|
CONSTITUTION
(As amended on December 10, 2004)
ARTICLE – I: NAME
The name and Title of this organization shall be the TELANGANA DEVELOPMENT FORUM, USA INC., hereinafter called TDF. It shall be a not-for-profit organization registered under the laws of the State of NEWYORK and shall exist in perpetuity. The functioning of TDF shall be on a calendar year basis.
ARTICLE - II: OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
Section 1:
To promote Literary and Educational programs for students, scientists, and professionals of Indian origin in the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Telangana region of India.
Section 2:
To promote cultural, religious, social, economic activities, and health programs among other things for the people of Indian origin.
Section 3:
To invite distinguished Indian scholars and Statesmen from the Telangana region of India to North America as well as other countries for delivering lectures and seminars.
Section 4:
To address the issues faced by the Indian communities in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and India.
Section 5:
To solicit, raise and disburse funds for the afore-mentioned activities directly or in co-operation with other not-for-profit organizations of North America, Europe, Australia and India.
Section 6:
The TDF shall also have such powers as are now or may hereinafter be granted by the General not-for-profit corporation Act of the State of New York.
ARTICLE – III: MEBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
Section 1:
Any person becoming a member of TDF shall: a) Abide by the objectives and purposes of TDF as defined in Article - II. b) Fill out a prescribed TDF application form. C) Be at least 18 years of age.
Section 2:
TDF membership is divided into 4 categories: Grand Patron, Patron, Life and Associate Member.
The one-time dues to become a Grand Patron, Patron and a Life member are $5,000, $1000 and $100 respectively. These amounts could be reviewed and adjusted periodically by the Board. Only the Grand Patrons, Patrons, and Life-members are eligible to serve as Board of Trustees. No dues are required for an Associate member and the Associate members are not eligible to vote.
Section 3:
If any member acts against the interests of TDF or violates the objectives, Board of Trustees shall review and revoke his or her membership with a simple majority under the supervision of the Chairperson.
ARTICLE – IV: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1: General Powers:
The affairs of the TDF shall be managed by its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall invest and manage the TDF funds in a safe and secure manner.
Section 2: Number and Tenure:
Total number of Board of Trustees shall not exceed 21 including the immediate Past President. The Board of Trustees positions shall be 10 from Life members, 6 from Patrons, and 4 from Grand Patrons. The term of a Trustee is four years and half the Trustees will retire every two years. The very first time, half the Trustees will be elected for a two-year term. The Board of Trustees shall elect from among them a Chairperson and an Executive Committee of 6 people for a 2-year term.
Section 3: Chairperson of Board of Trustees:
The Chairperson and the Board of Trustees will have the general responsibility for the policies and objectives of TDF. The Chairperson will setup the agenda and conduct the Board meetings in cooperation with the Executive Committee.
Section 4: Meetings:
The Board of Trustees shall meet periodically, but not less than twice a year. A majority of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any Board meeting. These meetings can be conducted through teleconference. The Executive Committee may meet as often as necessary either in person or through teleconference.
Section 5: Vacancies:
The Board of Trustees shall fill any vacancy of a Trustee / Executive Committee member on the recommendation of the President and Chairperson. A Trustee / Executive Committee member nominated to fill a vacancy shall serve the un-expired term.
ARTICLE – V: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1:
The Executive Committee consists of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and Joint Treasurer.
President:
The President shall be the executive officer of the organization, shall preside at all the meetings of the Executive committee, and subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees shall have general responsibility for the implementation of various activities of the organization. The President shall make appropriate decisions for the maintenance and day-to-day administration of the organization in consultation with the Executive Committee. The President shall perform the duties incidental to the office of the executive officer, and the Board of Trustees may prescribe such other duties from time to time.
Vice-President:
In absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all the duties and shall exercise all the powers of the President specified above. In addition, the Vice-President shall assist the President in the day-to-day operations.
Secretary:
The Secretary shall be the custodian of the TDF official records, and shall keep accurate minutes of all the meetings. The Secretary shall communicate with the members to keep them informed of all the activities of the organization. The Secretary shall perform such additional duties as may be required from time to time by the Executive Committee or the Board of Trustees.
