For purposes of incorporation, the group shall
be called The Gambian Association of Michigan. The Gambian Association
of Michigan is organized exclusively for charitable, scientific,
and educational purposes. As such, funds raised by The Gambian
Association of Michigan shall be used to service the activities
of its members and also to donate to charitable causes in The
Gambia, and in the United States of America.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all descendants and bonafide citizens
of The Gambia.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEMBERSHIP
(1) Full Time Members: These shall be members
that are citizens or descendants of The Gambian who are fully
paid-up members of the association. Such membership shall be
classified into two catergories: a) Paying member, and b) Non-paying
member.
(2) Associate Members: These shall be members who are not directly
Gambian citizens but are associated by marriage to Gambians
and are interested in becoming a member.
(3) Honorary Member: These shall be well-wishers, sponsors and
donors of the association who are not part of the association.
Every year the association will grant honorary membership to
an individual/s or group/s that has/have been supportive to
The Gambian Association of Michigan.
MEETINGS
Meetings of the Association shall follow a set agenda.
Regularly scheduled meetings of the Executive
body of The Gambian Association of Michigan shall be held on
the second Sunday of each month.
Regularly scheduled meetings of the General
body of The Gambian Association of Michigan shall be held on
the last Sunday of each quarter.
Emergency meetings shall be called if the following
conditions are met:
(1) Special meetings called
by the President and at least two other members of the executive.
(2) Special meetings called by no less than
ten ordinary members in conjunction with at least one member
of the executive.
When special meetings are called there shall
be a written list of those who have consented to ask for a meeting
of the group.
(3) Requests for meetings shall
be publicized to all reachable members by telephone no later
than seven calendar days prior to the time of the said meeting.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM
All meetings including the presentation of the
association's budget, organizing elections , setting up policy,
so forth will require a quorum which will consist of 50 percent
of all paid-up members of The Gambian Association of Michigan.
Only paid-up members shall be granted voice
and vote during meetings. Other members and associate shall
be granted only voice but no vote.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of The Gambian Association
of Michigan shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary,
Public Relations and Membership Officer, Cultural Secretary,
Religious Secretary, Sports and Youth Development Secretary,
Finance and Fundraising Secretary, Educational Secretary, Treasurer,
Web Master and two additional ex-officio executive committee
members.
DUTIES
(1) Executive Committee
" The Executive Committee shall be responsible
for planning The Gambian Association of Michigan's activities
on a yearly basis.
(2) President
" The President is the chief executive
of The Gambian Association of Michigan. He/She shall have powers
of decision making on behalf of the association within the guidelines
of these bylaws and the constitution.
" In accordance with at least three other members of the
executive committee the president may authorize emergency expenditure
of funds on behalf of the association. Such emergency expenditures
shall not exceed $1000 (One thousand dollars) in between meetings
of the association. The President will notify the executive
body within 24 hours of such expenditure.
" The President shall chair all meetings of the organization.
He/She shall provide a written agenda before every meeting.
He/She may be required to concede the chair during a meeting
if the majority of members determine that the issue on the floor
is of the President's immediate personal interest.
" The President shall be the official spokesperson
of the association.
(3) Vice President
" The Vice President shall assist the President in the
performance of his/her
duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice President
shall assume the duties of the President. If in any case the
President for some reason is found to be mentally or physically
incapable of continuing his tenure of office, the Vice President
will be required to complete his tenure until the next general
election when a new President shall be elected.
(4) Treasurer
" The Treasurer shall be responsible for all monies of
The Gambian
Association of Michigan. He/She shall give a written report
of income and expenditure to the association at all meetings
and will be the head of the Finance and Fundraising committee.
" If the financial report as presented
does not satisfy the association, two-
thirds of members present may call for an independent audit
of the financial statement.
" Independent audits, when mandated by
the association, as stipulated
Above, shall be completed within one calender month from the
date of the meeting at which it was sanctioned. Findings are
to be presented to the association at the next regularly scheduled
meeting.
(5) Secretary
" The Secretary shall be the link between all members of
the association.
He/She shall be responsible for the upkeep of all secretarial
records of the association.
" He/She shall present written minutes
at every meeting.
" The Secretary shall generate correspondences
on behalf of the association.
(6) Public Relations Officer
" The Public Relations Officer will be the association's
image-maker. He/She shall be responsible for publicizing and
notifying members about the association's activities. He/She
will from time to time as designated by the President represent
the association at different events to publicize its activities
as well give talks about its goals. He/She shall be familiar
with the workings of the media so as to sell the ideas of The
Gambian Association of Michigan as well as help attract donors
and sponsors.
(7) Cultural Secretary
" There shall be a Cultural Secretary who shall be responsible
for organizing all Cultural events of the association.
(8) Religious Secretary
" The Religious Secretary shall be responsible for coordinating
all religious activities.
(9) Sports and Youth Development Secretary
" The Sports and Youth Development Secretary shall be responsible
of organizing all recreational activities for the Youth and
the entire Gambian Community.
(10) Education Secretary
" Education Secretary shall be responsible for all Educational
affairs and will be the resource person for all students.
(11) Web Master
" The Web Master shall be responsible for
maintaining the website of the
Association. He/She in consultation with the President and Public
Relations Officer will have the final say on what goes on the
web page of the association.
