budget.

3. Maintain accurate records of its activities, finances, and minutes of its meetings andthose of the General Body.

4. Maintain properly the assets and property of the Association.5. Bring promptly to the attention of the General Body important suggestions which

may benefit the Association and matters which might adversely affect its progress.6. Cooperate with the election committee in organizing the annual general elections for

the next term. Hand over promptly the complete and up to date records of theAssociation and its assets to the succeeding elected committee, within one week oftheir election.

Quorum and voting:

Three members of the committee shall constitute the quorum. The presenceof either of the president or the vice president shall always be necessary forthe committee to function. Each member of the committee shall have onevote, and the decision of the committee shall he reached by an affirmativevote of a majority of members present and voting.

Vacancies:

1. In case of a vacancy in the office of the president the vice president shall hold officeof the president for the rest of the term.

2. In case of a vacancy of the vice presidents the executive member shall hold theoffice of the vice president.

3. In case of a vacancy of the secretary or the treasurer, the committee shall nominateone of their members to fill the vacant position.

4. A vacancy of the executive member shall be filled by any member of the Associationto be nominated by the president and approved by the committee.

Term of Office:

All members of the executive committee shall hold offices until the followingelections, which under normal circumstances shall not be held later thantwelve months from the date of the previous elections.

ARTICLE VII: Qualifications and duties of the members of the executive committee

President:

Qualifications:1. Any member of the Association in good standing shall be eligible for the office of the

president.2. No candidate shall be elected for more than two consecutive terms, provided that

the general membership by an affirmative vote of two thirds of those present andvoting waive this restriction for the third and final term.

Duties:1. The president shall preside over all the meetings of both the executive committee

and the General Body.2. The president and only the president shall represent the Association through

correspondence for personal contacts with groups or individuals outside themembership, on matters of policy and position of the Association. In case of hisinability to do so, the president may appoint a suitable member to represent theAssociation.

3. The president shall call the first meeting of the executive committee within fourweeks of the assumption of his office. At this meeting he shall present hismemorandum of policy and program of proposed activities for the Association, forthe concurrence of the committee and subsequent approval of the General Body. Heshall cause to be circulated among the members of the committee, a draft of thisdocument at least ten days in advance of the scheduled date of this meeting. Anysubsequent meeting of the committee shall be called by the president whenfeasible, provided a minimum of one meeting is held in each quarter of the year.

4. The president shall prepare or cause to be prepared an annual general report of theactivities of the Association for the approval of the General Body at its annualmeeting.

5. The president at the request of one third of the membership in good standing cancall an extraordinary meeting of the General Body.

Vice President:

Qualifications:1. Any member of the Association in good standing shall be eligible for the office of the

vice-president.

Duties:1. The vice president shall assist the president in the performance of his duties.2. He shall act as president whenever the latter is absent, and succeed to that office

whenever that office lies vacant as a result of death, resig-nation or other cause.

Secretary:

Qualifications:1. Any member of the Association in good standing shall be eligible for the office of the

secretary.

Duties:1. The secretary shall be responsible for the correspondences records and the assets of

the Association.2. He shall assist the president in the implementation of the policies and the program

of activities as authorized by the General Body.3. The secretary shall call the General Body meeting to order and then hand over their

control to the president.4. He shall be responsible to record the minutes of the meetings of both the executive

committee and the General Body, and present them at the subsequent meeting forthe approval of the committee or the General Body, and the signature of thepresident. He shall also cause the circulation of the minutes of these meetings whenrequired.

Treasurer:

Qualifications:1. Any member of the Association in good standing shall be eligible for the office of the

treasurer.

Duties:1. The treasurer shall present to the executive committee financial statements of’

income and the expenditure of the association at each of its meetings, and at leastquarterly.

2. The treasurer shall with the sanction of the committee administer the finances ofthe Association, and shall have the powers to receive and disburse money in thename of the Association, within the limits provided by the committee.

3. He shall, in cooperation of the president prepare the annual budget for the approvalof the executive committee and subsequently of the General Body at its annualmeeting.

4. He shall present to the General Body at its annual meeting, an audited statement ofaccounts of the Association as of the last month preceding the scheduled date of themeeting.

5. He shall hand over completed and up to date statement of accounts, relevantrecords ar1d other papers to the incoming treasurer at the end of the electionmeeting.

Executive Member:

Qualifications:1. Any member of the Association in good standing shall be eligible for the office of the

executive member.

Duties:1. The executive member shall assist the president and the committee as and when

required. He shall attend all the meetings of the executive committee.

ARTICLE VIII: Election of the Executive Committee

1. The executive committee shall appoint an election committee, to administer theelections and also recommend slate of nominees at the election meeting. Thiscommittee shall not include any member of the executive committee, or a candidateto any of the offices at the coming election meeting.

2. The election of the executive committee shall be held at a properly constitutedmeeting of the general body, (which shall be presided over by the chairman of theelection committee) at least ten weeks before the Annual meeting of the GeneralBody.

3. Nominations, in addition to those included in the slate of nominees recommended bythe election committee, shall also be invited from the floor.

4. Nominations and election for all offices shall be made serially, that is, nominationsfor only one office shall be invited and then votes shall be taken for that office. Onlyafter the result of the election of this office has been announced, will thenominations for the next office be invited.

5. At least fifty percent of the total membership in good standing shall constitutequorum for the election meeting.

6. A simple majority of votes shall determine the election to that office.7. Nominations shall be made in the following order: president, vice president,

secretary, treasurer, executive member.

ARTICLE IX: Publications

1. The Association may, depending upon the resources available, issue a regular orirregular publication to keep the membership informed of its activities, future eventsand other matters of interest.

ARTICLE X: Amendments to the Constitution

1. Amendments to the constitution shall be made at the Annual meeting of the GeneralBody by an affirmative vote of two thirds present and voting.

2. Any proposal for amendment to the constitution shall be submitted to the executivecommittee at least four weeks before the meeting of the General Body, providedthat the members of the General Body by affirmative votes of two thirds of thosepresent and voting waive this requirement.

ARTICLE XI: Miscellaneous

1. All meetings of the Association including those of the executive committee and theGeneral Body shall be conducted according to the procedures recommended in thelatest edition of the Robert’s Rules.

2. The Association may seek affiliation with other organizations with similar aims andobjectives (for example Pakistan Students Association of America, and otherinternational organizations) or accept requests for affiliation from suchorganizations, provided the members so decide by majority vote.

3. Use of funds: No part of funds, assets, or income of the Association shall be used forthe private benefit for any member, donor of officer of the Association.

4. The activities of the Association shall not involve any act which may influence thesecurity of the United States in an adverse manner.

5. Dissolution: In the event of the dissolution of the Association all funds and propertyof the said Association, shall be donated to such an organization(s) as are alreadyexempt of Federal Income Tax as described in Section 501(c) (3) of the InternalRevenue Code of 1954.