BY-LAWS

Constitution and Bylaws of Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association(KCTCA)

 ARTICLE ONE:  NAME AND MISSION STATEMENT 

Section A:  Name of the Association  

The name of the association shall be “Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association“, herein-after called KCTCA or KCTA. It shall be a not-for- profit organization registered under the laws of the State of Kansas and shall exist in perpetuity.

Section B:  Mission Statement 

Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association(KCTCA) was formed to serve the aspirations of Telangana people in preserving and cherishing their culture in the United States. Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association(KCTCA) provides a forum for promoting Telangana literary, cultural, educational, social, and community affairs and humanitarian activities.

Section C:  Location of the Association  

For official purposes, the headquarters of the association shall be located in the Kansas State where it is duly registered.

ARTICLE TWO:  OBJECTIVES & PURPOSES

The objectives and purposes of Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association(KCTCA) shall be:

  • To preserve, maintain, and perpetuate the heritage of the people of Telangana origin.
  • To assist and promote cultural, educational, social, community affairs and humanitarian activities of the people of Telangana origin.
  • To create opportunities for the cultural exchange, foster friendship and understanding between the people of the United States of America and the people of the State of Telangana, India or any other part of the world where people from Telangana may reside, in general.
  • To collaborate, cooperate and assist in the organization of periodic Telangana literary, educational and cultural conferences.
  • To increase the awareness of people of Telangana origin among local US community by participating in local social activities

ARTICLE THREE – MEMBERSHIPS AND DUES

Section A:  Eligibility and Rules

  • Any person who endorses Kansas Telangana Association‘s (KCTCA) mission and objectives, and is eighteen years or older and resides in the state of Kansas is eligible to be a member by paying the membership dues.
  • At annual general body meeting of the members, all the memberships including new memberships for the current year shall be ratified.
  • Any increase in the annual dues for single and the family memberships needs a two-thirds majority of the members present at a general body meeting.
  • Membership is non-transferable and membership dues are non-refundable.

Section B:  Types of Membership

  • Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association shall offer the following types of membership
    1. Annual-Family
    2. Annual-Single
    3. Annual-Student/Youth
    4. Life-Family
    5. Life – Single
  • For membership purposes, a family shall be defined as member, spouse and their biological or legally adopted children of age 17 years or less. A single membership is for one person only.

Section C:  Membership Duration

  • Annual membership expires one year from January 1st –December 31st for the enrollment year.
  • There’s no expiry date for Life membership.

Section D:  Membership Dues

  • Annual Single and Annual Family memberships are offered at free of cost for the year 2017. Joining members are encouraged for voluntary contributions.
  • Annual dues shall be twenty five dollars ($25) for family membership, Fifteen dollars ($15) for a single membership and Ten dollars ($10) for student/Youth membership.
  • The dues for Life Membership for a family shall be TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY dollars ($250) and for a single person ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY dollars ($150). Conversion from single to family membership can be done by paying the difference anytime.

Section E: Voting Privileges 

  • Each individual member shall be entitled for one vote. Each Family membership is entitled to two votes, one each for the member and spouse.
  • Only members of good standing before April 30th of a year are eligible to vote in the election of officers.

Section F: Revocation of Membership

Membership may be revoked with due notice of a month for conduct considered undesirable against the objectives and purposes of Kansas City Telangana Cultural Association(KCTCA) defined in Article Two provided the following conditions are met:

  • The executive committee attempted to obtain an explanation from the member in question and the explanation was considered unacceptable by a two-third majority of executive committee.
  • The revocation was approved at least by a two-thirds majority of the members present at a general body meeting.

ARTICLE 4– Board of Trustees

SECTION 1. COMPOSITION AND TERM: The Board of Trustees shall have a minimum of five (3) and a maximum of fifteen (15) members. The Corporate Status and affairs of the corporation shall be vested in the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall have a Chairman, Vice Chairman and a Secretary. These offices shall be filled by written/Voice ballot by the total Board at their first convened meeting.

A. Composition

  1. The immediate Past President of KCTCA
  2. Where possible, the Chairman or their designee of any regional organization with a membership of 50 families or more.
  3. Minimum Three (3) members at large.

B. Term

  1. The term of service for the Past KCTCA President shall be for one year.
  2. The term of service for all remaining trustees shall be limited to a two-year consecutive term.
  3. Any trustee may be eligible for re-appointment after twelve (12) consecutive months of non-service as a trustee.
  4. Should any trustee be removed or resign during the fiscal year, the position shall remain open until the next selection process.

SECTION 2. Qualifications

  1. Preferably has served on an executive committee of KCTCA or a regional Indian association committee or has shown active involvement in social activities.
  2. Should be of general good moral character, to wit: shall not have been convicted of any criminal offenses.

SECTION 3. Authorities AND DUTIES

A. Authority

  1. Oversee the continuing establishment of the Corporation’s not-for-profit status.
  2. Insure the orderly continuation of the corporate status and the Corporation’s status with the Internal Revenue Service.
  3. Insure that the Corporation’s charitable status if available under the pertinent sections of the Internal Revenue Code is maintained pursuant to that code.
  4. Insure orderly transfer of the administration of this Corporation from the retiring to the incoming Trustees and Officers; and
  5. Formulate long-range plans of this Corporation.

