Article I – Name:

We, the people of (Asian) Indian Origin residing on Long Island have resolved to form a non-profit organization to be known as the India Association of Long Island,

Article II – Objectives

Section 1 : To advance the social and cultural aspects of Indian civilization.

Section 2 : To organize activities to promote the culture of India.

Section 3 : To create and promote understanding and cooperation between people of Indian origin and others.

Section 4 : To cooperate with other organizations interested in India and in enriching American culture.

Section 5 : To promote better understanding between India and the United States of America.

Article III – Membership

Section 1 : The membership of the Association is open to all people who subscribe to the objectives and pay dues.

Section 2 : Membership of this Association is unrestricted and shall be extended to all without regard to life style , sex, color, race, religion, political beliefs or affiliation, or nationality.

Section 3 : All members shall have equal rights subject to Article III, Section 4e.

Section 4 : Members in good standing have the right to:
a. nominate candidates for elective positions.
b. vote for the election of officers and members of the Executive Council.
c. vote on the recall of members of the Executive Council
d. vote on amendments to the Constitution and the By-laws.
e be elected to the Executive Council after one (1) year of membership.

Article IV – Meetings

Section 1 : The Annual General Body meeting shall be held in the fall. Additional meetings may be called either by the Executive Council or by a petition signed by forty (40) percent of the membership in good standing.

Section 2 : Notice of General Body meetings and Agenda shall be distributed to all Members at least three weeks prior to the scheduled time.

Section 3 : The agenda shall be established by the Executive Council. Additional items may be added to the agenda from the floor by a majority of those present and voting.

Section 4 : The quorum for the General Body Meeting will be one third (1/3) of Members in good standing personally present.

Section 5 : The President shall preside. In the absence of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer shall succeed on the basis of availability.

Section 6 : Rules of procedure shall be left to the good judgment of the Presiding Officer, but a majority may, at any time, call for formal procedures, which shall follow the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article V – Officers

Section 1 : Officers shall be a President , a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2 : Election of these officers (Article V, Section 1) and other positions on the Executive Council shall be held in the Fall by mail ballot prior to the Annual General Body meeting and the results will be announced in that meeting.

Section 3 : The election procedures are listed in the By-laws.

Section 4 : The newly elected Executive Council shall take office on January 1 of each year and serve until December 31 of that year.

Section 5 : Officers and members of the Executive Council may be removed from office without prejudice by a majority of the Association membership signatory to a petition setting forth the reasons for the action.

Article VI – The Executive Council

Section 1 : The Executive Council of the Association shall consist of the following:
A. All officers listed in Article V, section 1
B. Chairpersons of the Standing Committees.
C. Eight (8) members elected at -large
D. the immediate past president in an ex officio capacity without the right to vote.

Section 2 : The Executive Council shall administer the policy of the Association. It shall have the power to act for the Association in an emergency but always subject to ex post facto ratification.

Section 3 : The President of the Association shall be the chairperson of the Executive Council.

Section 4 : In the event of a vacancy, the President shall nominate the successor, who shall be approved by the Executive Council.

Section 5 : The Executive Council shall have the power to employ whatever clerical or professional help it deems necessary.

Section 6: The Executive Council, within the terms of Article VI, section 2, shall have the power to sign contracts, incur liabilities, borrow money, issue notes and bonds, and to incur other financial obligations, and to secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge or deed of trust on all or any of its property or income. None of the above, however, shall be binding upon the personal fortunes of its members as individuals. The limits of liability shall be held within the limits of resources of the Association as an incorporated body. There will be an annual audit of all financial transactions of the Association.

Section 7: The Executive Council shall report its activities at the Annual General Body meeting of the Association.

Section 8: All expenditures over ten (10) percent of the assets of the Association shall be approved by a majority of the entire Executive Council.

Article VII- Committees

Section 1: The Association shall have the following Standing Committees:
a. Membership Committee
b. Socio-Cultural Committee
c. Finance Committee.

Section 2: The Chairpersons of the Standing Committees shall be nominated by the President and approved by the Executive Council and shall serve terms concurrent with those of the officers of the Association. The Chairpersons, in consultation with the President, shall select members of the respective committees.

Section 3: Election and ad hoc committees may be appointed, as needed, by a majority vote of the Executive Council.

Section 4: The specific area of concern and responsibilities of each Standing Committee shall be provided by the By-laws.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1: Proposal for an amendment may be made by the Executive Council or by a petition to the President signed by at least one-third (1/3) of the members in good standing.

Section 2: No article shall be added to this Constitution and no part shall be amended or annulled except by formal proposal, followed by an opportunity for discussion at a meeting of the general membership.

Section 3: The Secretary shall distribute copies of the proposed amendment(s) to all members not less than three (3) weeks before the meeting of the general membership.

Section 4: The adoption of the proposed amendment(s) shall require two­ thirds (2/3) majority of the entire membership and by a secret ballot.

Article IX: Dissolution

Section 1: A proposal to dissolve the India Association of Long Island may be made in writing to the President by twenty (20) percent of the members in good standing. The President shall submit such a request to the next regular meeting of the Executive Council.

Section 2: The Executive Council may reject such a proposal by a majority vote. If it does not reject the proposal, the Executive Council shall determine, subject to the applicable provisions of law, the future of assets and properties of the India Association of Long Island if the membership decides to dissolve the Association. The Executive Council shall choose such entities, not organized for profit, to whom such disposition is to be made provided no part of such property or assets, or its earnings before and after such disposition, shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder, individual or entity organized for profit.

Section 3: Upon approval of the Executive Council, notice of the proposed dissolution, including the Executive Council’s decision as to the disposition of assets and property, shall be mailed to all members as a part of the notice of the Annual General Body meeting or a special meeting of the members called for that purpose.

Section 4: Approval, in a secret ballot, by four-fifths (4/5) of the membership is required to dissolve the Association.