The name of this organization shall be
“GA-ADANGME KPEE OF GREATER HOUSTON, INCORPORATED.”
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
Section 1. The organization shall be a non-profit, non-political organization.
Section 2. Objective: The purpose of the organization includes, but will not be limited to the following:
a. To unite the members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
b. To provide a forum for the full and free discussion of all matters of interest to the GADANGME Community.
c. Promote social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities for its members and serve as a resource or educational group to promote greater knowledge and understanding of the GADANGME people and their culture.
d. Take appropriate actions in matters pertaining to the welfare of members and to GaDangme’s in the Greater Houston area.
e. Facilitate two-way communications between members, Ghanaian associations, and governmental agencies.
f. Provide a communications link between members and the community at large for individual development and the enhancement of the respect for GaDangme’s in our communities.
g. Act as a “Welcoming Committee” to GaDangme’s relocating to the Greater Houston Area by providing information on matters such as immigration, housing, employment, medical facilities, etc.
h. Assist the needy through donations and any other means that may be at the Association’s disposal.
i. Facilitate and promote participation in cultural programs.
j. To do and execute all powers necessary, suitable or proper, for the accomplishment or attainment of any or all of the objectives hereinbefore stated, or which at any time appear conducive to, expedient, for the carrying out of the objectives and purposes of fostering and promoting the commercial, industrial, social, physical and moral development of the development of the members of the GaDangme’s Community, and for the protection or benefit of this Association.
k. All activities shall be performed within the limits and meaning of Section 501 (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding Section of any future Federal Code.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. a. Any person achieving the age of majority who applies for membership and is accepted, shall become a member after payment of the prescribed onetime registration fee. The registration fee and annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and reviewed bi-annually. These fees are non-refundable if the applicant is accepted as a member. Annual dues are in addition to the registration fee.
b. Any eligible member who has paid the dues in full may vote. (Reference Section VIII – Dues)
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. The bi-annually elected officers of this Association shall be:
President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer. These Officers shall be members of the Association.
Membership in the Association, in good standing for at least six consecutive months leading up to the nomination shall be required for nomination and election as an officer, except the President who shall be in good standing for at the twelve consecutive months leading up to the nomination and election.
Section 2. The affairs of the Association, except as otherwise provided herin, shall be in general charge of the Board of Directors, consisting of all elected Officers and the immediate Immediate Past President and five members who shall be elected by the general body. The President shall be Chairman of the Board and meetings are by call of the President on behalf of the Board.
The Board of Directors shall control all savings and checking accounts. Withdrawals shall require two or more signatures of Officers elected to so act, one of these being the Treasurer. Expenditures in excess of $500.00 shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for its approval. A simple majority vote is required.
The President and Vice President of the Association shall be GaDangme’s and be fluent in the Ga or Adamgme language. All members of the Board of Directors shall be GaDangme’s.
ARTICLE V. ACTIONS
Any action taken in the name of the GADANGME ASSOCIATION OF GREATER HOUSTON, INCORPORATED must be transacted only by the authorization of the membership, except the normal duties of the Officers.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTION
All Officers of this Association shall be elected at the regular bi-annual Elections in December, and installed in January. These Officers shall hold office for the period stipulated in the By-Laws or until there successors are elected and installed.
Officers shall be elected by a majority of all votes cast.
Vacancies in Office shall be filled by special election and Officers elected shall be installed and assume Office after election to complete the term.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. There shall be a minimum of three (3) appointed Standing Committees: namely, (1) Membership and Benefits; (2) Publicity and Community Relations; (3) Entertainment and Culture.
These and any other committees that may be deemed necessary shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of each Standing Committee shall be appointed by the President.
All members of Standing Committees shall relinquish their positions at the time of the bi-annual election, so that the newly elected President shall have the option of appointing new Chairpersons.
Section 2. A Nomination Committee consisting of five (5) members shall be the Board of Directors at the appointed by the Board of Directors at the last meeting preceding the elections to recommend a slate of candidates. Not more than one member of this committee may be an Officer. The Committee will select its own Chairperson. Any Officer sitting on the Committee will not be given that responsibility.
Section 3. The President is an ex-Officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee in which he shall take no part.
ARTICLE VIII. DUES
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall set the level of dues and review it bi-annually in the best interests of the Association. Dues are payable annually and must be paid by February 28, of the calendar year. Discretionary power shall be granted to be Treasurer to make alternate payment arrangements.
Section 2. Bi-annual Elections Meeting shall be held during the month of December each other year for election of Officers and reports of Officers and Auditors when applicable.
Section 3. At least 10 days prior to the date fixed by Section 2 of this Article for the holding of the bi-annual Elections Meeting of members, written notice of the time, place, and purpose of such meeting shall be mailed as hereafter provided to each member entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 4. If for any reason, the bi-annual Elections Meeting shall not be held on the day herein before designated, such meeting may be called and held as a special meeting, and the same proceedings may be had there as at a special meeting, provided however, that the notice of such meetings shall be the same herein required for the Elections Meetings, namely, not less than ten (10) days notice.
Section 5. A special meeting of the members may be called at any time by the President, or by a majority of the Board of Directors. The method by which such meeting may be called is as follows: upon receipt of a specification in writing setting forth the date and objects of such proposed special meeting, signed by the president or by a majority of the Board of Directors, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall prepare, sign and mail the notices requisite to such meeting. Such notice may be signed by, stamped, typewritten, or printed signature of the Secretary or of an Assistant Secretary.
Section 6. At least three days prior to the date fixed for the holding of any special meeting or members, written notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting or members, written notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting shall be mailed as hereinafter provided, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. Business not mentioned in the notice shall not be transacted at such meeting.
Section 7. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine. No notice of regular meetings of the Board shall be required.
Section 8. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at any time by means of such written notice by mail of the time, place and purpose thereof to each Director as the President in his discretion shall deem sufficient, but action taken at any such meeting shall not be invalidated for want of notice if such notice shall be waived as hereinafter provided.
Section 9. All notices required to be given by any provision of this Constitution shall state the authority pursuant to which they are issued (as, “by order of the President” or “by order of the Board of Directors” as the case may be) and shall bear the written or printed signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary. Every notice shall be deemed duly served when the same has been deposited in the United States mail, with postage fully prepaid, plainly addressed to the sender at their last address appearing upon the membership record of this corporation.
Section 10. Notice by mail of the time, place and purpose of any meeting of the members or of the Board of Directors, may be waived and substituted with notice by telephone.
Section 11. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 12. Voting Members
Voting shall be done by a show of hands or written ballot depending on the preference of a majority of members present; except election of Officers of the Association which shall be by written ballot.
Section 13. Proxy Voting
There shall be no proxy voting.
ARTICLE X. QUORUM
Fifteen (15%) percent of MEMBERS in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a regular meeting and twenty (20%) percent shall constitute a quorum at a special meeting.
ARTICLE X1. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting, provided amendments shall have been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting and the adopting of the amendment shall require two-thirds vote in the affirmative of the members present.
ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS
The following amendment shall supersede Article VIII, Section 1 (a, b, c, d), Section 2 (a, b, c), Section 3 and Section 4 of the BY-LAWS.
No MEMBER shall receive in excess of Two Hundred and Forty US Dollars ($240.00 ) in benefits within any four year time period.
ARTICLE X11. DEFINITIONS
A GaDangme is person of GaDangme parentage or extraction.