Bassa High School Association, USA Constitution

PREAMBLE
We, the graduates, former students, and faculty of Bassa High School,residing in the United States of America.
Aware of the ever growing need to unite as a team to assist our institution in its endeavor to continue imparting useful knowledge to the young people of Liberia and thereby preparing them for a complex and sophisticated world while concurrently giving them a sound academic education with good moral principles;
We owe it to the Almighty God and humanity to meaningfully contribute our quota to the development of our beloved institution.
Cognizant of the need to foster the above goals and objectives and committed to the continuing growth of the institution, We do hereby resolve and constitute ourselves into an organization to be called Bassa High School Association, U.S.A.

ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be “Bassa High School
Association, U.S.A."

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The organization shall be a non-profit entity with the following
Objectives:
1. To promote sound academic education with good moral
Principles.
2. To help with the continuing revitalization of the
Infrastructure and upgrading of the instructional staff as well as to provide quality textbooks and materials.
a. The address of the Association shall be the following:
11431 Hawk Ridge Court
Beltsville, MD 20705
(301) 931-6540
3. To help with specific development projects at the school
that will improve the quality of education as well as
the socio-economic conditions of our people.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. All graduates and former students of Bassa High School residing in the United States of America shall be eligible to become members of the Association.
Section 2. Honorary membership shall be bestowed upon all former faculty members and key financial contributors to the Bassa High School residing in the U.S.A. Honorary members shall not vote or hold office in the Association.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICES AND INSTITUTIONS
Section 1. The Principal institutions of the Association shall be (a) The General Body, and (b) The Executive Body.
Section 2. The General Body shall be composed of all the registered members of the Bassa High School Association, U.S.A. and shall be the highest organ of decision-making in the Association.
1. The general Body shall meet once every year for the transaction of regular business at a place and time to be decided by the General Body.
2. The General Body shall have the exclusive power to amend the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.
3. The general Body shall have the exclusive power to elect or impeach and removal from office any member of the Executive Body.
4. The General Body shall have the power to review the general policies of the Association and reassess its fundamental direction as regards to over-all plans and objectives.
5. All matters before the General Body shall be decided by a simple majority vote of registered members in good standing present at a regular meeting. In the case of constitutional amendments, a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of registered members present shall be required. Only members of the Executive body shall preside at a regular meeting of the General Body.
Secton 3. The Executive Body shall be made up of the regular officers of the Association. It shall comprise of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Chaplain. The President and Vice President must be graduates of Bassa High School.
Section 4. Duties of the President
The President shall be the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer and the principal spokesperson for the Association. The President shall be held accountable to the General Body for the conduct of the affairs of the Association.
The following shall be the specific functions of the President in addition to his general responsibilities:
1. Shall preside over all meetings and report to the General Body on the status of the Association on a yearly basis or as deemed necessary.
2. Shall be fully responsible for routine operations
and shall be responsible to the General Body.
3. Shall recommend specific programs and activities
pursuant to the objectives of the Association, and
submit periodic reports to the General Body on the
state of affairs of the Association.
4. Shall appoint, coordinate and direct the functions
and activities of all ad hoc committees of the
Association.
5. Shall countersign all vouchers and checks payable
for services rendered to or goods purchased for
the Association.
6. Shall appoint non-executive officers as well as
committees of the Association with the concurrence
of the General Body to carry out specific functions
as may deem necessary in the interest of the Association.
7. Shall carry out other functions which may be
ceremonial in nature and representative of the
spirit of the Association once said functions do not contravene other provisions of this Constitution.
Section 5. Duties of the Vice President
The Vice President shall be the principal deputy to
the President.
1. Shall assist the President in the administration of the Association and the implementation of its objectives.
2. Shall be called by the President to carry out Specific functions, as may be required,in the interest of the Association.
3. In the absence of the President, the Vice President
shall assume the functions of the President.
4.Shall succeed the President in case of death,
resignation, impeachment or any form of disability
which may render the President unable to perform the
duties of said office.
Section 6. Duties of the Secretary
The Secretary shall be charged with the maintenance
of the official records and correspondence of the Association.
1. The recording and preservation of the minutes of
regular meetings of the Association shall be the responsibilities of the Secretary. He/she shall prepare and dispatch the citations to the regular meetings.
2. Shall maintain and update the official roster
of the membership of the Association and the list of members present at each regular meeting.
3. Shall receive all correspondence for the attention
of the President and the Association and prepare all replies as may be required. The Secretary may send
out correspondence on behalf of the Association as may be directed by the Executive and/or General Body at a regular meeting.
Section 7. Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be in charge of all funds and financial records for the Organization. All Funds collected must be deposited in the name of the Association at a reputable
bank within the United States of America.
1. Shall organize and execute the collection of
all regular membership dues, fees, and special assessments.
2. Shall report all delinquent members and submit a comprehensive yearly financial report of all revenues and expenses at the regular meeting.
3. The Treasurer and the President must sign all
checks in consultation with the Executive Body.
4. Shall fully cooperate with the Financial Secretary to insure that his/her duties as outlined in this constitution and these by-laws are executed.
Section 8. Duties of the Financial Secretary
The Financial Secretary shall perform the following
duties:
1. Serve as the Accountant for the organization who shall keep all records and insure that the President and Treasurer perform their duties in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Treasurer shall make available to the Financial Secretary all financial records including bank deposits, receipts for goods and services purchase.
2. Serve as a check and balance for all financial transactions performed by the President and the Treasurer.
Section 9. Duties of the Chaplain
The Chaplain shall be responsible for the spiritual growth of
the the Association. The Chaplain will be responsible tolead the Association in prayers during regular meetings and as may deem necessary.

