Articles of Association and Constitution of the Orsu Local Government Association OLGA-USA

The Constitution of the Orsu Local Government Association, OLGA-USA

PREAMBLE

We, the sons and daughters of the Orsu Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria (comprising communities namely: Amaebu, Amaruru, Asaa-Ubirielem, Awo-Idemili, Ebenator, Eziawa, Ihitenansa, Orsu-Ihiteukwa and Umuhu-Okabia), residing in the continental United States of America, cognizant of the need for a local government broad-based association of all the people from the said geographical boundary, have, today July 3, 2004, in the City of Miami, Florida resolved:

To come together as one people in accordance with Igbo culture and tradition, under one umbrella association called Orsu local Government Association – USA with acronym as OLGA;

For the unity, harmony, progress, cultural values and understanding. and welfare of OLGA members and their children in particular, Orsu people in Nigeria, and the general society where we live

Through our commitment to economic, social, educational, and cultural freedom of our society;

Do hereby make, enact and adopt the following constitution

ARTICLE I

Name and Objectives of Association

Section 1.1: Name of the Association

The official name of the Assocaition shall be the Orsu Local Government Association- USA. The official acronym shall be OLGA.

Section 1.2: OLGA’s Objectives shall be:

1) To provide opportunity for professional development and support amongst members. 2) To encourage, mentor, and provide support for the pursuit of higher education in all fields of studies in the local communities. 3) To contribute materially and morally toward efforts to improve healthcare delivery as well as health education in Orsu LGA communities. 4) To contribute materially and morally toward economic and technological development in Orsu LGA communities. 5) To participate in joint efforts with other groups to support the above and other community development programs on the basis of mutual agreement between OLGA and such groups.

1 ARTICLE II

Incorporation of OLGA as a Non-profit Organization

Section 2.1 City and State of Incorporation Whereas OLGA shall draw national and international membership, it is organized exclusively for the purpose of carrying out charitable community development projects within the context of section 501 (cx3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and shall be incorporated in the City and the State as may be determined through a careful research and consideration by the OLGA Executive Board.

Section 2.2 Non-partisanship in Political Activities OLGA shall devote its fund to the execution of projects that fall within the categories (ie OLGA’s objectives) set forth in Section 1, Article I of this Constitution. OLGA shall not invest its resources in partisan politics in any for whatsoever, political advertisements, campaign contribution or any other direct or indirect actions designed to advance the political agenda of an individual or group within Orsu LGA and beyond.

Section 2.3 Action Against Misappropriation of Funds No member or non-member of OLGA shall have the right to spend the Association’s fund for any purposes other than those approved by the members on the basis of the procedures stipulated in Section ---, Article --- of this Constitution. Any such unauthorized expenses carried out by any individual/s in the name of OLGA shall be deemed illegal. OLGA shall take all necessary steps, including litigation, to recover money misappropriated by any of its members or non-members. OLGA shall not engage in activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (cx3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (cx2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

2 Section 2.4 Dissolution of OLGA Upon the dissolution of OLGA, its assets shall be donated to programs that fall within the meaning of section 501 (cx3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or relevant section/s of any future federal tax code, or shall be donated to other non-profit organizations of like aims and objectives which shall have the right to use such assets to advance such aims and objective. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of OLGA is then located, exclusively for public purposes or to such organization or organization as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE III Membership

Section 3.1 – General:

Full membership in OLGA shall be open to all indigens of Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria, who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, male or female. Membership may be extended to any and all who subscribe to, identify and show interest in the implementation of the Association’s objectives and planned programs (e.g., educational, socio-cultural, and technological development of individuals and groups associated with but not limited to Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria in particular) OLGA Membership is further defined under four categories as follows:

Section 3.2 - Membership Categories a) Full Membership: Indigenes (by birth, marriage or naturalization) from the association’s geographical area, 18 years of age or older. (Each person pays 100% membership fee with full benefits; qualified to hold any office). b) Nee Membership: Orsu LGA daughters married to husbands who are not indigenes of Orsu LGA geographical boundaries (aforestated in this Constitution) (daughters each pays 50% membership fee, qualified to hold any other office but the office of the president, are entitled to limited benefits). c) Associate Membership: All husbands of members defined in Section 2.2 (b) above and their children, 18 years or older; who subscribe to the objectives and programs of the association. (No membership fee required, has no voting rights, not required to attend meetings, not qualified to hold any office, has very limited benefits as may be defined in this Constitution). d) Honorary Membership: Friends of Orsu people and any other persons not qualified in the categories specified above; who subscribe to the objectives and programs of the association. (No membership fee required, has no voting rights, not required to attend meetings, not qualified to hold any office, has very limited benefits as may be defined in this Constitution).

