Jagannath B., Krishnamurthy S., Nagashankar C., Nataraj M., Rajashekar D., Sanjay R. Suresh R.
We, the Kannada loving community in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia in order to promote literary, educational and cultural activities, facilitate charitable activities, and to further the intercultural understanding among the people of the United States of America and Kannadigas in other parts of the world, do hereby join together to form an association.
The name of the association shall be KAVERI KANNADA ASSOCIATION (Washington DC, MD and VA)
Section I: The aims and objectives of the association shall be to promote literary, educational, cultural activities of Kannada loving people, facilitate charitable activities, and to create an opportunity for the cultural exchange between the peoples of the United States of America and Karnataka in particular and any other part of the world where Kannadigas may reside, in general.
Section I: No substantial part of the activities of the association shall be for carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the association 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. Not withstanding any other provision of these articles this association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purpose of this association.
Section II: No part of the net earnings of the association will inure to the benefit of any individual or individuals except when the executive committee decides to grant honoraria to distinguished scholars and artistes.
Section I: Any person eighteen years or older who subscribes to the objectives of the association and pays the dues, is entitled to be a member of the association.
Section II: Each dues paying member shall carry one vote. In the event dues are established separately for "single" and "family" memberships, the definition of "dues-paying-member" shall be as follows. The individual and his/her spouse shall both be dues paying members when he/she pays for the family. Dependent parents and children living with the dues-paying family member/members are entitled to all the benefits of membership except voting rights. Life Member is defined as a member who decides to pay the prescribed amount that entitles him/her to receive all the benefits of Family membership for life.
Section III: Annual Membership dues for "single", "family" and dues for "life" membership shall be decided by the voting members at the annual general body meeting.
Section IV: Membership may be revoked for a period not more than twelve months with due notice of a month for conduct considered not compatible with the aims and objectives of the association, by the two-thirds of the assembled voting members at the General body meeting of the association, provided that an explanation from the member being revoked has been obtained and considered unacceptable to the majority of the executive committee.
Section I: The executive committee shall consist of seven office bearers, minimum of four and maximum six members and two non-voting youth members. Youths between the ages of fourteen and eighteen are eligible to be youth members.
Section II: The office bearers to be elected by the general body shall consist of: a president; a vice president; a secretary; a joint-secretary; a treasurer; joint-treasurer; youth coordinator and an auditor.
Section III: The term of office for the executive committee and the auditor shall be one year.
Section IV: None of the members of the executive committee including the office bearers, youth members and the auditor shall receive salary or take remuneration of any kind for his/her services.
Section I: Executive committee shall decide the date and time of the general body meeting. The notice of the annual meeting shall be communicated to the voting members of the association at least two weeks prior to the meeting date.
Section II: Special general body meeting of the association may be held at the call of the executive committee or by the written request of at least twenty-percent of the voting members.
Section III: The quorum for any general body meeting shall be fifty voting members.
A resolution to dissolve the organization adapted by two thirds of the voting members in a general body meeting can result in the dissolution of the association. In case of such a dissolution, the executive committee shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the association, dispose of all the assets of the association in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United states Internal revenue law).
The following procedures shall be followed if and when need arises for the constitution amendment: In order to amend the constitution the following procedures shall be followed:
1. In additional to the general body meeting, there shall be at least two major functions during the year. In addition to holding the usual functions the executive committee shall make an earnest attempt to receive and honor visiting artistes and scholars considered in high esteem by Kannadigas. The executive committee shall make every effort to accommodate and involve youth/children in all functions of Kaveri.
For official purposes, the headquarters of the association shall be located in the state of Maryland where it is duly registered. The logo of the association will be: "yet to be adapted"
Section I: The executive committee shall meet at least four times between the annual meetings. The quorum for the executive committee meeting shall be five members of which at least three shall be office bearers.
Section II: The president shall preside over all meetings. The vice president, in the absence of the president, or the secretary in the absence of the president and the vice president shall preside over such meetings.
Section III: The secretary shall prepare the proceedings of the meetings of the executive committee and keep minutes of the meeting.
Section IV: Each person in the executive committee, except the president and the youth members, shall have one vote.
Section V: The president shall vote only if there is a tie in the voting.
Section VI: In the event decisions are made based on telephone, emails or personal discussions with members of the executive committee, such decisions and opinions of the members should be properly documented. The documentation should be saved along with the minutes of the meetings.
The executive committee is empowered to appoint members to the sub-committee and ad-hoc committees to accomplish such tasks and operations as to realize aims and objectives of the association, to investigate specific problems, and to make recommendations to the executive committee.
