Constitution
THE GRAND GEDEH ASSOCIATION IN THE AMERICAS INC.
MINNESOTA CHAPTER- BYLAWS & CONSTITUTION
NOTE: Please peruse this Constitution and forward your comments on our contact page as we await amendments to this document.
PREAMBLE:
We originally of Liberia’s political subdivision known as Grand Gedeh County, now residing in the state of Minnesota, USA, in order to promote unity amongst ourselves regardless of geographical location, and to foster cordial relationship with all friendly and peaceful people of the world, do hereby constitute ourselves into a nonprofit and non political organization to be known as the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc.. Minnesota Chapter, (GGAA, Inc MN Chapter).
In furtherance of this goal, we agreed to establish these bylaws and constitution for the governance of this chapter. The MN Chapter shall provide assistance to all in need without discrimination or irrespective of nationality, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, gender and age. Services rendered this chapter shall be purely voluntary and those rendering such services shall not earn salary, but may be given gratuity.
Article 1: The Name
The name of the chapter shall be the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc., Minnesota Chapter, (GGAA Inc. MN Chapter).
Article 11: Motto
The motto of the chapter shall be, “People United for Excellence.”
Article 111: Objectives
The objectives of the chapter shall be:
a. To assist, protect and promote the interest and welfare of all dues paying members and others in need according to the preamble.
b. To provide counseling, relief and other humanitarian services;
c. To scout for educational opportunities, for the benefit of a target population, especially the youth.
d. To forge alliance with other chapter or organizations, whose aims and objectives are similar to ours.
Article IV: Membership
Membership of this chapter shall be in three categories; Full Membership, Associate Membership and Honorary membership.
Section 1: Full membership
Full membership shall be opened to all registered dues paying grand Gedehians and others, age 18 years and above. This category shall exercise the right to seek any elected or appointed positions should it so desire. It shall also exercise the right to vote on matters of interest, attend all regular, call and emergency meetings and actively participate in the chapter’s activities.
Authority of the Full Membership
The Full Membership of the MN chapter shall be the Supreme Organ of the chapter to exercise such supremacy, three-fourth of the entire Full Membership category shall exercise the authority to:
a) Dissolve the chapter for cause
b) Withdraw the chapter from National Association for cause
c) Remove the entire Board from office for cause
d) Expel or suspend any member’s membership for cause
e) Reverse any decision of the Executive or the Board for cause
Two-third of the entire Full Membership category shall exercise the authority to:
f) Repeal or amend in whole or part any provision of the constitution for cause
g) Mandate the executive or the Board to set up Independent or ad hoc Commission or Committees for cause
h) Decide any matter not specifically addressed in this constitution
Section 2: Associate Membership
Associate membership shall be opened to all registered dues paying Grand Gedehians, their spouses and others (non Grand Gedehians), who have read and upheld this constitution. This category shall exercise the right to seek both elected and appointed positions. It shall exercise the right to vote on matters of interest, attend all regular, called and emergency meetings and actively participate in the chapter’s activities.
Section 3: Honorary Membership
Honorary membership shall be conferred on individuals, associations and institutions who have contributed to this chapter. This category shall however, not qualify one to seek elected positions or vote, but may qualify for appointed positions.
Article V: Qualification For Elected Leadership Positions
Section 1: contestant(s) for position on the Executive or Board shall be a candidate who:
a) Has active full or associate membership status,
b) Is a resident of MN for at least six months concomitantly prior to elections,
c) Respects human rights and is in good moral standing,
d) Has good moral character in the community,
e) Must be a high school graduate or its equivalent (GED),
f) Must be in good financial standing with the chapter, including but not limited to: payments of all monthly membership dues, pledges and fines,
g) Must not be indebted to the chapter or the National Association in terms or turning over records, reports, documents, official communication and other assets of the chapter.
Article VI: Executive Committee
Section 1: The following officers shall constitute the Executive Committee:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Secretary-General
d. Assistant Secretary-General
e. Parliamentarian
f. Assistant Parliamentarian
g. Treasurer
h. Financial Secretary
Section 2: Presidency
a) All Executive authority of this chapter shall be vested in the president, who shall appoint chairs and co-chairs of all standing committees, for confirmation by the Board. Members of the committee shall serve as the President’s cabinet and junior cabinet members and shall be subject to suspension or dismissal by the President for cause, if they violate Article XIC, Section V, or any other provision of this constitution.
b) The President shall appoint an Auditor-General, Assistant Auditor-General, Chair, Co-Chair and Members of the Independent Elections commission.
c) He/she shall not have the exclusive authority to suspend or dismiss any of them, without a two-third approval vote by the Board. To warrant suspension or dismissal action, Article XIV, Section V, or any other provision of this constitution must have been violated. They shall serve a two-year term.
d) With the advice and consent of the Board, the President shall exercise his constitutional authority to replace by appointment elected official of the Executive, who resigns, is impeached, incapacitated, or dies in office. However, such appointment shall not exceed a period of one month, within which by-elections shall be held.