Section 3.3 - Membership Registration Fees (one time payment)

3 Each member shall be obligated to pay membership registration fees as specified below: a) Full Member: $100.00 b) Nee Member: $50.00 c) Associate Member: $50.00 d) Honorary Member: $200.00

Section 3.4 - Membership Dues: a) Full Member: $10.00/month or $120.00/year. b) Nee Member: $5.00/month or $60.00/year. c) Associate Member: None, but donations will be appreciated and encouraged. d) Honorary Member: None, but donations will be appreciated and encouraged.

Section 3.5 - Active and Inactive Membership Status a) An individual who has paid dues by no later than the last day of the fiscal year shall be considered as being in Active Membership Status. An active member shall have the right to vote; hold office; enjoy any other rights and rights and privileges reserved for financial members b) A member shall be declared inactive upon failure to attend two (2) consecutive national conventions without prior notification and/or payment of membership dues for two (2) consecutive years. An inactive member shall not be entitled to any membership benefits during their Inactive Status

Section 3.6 - Reactivation of Membership: Inactive members may re-establish membership by payment of all delinquent dues, fines or two hundred and twenty dollars ($250.00), whichever amount is less.

Section 3.7 – Membership Termination (not encouraged) Any member may terminate his/her membership from OLGA at any time by submitting a written termination notice to the Executive Board. Such letter must state genuine reasons for termination, subject to approval by the Board. The member must be cleared of all final obligations prior to his/her termination.

ARTICLE IV

Membership Benefits

Section 4.1 - Membership Benefits Eligibility: A member must be in good financial standing with OLGA to receive benefits. Must have been a registered member for at least one (1) year except in the case of death of a member benefit that does not require a waiting period from date of registration.

Section 4.2 - Definition of Good Standing:

4 Good standing shall be registered member of the OLGA for at least one (1) year and not owing more than three (3) months, dues, levies, fines or contributions, except if the member is seriously sick or traveled out of the Continental USA for a period of more than four months. This definition shall be strictly construed.

Section 4.3 - Benefits for Birth of a Child: For the birth of a child to a financial member, OLGA shall upon notification send a congratulatory note to the parent (s) with a gift of no more than $10.00 worth. Individual members are encouraged to send their congratulations as they wish depending on their closeness with the celebrants.

Members residing in the same locality with subject member should visit the parent(s) of the new baby The parent(s) shall notify the President of the Union orally or in writing, about the new arrival.

Section 4.4 - Benefits for Wedding: For the wedding of a member, OLGA, upon a receipt of a formal invitation, shall send a congratulatory message to the celebrant(s) with gift of worth no more than $100.00 or a check of $100.00 in lieu of a gift. Associate members shall receive 50% of the benefits in this Section.

Members residing in the same locality with subject member should attend the wedding and participate in the services and activities to the extent possible and required. The bride/bridegroom shall notify the President of the Union orally or in writing, about the ceremony. Upon notification, the President with the consent of the executive committee, shall urge every member to send congratulatory messages by mail, phone, e-mail etc

Section 4.5 - Death of a Member: For the death of member (full, nee and associate), upon oral or written notification to any member of the Executive Board by the bereaved member next of kin, OLGA shall send a condolence note with a check of five hundred dollars ($500) less any outstanding dues, fines or contributions to an identified appropriate beneficiary; members may be levied at appropriate scale to raise this amount;

Members residing in the same locality with the deceased member shall pay a condolence visit and participate in any services and activities to the extent possible and required. The bereaved family or next of kin shall notify the President of the Union orally or in writing. Upon notification, the President with the consent of the executive committee, shall urge every member to send condolences by mail, phone, e-mail etc

Section 4.6 – Death of an Immediate Relative (father, mother, sibling) or an under-age child of a member): For the death of any of the relatives listed above and upon oral or written notification to the President by the bereaved member of next of kin, OLGA shall

5 send a condolence note with a check of 200 hundred dollars ($200) less any outstanding dues, fines or contributions to an identified appropriate beneficiary; members may be levied at appropriate scale to raise this amount.

Members residing in the same locality with the deceased member shall pay a condolence visit and participate in any services and activities to the extent possible and required. The bereaved family or next of kin shall notify the President of the Union orally or in writing. Upon notification, the President with the consent of the executive committee, shall urge every member to send condolences by mail, phone, e-mail etc

Section 4.7 – Investment Oriented/Project Benefits: Benefits/losses accruing from any form of legal business investment or projects as officially determined and approved by OLGA through a contractual agreement or process thereof, as may be needed, shall benefit the financially up-to-date members.