Joint Secretary:
In absence of the Secretary, the Joint Secretary shall perform all the duties and shall exercise all the powers of the Secretary specified above. In addition, the Joint Secretary shall assist the Secretary in the day-to-day operations.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall hold the funds of TDF in an account approved by the Board of Trustees, disperse the funds according to the decisions made by the Executive Committee / Board of Trustees. The Treasurer shall maintain a list of donors and shall keep accurate accounts of all the receipts and expenses, submit a report at each meeting of the Executive committee to give the financial status of the TDF and prepare an annual budget. The Treasurer shall prepare annual financial statement for an audit by an independent Certified Public Accountant and perform all duties incidental to the office of the Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall sign all the checks of TDF. For amounts below $1,000, for administrative efficiency, only one signature of the Treasurer is sufficient. For amounts of $1,000 and above, a second signature of either the President or Secretary is required on the check.
Joint Treasurer:
In absence of the Treasurer, the Joint Treasurer shall perform all the duties and shall exercise all of the powers of the Treasurer specified above. In addition, the Joint Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in the day-to-day operations.
ARTICLE – VI: COMMITTEES AND CHAPTERS
Section 1: Committees
The President in consultation with the Executive Committee may form appropriate additional committees to facilitate functioning of the TDF. All members of such committees shall be of good standing and subscribe to the objectives and purposes in Articles II and III. The Chairperson of each committee shall report to the President / Executive Committee. The following committees shall be the Standing Committees.
1. Web Committee – to collect, organize and keep the telangana.org Website current.
2. Membership Committee - to induct qualified members who subscribe to the Article - II.
3. Finance Committee – to raise funds for the functioning of the organization.
4. Foundation Committee – to review and approve the not-for-profit developmental projects.
5. Public Relations Committee – to coordinate the Press releases, Seminars and Meetings.
6. Districts Committee – to organize the District Coordinators to focus on the district level development.
7. Chapters Committee – to facilitate the activities of the Chapters.
8. TDF India Committee – to motivate and organize the Telangana NRIs returning / living in India as well as various groups functioning in support of Telangana, and facilitate TDF activities in India.
Section 2: Chapters
The President in consultation with the Executive Committee members can create a Chapter for a City or a Region and appoint a Coordinator for each Chapter. The term of the Coordinator is two years. The Chapter Coordinator shall report to the President / Executive Committee. The Chapter Coordinator has the responsibility to organize the local activities, conduct TDF seminars and disseminate information. The Chapter Coordinator can form his / her own additional committees and raise funds on behalf of TDF. The TDF Treasurer will maintain a sub-account for each Chapter. The President in consultation with the Executive Committee members shall develop the funds transfer and other operational guidelines for the Chapters.
ARTICLE – VII: NOMINATION AND SELECTION COMMITTEE
The President with the approval of the Board of Trustees shall appoint a Nominating committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of 3 members in good standing. The Nominating committee shall have the following responsibilities: a) Solicit nominations for the Trustees from members of good standing and who subscribe to the objectives and purposes in Articles II and III. b) Prepare a slate of candidates for Trustees in consultation with the current President and Chairperson. c) If the elections are necessary, the Committee will conduct the elections, and the Grand Patron, Patron and Life members can only vote to elect the Trustees under their respective categories.
ARTICLE – VIII: CONTRIBUTIONS
The TDF may accept any contribution given for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the organization.
ARTICLE – IX: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may be amended or repealed by two-thirds majority of the Board of Trustees pursuant to the procedures stated below:
Any three members of the Board of Trustees or the President can propose an amendment to the Constitution. The proposed amendment shall be discussed and voted on at the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees. The amendment is deemed approved with two-thirds majority.
All the proposed amendments shall be notified to the members as promptly as possible.
ARTICLE – X: INDEMNIFICATION
The organization shall indemnify any and all of its members, trustees or officers, or former members, trustees or officers, or any person who may have served at its request, against the expenses (including attorney's fees) actually or necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which they, or any of them, are made parties or a party, and shall be adjudged in such action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of duty, and to such matter as shall be settled by an agreement.
ARTICLE – XI: ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER
Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, all matters of procedure shall be governed by Roberts Rules of order. Functioning of this organization shall be in accordance with the articles I through XI of this Constitution. The Board of Trustees shall resolve any matter or issue not explicitly stated here in.
If there is any conflict that is not resolved by the Board, it shall be resolved only through the Arbitration Process.
ARTICLE – XII: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Trustees shall after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose off all the assets of the corporation to such an organization or organizations operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes qualified as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law ). And such assets not so disposed off shall be disposed off by the court of common pleas of the Country in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.
|
Home
| About TDF | Press
Center | Events | Contact
| Sitemap
