ZANCANA by Laws
By Laws of Zanzibar-Canadian- Association
By Laws of the Zanzibar-Canadian Association
Article I: Introduction and Interpretation
Article II: Membership
Article III: General and Special Meetings
Article IV: Board of Directors
Article V: Executives of the Association
Article VI: Standing Committees
Article VII: Fiscal Matters
Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution
Article I: Introduction and Interpretation
Section 1. Name of the Association
The name of the association shall be “Zanzibar-Canadian Association”, hereafter referred to as “the Association”. The Association, which shall also be known as “ZANCANA”, is a non-profit organization set up under the Ontario Corporations Act.
Section 2. Mission Statement of the Association
The Zanzibar-Canadian Association shall unify the efforts of the people of Zanzibar origin together with the people of other communities residing in Canada in promoting, advancing, and protecting their social, cultural, educational and economic interests, and to develop relations and understanding between its members and other members of the Canadian multicultural mosaic.
Section 3. Objectives of the Association
The Association is established with the following objectives:
a. To provide services to the community and new immigrants on issues such as, immigration, legal services, housing, job search and social services.
b. To help its members and new immigrants in adapting to the Canadian society.
c. To promote and maintain all cultures of the other members of this Association and to enhance the cultural contribution to the multicultural heritage of Canada.
d. To bring together members of all communities in Canada and provide them with a platform to discuss, share, and promote matters of general interest to individual members and the community at large.
e. To perform any activities incidental to the above objectives.
Section 4. Head Office of the Association
The Head Office of the Association shall be in the municipality of the City of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, in such a location that the Board of Directors from time to time may determine.
Section 5. Seal of the Association
There shall be only one seal of the Association, which shall be under the custody of the Secretary, or the Board of Directors, who shall have the authority to affix the same to any paper or document requiring it, may designate such other person as and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature. The Board of Directors may authorize any other person to affix the seal of the Association and to attest the affixing by his or her signature.
Section 6. Interpretation of the Constitution
a. This constitution shall be interpreted in accordance with the objectives of the Association as defined in Article I, Section 3 of this constitution.
b. Unless otherwise stipulated, the terms used in this constitution shall have the following interpretation:
i. The By-Law means the by-law of the Zanzibar-Canadian Association.
ii. The Association means the Zanzibar-Canadian Association.
iii. The Organization means the Zanzibar-Canadian Association.
iv. The Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Association.
v. The Board means the Board of Directors of the Association.
vi. A Director means a member of the Board of Directors of the Association.
vii. The President means the President of the Association.
viii. The Secretary means the Secretary of the Association.
ix. The Treasurer means the Treasurer of the Association.
x. An Executive means a person holding an executive position of the Association.
Article II: Membership
Section 1. Membership Conditions
a. Minimum age for the membership of the Association shall be 18 years.
b. Membership of any member shall commence after the Secretary has received a duly filled and signed membership application form of the applicant accompanied by the payment of the applicable membership fee.
c. Membership shall be only open to those who subscribe to the objectives of the Association as defined in Article I, Section 3 of this constitution.
Section 2. Categories of Membership
There shall be three categories of becoming a member of the Association:
i. Any Canadian, and who satisfies membership conditions stipulated in Article II, Section I of this constitution, and shall qualify to be a general member of the Association.
ii. Any husband or wife of a Canadian, and who satisfies membership conditions stipulated in Article II, Section I of this constitution, and shall qualify to be a family member of the Association.
iii. Any person who does not meet the above conditions as provided for by this constitution shall qualify to be an associate member of the Association if he or she resides in Canada, has demonstrated a great level of friendship and support to the members of the ZANCANA and subscribes to the objectives of the Association as defined in Article I, Section 3 of this constitution.
iv. The Board of Directors shall only offer associate membership to applicants upon approval.
