The name and the title of the organization shall be “Telugu Association of Greater Charlotte Area”, henceforth referred to as TAGCA.It shall be a not-for-profit organization registered under the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Objectives and Purpose
The purposes for which Telugu Association of Greater Charlotte Association is organized are:
To preserve, maintain, perpetuate and promote the heritage of people interested in Telugu culture.
To foster friendship and understanding among people interested in Telugu culture.
To promote and encourage Arts and Cultural activities of Telugu language.
To assist and propagate cultural, educational, social and community affairs of the members.
To preserve and propagate Telugu cultural heritage amongst future.
To raise, solicit, collect and disburse funds, charities, and donations for cultural, educational, and charitable purposes either directly or in cooperation with other not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
Membership
Any person who subscribes to the objectives and purposes of TAGCA is eligible for membership.Membership is for one year, beginning on April 1st and ending on March 1st of the following year.The categories of membership shall be 1) Single, 2) Family, 3) Youth and 4) Honorary.Applicants for the membership shall be at least 18 years of age and should submit an application in the format approved by the Board of Directors of TAGCA along with required dues.Membership application needs to be approved by at least one Director of the TAGCA.
Single Member: Single membership shall be open to any person who fulfills the requirements as defined in Section 3.0 of the By-Laws.
Family Member:A family membership shall be open to any family which fulfills the requirements as defined in Section 3.0 of the By-Laws. A family is defined as husband, wife, dependent children and dependent parents.
Youth Member:Telugu speaking youth between ages 18 and 25 years fulfilling the requirements defined in section 3 of the By-Laws is eligible for a youth membership.
Honorary Member:Any person who served the Telugu community with honor and distinction may be elected as an honorary member upon the unanimous vote of the Board or by a two thirds vote of the members present during voting at any general body meeting of TAGCA.
The annual membership dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors.There shall be no part year dues and dues are non-refundable except when the application for membership has been rejected.
Eligible voting members who are in good standing at least sixty days prior to the voting shall have the voting privileges on all matters presented to the general body. Single and Youth members shall have one vote; family member shall have two votes (one for each spouse). Honorary members shall not have any voting privileges.
Any member of TAGCA who has demonstrated an activity against the objectives and purposes of TAGCA shall be served with a maximum of two notices.A failure to respond to such notices or provide a suitable explanation to Board of Directors may result in suspension or revocation of his/her membership.The action of the Board of Directors may be over ruled by a vote of two-thirds of the voting members present and voting at a general body meeting.
Organization
General Body
The general body shall be composed of all the voting members and shall determine the basic philosophy of TAGCA and set all policies.The general body shall have the right to amend the Articles of Incorporation and the by-laws and to elect and recall Directors.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of TAGCA shall consist of Nine Directors, Five of which hold Executive positions described below and Four are members at large.The executive positions shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint-Secretary and Treasurer.The term for the office of the Board of Directors shall be 2 years or until their successors have been chosen.The term shall begin on April 1stof the election year.The Board of Directors shall have the general supervision of the affairs of the TAGCA.It shall have the control of all properties and funds belonging to TAGCA.
President
The president shall preside at all the meetings of TAGCA and shall perform such duties as custom parliamentary usage requires.The President shall be the chair person of the Board of Directors and an ex-officio member of all the committees of TAGCA and subsequent Board of Directors.
Vice President
Vice-President shall assist the President in all matters pertaining to TAGCA and shall assume the duties of President in his/her absence.
Secretary:
The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal of TAGCA and all records and papers belonging to TAGCA except those that properly belong to the Treasurer, keep minutes of all meetings, maintain a correct list of all members with the help of the Treasurer and give a proper notice of all general body meetings to the members of general body.
Joint-Secretary:
The Joint-Secretary shall assist the secretary and assume the duties of the Secretary in his/her absence.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall receive all monies for TAGCA and shall be the official bookkeeper of all TAGCA finances.He/She shall submit the accounts to such examinations as the Board of Directors may direct. The Treasurer shall prepare any financial reports, prepare tax returns and submit as needed.
Following members of TAGCA are recognized as the founding members and shall have executive authority equivalent to a Director for a period of one year from the date of incorporation.After such period all granted authority shall be revoked.