Section I: The fiscal year of the association shall be the calendar year.
Section II: The executive committee shall be responsible for the finances of the association.
Section III: A financial account in the name of the association shall be maintained in a bank and operated by the treasurer or the joint treasurer.
Section IV: The auditor shall review the accounts of the association and certify, with his/her comments, not later than the first week of the following year.
Section V: The executive committee shall make it available to all its voting members upon request, the certified financial statements of the preceding fiscal year.
Section VI: Only the members of the executive committee are empowered to make expenditures on behalf of the association.
Section VII: All expenditures made by any individual or individuals on behalf of the association shall require the approval of the executive committee. Expenditures of more than fifty dollars made by an individual shall require prior approval of the executive committee.
Section VIII:
The executive committee shall take appropriate action to fill any vacancies in the executive committee, no later than one month of such occurrence. A reasonable attempt shall be made to solicit interest from the general membership.
Section I: The President shall be the spokesperson and chief executive of the association.
Section II: The secretary shall keep a full and complete record of all meetings and transactions of the association. The secretary shall be responsible to execute with the help of other members all decisions taken by the executive committee.
Section III: The treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, disbursement, recording, and safekeeping of all funds of the association. The treasurer shall pay all bills, which have been approved in the manner prescribed by the executive committee. The treasurer should facilitate auditing of the financial records by the auditor.
Section IV: The youth coordinator shall be responsible for forming the youth committee and conducting all youth related activities authorized by the executive committee.
Section V: The polling officers shall solicit nominations for all the positions of the executive committee and the auditor. Polling officers will be responsible for conducting elections during the annual general body meeting for the year. They are empowered to resolve any conflicts during the election process.
Section I: The election of the office bearers and members of the executive committee and an auditor (as stated in Article V, Section II of the Constitution) shall be held at the time of the annual general body meetings of the association, youth committee representatives to the executive committee shall be elected by the youth committee within one month of the formation of the executive committee.
Section II: The executive committee shall appoint three polling officers approximately one month prior to the elections. Polling officers shall be members in good standing of the association.
Section III: Any member (see Article IV, section II for definition of member) may be nominated and each nomination shall be signed by the candidate and one other member of the association. Self-nomination is allowed.
Section IV: To ensure fair election process, the ballot should be coded and the voting shall be conducted by secret balloting. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.
Section V: Under extra ordinary circumstances polling officers can also seek nominations from the floor.
The bylaws of the association may be amended, altered, or repealed by a majority of all the members voting at the general body meeting, provided the procedures mentioned in Article VIII of the constitution "Amendments to the Constitution" is followed.
The role of BOT is to develop investment approaches for the Corpus, administer strategic programs utilizing the income generated from investing the Corpus, and monitor the program's implementation. The BOT will also provide an annual report to Kaveri's General Body. In general, the BOT will serve as a source of advice and counsel to KEC. However, both BOT and KEC will report only to the GB, and no hierarchical relation is envisaged among the two. While KEC will be fully responsible for planning and implementing Kaveri's day-to-day activities, it will consult with BOT on any major initiatives which impact either on the use of the Corpus or on Kaveri's Constitution, or span multiple years., all of which are subject to final approval by GB.
Section I - Primary Functions: The BOT is a body created by the General Body of Kaveri to advise the latter and also KEC on the following matters, with a view to serving the best interest of the association.
Section II - Number, Tenure and Qualification: The total number of Trustees shall be seven (7), all of whom shall be members of Kaveri. BOT members shall include:
Section III - Meetings of Trustees: The Board of Trustees shall meet at least thrice a year. A majority of the trustees shall constitute the quorum. The business of BOT may be conducted either at meetings or through conference calls.
Section IV - Disbursement of Funds: The Corpus shall be held by Kaveri in an account which is separate and distinct from its other accounts, but will be overseen by the KEC Treasurer. BOT has sole responsibility for all decisions concerning the use of Corpus resources. When BOT reaches specific decisions on the allocation of funds, its Chairperson will authorize the KEC Treasurer to issue checks or use other means of transferring money to the intended recipients. (The funds which will make up the future Corpus are currently invested by Kaveri in CDs which are scheduled to mature on or about July 31, 2008. At that time the funds will be transferred into newly created accounts which will constitute the Corpus which will henceforth be administered by BOT. Pending the creation of the Corpus accounts, the interest accrued is being transferred to Kaveri's general revenues).
Section V - Compensation of Trustees: No Trustee shall receive any pay or emolument for their service.
Proposed Resolution for GBM 2017