Section 4: Tenure of the President
The President shall be the spokesman / Chief Executive Officer of the chapter and shall:
a) Preside over all meetings of the chapter,
b) Call emergency meetings,
c) Delegate responsibilities to other members of the Executive or the membership,
d) Be the principle signatory for all withdrawals of funds from the chapter’s accounts,
e) Submit an annual budget to the Board for review and approval,
f) Appoint Standing & Ad Hoc committees & other positions as necessary,
g) Invite guests to the chapter’s activities,
h) Solicit financial & material assistance on behalf of the chapter & its membership,
i) Retain the services of legal counsels in defense of the chapter & its membership,
j) Initiate, coordinate, supervise & direct all administrative policies of the chapter.
Section 5: Vice-President
The duty of the Vice-President shall be to:
a) Carry out the duty of the President during his absence,
b) Perform duties as may be assigned to him/her, from time to time, by the President.
c) Ascend to the Presidency in the event of resignation, impeachment, incapacitation, or death of the President.
Section 6: secretary-General
The Secretary-General shall be the Chief custodian of all official records of the chapter. He/she shall record and read minutes, send out citations for all regular, call and emergency meetings and shall be aided by an Assistant, who shall perform all such duties and responsibilities, in the event of resignation, impeachment or death of the Secretary-General.
Section 7: Assistant Secretary-General
The Assistant Secretary-General shall be the principle deputy to the Secretary-General and this shall be an elected position.
Section 8: Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall ensure perfect decorum at all regular, called, or emergency meetings. The Parliamentarian shall be aided by an Assistant, who shall perform all such duties pending elections, in the event of registration, impeachment, incapacitation or death of the Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian and assistant must have basic knowledge of parliamentarian procedure in accordance with the Robert’s Rule of Order. All the chapter’s meetings shall be conducted by parliamentary procedure.
Section 9: assistant Parliamentarian
The Assistant Parliamentarian shall be the principle deputy to the parliamentarian. These shall be elected positions.
Section 10: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the Chief Custodian of all monies and shall collect, receive and deposit same into the chapter’s account. He/she shall make quarterly financial reports to the President on the income and expenditure and be a signatory to the chapter’s account and other financial records.
No organ or individual of this chapter shall keep in his/her possession, ay money belonging to the chapter. All monies generated, donated or obtained through legal means, must be deposited into the chapter’s account. The treasurer shall not disburse any funds without a duly executed voucher bearing the signature of the President, or his designated representative in accordance with this constitution. All financial transaction must be done through the voucher system.
Section 11: Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary shall be the Chief Custodian of all financial records of the chapter and shall be the principle deputy to the Treasurer. He/she shall act in the position pending elections, in the event of resignation, impeachment, incapacitation or death of the Treasurer. This shall be an elected position.
All financial transaction on behalf of the MN Chapter, must be accompanied by documentation such as copies of contractual agreements, receipts etc.
Article VII: Autonomous Positions & standing Committees:
Section 1: The following are Autonomous Positions and Standing Committees:
a) Auditor-General
b) Assistant Auditor-General
c) Chaplain
d) Assistant Chaplain
e) Planning Committee
f) Media & Community Relations Committee
g) Social Committee
h) Welfare Committee
i) Awards Committee
j) Sports & Recreation Committee
Section 12: Auditor-General
The Auditor-General shall exercise the authority to audit the financial accounts of the chapter including but not limited to all financial records, transactions and monies collected in the name of the chapter. He/she shall be aided by an Assistant, who shall act pending the appointment of an auditor-General in the event of resignation, suspension, incapacitation or death of the Auditor-General and Assistant shall be appointed positions. The President shall however, not exercise the exclusive authority to suspend or dismiss any of them without a two-third approval vote by the Board.
Section 13: Assistant Auditor-General
The Assistant Auditor-General shall serve as the principle deputy to the Auditor-General.
Section 14: Chaplain
The Chaplain shall be a Godly person regardless of faith and shall provide spiritual guidance at every meeting or official function of this chapter. He/she shall be aided by an Assistant, who shall act and perform all such duties, in the event of the absence, resignation, suspension or dismissal of the Chaplain. These shall be appointed positions since they are a political.