Section 3. Membership Rights and Obligations
a. Any member shall be considered “live” if his or her membership fees are not past due.
b. Any member shall be considered “active” if he or she is live and actively participating in community affairs.
c. Membership fees shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors and shall be payable upon application to membership and thereafter on a three-month basis.
d. Membership fees shall be considered past due thirty_(30) days after each three-month period. Member’s rights and privileges as provided for in this constitution shall not apply to any member whose membership fees are past due. The Treasurer may recommend such a member be dropped from membership, and a majority vote of the Board of Directors shall be required to confirm such action.
e. Active general members shall have the right to contest and hold any leadership and committee or task force membership position of the Association. Active family members and active associate members shall only have the right to hold committee or task force membership positions. In any of the committees and task forces, associate members shall hold chairperson positions only if they have made outstanding contributions to the Association for a period of at least one year.
f. Members of the Association shall not engage in activities or actions detrimental to the objectives and wellbeing of the Association.
g. All live members of the Association shall have the right to be served by the Association and participate in any activity sanctioned by the association in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
h. The approval of live members shall be required
i. To amend the Articles of Incorporation of the Association,
ii. To provide for merger into or with, or consolidation with, another association or corporation,
iii. To provide for the voluntary dissolution of the Association, or
iv. Other disposition of all, or substantially all of the property or assets of the Association.
i. Live members of the Association shall have the power to elect the Board of Directors and the Executives of the Association and to remove such Board, or any Director, or executive in accordance with this constitution.
j. The books and records of the Association shall be available for inspection by any active member, or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose by giving five (5) days notice.
k. Except for matters explicitly spelled out in this constitution, members of the Association shall have no right, power, or authority to act for or on behalf of the Association and their approval shall not be required for the authorization of any actions undertaken by the Association.
Section 4. Termination of Membership
a. Any member of the Association may be expelled from such membership or have his or her membership suspended, as the Board of Directors may determine, for
i. Non-payment on time of approved membership dues,
ii. Violation of this constitution,
iii. Engaging in any conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Association.
b. Such suspension or termination of membership shall occur by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors, provided that the member whose membership is under consideration is first provided
i. With adequate notice of the charges against the individual in the form of a statement of such charges and of the time and place of the meeting of such Board of Directors scheduled for the purpose of hearing or considering such action, sent by mail to the last known address of the member,
ii. An opportunity to appear before the Board of Directors or to forward written statement thereto in presentation of any defense of such charges, no sooner than fifteen (15) days after the provision of such notice, and
iii. A written explanation as to why (if such is the case) the membership is being suspended or terminated.
c. In these regards, the Board shall act on the basis of reasonable and consistent criteria, always with the objective of advancing the best interest of the Association.
d. Any member shall cease his or her membership upon tendering his or her resignation in writing to the Secretary who shall in turn inform the Board of Directors.
Article III: General and Special Meetings
Section 1. Annual General Meeting
a. The Association shall hold an Annual General Meeting before March 31 of each year, at a time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors, to review its activities, to establish policies and programs for the new year and to elect a new Board of Directors when applicable.
b. The President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, shall call the Annual General Meeting.
c. If the President and the Board of Directors shall fail to call the Annual General Meeting as required, any active member of the Association may, by written notice to other active members, call such Annual General Meeting. In that General Meeting, the President and the Board of Directors shall state clearly why they failed to call the meeting.
d. All live members of the Association shall have the right to attend the Annual General Meeting.
e. The Annual General Meeting shall be the supreme body of the Association.
Section 2. Special and Emergency Meetings
a. Special meetings of members for any purpose or purposes may be called from time to time by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors or within two (2) weeks upon receipt of a written request detailing reasons, signed by at least one-fifth (1/5) of the live members. Such meetings shall deal only with those matters for which the meeting was requested by the membership. The notice for any such meeting shall state the purpose or purposes thereof, and the initiator(s) of the meeting.
b. Emergency meetings of the Board of Directors or members of the Association may be called by telephonic or electronic mail communication at any time.
