Constitution
Article 1
Name
The name of this organization is the Pakistani American Society, her-in-after referred to as the Society, which has been registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 1989 as a non-profit corporation.
Article 2
Non-Profit Status
This Society is formed exclusively for charitable, cultural and educational purposes as specified in Section 501(c) (3) of the Tax Reform Act o f1986, and shall not conduct activities disallowed to a tax-exempt corporation. The objectives of the Society are all without pecuniary benefit to any officer, director or member.
Article 3
Objectives
The main objectives of the Society are to:
3.1 Promote and propagate the ideological, cultural and historical heritage of Pakistan
3.2 Organize and sponsor educational, artistic, cultural, social and other related activities dealing with Pakistani culture and society.
3.3 Establish and maintain a Pakistani Cultural Center which would include a museum of Pakistani art and culture, a library of Pakistan studies and a resource center for the Pakistani community.
3.4 Strengthen the fraternal bonds and cohesiveness among Pakistanis in the community.
3.5 Promote greater mutual understanding between the Pakistanis and the community at large.
3.6 Provide guidance and assistance to the Pakistanis in the community to help in the economic and social well-being.
3.7 Provide needed general guidance and assistance to the Pakistanis new to the area to help them adjust and integrate into the system.
Article 4
Activities
To accomplish its objectives, the Society shall undertake activities such as:
4.1 Organize cultural and social events, seminars, lectures, symposiums, individual or panel discussions, vocal and instrumental music concerts, art shows and other educational activities.
4.2 Invite scholars and artists to give lectures and performances to represent Pakistani culture and art
4.3 Sponsor educational, social and cultural exchange between Pakistan and the Pakistani community abroad
Article 5
Perpetual Existence
The society is to have perpetual existence. The death, removal or resignation of any member of the Society shall not result in its dissolution.
Article 6
General Powers
6.1 The Society shall have the power to own, accept, acquire, and dispose of real and personal property, and to obtain, invest, disburse and retain funds, in advancing the objectives stated above.
6.2 The Society shall have the power to do any lawful acts or things reasonably necessary or desirable for carrying out its objectives and for protecting the lawful rights of its members in connection therewith.
Article 7
Membership
7.1 Any individual 18 years or older who agrees to support the objectives of this Society may become a member upon submitting an application and payment of membership dues.
7.2 Honorary Membership: An individual of outstanding meritorious services and/or commitment to the cause of Pakistan, may be admitted as an Honorary Member of the Society by 2/3rd majority vote by the Board of Directors. An honorary member shall not be required to pay any membership dues and shall not have voting privileges.
Article 8
Organization
The General Assembly and the Board of Directors shall be two main bodies responsible for ht administration of the Society.
Article 9
The General Assembly
9.1 The General Assembly shall consist of all members of the Society who have paid their dues for the year.
9.2 The General Assembly shall hold its Annual Meeting every year during the period of May 16 to June 15
9.3 Every member shall be notified by letter at least two weeks in advance of the General Assembly meeting as to the time, place and agenda.
9.4 The General Assembly shall elect members of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
9.5 The General Assembly shall have the authority to amend, approve or reject policies, projects and budgetary matters and/or other proposals
9.6 The decisions of the General Assembly shall be by a majority of the members present. At least 25% of total membership will constitute a quorum.
9.7 A special meeting of the General Assembly can be called by the Board of Directors or if 1/5th of the members of the General Assembly request it in writing.
Article 10
The Board of Directors
10.1 The Board of Directors shall be composed of 13 directors. An attempt will be made to elect representatives from all geographical areas served by the Society.
10.2 The Directors shall be elected by the General Assembly at its Annual Meeting.
10.3 The interim vacancies in the Board of Directors may be filled by the Board, by majority vote.
10.4 All member of the Board of Directors shall be eligible for re-election.
10.5 The Directors shall hold office for one year. No officer shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.
10.6 The Board of Directors shall have full power to determine and approve all policies, programs and projects and to manage and direct the business of the Society, to fix from time to time the membership dues and to delegate its powers to officers or committees.
10.7 Committees: The Board of Directors may appoint standing or ad-hoc committees to perform such duties and make such investigations and reports as the Board shall determine. Such committees shall determine their own organization times and places of meeting.
10.8 The Board of Directors shall elect from among its members, five officers, those being: The President, The Vice-president, The Secretary, The Treasurer and The Cultural and Social Affairs Secretary.
Article 11
Elections
An Election Committee of three members shall be appointed by the out-going Board of Directors to conduct elections for the new Board of Directors. The election committee members shall not be eligible for nomination and election to the Board of Directors.