For any physical development and/or distribution of any goods earmarked for donation to people at home, only the home communities (listed above) that constitute the geographical area of OLGA shall be the beneficiaries. Identification, implementation and delivery of such project(s), as well as selection of the receiving areas/communities should be specified on a case by case basis through an action plan.

Such action plan must be prepared by a project committee, presented, deliberated, voted, and approved at the general convention.

ARTICLE V

Executive Officers

Section 5.1 Offices

The Executive Officers of OLGA shall include a) President, b) Vice-President, c) Secretary, d) Treasurer and e) Parliamentarian/Provost. Executive Officers shall be elected to a two-year term and are eligible for re-election to a maximum of two consecutive terms to the same office. Installation of new officers will take place at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1-June 30).

Section 5.2 The duties of the Executive Officers shall be as follows: a) President: The President shall assume responsibility of executing the objectives of OLGA, establish committees and chairperson thereof, and preside over general and executive committee meetings.

6 b) Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assume presidential duties in the absence of the President in addition to other responsibilities delegated by the President.

c) Secretary: The Secretary shall take the minutes at each OLGA meeting, maintain and distribute all correspondences pertaining to the Association to members.

d) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall document and monitor all financial transactions of OLGA, including all receipts and expenditures as well as distribute financial statements to members at each meeting or upon request by the Executive Board.

e) Parliamentarian/Provost: The Parliamentarian/Provost shall maintain order at each meeting and enforce the statues of the Constitution.

Endnotes: 1) The President and Vice-President shall not serve chair any committee of the Association, but can serve as members.

2) The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the Planning and Finance committee.

ARTICLE VI

Executive Board

Section 6.1 Composition of the Executive Board

a) The Executive Board shall consist of the Executive Officers and Chairpersons of the Standing Committees.

b) The Executive Board shall be responsible for developing broad policy guidelines and programs consistent with the objectives of OLGA specified in Article 1, Section 1 of this Constitution.

Section 6.2 Duties of the Executive Board

The duties of the Executive Board shall include to plan and establish programs aimed at achieving the objectives of OLGA, to establish ad hoc committees and appoint chairpersons, and to manage and establish criteria for the disbursement of funds earmarked for National Biennial Meetings.

ARTICLE VII

Standing Committees

7 Section 7.1 Constitution of the Standing Committee

The Standing Committees of OLGA shall be as follows:

a) Education b) Biennial Convention c) Public Relations d) Finance Committee

Standing Committees shall be composed of financial members, with chairpersons being appointed to one-year terms.

Section 7.2 Duties of the Standing Committee

The duties of the Standing Committees are as follows but not limited to:

a) The Education Committee shall be responsible for planning and executing OLGA projects related to education, culture and professional development. b) The Biennial Convention committee shall be responsible for coordinating all events related to OLGA’s Biennial symposium and award banquet. c) The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for preparing and disseminating information about all local, regional and national activities of OLGA, membership drives as well as serve as liaison between OLGA chapters and between OLGA and other bodies. d) The Finance Committee shall work with the Executive Board to plan to the future of OLGA, assist in all fund-raising activities relevant to maintaining the goals of OLGA. Also to assist the treasurer and maintain the finances of OLGA.

ARTICLE VIII

Finances

Section 8.1 - Sources of Fund: OLGA shall collect and manage dues and miscellaneous funds for expenses in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. OLGA members shall derive from the dues, fines, donations, banquets, launching, solicitations, and from other legal means.approved the finances of the association

Section 8.2 - Banking: The association shall maintain a bank account in a bank that has a national spread. Two of three signatories of the president, Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be adewquate for withdrawal of funds from the account.

Section 8.3 - Expenditures:

8 No member shall incur expenditures on behalf of the Union, without prior approval by the general membership or by the Executive Committee.

Section 8.4 – Impress Acount: The President and the Secretary/Treasurer shall each have an impress account reserve in the amount of ($50) but not more than two hundred dollars ($200) for the proper and easy discharge of their official duties. The amount must be pre- approved by the general membership.

Section 8.5 - Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the association shall commence on the first day of July and end on the last day of June of every year.

Section 8.6 - Inspection of Books: Any member in good standing shall have the right to inspect the books and records of the association upon a written request submitted to the Secretary at least thrity (30) days prior to the date of intended inspection, stating the purpose(s) for the requested inspection. The Secretary shall designate the place and time for the inspection. The members shall not remove the books and records, or any parts thereof from the designated place but shall return them to the Financial Secretary immediately upon completion of the inspection..

Section 8.8 - Auditors: Three (3) Auditors shall be elected from the general membership at the general meeting to be called by the President biennually, and the Auditors shall not be officers or members of the Executive Committee. The Auditors shall examine and audit association accounts and records once each year, and shall submit a written report before the next scheduled general meeting.