Section 15: Assistant Chaplain
The Assistant Chaplain shall be the principle deputy to the Chaplain.
Section 2: The Planning Committee
The Planning Committee shall be headed by a chairperson, who shall;
a) Plan short and long-term development programs which shall include but not limited to:
I) Agriculture and economic development
II) Health education
III) Socio-cultural
IV) Infrastructural development.
Section 3: Media an Committee Relations Committee
The (MCRC) shall be headed by a chairperson who shall:
a) Promote the aims and objectives of the chapter,
b) Serve as a bridge between the media and the chapter
c) Prepare publications and press releases on the activities of the chapter
d) Monitor the media to obtain information relevant to the chapter
e) Coordinate all video, audio recordings and photographing of the chapter’s functions.
Section4: Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall be headed by a chairperson, who shall:
a) Collect and turn over to the Treasurer an annual membership renewal fee of $45.00 with $5.00 for the National association inclusive. Membership is renewable yearly.
b) Identify, encourage and register new members within the chapter
c) Conduct surveys and get feed from all categories of membership
d) Establish and update a database of this chapter’s total membership
Section 5: The Social Committee:
The Social Committee shall be headed by a chairperson, who shall:
a) Plan and execute social programs undertaken by the chapter,
b) Execute appropriate program to raise funds for the chapter.
Section 6: Welfare Committee:
The Welfare Committee shall be headed by a chairperson who shall:
a) Receive all requests for assistance from members and make recommendations to the President
b) Handle all requests in the event of bereavement as follows:
I) Registered active deceased dues paying member ($1000.00)
II) Deceased parent, spouse or child of a registered active dues paying member ($500.00)
III) Registered inactive member and unregistered deceased Grand Gedean ($150.00)
IV) All other deceased members of sister chapters ($150.00) as required by the National Association.
V) Create a database for the elderly, handicap, imprisoned and the sick of the Grand Gedeh Community in Minnesota and others in need, by identifying special needs of such groups that may require assistance in accordance with the chapter’s preamble.
Section 7: Awards Committee
a) The Awards Committee shall comprise five members including chair, co-chair, secretary etc. The purpose of the committee is to among other things, give flowers to individuals who deserve them, while they are still alive.
b) The selection process for nominees for awards shall be based on testimony of the membership reflecting the nominees’ sacrifices and contribution to the Chapter and/or the National association. The Awards Committee will then scrutinize the information and make recommendation to the President for deliberation by the Executive.
c) The President shall then forward the nominees’ names and information to the Board for further scrutiny and approval by a simple majority of the Board, before any award is given. The Board shall however exercise the authority to revoke any award received based on fraud or falsified information.
Section 8: Sports and Recreation Committee
a) The Sports and Recreation Committee shall be headed by a chairperson who has the capacity to organize and supervise all sporting and recreational activities of the chapter. He/she shall be assisted by a co-chair and other members as shall deemed necessary.
b) No elected officer of the Executive committee of the MN Chapter shall hold another elected position on the chapter’s or National Association’s Boards, except the chapter’s President, who by virtue of the position, is a member of the National Board.
c) Elected officer of the Executive Committee of the MN Chapter may not hold another elected or appointed position on the executive Committee of the National Association, while still serving on the Executive Committee of the MN Chapter.
Article VIII: Banking of the Chapter’s funds
Section 1: The chapter shall establish an account with a legally recognized bank doing business in the State of Minnesota. All monies raised, donations received, or fees collected, by any organ or individual on behalf of the chapter, must be turned over to the Treasurer to be deposited into the chapter’s account.
Article IX: signatories to the Account:
Section 1: a) There shall be four (4) operation signatories to the chapter’s account namely; President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Financial Secretary. The President shall be the principle signatory, but he/she must jointly sign with the Treasurer.
However, in the event the Treasurer is unavailable, the President shall jointly sign with the Financial Secretary. If the Treasurer and Financial Secretary are both absent, the President and the Vice-President and the Vice-President shall jointly sign for withdrawal of funds. There must always be two signatories on all checks including the President’s.
c) All withdrawals and disbursements from the chapter’s account shall be in accordance with approved budgetary appropriation by the Executive and all financial transactions of the chapter must be done through the voucher system.
Article X: National Board Members’ Sitting Fees
Section 1: a) It shall be the responsibility of the MN Chapter to pay the sitting fees for its two National Board Members (Chair and Secretary) since they are representing the chapter rather than themselves.
Article XI: Monthly general meeting
Section 1: A Monthly General Meeting of the chapter shall be held at 5:00 PM during winter and 6:00 PM during summer, on the Sunday of the Liberian Weekend off. The venue and date shall be the responsibility of the Executive. At least ten members of the chapter shall constitute a quorum for the commencement of the conduct of the meeting. For decisions to be binding, two-third of the full membership category present at a given meeting vote to approve.
