| Article I | – Name |
| Article II | – Purpose |
| Article III | – Members and Membership |
| Article IV | – Executive Committee |
| Article V | – Elections and Appointments |
| Article VI | – Account and Auditing |
| Article VII | – Operational Rules and Procedures |
| Article VIII | – Resignations, Vacancies And Removals |
| Article IX | – Amendments |
| Article X | Compensation |
| Article XI | – Execution of Instruments |
| Article XII | Fiscal Year |
| Article XIII | – Liquidation Or Dissolution |
NAME : The name of this organization shall be Greater St. Louis Nepali Chautari herein after referred to as GSTLNC. It shall be a non-profit and social networking organization.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this organization is to strengthen the community bonds within Nepali community in the Greater Saint Louis Area and facilitate the social togetherness through different charitable and non-profit activities. The general purposes are:
- To promote and preserve Nepali identity, traditions and culture among the Nepali Community in the Greater St. Louis Area.
- To enhance close cooperation and friendship among Nepali and friends of Nepal in the Greater St. Louis Area.
- To maintain a reliable support system that provides orientation for new arrivals.
- To promote social and cultural activities during festivals and events such as Nepali New Year, Holi, Dashain, Tihar, sport activities, picnic and annual fundraising programs as needed.
- To promote and uplift Nepali community in Greater St. Louis Area.
MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP: The membership is open to all individuals who are of Nepali origin, related to a Nepali by marriage, adoption or birth, or individuals demonstrating a sincere interest in Nepal and Nepali people. Such individuals may become members after completing a Membership Application, obtaining the approval of the Executive Committee and paying the dues as determined by the Executive Committee. The membership can be registered through websites, email, phones etc. The membership is renewable in an annual basis. There will be no denial of membership based on age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, military status or any other unlawful reason.
The categories of membership are as follows:
- Single
- Students (with valid ID)
- Family (Immediate family *)
- Lifetime member
- Lifetime family (Immediate family *)
* Immediate family includes parents, spouse, and children under 18 years
Benefits and Advantages
- The members shall have voting rights to choose the Executive Committee of GSTLNC.
- All the members shall have equal right to get elected.
- The members will have priority access to events organized by GSTLNC.
- The members will get membership discounts at certain event
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee shall consist of core executive committee and executive members
- President
- Vice President (s)
- Secretary of Communications
- Secretary of Public Affairs
- Treasurer
- Secretary of Student Affairs
- Executive members
Duties and Responsibilities:
Section I: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the GSTLNC and shall have general supervision and control of its activities and programs. The President shall preside at all business meetings of the GSTLNC and shall have leadership of the Association. The President shall perform such duties and have such powers as the Executive Committee may delegate him/her.
Section II: The Vice President shall assist the President and assume his or her duties when the President is absent or is unable to serve. The Vice President shall perform such duties and have such powers delegated by the Executive Committee.
Section III: The Secretary of Communications shall keep the minutes of all the business meetings of the Association. He / She shall be responsible for notifying all members of general meetings of the Association. He / she shall also be responsible for notifying Executive Members of the Executive Committee meetings. The Secretary, in cooperation with the Treasurer, shall maintain an up-to date roster of the membership of the Association.
Section IV :The Secretary of Public Affairs shall serve as the spokesperson of the Association. He / she shall act as the liaison between GSTLNC and other organizations.
Section V: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all assets / funds of GSTLNC. He / She shall be responsible for maintaining the bank accounts, receipts and disbursement of funds and shall give complete reports to the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall be the primary contact person for the issues related to the financial matters of GSTLNC. He / She shall maintain a record of all monetary transactions and shall prepare financial reports as required by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer, in cooperation with the Secretary of Communications, shall also be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date membership roster.
Section VI: The Secretary of Student Affairs shall server as the liaison between GSTLNC and student organization of various colleges and universities.
Section VII: The Executive Members shall assist in various activities organized by GSTLNC. They will be required to complete the task(s) assigned by the Executive committee. Other duties of the Executive Members shall be determined by the Executive Committee as needed.
All members of the Executive Committee are required to attend all the meetings of GSTLNC unless a valid excuse has been approved by the President. Failure to routinely attend the committee meetings without valid reasons will be a ground for termination from the Executive Committee.
Section VIII: The Advisor(s) shall be the member(s) appointed by the Executive Committee of GSTLNC in order to provide the necessary direction, guidance and assistance, based on their expertise. They shall advise committee members on various society events and attend at least two Executive Board meetings per year. They may be called upon to volunteer in various events as needed.
ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
The members of the GSTLNC shall elect Core Executive Committee members every two years. Elections will be held on or before the Nepali New Year. The term of the executive committee shall start following the day of the Nepali New Year and terminate two years later.
The Executive Committee shall designate an election body among the members to perform the election in due time according to the by-laws. The election body shall seek nomination from GSTLNC members for all of the Core Executive committee positions. If the number of candidates nominated becomes equal to the number of available positions, then the candidates shall be declared elected automatically. Otherwise, election shall be held to decide from two or more nominated candidates. Each eligible member, 18 years or older, shall cast one vote for one position. The election officers may formulate specific election rules and design ballots for the election. The election officers cannot be nominated for any position but shall have a voting right. The election officers designated by the committee shall flip a coin to decide for any position in case there is a tie between two candidates. The election body shall be dismissed once the new executive committee of GSTLNC is elected.
ACCOUNT AND AUDITING
The GSTLNC Executive Committee shall open the bank account that will be maintained by the President and the Treasurer. Signatures of both the President and the Treasurer will be required for any withdrawal. Executive members shall form a sub-committee to audit the financial records of GSTLNC annually. The sub-committee will submit the results of audit to the Executive Committee.
OPERATIONAL RULES AND PROCEDURES
Section I: Meetings – Except as otherwise provided by law, a written or verbal notice of each meeting of the GSTLNC stating the place, day and time thereof and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be provided not less than three days or 36 hours to each member of Executive Committee. The Secretary of Communications and Public Affairs with the president’s consent will communicate the notice of meeting. The President shall conduct the Meeting and the Secretary of Communications and Public Affairs shall take the minutes. At least seven executive members shall be present to hold any executive meetings.
All Committee meetings shall be conducted in open public session, at such hours and in such locations, so as to facilitate attendance by interested persons. Committee members present during the meetings will be eligible to vote on any matter in case there is a vote on decision process. There will be no proxy voting. In the case of tie breaking, the President will have the final say.
Section II: Action without meetings – The President will have the right to act upon issues that arise and cannot wait for the next Committee meeting. At minimum, the President will have to consult with the Vice President, the Treasurer and the Secretary of Communications and Public Affairs. The entire Committee will be notified of the issue, and action taken, within two days or forty-eight hours. The executive committee may endorse or reject such actions. In case of rejection, the president and other executives involved will have the right to cease all action initiated.
RESIGNATIONS, VACANCIES AND REMOVALS
Any executive committee member of the GSTLNC may resign from their post, with a two-week prior notice, in writing to the President. The Committee will fill the vacant position as appropriate. Any Advisory Board Member may resign from their post with a two week prior notice.
If any GSTLNC Committee Member or Advisory Board Member is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities and/or is engaging in illegal acts or acting against the interest of the society, the Committee can vote to suspend or remove him/her from the post. Any GSTLNC Committee member can bring forth a motion of suspension or removal to a GSTLNC meeting if he/she can back up the motion with supportive evidence. The GSTLNC Committee shall retain the right to either dismiss or suspend with one-month probationary period. After the probationary period, the committee can vote to fully re-instate or dismiss the GSTLNC Committee member or the Advisory Board Member. Votes to suspend, re-instate or dismiss require a three-fourth majority, and three-fourth of the Committee Members to be present.
AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by a two-third vote of the majority of GSTLNC Executive Committee members. Any proposed by-law amendments shall be circulated to the GSTLNC executive members no fewer than thirty days prior to a meeting of the GSTLNC Committee.
COMPENSATION
No Committee members shall be entitled to receive any salary or other compensation for serving in GSTLNC. The Executive Committee shall hire and fix the compensation of any and all employees when needed. GSTLNC is established strictly for non-profit purpose only.
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS
Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws or as the committee may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all instruments, documents, deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the organization shall be signed by the President, and the Treasurer. Facsimile signatures may be used in the manner and to the extent authorized generally or in particular cases by the Committee.
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of GSTLNC shall be equal to the calendar year.
LIQUIDATION OR DISSOLUTION
The liquidation and dissolution of GSTLNC may be decided upon by a two thirds majority of those present and voting at a General Meeting, provided that notice of the proposed dissolution or details of the proposed amendment shall have been circulated with the notice of the meeting. In the event of dissolution, any residual finds of the organization shall be applied by the Executive Committee before vacating office in furtherance of the organization’s aims, and no member shall have any claim on the organization in respect to membership fees paid. No part of the net income or assets of the organization shall be used to the benefit of any private individual.
Upon the dissolution of the organization, remaining assets and property of the organization shall, after necessary expenses thereof, be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.