Library Catalog
Did you know?
First Marathi newspaper Kesari was started by बाळ गंगाधर टिळक in 1881.
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Preamble
With the goal of preserving and promoting the
cultural heritage of
Article One
This organization shall be known as the ‘Greater Richmond Marathi Mandal’ (hereinafter referred as GRMM or the Association).
Article Two
An Executive Committee (EC) duly elected by GRMM members as described in Article 7 shall manage all the business and affairs of GRMM as per Constitution and Bylaws.
Article Three
Section I: The objective of GRMM shall be to promote literary,
educational, cultural and charitable activities related to
preserving and promoting the heritage of
Section II: To create opportunities for and nurture inter-cultural exchange.
Section III: To collectively help and be of service to members of GRMM and of the local community.
Section III: GRMM shall be a non-political organization.
Section IV: No part of the earning of GRMM shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to the EC, GRMM members or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose of GRMM.
Section V: Any member wishing to participate in the activities of GRMM shall not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, age, race, national origin, color, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs or the state of handicap.
Article Four
Section I: Any person, who subscribes to the objectives of GRMM and pays annual dues, as decided by EC, is entitled to be a member of GRMM. Every such member will have obligation to uphold the constitution and bylaws of GRMM.
Section II: The membership of GRMM shall consist of the following categories
Section
III:
Annual dues for each membership category shall be decided by the
EC
Article
Five
Section
I:
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of following office
bearers:
a)
President
b) Program Director(Vice President)
c) Treasurer
d) Cultural Director
e) Communication Director
f) Technology Director
g) Membership Director
Section
II:
Each year before end of September, the EC by majority vote shall
appoint two Election Officers according to the provisions of the
Bylaws. The EC will use all methods of communication at its
disposal to make all GRMM members aware of the Election Officers.
These officers will help conduct free and fair annual elections
during the Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) held per Article 7.
The term of these Election Officers will end after the AGBM.
Section
III:
The candidate for President must offer a panel of office-bearers
to the Election Officers, containing the names suggested for each
Office. The election officer will confirm with each member of the
panel that the person intends to be part of the panel under the
leadership of the Presidential hopeful. The election officers will
then validate that the panel members comply with term-limits set
forth in Section V of this article.
Section
IV:
These EC positions shall be elected by the members of GRMM,
in an election with a secret ballot, at an Annual General Body
Meeting (AGBM) of GRMM for a one-year term of office. The members
will be voting for one of the several panels contesting. There
will be no voting for individual positions on the Executive
Committee.
Section
V:
All EC members shall be allowed to hold a particular
office/position for one term only. However, they shall be allowed
to hold another position on the EC for one more consecutive term.
No member can serve more than two consecutive terms on the EC. An
exception to these limits will be allowed in a situation where
-
no
new Presidential candidate comes up with a panel.
OR
-
no
new willing members ready to be part of the panel in spite of
considerable efforts to motivate eligible members.
Section
VI:
The term of office for members of all subsequent ECs shall begin
on the day after AGBM elections and last till the AGBM for the
next year.
Section
VII:
If any vacancy arises on the EC through any cause, the EC may
appoint any current member of GRMM to fill that vacancy by
majority vote. This appointment should be communicated to all GRMM
members within 30 days. The term of the appointed member will end
with the term of the EC. The term limits described in Section V of
this article will not be applicable to such appointed members.
Section
IX:
The 3 willing senior members of GRMM will be Pro-tem advisors to
resolve disputes, differences that can not be reconciled between
EC, Candidates for Elections and Election Officers during the
election process. The Pro-tem advisors will be given 30 days to
analyze the issue and suggest a resolution. The decision of the
Pro-tem advisors when requested will be binding on the process of
elections.
Article
Six
Section I: GRMM
shall be a non-profit organization. No dividends or monetary
profits shall be declared or paid to the EC or GRMM members
thereof.
Section
II:
The association's income shall be derived from membership dues,
fees for functions and events, and charitable donations and
grants.
Section
III:
No monetary or physical assets of GRMM shall be distributable to
GRMM members or other private persons. If the association is
dissolved per Article 8, any remaining assets will be donated per
Article 8.2.
Section
IV:
All GRMM members including EC members work as volunteers and
cannot be compensated in any form for their time and effort for
services rendered to, or duties performed on behalf of the
association.
Section
V:
A non EC member shall be appointed by the EC for auditing the GRMM
accounts of the fiscal year and the results of this audit shall be
published to all members by second Sunday of the month of January
of the following year.
Article
Seven
Section
I:
The General Body of the Association shall consist of all dues
paying members, and will have power over the EC or any other
Committee of the Association.
Section
II:
An Annual General Body Meeting of the Association will be held in
the month of October each year.
Section
III:
The following activities shall take place during the AGBM
1)
The
Election Officers shall conduct an election for the EC,
2)
The outgoing President will deliver a “State of
3) Any other special motions, such as motions to amend the constitution, shall be considered.
Section
IV:
A special General Body meeting may be called by a majority vote of
the EC or by a written petition signed by 1/3rd of the dues paying
members. In either case, the President shall inform the General
body of the matter and call a General Body meeting within 30 days
of receiving such notice.
Article
Eight
Section
I:
If the Association ceases to function or the EC decides that the
Association is no longer able to fulfill the objectives outlined
in this constitution, then the association may be dissolved as
follows
1)
The
EC shall circulate a notice of intent of dissolution to all
members and call a Special General Body Meeting no earlier than 30
days from circulating such notice. The motion to dissolve must
pass by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast. In case where
unable to be present the members can also convey the intent by
sending a written letter bearing there signature before the
Special General Body Meeting to the Communication Director on the
EC.
2) Upon dissolution of the Association, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, donate of all of the assets for charitable purposes to non-profit organizations.
Article
Nine
Section
I:
This constitution may be amended as follows:
Any
GRMM member, including EC members, may circulate a notice of
intent to amend and a description of the proposed amendment to all
members at least 30 days prior to the Annual General Body Meeting.
In case where unable to be present the members can also mail in
the vote by sending a written letter bearing there signature or
email before the Annual General Body Meeting to the Communication
Director on the EC. The motion to amend must pass by a two-thirds
majority of all votes cast including the absentee votes.
Article
Ten
Section I: Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities permitted to be carried on (a) by an Association exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law); or (b) by an Association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law)