ARTICLE V: TENURE OF OFFICERS
Officers shall be elected for a tenure of two (2) calendar year to be consistent with the time designated for the general meeting. Officers may be re-elected for a second term, but shall not serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. There shall be a Board of Directors comprising of five (5) Members to be elected by the General Body during the regular yearly meeting. The President shall be the sixth (6th) member of the Board and shall serve as an Ex-officio with no voting rights on the Board. The tenure of service of each Board member shall be three (3) years. Board Members shall not be eligible for re-election. The Board shall elect its Chairman from among its membership.
Section 2. The Board shall serve as the advisory council to have oversight of activities of the Executive Body.

ARTICLE VII: DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. The regular dues for the Association shall be $100.00 per member per annum. This amount is payable at the regular general meeting.
Section 2. Special assessments may be requested by the Association upon its member to finance specific activities or budgetary deficits. Special assessments shall be made by the Executive Body.
Section 3. Any member who shall be delinquent in the full payment of his/her annual dues shall lose his/her right to vote, hold office or enjoy any other privileges or services provided by the Association. A Member in good standing must be current in the payment of annual dues and all other financial obligations to the Association.

ARTICLE VIII: ELECTION COMMITTEE
Section 1. Election Committee will comprise of five (5) members from the General Body to be elected at the end of the annual regular meeting.
Section 2. This Committee shall supervise all elections and make rules and regulations appertaining thereto.
Section 3. The tenure of office shall be one (1) year.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting of the General Body by Two-Thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members present and in good standing. Amendment proceedings at the meeting shall only be carried when a copy of the proposed amendment has previously been furnished each member along with the official citation before the regular meeting at which it should be decided.