Section 3. Meeting Notice
a. Notice of any regular or special meeting(s) of the members of the Association shall be sent by telephonic, postal mail or electronic mail communication to each active member at least five (5) days but not more than thirty (30) days prior to such meeting(s).
Section 4. Voting by Members
a. At any meeting any live member present in person or by a proxy, shall be entitled to one vote.
b. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors, no member can serve as a proxy for more than three (3) persons. Only active members can serve as proxies. Any active member who wishes to be represented by a proxy shall confirm his or her proxy by a signed letter to the Secretary before the meeting in which he or she wishes to be represented by the proxy.
c. Any vote for the election of the Board of Directors or executives shall be by secret ballot, such ballots to be counted, and the count reported by the Secretary at the meeting. The voting shall be by show of hands in all other cases unless the majority requests a secret ballot or a standing vote.
d. Unless specified otherwise, motions duly proposed and seconded shall be carried if they receive a simple majority of votes.
Section 5. Quorum of Members
a. At all meetings of the members, one-quarter of the live members of the Association or ten (10) live members, whichever is less, present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum.
b. When a quorum is once present to begin a meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent absence or removal of members during the meeting.
c. If a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the members, those present in person or represented by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until requisite quorum shall be present.
d. Except as otherwise required by the Ontario Corporations Act, the act of a majority of live members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the members. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the members may also be taken by written, unanimous consent of all the active members.
Article IV: Board of Directors
Section 1. Powers of the Board of Directors
a. The Board of Directors shall oversee the management of the affairs of the Association and shall have powers over any other body of the Association except the annual general meeting.
b. No individual member of the Board of Directors shall have the authority of making statements affecting the Association’s policy to the press or other groups except as provided for in this constitution.
c. The Board of Directors shall have the power to increase or decrease the number of standing committees and task forces as it sees fit.
Section 2. Size of the Board of Directors and Terms of Office of Directors
a. The number of elected members of the Board of Directors shall be seven (7) with one position reserved for a youth representative of age 18 to 30, one position reserved for a woman, plus the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer and the Manager of the Association thus making thirteen (14).
b. The President shall nominate one member either from the elected directors or outside the elected members who is an active member to become the Manager of the Association. The President will then seek the approval the Manager from the Board of Directors.
c. If the Manager was nominated from the elected directors then the President will nominate any other active member to become the director who will then need the approval of the board of directors for him or her to become the director.
d. All Directors to serve on the Board shall be active members of the Association.
e. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected to serve for a period of two (2) years.
Section 3. Election of Directors
a. The election of Directors shall be conducted and voted upon by active members of the Association at the initial general meeting and thereafter at an annual general meeting every two years.
b. Live members may nominate up to three (3) contestants to the election. Any person so nominated shall give his or her consent to the nomination prior to election. Nomination of aspirants for the Board of Directors shall be done, at least one day before the scheduled day of election.
c. A member shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors only after maintaining a live membership in the Association for a period of not less than three (3) months.
Section 4. Meeting of the Board of Directors
a. The Board of Directors shall meet at least six (6) times each year at places designated by the Board.
b. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or at the request of any four (4) members of the Board. Notice of special meeting(s) shall be given at least five (5) days but not more than thirty_(30) days prior to such meeting(s). The President may call emergency meetings of the Board by telephonic or electronic mail communication at any time, as he or she deems fit and necessary.
c. A Director in attendance at a meeting by telephonic communication pursuant to which he or she may be heard by, and may hear, all of the other Directors, shall be deemed to be present in person and may vote on all matters presented at the meeting.
d. A simple majority of the Directors present in person or by telephonic communication shall constitute a quorum. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors a quorum shall not be present, the Directors present at the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting, without notice other than the announcement at the meeting, until the requisite number of Directors constituting a quorum shall be present.
e. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
f. The Board of Directors may designate at any meeting of the Board of Directors times and places of regular meetings, and upon such designation such meetings shall be deemed dully called with or without the giving of notice.
g. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may also be taken by written, unanimous consent of all the Directors.
h. All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in closed sessions unless otherwise agreed upon by the majority of the Directors.
