Constitution

THE AFRICAN BAHAMIAN ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1: TITLE

The Association shall be known as the AFRICAN-BAHAMIAN ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as The Association.

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of The Association are:

(a) To bring together people with ties or interests in Africa and The Bahamas;
(b) To showcase The Bahamas in terms of its geography and to explore and promote the historical and cultural links between Africa and The Bahamas;
(c) To showcase Africa in terms of its geography, history, politics and culture;
(d) To foster and promote friendship and mutual understanding between Africans and Bahamians;
(e) To organize fundraising activities for humanitarian purposes in Africa and The Bahamas;
(f) To promote fellowship and cooperation among the membership;
(g) To assist and support the membership in time of need;
(h) To provide social and cultural activities;
(i) To encourage investments in Africa;
(j) To act as a resource organization for information about Africa and The Bahamas;
(k) To liaise with other African Associations in the Region with the view to sharing and promoting our common objectives.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

Any person subscribing to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association shall be eligible for membership. Members shall be lawful residents in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

ARTICLE 4: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

A. PATRONS
B. ADVISORY COUNCIL
C. TRANSITIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
D. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

A. PATRONS

The President shall, in consultation with the Advisory Council, appoint three (3) persons as patrons of the Association, one of whom shall be the Governor-General. The Governor- General shall be the Chief Patron.

Association shall appoint patrons and these shall be persons who have rendered services to the Association or for any other reason may be deemed fit and proper to be so appointed. The President, with the approval.

B. ADVISORY COUNCIL

Establishment:

There shall be an Advisory Council of the Association consisting of six (6) members who shall be elected by the general membership every five (5) years. principal administrative body of the Association.

Functions:

1. To recommend, where necessary, policy initiatives to the Executive Council;
2. To promote and advance the interest of the Association; and
3. To nominate patrons to the Association.

Qualification:

1. Membership of the Association for a minimum of three (3) years;
2. Permanent residency in The Bahamas;
3. Any member who has served as member of the Executive Council.

C. TRANSITIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

From the date of the adoption of this Constitution the current membership of the Advisory Council as constituted shall be the Advisory Council for a period of five (5 years).

D. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Establishment and Functions:

There shall be an Executive Council which shall be the principal policy making and administrative body of the Association. The Executive Council shall consist of the following
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer

Qualification:

1. To be eligible for election to the Executive Council, candidates must be members in good standing of the Association;
2. Members of the Executive Council shall be elected for a two-year (2) term of office on the first Sunday in February by secret ballot;
3. A member of the Advisory/Transitional Council is eligible to stand as a candidate on the Executive Council.

The election of the Executive Council shall be held under the supervision of the Nominating Committee.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

President

shall preside at all meetings of this Association, and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. He shall enforce the due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents that are adopted by the Association and none other; and perform all other customary duties pertaining to the office of president.

Vice-President

shall assist the President and assume all the duties of the President in the absence of the latter.

Secretary

shall keep the official record of all proceedings, meetings and activities of the Association. He shall be responsible to endure notification of the general membership of regular and special meetings and to receive and record proxy-statements. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to maintain the official Constitution and By-Laws, including approved Amendments, to have the same present at each general membership meeting, and to make them available to members should the need arise.

Assistant Secretary

shall assist the Secretary and assume all the duties of the Secretary in the absence of the latter.

Treasurer

shall collect all fees due to the Association and deposit same in an approved depository, make payments in a manner authorized by the Executive Council, and make an accurate accounting of financial status at General Membership meetings. He shall maintain an accurate ledger and shall permit the same to be reviewed by general members upon request. The treasurer shall notify delinquent members of their status, and maintain an accurate record of all members in good standing. The Treasurer shall have signature authority for the purpose of disbursement of funds held in the name of the Association.

Assistant Treasurer

shall assist the Treasurer and assume all the duties of the Treasurer in the absence of the latter.

Vacancies:

Vacancies occurring during a term of office may be filled, on an interim basis, by a majority vote of the remaining Executive Council members, until such time as a General Membership meeting is held for the purpose of an election to fill that vacancy.

ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS

THE ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Advisory Council shall meet as often as it sees fit. The Advisory Council shall regulate its own proceeding and elect among its membership a Chairman.

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

(a) The Executive Council shall meet every fortnight after the monthly General Membership meeting or as frequently as may be requested by the President, or in the absence of the President, by the Vice-President. A quorum shall be three (3) members one of whom shall be the President or the Vice President.

(b) The General Meeting shall be held on the first Sunday of every month, except that the Secretary may call a meeting of the General Membership in special circumstances

(c) A quorum for meetings of the General Membership shall be seven (7). Membership for the purpose of determining the quorum shall be the registered and paid-up members.

ARTICLE 6: STANDING COMMITTEES

The following Standing Committees, and any other additional Standing Committee as may be required for the proper implementation of the business of the Association, shall operate in accordance with the Constitution and be further governed by the By-Laws of the Association:

(i) Constitutional and Nominating Committee;
(ii) Membership and Public Relations (and Grievance) Committee;
(iii) Education and Culture Committee;
(iv) Fundraising and Social Committee.

ARTICLE 7: MEMBERSHIP DUES

The dues for all members of the Association shall be a fee set by the Executive Council and may be changed by Executive Council action, subject to the approval of the membership.

Dues are payable at the general monthly membership meeting. A grace period of two (2) months may be given to delinquent members and thereafter such member may forfeit their membership. Only paid-up members are eligible to vote.

New members shall pay their registration fee at the time of registration and thereafter shall pay their monthly membership fee.

ARTICLE 8: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of 75% paid-up membership at anytime according to the following procedure:

Proposals for amendment shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting and shall be voted on at the next following regular meeting provided notice has been sent by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution at said meeting.

ARTICLE 9: BY-LAWS

The By-Laws of the Association shall govern the day to day operation of the Association.

ARTICLE 10: AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS

Amendments to the By-Laws shall be made at any regular membership meeting by a simple majority of those present at the meeting.

BY-LAW 1: Registration

All members shall register by filling in a Registration Form and paying the prescribed fee.

BY-LAW 1: Meeting Schedule

Regular membership meeting shall be held the first Sunday of each month.

BY-LAW 2: Dues

Registration - $10.00
Monthly Dues - $10.00 ($100.00 pre- payment per annum).

BY-LAW 3: Honorary Membership

The President may grant an honorary one year non-voting full membership to an individual as a token of appreciation for any services rendered to the Association.