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BY THE LAW OF
NEBRASKA NEPALESE SOCIETY
Approved 12-21-2004
To preserve and promote the interchange of Nepalese
culture among the residents of Nebraska while remaining a charitable and
benevolent establishment
ARTICLE: I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be Nebraska Nepalese Society (hereinafter
called "NNS"). It shall be a non-profit organization.
ARTICLE: II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization is to engage in the following:
1. GENERAL PURPOSE
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To build, foster and support a cohesive, active and supportive community
of Nepalese, Nepali-Americans and Friends of Nepal living in the Nebraska
(the "Nebraska Nepalese Community").
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To promote the culture and traditions of Nepal and Nepalese and advance
the intellectual, material, physical, religious and social well being of
its members.
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NNS shall not be engaged or participate in any political agenda or support
any individuals’ interest in the matter.
2. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
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Nepalese New Year Festival: The NNS to celebrate the New Year.
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Dashain: The NNS to celebrate Dashain.
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Summer Activity: Primarily In the form of a picnic for he purpose of social
gathering, kids education.
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Charitable: NNS sponsors Penny for Pen project in support of “ Maya”
and “Nangi Village Project” in Nepal.
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Education: The community shall be educated about Nepali culture through
various activities such as Movie, Documentary, and performers from Nepal.
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Fund Generation: Fund to support various NNS sponsored program shall be
generated through various sports and social activities.
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Health Awareness: NNS shall sponsor various sports related activities
to bring the health awareness to the community.
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Financial Assistance: NNS shall provide financial assistance to its members
with the full consent of the council members depending upon the severity
of the situation. The fund will be allocated form the emergency fund that
was established in 2002.
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OTHER: Other activities, functions and works will be considered and implemented
by the NNS executive body in accordance with the general purpose of NNS.
ARTICLE: III
MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP
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Membership in NNS is open to all Nepali, American, and other nationalities
willing to join and support to achieve the goals and objectives of NNS.
There will be no denial of membership based on age, gender, race, color,
national origin, religion, disability, marital status, political affiliation,
sexual orientation, military status or any other unlawful reason.
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There is no membership fee. If need be, election for a position shall
take place during Dashain Tihar Sanjh. Everyone 18 and older is eligible
to cast his or her vote in the interest of the society.
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Executive Council:
The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice President,
General Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasury, and up to 12 NNS Council Members
as elected by the general members. If the number of elected Council
Members is less than the maximum of 12, the current elected board reserves
the right to grant eligibility to a person or a certain group of people
to join the board. The majority rules stated under Article VII applies
while taking this decision.
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Specific Duties of Council Members:
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The President shall be the chief executive officer of the council
and shall have general supervision and control of its activities and
programs. He/she will handle all formal correspondence between Members,
the Council and members of NNS, and others, and call and run meetings.
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The Vice President shall assist the President and assume his or her
duties when the President is unable to serve or during his/her leave
of absence.
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The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the NNS Council,
shall maintain bank accounts, receipts and disbursement of funds and
shall give complete reports to the Council. The Treasurer shall be the
primary contact person for the issues related to the financials of NNS
council.
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The General Secretary shall keep a records and minute of all meetings
of NNS Council and of all activities and programs. The General Secretary
will assume the duties of the President if and when the President and
Vice President are unable to serve or during their leave of absence,
the Joint Secretary shall assist the General Secretary and assumes his
or her duties when the General Secretary is unable to serve or during
his/her leave of absence.
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All Council Members will assist in the various activities of NNS.
They can also be assigned a specific task or tasks for the period of
their membership in the Council or a shorter period.
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The Council Members are also responsible for selecting up to five
Advisory Board Members for the year.
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The various tasks of maintaining the status of NNS with state, federal
and other agencies will be appropriately assigned at the first meeting
of the new council, among council members.
- Advisory Board Members:
Advisory Board Members are NNS members appointed by the Executive Board
Members in order to provide the society with necessary direction, guidance
and assistance, based on their expertise.
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Roles and Responsibilities of Advisory Board Members
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Advise Board Members on various society activities and issues
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Attend at least one executive board member. meeting in a year
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Volunteer in society activities
ARTICLE: IV
ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
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The members of the NNS community shall elect officers to the COUNCIL annually.
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Elections will be held during the Dashain party each year. The term of
the office shall start on the day following the Dashain Party and terminate
on the day of the Dashain Party of the following year.
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The NNS Council shall designate an election committee among the members
to perform the election of NNS Council in due time according to the by-laws.
The election committee shall seek nomination from members for all of the
NNS Council positions. If the number of candidates nominated becomes
equal to the number of available positions in the NNS Council, then the
candidates shall be declared elected automatically. Otherwise, election
shall be held to decide from two or more nominated candidates. Each eligible
member, 18 years or older, shall cast one vote for one position. The election
officer may formulate specific election rules and design ballots for the
election. The election committee member(s) cannot be nominated for any position
but shall have a voting right. The election officer designated by
the committee shall flip a coin to decide for any position in case there
is a tie between two candidates. The election committee shall be dismissed
once the new executive committee of NNS Council is elected.
