Official Governing Document
Bylaws of ARKINA
These bylaws describe the purpose, membership, leadership, financial responsibilities, meetings, elections, and ethical standards of ARKINA.
Name
Section 1.0 — Name
The name of the organization shall be “ARKINA.”
Offices
Section 2.0 — Offices
The principal office of ARKINA shall be the address of one of the members of the Board of Directors.
Goal
Section 3.0 — Goal
The goal of ARKINA shall be to promote, preserve, enrich, and present various aspects of the social, cultural, and literary activities of the Ramakshatriya community.
These activities include the arts, literature, cultural programs, and community service activities.
Objectives
Section 4.0 — Objectives
Section 4.1
To act as a forum for charitable activities.
Section 4.3
To help fellow members of the community in the event of hardships and emergencies, and to serve the community in general in order to achieve the goals of ARKINA.
Membership
Section 5.0 — Membership
Section 5.1
Membership shall be open to everyone interested in ARKINA’s goals and objectives, subject to approval by the Board.
Section 5.2
No office bearer or member of ARKINA shall receive remuneration or derive personal benefits through the use of the name or stationery of ARKINA.
Section 5.3
Members shall not represent ARKINA at other meetings or functions without explicit approval from the Board.
Board of Directors
Section 6.0 — Board of Directors
Section 6.1
The officers of the ARKINA Board shall consist of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and/or any other appropriate title selected from among seven directors, collectively referred to as the “Board,” elected by the General Body.
The Board shall preferably represent various cross-sections of the membership and shall serve as the governing body of ARKINA.
Section 6.2
The term of each director shall be two years from the date of election. The terms of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall also be two years or less during their service on the Board.
Section 6.3
In the event of a vacancy in a director position for any reason, the President shall have the authority to nominate a new director from the membership.
The nomination must be approved by a simple majority of the Board.
Rules
Section 7.0 — Rules
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not specifically addressed in these bylaws.
Duties of Officers
Section 8.0 — Duties of Officers
Section 8.1 — President
The President shall preside over meetings and shall have the authority to appoint an advisory committee as needed in the absence of elected office bearers.
The President shall also represent ARKINA and act as its spokesperson and Executive Officer at public forums as needed.
Section 8.2 — Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain accurate minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall maintain official and nonofficial records.
Section 8.3 — Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining proper financial records and records of ARKINA’s funds.
The Treasurer shall accurately maintain records of membership dues, donations, and other financial transactions and shall be responsible for the timely payment of bills and other monies owed.
The President or Treasurer may authorize a payment of up to $500. Payments exceeding $500 must be approved by the Board.
All disbursements shall be made by checks duly signed by the Treasurer and/or President of ARKINA. All reimbursement requests shall be supported by valid receipts or bills.
Section 8.4 — Annual Accounts
The accounts shall be approved by the Board and presented annually at the General Body meeting.
Section 8.5 — Bank Account
ARKINA’s bank account shall be maintained at a federally approved and insured banking institution.
The account shall not be transferred to another institution without approval from the Board.
Elections
Section 9.0 — Elections
Section 9.1
The Board of ARKINA shall be elected for a term of two years through a ballot based on the highest number of votes received, either by mail or in person at a General Body meeting called specifically, or as part of another function, to conduct the election, provided a quorum is present.
To obtain a quorum, an election meeting may be combined with a community event, provided advance notice is sent to all members.
Business Meetings
Section 10.0 — Business Meetings
Section 10.1
The Board shall hold at least four meetings during the fiscal year to conduct ARKINA business. At least one of these meetings shall be the General Body meeting.
Board meetings shall be open to all members except under special circumstances. A minimum of four Board members shall constitute a quorum for a Board meeting.
Section 10.2
Notice of a General Body meeting may be sent to members through electronic communication and posted on the ARKINA website at least 90 days before the meeting.
Fiscal and Administrative Procedures
Section 11.0 — Fiscal and Administrative Procedures
Section 11.2 — Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin on April 1 of the current year and end on March 31 of the following year. This period shall constitute the fiscal year for accounting purposes.
Section 11.5 — Amendments
These bylaws may be amended or revised by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Body and shall remain valid for at least one full term of office.
Ethics and Morals
Section 12.0 — Ethics and Morals
Section 12.1
Every member shall uphold high standards of moral and ethical conduct.
Members shall not use slanderous or derogatory language or take any action that may bring disrepute to ARKINA.
End of ARKINA Bylaws
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