B. Duties

  1. Attend not less than fifty percent (50%) of the Trustee Committee Meetings in any given year.
  2. Attend and volunteer at no less than one (1) KCTA events.
  3. Review, recommend and approve Corporation policies
  4. Maintain the organization’s year to year records of the programs and financial reports.
  5. By the First of December, form a nominating committee for the selection and installation of the Executive committee and any open position on the Board of Trustees. The nominating committee:
    • Be comprised of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board (or their assigned nominees) and one (1) other Board member (outgoing) along with two (2) general members – one of those preferably a life member or member of KCTCA.
    • Shall seek out nominations for open positions with the Board and the new Executive Committee.
    • Shall review and interview nominees regarding their qualifications to serve.
    • Shall propose a slate of candidates to the Board of Trustees for comment and approval.
    • Upon approval by the Board, shall notify selected members of their position.

         6. Serve as an ambassador for the organization

C. Removal

Any member of the Board of Trustees or Chairman may be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of one-thirds of the Board of Trustees or anonymously by Founding member.

SECTION 4. MEETINGS:

  1. Board meetings shall occur by agreement of no less than three (3) members with at least seven days’ notice, unless notice is waived by appearance. There shall be a minimum of two (2) meetings per fiscal year.
  2. Quorum. One-third (1/3) of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Trustees; provided that if less than a majority of the Trustees are present at said meetings, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
  3. Action of the Trustees. The act of a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum if present shall be the act of the Board of Trustees, except where otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws. In the event of a tie the chairman or his designee shall have an additional tie-breaker vote.
  4. Informal Action. Any action required to be taken at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the Trustees agree.

SECTION 5. COMPENSATION: Trustees as such shall not receive any stated salaries for their services.

SECTION 6. VETO POWER: The Founding members or Board of Trustees having ultimate responsibility to insure the continuing not-for-profit and charitable status of the Corporation will have the power to veto any action of the Officers or 501 C 3 status of the Corporation that would in any way jeopardize the not-for-profit status or charitable status of the Corporation.

ARTICLE FIVE – FINANCE

Section A:  Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the association shall be the period from June 1st – May 31st of a year.

Section B:  Responsibility

The executive committee shall be responsible for the finances of the association.

Section C:  Financial Account

A financial account in the name of the association shall be maintained in a bank account operated by the Treasurer and overseen by the President and Board of Director (Founding member)

Section D:  Auditing

Any member can request for the audit of the organization finances at any time.

Section E: Approval Process

All expenditures made by any individual or Individuals on behalf of the association shall require prior approval of the Finance Director. Any reimbursement of expense more than one hundred dollars requires the signature of both Treasurer and President. All reimbursements require a valid receipt as a proof of purchase. Under exceptional circumstances, an expense of $25 or less may be approved by the EC without a receipt.

Section F: Salary and Officers’ Expenses

None of the members of the EC shall receive salary or remuneration of any kind for their services.

Section G:  Usage of Association Resources

No part of the net earnings of the association will inure to the benefit of any individual or individuals. However the executive committee at its discretion adopts majority resolutions to grant an honorarium to distinguished scholars, artists, or community members in distress.

ARTICLE SIX – INDEMNITY 

Section A:  Liability

The EC officers shall not be held personally liable for any actions and decisions taken on behalf of the association.

Section B:  Copyrights

The equipment, publications, individual software, web pages developed during the year; photographs taken during the programs (performed by the professional artists) are association’s property and can be used in the association’s publications with all rights reserved by association.

Section C:  Privacy

A member’s listing (mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number) shall be used for informing the events only and not used for any purpose which violates his/her privacy, unless explicitly consented by the member.

ARTICLE SEVEN – MEETINGS 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section A: Mandatory Meeting

The EC shall meet at least two times a year. Majority of the officers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

GENERAL BODY MEETING

Section B:  Annual Meeting

  • The annual general body meeting of the association shall be held at least once a year, on or before last weekend of May and place to be decided and announced by the EC.
  • The notice of the annual general body meeting shall be sent by mail or by email to each member of the association at least two weeks prior to the meeting date.Section C: Special Meeting

    A special general body meeting of the association may be held at the call of the EC or by the written request of minimum 10% of members to the President.

    Section D:  Quorum

  • A twenty five percent (25%) of the general body members present in person shall constitute a quorum.
  • Each attending general body member may represent other general body members by written and signed proxy.
  • If the quorum is not achieved for the announced general body meeting, a subsequent general body meeting can be called by the EC President on a future date for which there will be no need for quorum.Section E:  Executive Committee – Election Rules 
  • Every active member of the organization is eligible to nominate self for executive committee positions.
  • The election of the members of the Executive Committee shall be held at the time of the annual general body meeting of the association.
  • To ensure fair election process, the voting shall be conducted by secret balloting whenever there is a contest.
  • The individuals, who are contesting for EC officers, can obtain members information from the current EC.
  • Each member of the executive committee shall have one vote.

ARTICLE EIGHT – DISSOLUTION

  • The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
  • Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall 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.ARTICLE NINE – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

    The constitution may be amended at a general body meeting by a vote of two-thirds majority of all the members as defined in the QUORUM section above.

    ARTICLE TEN – ISSUES NOT EXPLICITLY COVERED

    For all issues not explicitly stated in the constitution, the latest version of “Robert’s rules of Order” shall apply. References for ROR:  http://www.constitution.org/rror

    ARTICLE ELEVEN –  OTHER AMENDMENTS

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