ARTICLE: V
ACCOUNT AND AUDITING
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The NNS Council shall open bank account that shall be operated by the
President and the Treasurer. Signatures of both the President and the Treasurer
will be required for any withdrawal. Executive board members shall form
a subcommittee to audit the financial records of NNS annually. The subcommittee
will submit the results of audit to the Executive committee.
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An emergency fund has been established with the US bank. The purpose of
the fund is to assist the community in the case of an emergency to its members.
The fund will only be allocated with the full consent of the council members
depending upon the severity of the need of the fund.
ARTICLE: VI
MANNER OF OPERATION
1. OPERATIONAL RULES AND PROCEDURES:
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Meetings: Except as otherwise provided by law, a written or verbal notice
of each meeting of the NNS Council stating the place, day and hour thereof
and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting
is called, shall be given not less than three days or 36 hours to each member
of NNS Council. The General Secretary with the president’s consent
will give by the President or such notice of meeting. The President will
conduct the Meeting and the General Secretary shall take the minutes.
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All COUNCIL meetings shall be conducted in open public session, at such
hours and in such locations, so as to facilitate attendance by interested
persons.
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Quorum: At any meeting of the NNS Council a Quorum as to any matter shall
consist of the majority of NNS Council Members except where a larger quorum
is required by law, or these By-laws. Council members present at the meetings
will be eligible to vote on any matter in case there is a vote on decision
process. The Presiding person of the meeting will cast the tie-breaking
vote. There will be no proxy voting.
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Action by Vote: All issues before the Council will be decided by vote
of the Council, the Quorum being present, AND ATTENDING DIRECTORS. An airing
of the issues by all Council Members and Directors present shall precede
the vote.
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Action without meetings: The President will have the right to act upon
issues that arise and cannot wait for the next Council meeting. At the minimum
the President will have to consult with the Vice President, the Treasurer
and the Secretary. The entire Council will be notified of the issue, and
action taken, within the next two days or forty-eight hours. THE COUNCIL
MAY ENDORSE OR REJECT SUCH ACTIONS. IN CASE OF REJECTION, THE PRESIDENT
AND OTHER EXECUTIVES INVOLVED WILL CEASE ALL ACTION INITIATED.
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Attendance: Council Members cannot miss more than three meetings of the
Council unless the President prior to the meetings excuses their absence.
More than three unexcused absences will result in an automatic dismissal
without vote of the council.
ARTICLE: VII
RESIGNATIONS, VACANCIES AND REMOVALS
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Any member of the NNS Council may resign from their post, with a two-week
prior notice, in writing to the President. The Council will fill the resigned
post from within the Council. If more than one Council Member seeks the
vacant post, there will be a vote of the NNS Council. If the vacant post
cannot be filled from within Council, the Council shall seek to fill the
post from the General Membership. Any Advisory Board Member may resign
from their post with a 2 week prior notice.
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If any NNS Council Member or Advisory Board Member is not fulfilling his/her
responsibilities and/or is engaging in illegal acts or acting against the
interest of the society, the Council can vote to suspend or remove him/her
from the post. Any NNS Council Member can bring forth a motion of suspension
or removal to a NNS Council meeting if he/she can back up the motion with
supportive evidence. The NNS Council cannot vote for a dismissal without
first voting for a suspension, followed by a one-month probationary period.
After the one month probationary period, the Council can vote to fully re-instate
or dismiss the NNS Council Member or the Advisory Board Member. Votes to
suspend, re-instate or dismiss require a three-fourth majority, and three-fourth
of the Council Members to be present.
ARTICLE: VIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by a two-third vote of the
majority of NNS Council Members, with more than two-third of the Council Members,
then in office, present. Any by-law, whether adopted, amended or repealed by
the Council Members, may be amended or re-instated by the Council Members. Any
proposed by-law amendments shall be circulated to the NNS members no fewer than
thirty days prior to a meeting of the NNS Council.
ARTICLE: IX
COMPENSATION
No NNS Council Members shall be entitled to receive any salary or other compensation
for serving in NNS Council. The NNS Council Committee shall hire and fix the
compensation of any and all employees that they in their discretion may determine
to be necessary or appropriate in the conduct of the business of the NNS, and
may delegate such authority to the officers and/or the President of the NNS
Council.
ARTICLE: X
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS
Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws or as the COUNCIL may generally
or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner,
all instruments, documents, deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes,
checks, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the corporation
shall be signed by the President, the Treasurer, or the Secretary. Facsimile
signatures may be used in the manner and to the extent authorized generally
or in particular cases by the Council.
ARTICLE: XI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of NNS council shall be the twelve month ending at Dashain
Tihar Sanjh of each year.
Membership Rules:
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Eligibility:
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Membership in NNS is open to all Nepali, American, and other nationalities
willing to join and support to achieve the goals and objectives of NNS.
There will be no denial of membership based on age, sex, race, color, national
origin, religion, disability, marital status, and military status.
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There is no membership fee.
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If need be, election for a position shall take place during Dashain Tihar
Sanjh. Everyone 18 and older is eligible to cast his or her vote in the
interest of the society.
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Benefits:
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Fee:
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