Activities
TAGCA shall organize its year round activities to best fulfill the objectives and purposes of the organization.
Meeting
Board of Directors shall meet at least 6 times between April 1stand March 31stof the following year.The quorum for such a meeting shall be six attendees. A Director who is absent for two consecutive meetings without a valid or approved reason ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors.There shall be one annual general body and this shall coincide with Budget presentation.
Special meetings of the general body for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President or the Board of Directors and shall be called at the request of 1/3rd of members and shall require as quorum of 2/3rd of members.The notice for such a meeting shall state the purpose or purposes of the meetings called for.The meeting shall be held within 4 weeks from the date of the notice of such request from the members of the association.
Elections
In the year of incorporation the Board of Directors is elected by founding members at a scheduled meeting.For subsequent election years, the following shall be the process.
Election process
The Board of Directors shall appoint an election committee consisting of 3 members.No current Director can be a member of the election committee.
The secretary shall provide a list of eligible members to the election committee at least by February 5th.The election committee shall call for nominations by February 15thof the election year.Anyone who wishes to serve can fill out the nomination form and shall be nominated and seconded by two eligible voting members and give it to the election committee.
Elections shall be held on a day determined by the election committee such that new Board of Directors shall be decided and take office by April 1st.
The election committee shall call for a transition meeting with the existing and newly elected Board of Directors shortly after the elections.The out-going Board of Directors is legally bound to transfer all assets, including documents, financial statements that belong to TAGCA to the in-coming Board of Directors.
The election committee dissolves after the formation of the new Board of Directors.
Budgets, Finances, and Auditing
The Board of Directors shall prepare the annual budget and publish it by end of June.
The Treasurer shall open a Savings and Checking account for TAGCA at any federally insured financial institution.Checks for disbursement of funds up to $500 shall require only one signature that of the treasurer.Checks for amounts exceeding this require two signatures, one of Treasurer and one the President.
Any budgeted item exceeding $1000 or unbudgeted expenditure exceeding $500 shall require approval of the Board of Directors.
There shall be an interim financial report presented to Board of Directors at scheduled meetings and an annual financial report to the General Body.There shall be an annual audit of TAGC Accounts.
Amendment of By-Laws
The Board of Directors shall have the power to make, adopt, alter, amend and repeal, from time to time, by-laws of TAGCA by two-thirds vote of the full Board of Directors in a duly convened meeting, except by-laws dealing with number, composition and election of Board of Directors.Any amendments made by Board of Directors can be overruled by a special meeting.
Any amendments to exceptions noted above shall require approval of general body.
Articles of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed pursuant to the procedure stated below:
The Board of Directors may propose an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation by two-thirds vote of the full Board of Directors without the use of proxy voting in a duly convened meeting of the Board of Directors.
Any member of the TAGCA who is entitled to vote may propose an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation provided the proposal is supported by at least 15% of the eligible members.
Any proposed amendment shall remain on file with the Secretary for at least sixty days before it may be acted upon.
During the sixty day period, the matter shall be brought to the attention of the voting members of TAGCA at least thirty days prior to the meeting during which the proposal will be acted upon.
All proposed amendments will be submitted to the committee designated by by-laws to review the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation before they are submitted to the members.
Such proposed amendments may be passed by a written ballot only at a regular or special meeting at which at least two-thirds of eligible members are present. Such proposal shall be deemed approved if approved by at least two-thirds of the majority.
No amendments shall change the purpose and objectives of TAGCA nor authorize the Board of Directors to conduct affairs of TAGCA in any manner inconsistent with North Carolina law or IRS.
Liability
Directors of TAGCA shall not be personally liable, either directly or indirectly, to either the association or its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties unless the breach involves 1) a Director’s duty of loyalty to TAGCA; 2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct to a knowing violation of law; 3) a transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this article shall be prospective only and shall not diminish the rights or expand the personal liability of the Director with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
Powers
Except as otherwise limited by the articles of incorporation or the Bylaws, the corporation shall have all the powers of a not-for-profit organization registered under the laws of North Carolina.
Dissolution
Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purpose of the corporation in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable and religious purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine.