BY-LAWS OF THE BASSA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION, U.S.A.
1. ORDER OF BUSINESS: The order of business of the Bassa High School Association, U.S.A. shall be as follows:
I. OPENING CEREMONIES
A. Call to Order-immediately followed by prayers.
B. Minutes – reading, correction, approval and adoption.
C. Correspondence – outgoing and incoming official correspondence.
II. REPORTS
A. The President’s report
B. Financial Reports (The Treasurer)
C. Committees’ report
D. Comments and recommendations
III. GENERAL BUSINESS
A. Unfinished Business
B. New Business
C. Other Matters
IV. ADJOURNMENT
2. MEMBERSHIP
a. All graduates and former students of Bassa High School of Grand Bassa County, Liberia, who reside in the United States of America and have paid his/her annual dues shall be considered registered in good standing members.
b. All registered members shall have the right to debate in any discussion of the Association, vote on any issue and assume any office in the Association; except that only graduates of the Bassa High School shall be eligible to serve as President and Vice President.
c. All former faculty members and key financial contributors to the Bassa High School residing
in the U.S.A. shall be considered Honorary Members. Former Faculty are required to pay an Annual fee of $100.00. Key Contributors will be considered based upon their financial
support. Honorary Members do not have any voting rights and cannot hold office.
They, however, may participate in debate and general discussions that affect the well being of the institution.
d. All members shall have equal rights to services and facilities provided by the Association.
e. A registered member shall lose his/her right to vote or hold office if he/she is delinquent in the full payment of his/her annual dues. In the same manner, he/she shall lose his/her right to services.
3. MEETINGS
A. The regular business meetings of the General Body shall be held once a year at a place and time to be designated by the General Body.
B. All other meetings, Ad Hoc, Executive, Committee, et cetera,shall be held upon directives of the General Body,the President, Committee Chairpersons,Officer in Charge,for the common good of the Association.
4. DUES AND ASSESSENTS
A. The regular dues for the Association shall be $100.00 (U.S.Dollars) per annum.
B. All dues, contributions and special assessments shall be made payable to the
Association.
C. With the approval of the General Body, the Association may carry out special projects
or fundraising activities in order to meet its budgetary needs.
5. EXPENDITURE OF ASSOCIATION’S FUNDS
A. Checks shall be signed and approved for the Withdrawal of funds from the treasury only by the designated signatories of the Association who are the President and Treasurer.
B. A certain amount of the Associations shall be Approved by the General Body and set aside as Petty Cash for the day-to day running of the Association.
C. There will be an annual audit of the Association funds by a special Audit Committee to be selected by the General Body during the regular annual meeting.
D. The task of the Auditing Committee is to be Carried out, completed, and an official report made to the General Body before the next regular meeting.
6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The Election Committee shall supervise and make rules and regulations pertaining thereto. In brief, this Committee shall set the ground rules for the election.
A. Candidates shall be nominated for each position.
B. Upon completion of nominations for each office, voting shall take place by secret ballot. The
candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected to the respective
office nominated for. In the case of a tied vote, a second round of secret ballot will be cast for the candidates that are tied until a winner emerges.
C. All newly elected officers shall assume their respective offices upon the induction ceremonies at the end of business period during which they were elected.
7. VACANIES
A. In the case of the resignation, impeachment, or permanent incapacity of an elected officer prior to a regular meeting, the following order of replacements shall be observed until the new corps of officers assume office at the next regular meeting:
1. The President shall immediately be succeeded by the Vice President who shall assume all responsibilities of the Presidency.
2. For the Offices of the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Chaplain, the
Executive Body in conjunction with the Board shall appoint a successor to serve until new officers are elected during the next regular meeting.
8. QUORUM
A. A quorum shall comprise of two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members present and in good standing.

ADOPTED IN THE CITY OF SILVER SPRING, STATE OF MARYLAND,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THIS 23RD DAY OF AUGUST, A.D. 2003.
Respectfully Submitted by
The Constitution Committee:

E. Nuku Reeves Chairman
J. Alexander Morris Co-Chairman
Lucinda Y. Nagbe Member
Tommy G. Logan Member
Rev. J. Samuel Reeves Member
Cllr. Carlos B.Z. Smith Advisor
Dr.D. Elwood Dunn Advisor
Mr. T. Nelson Williams Advisor

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