Section 5. Resignation of Directors
a. Any Director may resign at any time by giving a written notice of such resignation to the Board stating the reason(s) for his or her resignation.
Section 6. Removal of Directors
a. With the exception of the President, any member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of a quorum of the members of the Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting, for conduct detrimental to the interest of the Association, for lack of sympathy with its objectives, for refusal to render reasonable assistance in carrying out its purposes, or for being absent for three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board without justifiable cause.
b. The President may be removed from office by a vote of “no confidence” by a majority of active members at a special meeting called by the remaining members of the Board of Directors.
c. Any such Director proposed to be removed from office shall be entitled to written notice of proposed action mailed five (5) days prior to the meeting at which such removal is to be voted upon and shall be entitled to appear before and be heard at such meeting.
Section 7. Vacancy on the Board of Directors
a. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled by any other eligible active member of the Association elected through a majority vote of the Directors then in office, even if they constitute less than a quorum. Any Director so elected by the Board shall hold office until the term of his or her predecessor expires.
Article V: Executives of the Association
Section 1. Election and Nomination of Executives
a. The Association shall have the following six (7) executives: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and the Manager, who shall be responsible for managing and running the day to day activities of the Association.
b. All the executive positions shall be held for a period of two (2) years. (Only active members are elected to those positions).
Section 2. Duties of the President
a. The President of the Association shall be the chief executive and the spokesperson of the Association.
b. The President shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all Board of Directors, general, special, and emergency meetings of the Association.
c. The President shall have the power to appoint special or ad-hoc committees as may be required.
d. The President shall be an ex-officio member without vote of all standing committees, task forces, ad-hoc committees or any special committees, and shall appoint chairpersons for those committees and task forces as may be required by this constitution unless otherwise specified in this constitution.
e. The President, with the approval of other members of the Board of Directors, shall have the power to suspend the activities of any standing committee, task force, ad-hoc committee or any special committee.
f. The President shall need to approve all the payments or he or she may authorize any member of the executive to approve the payments. The President will give this authority in writing and he or she will make aware of this to the board of directors.
g. The President shall appoint cheque signatories who shall co-sign along with the Treasurer.
h. Shall, in consultation with the Board of Directors, appoint in the month of January of each year a Nomination and Election Committee of three (3) members to canvass, initiate and propose a slate of candidates for election at the Annual General Meeting. The President shall name one of the three persons to chair this committee.
i. Shall have a casting vote in the Board of Directors, whereas in general meetings shall vote like other members.
j. The President or his designate shall represent the Association on other organizations and committees external to the Association as required.
k. The President shall also perform such other duties as other members of the Board of Directors may from time-to-time designate.
Section 3. Resignation and Removal of the President
a. The President may vacate his or her office by way of resignation tendered to the Secretary with a copy to the Board of Directors.
b. The President may be removed from office by a vote of “no confidence” as stipulated in Article IV, Section 6(b).
c. In the event that the post of the President becomes vacant by resignation or vote of “no confidence” as stipulated above, a special general meeting shall be convened within a period not exceeding thirty_(30) days to elect a new President.
d. In case the President vacates his or her office less than three months before the scheduled date for election of new Board of Directors, the Vice-President shall run the office of the President until new elections are held.
