CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I: NAME AND LOCATION
Section 1:
Name of the Not-for-profit Organization :
Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI).
Section 2:
The location of the registered office shall be at 812 Hope Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15220, USA. Should the location need to be changed, the
new location shall be at such a place as permitted by law and the
Certificate of Incorporation and as determined by the Executive
Committee.
ARTICLE II: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The Organization is formed in order to support Bangladeshi People's
voluntary efforts in improving their living conditions. These basically
include ensuring the availability of the following: food, health care, home,
clothes and education. In particular, the aims and objectives of the
Bangladesh Development Initiative ( BDI ) are:
Section 1:
1) To support policy research that can be fruitful in the formulation and
implementation of national policies to ensure the above.
2) To
support industrialization and acceleration of rural development of
Bangladesh as a means to alleviating poverty.
3) To foster
solidarity relationship with the people of North America so that democratic
aspiration of the people get rightful support and encouragement.
4) To initiate cultural exchange so that international understanding becomes
easier between the people of Bangladesh and world community.
5)
To publish books, pamphlets, research dissertations to enhance the above
objectives.
6) The underprivileged classes and women will be the
focus of all developmental efforts.
Section 2:
A. No part of the earnings or assets of the Organization shall be used to
the benefit of or be distributable to its members, officers, or other
private persons, except that the Organization shall be authorized and
empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered, and to make
payment and distribution in the furtherance of the purpose set forth in
Article II thereof.
B. The Organization shall not carry on any
activity not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from
Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. or Internal Revenue
Law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deducible under
Section 170 (c) (3) of Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding
provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law.
C. The
Organization may make contributions to Organizations that qualify as exempt
Organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Law or the
corresponding provision of any future laws.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP, FEES AND DUES
Section 1:
The membership of the Organization shall consist of Members and Honorable
Members.
A. A Member of the Organization shall be any person who
is resident in North America.
B. The Executive Committee may
grant Honorary Memberships to any individual who has made significant and
outstanding contributions in preserving the aims and objectives of this
Organization. Honorary Members will not have the right to vote.
Section 2:
All members of the Organization must subscribe to the Constitution & By-Laws
of the Organization to obtain and retain membership in the Organization.
Members must have paid their dues, payable on an annual basis.
Section 3:
Only Members of the Organization who have paid their dues for the current
fiscal year shall be eligible to vote in the election of the Organization.
Section 4:
The annual dues shall be in an amount as determined by the Organization in
the By-Laws of the Organization.
ARTICLE IV: ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICES
Section 1:
The general management of the Organization shall be vested upon the
Executive Committee.
Section 2:
The
Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice President,
General Secretary, Treasurer and the Executive Members. All members of the
Executive Committee shall be members who retain the power to vote. The
Executive Committee shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.
Section 3:
Any vacancies in the office of the Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by
appointment by the Executive Committee. Vacancy caused by the President will
be filled by the Vice President.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
Section 1:
The time and place of all meetings shall be decided by the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year, or as
often as need be to conduct business. There shall at least one meeting of
the entire membership every year at a place and date designated by the
Executive Committee. Notice of the time and place of all meetings, except
those of the Executive Committee, shall be mailed to all members at least
two months prior to such meetings. Special meetings may be called by the
President or by the majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 2:
Quorum of the meetings of the Executive Committee shall be considered three
members or greater. In case of a lack of quorum, the President shall have
the power to designate a chairman of a subcommittee to act as member of the
Executive Committee for that meeting.
Section 3:
The President shall have the right to break a tie.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the constitution can be made by the general membership only.
Any proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in
writing by ten active members or by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee.
Amendments of this constitution may effected by three-fourths of the active
membership present at a regular meeting provided that such amendment has
been mailed to all members at least three months prior to such a meeting.
Amendments may also be made by mailed ballot. Ballot must be received by the
Executive committee two weeks prior to regular meeting.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
All committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. The standing
committees shall be:
A. Membership Committee
B.
Committee of Publications and Advertisements
C. Advisory
Committee
D. Constitution and By-Laws Committee
E.
Fund-raising Committee
F. Any Committee deemed necessary by the
Executive Committee
ARTICLE VIII: DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Section 1:
PRESIDENT: The President shall
be the chief Executive Officer of the Organization and shall perform all
duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as may
be designated by the Executive Committee. He/she shall preside at all
meetings of the Organization and of the Executive Committee. He/she shall
make such appointments as are required or authorized by the Constitution and
by the Executive Committee. He/she may sign, with the General Secretary, or
any other proper officer of the Organization, authorized by the Executive
Committee, all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments which
the Executive Committee has authorized to be executed, except in cases where
the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Executive Committee to some other agent of the Organization. He/she shall
designate all official delegate and representatives to other groups: he/she
shall appoint such special Ad-Hoc Committees as may be necessary to further
the objectives of the Organization; and he/she may discontinue any such
Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee, when its purpose has
been served.
Section
2:
VICE PRESIDENT:
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her
absence. The Vice President shall be the President for the following term.
Section 3:
GENERAL SECRETARY: The General
Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Organization and the
Executive Committee and perform all duties assigned to him/her by the
President or the Executive Committee. He/she shall perform all duties
incident to the office of General Secretary.
Section 4:
TREASURER: The Treasurer shall
receive and be the custodian of the funds of the Organization. He/she shall
present to the Executive Committee a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal
year and this budget in final form shall be approved by the Executive
Committee prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. He/she shall make a
complete financial report at the annual business meting of the Organization.
ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of the Organization, the elected officials shall, after
paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the
Organization, dispose of all the assets of the Organization exclusively for
the purpose of the Organization, in such manner, or to such Organizations
organized exclusively for charitable, cultural, or scientific purposes as
shall at the time qualify as an exempt Organization or Organizations under
Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the
corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law, as the
elected officials decide. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be
disposed of by the court of appropriate jurisdiction of the county in which
the principal office of the Organization is then located, exclusively for
such purposes or to such Organization or Organizations as said court shall
determine to be organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.