The Persian Cultural & Humanitarian Association, Inc.

BYLAWS
(May, 1990)

• Section 1. This Corporation shall be known as The Persian Cultural & Humanitarian Association, Inc. hereinafter called the Association.
  

Article II. Board of Trustees

• Section 1. The signatores on the Certificate of Incorporation shall comprise the Board of Trustees. These are life members of the Association and responsible for its activities.
  
• Section 2. Major transactions and activities of the Organization shall be approved by the Board of Trustees.
  
• Section 3. The Board of Trustees can veto the decisions of the Executive Board.
  

Article III. Purpose

• Section 1. The purposes for which the Association is formed are:
  
  • A. To receive and administer funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes;
    
  • B. To promote the education of the general public concerning the cultural affairs of the Iranian people including Persian literature, music, art and cultural history;
    
  • C. To make available scholarships for secondary or higher education to qualified persons of Iranian decent who exhibit financial need;
    
  • D. To make available monies for persons of Iranian descent who are destitute, helpless or needy.
    

Article IV. Members

• Section 1. All members of the Association must have an interest in the corporate purposes of the Association, and a willingness to participate in the Association's activities.
  
• Section 2. The Association shall have two (2) classes of members: Sustaining and Associate.
  
• Section 3. Associate members may become Sustaining members after a period of two years upon written request and approval by the Executive Board.
  
• Section 4. The minimum age for membership is eighteen (18).
  
• Section 5. In order to be eligible to vote, one must be a member of the Association for a minimum of one (1) year.
  
• Section 6. Individuals may become Sustaining members after two (2) years of active membership and upon the recommendation of the nominating committee and with the approval of the Executive Board. Sustaining members shall be eligible for election as Executive Board Members or Officers of the Association.
  
• Section 7. All members of the Association shall pay annual dues, the amount of which shall be determined by the Executive Board.
  

Article V. Executive Board

• Section 1. There shall be an Executive Board consisting of nine (9) members, elected for a term of two (2) years, who shall serve until successors have been elected.
  
• Section 2. The election of The Executive Board shall take place at an annual meeting of the Association.
  
• Section 3. Members of the Executive Board can be removed from their responsibilities by a 2/3 vote (6) of the members of the Board.
  
• Section 4. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board, it may be filled by a candidate nominated by the President and who receives a majority vote of the remaining Board Members for the remainder of the unexpired term.
  

Article VI. Duties of the Executive Board

• Section 1. It is the duty of the Executive Board to manage the affairs of the Association so as to carry out the purposes of the Association in accordance with its Certificate of Incorporation.
  
• Section 2. It is required that the President of the Executive Board report periodically to the Board of Trustees.
  
• Section 3. The Board of Trustees shall routinely receive the Minutes of the Executive Board.
  

Article VII. Officers

• Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Membership Secretary, all of whom must be sustaining members of the Association and members of the Executive Board. Other members of this committee are members or officers of the standing committees.
  
• Section 2. The officers shall be elected for a term on two (2) years by the Executive Board. Any vacancy in office may be filled at any time by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
  

Article VIII. Elections and Meetings

• Section 1. Elections to the Executive Board must take place during the first week in November, every two years.
  
• Section 2. For the purpose of elections, the Membership committee shall act as Nominating committee. It shall be chaired while in this capacity by the former President of the Association.
  
• Section 3. Three months prior to the election date the Membership committee shall request the names of eligible candidates for the Executive Board from the voting members of the Association.
  
• Section 4. The procedures for nomination and election shall be determined by the Nominations committee with the approval of the Executive Board. There will be no nominations from the floor.
  
• Section 5. A majority of the members of the Association entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any Association
  meeting.
  

Article IX. Committees

• Section 1. There shall be five (5) standing committees: Membership, Financial, Program & Cultural, Youth and Activities and a Social Services Committees.
  
• Section 2. The Executive Board may appoint such additional committees as it deems necessary.
  
• Section 3. Each committee shall elect is own chairperson.
  
• Section 4. The quorum for committee meetings shall be 50% of the membership of the committee, plus one.
  
• Section 5. The Chairperson of each committee shall report to the Executive Committee after each meeting.
  
• Section 6. Each standing committee and each additional committee created by the Executive Board shall submit a committee report to that Board prior to the annual meeting of the Association.
  
• Section 7. Each committee shall submit a yearly activities plan to the Executive Board.
  

Article X. Amendments

• Section 1. The Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the sustaining members of the Association.