TERM OF OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE
The term of office of the executive shall be for tow years beginning
in the month of August and ending following elections in the
month of July the following year.
In order to be considered for elected office, a member shall
be present during elections for the purpose for which elections
are called. If unforeseen circumstances prevent the candidate's
presence at such a meeting, he/she shall present in writing
to the association an expressed desire to be considered for
the specific office or offices.
TERMINATION OF OFFICE OF AN EXECUTIVE
MEMBER
The tenure of office shall terminate upon conclusion
of a full term as stated above, or upon one or all of the conditions
below:
(1) If an executive committee
member is found to have embezzled funds belonging to the association.
(2) If an executive member is absent from consecutive
meetings of the association without due course during a period
of three months.
(3) If an executive member is not a fully paid-up
and participating member of the association.
MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DUES
Members shall pay their financial obligations to the association
in one of the following categories:
*Individual membership: $5.00 per month or one time annual fee
of $50.00 payable no later than April the 30th.
* Family membership: $7.00 per month or one
time annual fee of $75.00 payable no later than April the 30th.
SETTING OF POLICY
All The Gambian Association of Michigan policy shall be in writing
having been arrived at by due deliberation by the executive
committee and the membership body.
All statements, pronouncements, or commitments
on behalf of The Gambian Association of Michigan if not approved
by the membership, shall conform to The Gambian Association
of Michigan written policy or have approval of the executive
committee.
The Gambian Association of Michigan is a non-political
body which shall not endorsed any political party.
INVOLVEMENT OF PERSONS UNDER THE AGE
OF 21
No person under 21 years of age shall be allowed
to participate in the planning, or management of events at which
alcohol may be consumed.
No person under 21 years of age shall be allowed
to consume alcohol in events at which alcohol is provided.
These Bylaws were approved by the executive
committee, and members of The Gambian Association of Michigan.
Dissolving the Gambian Society of Michigan
Upon the dissolution of the society, all assets shall be distributed
for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed
to a charity organization operating in Michigan on behalf of
the Gambians or charity organizations operating in the Gambia.
Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a
Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county 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 purposes. The dissolution of this association however,
can only be implemented if we no longer able to service our
debts, or are unable to generate enough funds for the daily
functions of the society. A general meeting shall convene to
inform all paying members the situation of the society and a
grace period of a month or two shall be granted upon agreement
of at least 60% of the members to continue under such financial
distress. If the vote counts failed to meet 60%, then society
will dissolve. If the votes are more than 60% and our financial
situation change for the better during the grace period, then
the society will continue to function. Otherwise, it will dissolve.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Gambian Society of Michigan defines conflict of interest
as a conflict between the private interests and official responsibilities
of a person in a position of trust. The Society has developed
a policy designed to limit possible conflicts of interest. While
it is not possible to eliminate all conflict of interest situations,
and indeed it may be non-productive so to do, it is important
to limit the numbers of those situations in which the professional
judgment of an Officer of the Society could be compromised because
of the Officer pecuniary interests.
1. A pecuniary interest is a salary, consulting fee, licensing
fee, gift, travel expense, loan, free entertainment or entertainment
expenses, stock or stock option, free product, or any other
monetary or non-monetary payment to the value of at least $50
which is received by the member from a commercial entity. It
also includes any benefits received by the member as an officer
or director of a commercial organization. Clearly this policy
is not directed at all commercial entities but only those providing
products or services likely to be affected by actions of the
Society.
2. Because the pecuniary interests of an individual and his
or her close family members often coincide, the disclosure of
any benefits to immediate family member is also requested. The
definition of immediate family members includes both common
law and de facto husband/wife, sister, brother, mother, father,
children, father-in-law, and mother-in-law.
3. The Society believes that disclosure can best be achieved
by requesting all members nominated for positions as Officers
of the Society to declare any pecuniary interests at the time
of their acceptance of nomination. In the first instance, the
responsibility for deciding whether to declare a particular
activity or interest rests solely with the member.
4. For the purposes of disclosure, only those pecuniary interests
(as defined above) which are likely to be affected as a consequence
of actions taken by the Society should be disclosed. If there
is a doubt as to whether an outside interest represents a conflict
of interest, the member should consult the President or the
Vice-President of the Society.
5. If a member considers that he has, or might have, a conflict
of interest if appointed to an Office in the Society, he/she
must provide the Society with a statement regarding that conflict,
or potential conflict, of interest. Before doing so, the member
should seek permission from any interested third parties. Example
the relevant commercial entity or the immediate family member,
to reveal the details of any financial involvement. If permission
is not given, or if the member is not prepared to divulge his
or her pecuniary interests to the Society, the member will not
be eligible for, and must not accept, nomination to a position
as an Officer of the Society.
6. The details of member pecuniary interests will only be made
available to the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary
of the Society.
7. Members who have pecuniary interests likely to be affected
by the actions of the Society, and who are Officers of the Society,
are requested not to vote on a particular issue if it is believed
that their vote may be influenced by the their pecuniary interests.
The President or Vice-President of the Society may, in certain
circumstances, request a member to refrain from voting if they
believe that the member vote could be influenced by the member
pecuniary interests.
8. If, during their term as an Officer of the Society a member
pecuniary interests change, the member should notify the Society.
The member may be required to lodge a new disclosure statement
outlining the changes.