Article XII: Emergency Meeting
Section 1: In the event of an emergency, the President shall exercise the authority to call an emergency meeting. In the event of resignation, impeachment, incapacitation or death of the President, the Board shall immediately call an emergency meeting of the chapter, for the purpose of informing the membership and subsequent inducting the Vice-President, or any other official in the constitutional line of succession, as President.
Article XIII: Administrative Board of Directors
Section 1: The Board of Directors of the MN Chapter shall be styled and known the Administrative Board of Directors. All legislative authority shall be vested in the Board for proper checks and balances of the Executive. The day to day administrative of the Board shall be vested in its leadership which includes Chair, Co-chair and Secretary.
Section 2: The Board shall comprise seven members, two of whom (Chair and Secretary) shall automatically become the two representatives of the MN Chapter on the National Board.
Section 3: The Board’s authority shall include but not be limited to, summoning of any elected or appointed official or a member for cause such as; the provision of relevant information, testimony etc. All persons so summoned, shall be required to take an oath. The Board shall not however assume any of the constitutional authority delegated to the Executive except, as provided for in this constitution.
Section 4: No member of the Minnesota Chapter’s Board shall, while still serving, hold another elected position on the executive Committee of the chapter or the National Association, except for ad hoc position or service on independent commissions. However, Minnesota Chapter’s Board members may hold another elected position on the National Board, while still serving.
Section 5: The Board shall exercise the authority to formulate its rules, elect corps of officers including Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, etc, to govern its activities and or deliberations. The board shall meet at least once every month review and approve all budgetary appropriations, programs, projects and all other administrative decisions relevant to the chapter as put forth by the Executive.
Section 6: In the event of resignation, impeachment, incapacitation or death of the President and Vice-President, the Chair of the Board shall immediately succeed as President and nominee a Vice-President, who must be confirmed by two-third of the Board before assuming office. The Co-Chair shall succeed as acting Board Chair pending elections.
Section 7: In the event the entire membership of the Board resigns, is removed from office, incapacitated, or dies, the President shall inform the Independent Elections Commission, for the conduct of by-elections to replace it (Board).
Section 8: Any Board member accused of violating any provision of this constitution and is being investigated by the Board, is constitutionally restrain from participating in the conduct of the process, until it is concluded, to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest or manipulation by the member(s) concerned.
Section 9: Any agreement committee the Minnesota Chapter, be it written or verbal, must be approved by two-third of the Board before its implementation.
Section 10: All Presidential nominees must confirm by a simple majority of the Board, before an appointment is made by the President.
Section 11: In order to suspend or expel a member of the chapter, 25 signatures of the full membership category must be collected, to compel the Board to investigate and a two-third majority vote taken by the Board, before the suspension or expulsion can occur. Causes for such action shall include but not limited to; felony conviction, or violation of Article XIV, Section V or any other provision of this chapter’s By-laws and Constitution.
Article XIV: Impeachment
Section 1: The authority to impeach and remove any elected official from office shall be vested solely in the Board. In order to effect an impeachment and removal of any elected official, a simple majority of the Board must vote in favor of the decision.
Section 2: Demonstrated gross incompetence, inability to conduct the affairs of the chapter, or the position to which any official was elected, shall constitute impeachable offences.
Section 3: Absenteeism by any elected official from three consecutive regular general meetings shall constitute an impeachable offence.
Section 4: Embezzlement or misappropriation of the chapter’s funds shall constitute an impeachable offence. The culprits shall be compelled to refund whatever amount was involved. There shall be no statute of limitation to this provision, meaning that even after one shall have left office before the crime was discovered, he/she shall still be held accountable.
Section 5: Corruption, mismanagement of the chapter’s property, insults to the leadership or membership, fraud, bribery, forgery, theft, perjury, violence, negligence of duty, withholding information, habitual drunkenness, addiction to controlled substance, etc. shall be grounds for dismissal of appointed officials and impeachment of elected officials by the President and the Board respectively.
Section 6: Any elected official accused of violating any provision of this constitution and cited to appear before the Board for impeachment trial, but refuses to do so twice, shall be adjudged guilty as charged and subsequently impeached and removed from office.
Section 7: If a complaint emanates from a member against any elected official, the Board shall institute an investigation to find out whether Article XIV, Section V or any other provision in this constitution has been violated to warrant impeachment.
Section 8: All impeachment proceedings must be thorough conducted, by all or a simple majority of the Board and a guilty verdict obtained, before impeachment is enforced.