Section 4. Duties of the Vice-President
a. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence or inability to act.
b. The Vice-President shall perform any other duties assigned to him or her by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Duties of the Secretary
a. On the authority of the President, the Secretary shall issue notices for all Board of Directors, general, special, and emergency meetings in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
b. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors, and all meetings of the members and record all proceedings of the meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, or any committee of the Board of Directors, in a book or a folder (electronic or on paper), to be kept for that purpose.
c. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Association and use it as stipulated in Article I, Section 5, of this constitution.
d. The Secretary shall keep at the head office of the Association a record of names, addresses and telephone numbers of the members of the Association of all categories. Such information (addresses and members’ telephone numbers) shall at all times be kept and used specifically for the Association’s activities and treated as confidential by all members of the Board of Directors.
e. The Secretary shall recruit new members, review applications for membership in the Association, and certify the membership of all applicants by issuing a membership card signed by the President.
Section 6. Duties of the Assistant Secretary
a. The Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary in his or her absence or inability to act.
b. The Assistant Secretary shall perform any other duties assigned to him or her by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Duties of the Treasurer
a. The Treasurer shall be the financial advisor of the Association.
b. The Treasurer shall have custody of the Association’s funds and securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, and shall keep correct and complete books and records of accounts.
c. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and the Board of Directors may designate other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Association in such depositories as.
d. The Treasurer shall render to the President and the Board of Directors at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all financial transactions and of the financial condition of the Association.
e. The Treasurer shall prepare and present Annual Statements of Account and budget to the Board of Directors ten (10) days prior to the Annual General Meeting of members.
f. The Treasurer shall co-sign all cheques along with the President and/or other designated signatories.
Section 8. Duties of the Assistant Treasurer
a. The Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Treasurer in his or her absence or inability to act.
b. The Assistant Treasurer shall perform any other duties assigned to him or her by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Duties of the Manager
a. The Manager shall be responsible to run and manage the office of the Association.
b. The Manager shall respond to all correspondences that are relevant to the running of office.
c. The Manager may respond to other correspondences after consultation with the relevant executive member of the Association.
d. The Manager shall perform any other duties assigned to him or her by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Resignation and Removal of Executives
a. Any executive, with the exception of the President, may resign at any time by giving a written notice of such resignation to the President, which shall act immediately thereafter. The resignation of the President is as stipulated in Article V, Section 3, of this constitution.
b. With the exception of the President, any executive may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of a quorum of the members of the Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting, for conduct detrimental to the interest of the Association, for lack of sympathy with its objectives, or for refusal to render reasonable assistance in carrying out its purposes. The removal of the President is as stipulated in Article IV, Section 6 b, of this constitution.
c. Any executive proposed to be removed shall be entitled to at least five (5) days notice in writing sent by mail of the meeting of the Board of Directors at which such removal is to be voted upon and shall be entitled to appear before the Board and be heard at such meeting.
Section 11. Executive Position Vacancy
a. In case any executive position of the Association becomes vacant by any cause, with the exception of the President, the majority of the Board of Directors then in office may elect an executive to fill such vacancy, and the executive so elected shall hold office and serve until the election or nomination of his or her successor.
Article VI: Standing Committees
Section 1. Formation of Standing Committees
a. All standing committees of the Association shall be formed not more than thirty_(30) days following each annual general meeting.
b. Members of each standing committee shall serve the committees for a period of two (2) years and may be re-nominated as members of the same or different standing committees after that period.
Section 2. Administration Committee
a. The Administration Committee shall consist of no fewer than six (6) and no more than nine (9) members.
b. All executives of the Association shall be members of the Administration Committee. The President in consultation with the Board of Directors shall nominate any other active members no more than three (3) to serve as members of this committee.
c. The President of the Association shall be the chairperson of this committee who shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
d. The Secretary of the Association shall be the secretary of the committee responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
e. The Administration Committee shall be charged with planning, organizing and carrying out all day-to-day administrative activities of the Association.
f. The Administration Committee shall coordinate the activities of all committees, task forces, ad-hoc and special committees.
g. The Administration Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Section 3. Education Committee
a. The Education Committee shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than seven (7) members who shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors to serve in this committee.
b. The Education Committee shall be charged with planning, organizing and carrying out all educational activities of the Association approved by the Board of Directors.