Article 12
The duties and responsibilities of the Officers:
12.1 The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and the Principal spokesperson of the Society under policies established by the board of Directors and General Assembly, and shall preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly. The President shall be responsible for the general management of the Society and to call the meetings of the General and the Board of Directors.
The President shall make an annual report to the General Assembly, and periodic reports to the Board of Directors.
The President shall sign execute and acknowledge in the name of the Society, instruments authorized by the Board of Directors, except in cases where the signature and execution of thereof is expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of Society.
The President shall take such initiatives and engage in such other activities as will promote the achievement of objectives of the Society.
12.2 The Vice-President shall act for the President upon designation by the President or upon the inability of the President to perform his duties, and shall have all the duties and responsibilities of the President when so acting. In addition, the Vice-President will serve as member of the Cultural and Educational committees (as defined in the By-Laws) and make an annual report to their activities to the Board of Directors. The Vice-President will administer the museum and the cultural center. The Vice-president will succeed the President in case of his permanent inability to perform his function.
12.3 The Secretary shall record all votes of the members and minutes of Board of Directors meetings in books to be kept for that purpose, shall see that notices are given and records and reports properly kept and filed by the Society as required by the Constitution and By-Laws.
12.4 The Treasurer shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To prepare an Annual Budget for the Society, which will be presented to the Board of Directors at the beginning of each fiscal year.
b. To submit to the General Assembly a financial report reflecting all income and expenditures of the Society.
c. To receive all funds and contributions and disburse such funds within the annual budget and guidelines established by the Board of Directors and in accordance with any contracts or grants made available to the Society from donors.
d. To provide for the custody of the Society’s funds and securities and have authority to receive and give receipts for all money due and payable to the Society and endorse checks, drafts, warranties, in its name and on its behalf and to give full discharge for the same.
e. To deposit all funds of the Society in banks or other places of deposit as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
f. To participate in fund raising negotiations for funding of the Society’s activities.
g. To prepare periodic reports as required by the contracts or agreements and advise the Board of Directors of the financial implications of proposed policies and operational procedures.
h. To submit written financial report to the Board of Directors every three (3) months and/or any time requested by the Board of Directors.
i. Maintain an up-to-date membership roster, and perform any other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors and the President.
12.5 Cultural and Social Affairs Secretary shall manage all cultural, social and educational activities of the Society, and shall arrange for the following:
a. Establish and maintain public relations activities of the Society
b. Performance of music and art shows
c. Lectures, seminars and symposiums on desired topics for appropriate occasions.
d. Celebrations of various Pakistani festivities.
Article 13
Finances
13.1 Financial Responsibility: No officer or employee of this Society shall have any power or authority to borrow money on its behalf, to pledge its credit, or to mortgage or pledge its real or personal property, except within the scope and to the extent of the authority delegated by a resolution adopted by at least 3/4th the majority of the entire Board of Directors. Authority may be given by the Board for any of the above purposes and may be general or limited to specific instances.
13.2 Deposits: All funds of the Society shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Society in such banks or other depositories as the Board of Directors may approve or designate and such funds may be withdrawn only upon checks or other instruments signed by such persons as may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
13.3 Annual Audit: The accounts of the Society shall be audited at least once in each calendar year by an independent accountant selected by the Board of Directors, or by a three-person committee, specially appointed by the Board of Directors.
13.4 Financial Reports: At each annual meeting of the General Assembly a report will be presented by the Treasurer in respect to funds received and funds expended by the Society.
13.5 The Calendar year will be the fiscal year of the Society.
Article 14
Amendments
Any and all of the provisions of the Constitution of the Society may be amended, altered or repealed by a vote of at least 2/3rd majority of the General Assembly. All such proposals for amendment repeal or alteration can be initiated by:
1. 2/3red majority of the Board of Directors
Or
2. Twenty percent (20%) of the General Assembly
The proposals, thus initiated, shall then be mailed to all members of the General Assembly within fifteen (15) days and members shall be given at least thirty (30) days from the date of mailing before voting on it.
Article 15
Dissolution
15.1 Any proposal to dissolve the Society shall be presented in writing to the Board of Directors. If the proposal is approved by the entire Board of Directors by at least 3/4th majority, the proposal will be mailed by the Secretary to all members of the General Assembly within fifteen (15) days of such approval. The members shall be given thirty (30) days from such mailing, before voting on it. A yes vote by at least 705 of members voting, which in no case should be less the 51% of the simple majority of the entire membership, will be needed to dissolve the Society.
15.2 In the event that it is decided to dissolve the Society, the General Assembly will elect a committee of the three or five members to liquidate the assets of the Society, and if, after paying all the debts, any remaining assets will be transferred to a University, Islamabad, Pakistan for a scholarship fund.