Section 9: Any elected officer of this chapter, impeached and removed from office shall not qualify to contest another elected or appointed position for a period of two years as of the date of the impeachment.
c) If the impeachment is the result of embezzlement and/or misappropriation of the chapter’s funds, restoration of the ex-officer(s) rights to contest another position shall not be done, even after the expiration of the two years, unless the full amount involved is refunded and receipt(s) exhibited as evidence of payment.
Article XV: Travel Expense
Section 1: The Minnesota Chapter shall shoulder the travel expenses for all its officials, if such travel is in the interest of the chapter and/or the National Association. The travel must first be approved by a simple majority of the Board if not provided for in the approved budget.
Article XVI: Tenure of Elected Officers:
Section 1: All elected officers, except for members of the Board, shall serve a two-year term and may seek a second term after which they shall not qualify to seek another term for the same positions held, but may qualify to contest other elected positions.
Article XVII: Elections Commission
Section 1: The President shall appoint an Independent Elections Commission, but shall not have the exclusive authority to suspend or dismiss any of its officials or members without a two-third approval vote by the Board. The Elections Commission shall serve a two-year term.
Section 2: the Commission shall comprise a Chair, Co-Chair and Secretary who shall formulate all electoral guidelines in line with this constitution.
Section 3: All electoral matters of this chapter shall be the exclusive prerogative of the Elections Commission, without any interference whatsoever; either from the Executive or the Board.
Section 4: The Commission is empowered to qualify or disqualify any Grand Gedean, desirous of contesting any elected leadership position due to the following: Financial indebtedness to the chapter, possession of official documents, records, reports or failure to fulfill pledges to the chapter, and/or violation of Article XIV Section V, or any other provision in this constitution.
Section 5: Voting shall be opened to only the active Full and Associate membership categories; organized teams as well as independent candidates shall be qualified to participate in the elections. The Commission shall verify the status of every potential voter. General and Presidential leadership elections shall be held every two years in September. Inauguration of elected officers shall be held within the immediate two months after the elections of the same year.
Section 6: protest relating to the elections shall be filed with the Elections Commission, no later than seventy-two (72) hours before or after any elections. The Commission is obliged to make public any information requested about registered potential candidate(s) to facilitate any protest.
Section 7: The Commission shall exercise the authority to raise and disburse monies collected for electoral purposes only. However, the Commission shall turnover to the Treasurer within two weeks as of the date of the elections, all funds that may have been left, after elections for centralized accountability.
Article XIII: Amendment of the Constitution
Section 1: Two-third of the full membership category of the Minnesota Chapter shall, exercise the authority to amend and/or repeal any provision in part or whole of this constitution at any time it so desires for its common good.
Article XIX: Dissolution of the Chapter:
Section 1: The authority to dissolve the Minnesota Chapter shall be vested solely in the Full Membership category. For the dissolution to take effect, a two-third majority vote of this entire category, must pass a resolution bearing its full names and signatures. The resolution must clearly spell out reasons for the decision. Following the dissolution, the chapter’s assets as of such decision, shall be disposed of as follows:
a) The as assets outstanding after all commitments to creditors shall have been discharged as provided for, shall be donated charitable organizations.
b) Properties acquired by the Chapter shall be put up for a sale, through public auction and proceeds from such sale, shall be donated to charitable organizations.
Article XX: Order of Business
A. Meeting call to order
B. Devotion/Invocation
C. Roll call/Reading of attendance
D. Minutes of previous meeting
1. Motion to open minutes for discussion
2. Motion to adopt and place minutes in archives
E) Reading of communication from or to the leadership or membership
F) Reports from standing and/or ad hoc committees
1. Motion to discuss and note or adopt
G) Unfinished Business
H) New Business
I) Other Matters
J) Collection and or payments of dues, pledges etc.
K) Announcements
L) Benediction
M) Adjournment
Article XXI: Oath of Affirmation
I_______________________DO SOLEMLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, OF THE OFFICE OF_______________________, OF THE GRAND GEDEH ASSOCIATION IN THE AMERICAS INCOPORATED, MINNESOTA CHAPTER AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DEFEND, UPHOLD AND ABIDE BY THE BY-LAWS AND CONSTITUTION OF THIS CHAPTER, SO HELP ME GOD.
Adapted this _______day of ______________AD________in the city of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States of America.
1. Tarnyon Nyenon__________________________________________Chairman
2. Florence Ross____________________________________________Secretary
3. Isaac B. Rue______________________________________________Member
4. Tillman N. Collins__________________________________________Member
5. S.Willis Flah______________________________________________Member