ARTICLE IX

Election of Executive Officers

Section 9.1 Nomination Procedure

a) Nominations of candidates for the Executive Board for a two-year term shall take place during the months of March and April preceding the end of term for current officers. b) Each candidate shall be required to present a written vision statement which shall be disseminated to OLGA members prior to election.

9 c) All OLGA members in good standing shall be eligible to cast an electronic vote. Alternative arrangements shall be made for individuals to send their vote to the Provost by postal mail. The votes shall be tallied and announced by the Provost or another individual designated by the incumbent President if the Provost is running for a position.

Section 92 Date of Election a) Elections of executive officers shall take place at a set date or period of time during the National Convention of the end of term for current officers.

a) Section 9.3 -Oath of Office and Transfer of Power All elected officers shall take an oath of office at the general meeting right after the election as follows: I ______, affirm that I will truly, justly, and uprightly perform my duties as an officer, in accordance with Igbo traditions and customs, in keeping with the laws of the United States .

b) The new Executive Officers shall be presented at the Biennial banquet which is usually a part of the July Biennial meeting of OLGA. Transfer of executive responsibilities shall take effect at the last day of the Biennial meeting. The out- going Executive Board shall hand over all books, records, and every property of OLGA during the National Convention. Every officer shall remain personally liable to the Association in monetary and other damages for any and all books, records, and property not accounted for, or not turned over.

Section 9.4 Termination of an Executive Officer

The procedure for termination of an Executive Officer prior to expiration of his/her term is outlined as follows: a) The Executive Board sends a formal notification to the officer of the issue at stake and follows up with a meeting to discuss the issue. If the issue is resolved, no further action is required.

b) If the issue is not resolved per the provision of sub-section (a) above, the Executive Board will send a formal notification of termination to the officer after considering the matter at a special meeting of the Executive Board which may involve other relevant OLGA members or stakeholders.

c) OLGA members in good standing are notified of the termination before or after the next meeting of the Executive Board.

d) The removed officer will be notified within seven days of the decision to terminate his/her post.

e) The Executive Board appoints an interim replacement to serve until the position can be permanently filled by election.

10 Section 9.5 Criteria for Removal of Executive Officer

The criteria for removal of an executive officer may include but are not limited to the following: a) Absence from executive meetings without prior notification (except in cases of emergency) in excess of two consecutive meetings. b) Poor performance of duties. c) Voluntary resignation. d) Actions deemed inconsistent with the statues outlined in the Constitution. e) Felony conviction during the term of executive office.

ARTICLE X

Meetings

Section 10.1 Types of Meetings

(a) Email Based (Electronic) Meetings OLGA shall hold email-based meetings, which shall be posted at a designated forum. Members in good standing shall be subscribed to a list-serve designed for this purpose. The Secretary shall send written notices of meeting by email and postal mails to members no later than fourteen days (except in cases of emergency where notification will be by emails and phone calls) prior to the beginning of deliberations. Decisions arrived at electronic meetings shall be binding on all members regardless of participation. The Quorum for Electronic Meetings shall be 20% of membership. Electronic deliberations shall be allowed to last for no shorter than 7 days but no longer than twenty-one days.

(b) Teleconference Meetings OLGA shall hold teleconference meetings at a phone number designated for such meetings. Members in good standing shall receive a notification by email, phone calls, or postal mail that includes the teleconference phone number, date and time of such a meeting, no later than thirty days to the meeting. In cases of emergency, notification shall be by emails and phone calls only. The meeting time must accommodate the time zones. Decisions arrived at such electronic meetings shall be binding on all members regardless of participation.

(c) Conventional (physical) Meetings Notice of at least one Biennial meeting shall be posted by the Secretary, with the date and time determined by the Executive Board.

Section 10.2 The Executive Board Meeting

11 The Executive Board shall meet as needed for the purpose of managing the affairs of OLGA consistent with the objectives specified under Article 1, Section 1 of this Constitution.

ARTICLE XI Biennial Convention/Banquet

Section 11.1

A formal Convention and Banquet shall be held at biennually.

ARTICLE XII Quorum

Section 12.1 Quorum for General Meeting

One-half (1/2) of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum at General Meetings.

Section 12.2 Quorum for Executive Board Meeting

One-half (1/2) of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum at Executive Board Meetings.

Section 12.3 Quorum for Teleconference and Electronic Meeting

Twenty percent (20%) of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum at Electronic Meetings.

ARTICLE XIII Revisions/Amendments

Section 13.1

Revisions and amendments to the Constitution shall be ratified by a two-third majority vote of OLGA members in good standing. The President shall form a Constitution Review Committee to deliberate on a proposed amendment and make recommendations prior to the ratification vote.