c. The President of the Association shall appoint a chairperson of the committee from the committee members.
d. At the first meeting of the committee, the committee may elect from its members a secretary of the committee.
e. The chairperson of the committee shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
f. The secretary of the committee shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
g. The Education Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Section 4. Fundraising Committee
a. The Fundraising Committee shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than seven (7) members, two of which shall be the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer of the Association, and the remaining shall be any active members nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors to serve in this committee.
b. The Treasurer of the Association shall serve as the chairperson of this committee and the Assistant Treasurer shall be the secretary of the committee.
c. The chairperson of the committee shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
d. The secretary of the committee shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
e. The Fundraising Committee shall be charged with the task of looking into, planning, and organizing various ways of making the Association self-supporting economically and financially.
f. The Fundraising Committee shall only carry out activities approved by the Board of Directors.
g. The Fundraising Committee shall work closely with all other committees, especially in matters involving finances.
h. The Fundraising Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Section 5. Social, Cultural, and Recreational Affairs Committee
a. The Social, Cultural and Recreational Affairs Committee shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than seven (7) members who shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors to serve in this committee.
b. The committee shall be charged with planning, organizing, and carrying out all social, cultural and recreational activities of the Association approved by the Board of Directors.
c. The President of the Association shall appoint a chairperson of the committee from the committee members.
d. At the first meeting of the committee, the committee shall elect from its members a secretary of the committee.
e. The chairperson of the committee shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
f. The secretary of the committee shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
g. The Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Section 6. Essential Services Committee
a. The Essential Services Committee shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than seven (7) members who shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors to serve in this committee.
b. The committee shall be charged with planning, organizing, and carrying out all activities related to essential services such as legal, accommodation, health, employment, immigration, and counseling services, for the benefit of the members of the Association with the approval of the Board of Directors.
c. The President of the Association shall appoint a chairperson of the committee from the committee members.
d. At the first meeting of the committee, the committee shall elect from it members a secretary of the committee.
e. The chairperson of the committee shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
f. The secretary of the committee shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
g. The Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Section 7. Women and Children Affairs Committee
a. The Women and Children Affairs Committee shall consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than seven (7) members who shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors to serve in this committee.
b. The committee shall be charged with planning, organizing, and carrying out all activities related to women and children for the benefit of the members of the Association approved by the Board of Directors.
c. At the first meeting of the committee, the committee shall elect from its members a chairperson and a secretary of the committee.
d. The chairperson of the committee shall call, adjourn, prepare agenda, and preside over all meetings of the committee.
e. The secretary of the committee shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of the meetings of the committee.
f. The Committee shall meet as and when the members of the committee deem it necessary.
Article VII: Fiscal Matters
a. The fiscal year of the Association shall be from January 1 to December 31, of each year.
b. All funds of the Association shall be deposited from time to time in a chartered bank or trust company approved by the Board of Directors.
c. The Association may maintain separate accounts with one or more banks.
d. All monetary transactions shall be made in the name of the Association.
e. All cheques as well as all slips issued for drawing funds shall be signed jointly by the Treasurer and the President or their designates who can either be the Vice-President, the Secretary, or the Assistant Treasurer.
f. The Board of Directors shall annually designate and direct the executives to engage an independent public accountant to audit the accounts of the Association.
g. All fiscal decisions shall require the approval of the Board of Directors.
h. The membership dues shall be approved at the Annual General Meeting.
i. The Association shall have the power to acquire by gift, bequests, grants, or any other means, funds and any other assets for the purpose of carrying out the Association’s programs and objectives.
j. The financial books and records of the Association shall be available for inspection by any active member, or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose by giving five (5) days notice.
Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution
This constitution may be amended at any time by a majority vote of the Board of Directors then in office, provided, however, that any amendment that alters or affects the rights of the members to elect, or remove the Board of Directors, or any one of them, shall require the approval of a majority of the live members.
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