Harrisburg Area Tamil Sangam "HATS"

(A Registered, Non-Profit Organization)

BY-LAWS

1. Article 1 - NAME

1.1. The name of the organization shall be "Harrisburg Area Tamil Sangam" hereinafter called HATS.

2. Article 2 - OBJECTIVES

2.1. To cultivate, promote and foster the exchange of ideas and understanding between the peoples of Tamil and other cultures.

2.2. To increase the knowledge of Tamil culture and language amongst the children.

2.3. To promote fellowship and to provide, organize and participate in cultural and social functions.

2.4. To promote interaction and networking amongst Tamil families of Harrisburg Area.

2.5. To provide support for new Tamil families moving into Harrisburg area and nurture their development.

2.6. To provide Community service - manpower or financial assistance as decided by HATS.

2.7. To donate money for Charity projects as decided by HATS.

2.8. To associate with Tamil Sangams across the country and to represent ourselves in other associations within the community.

2.9. HATS shall be a non-profit, cultural, charitable, secular and non-political organization.

3. Article 3 - MEMBERSHIP

3.1. Any Tamil origin person or family interested in the Objectives and Activities of the HATS can become a member by paying the membership due.

Life membership dues	$250 per life of the member below 60 years older
	$150 per life of the member above 60 years older
Household membership dues	$30/year or any other higher amount set by Executive Committee
Single membership dues	$ 20/year or any other higher amount set by Executive Committee

3.2. A life member can ` any HATS activities, has a right to exercise one vote and receives priority to become an office bearer and qualify for patron nomination. A life member may withdraw from life membership for any reason and their life membership fees will be returned on a prorated basis with a $30 (Household member) and $20 (Single member) deduction per year of membership.

3.3. A member in good standing shall be one without arrears at the time of participating in any activity of HATS.

3.4. Membership is for each household and each household has one vote in the HATS's proceedings.

3.5. Any member, whose activities are not considered to be in the best interests of the organization, may be expelled by the two-thirds majority of the members present and voting in a general body meeting. HATS will not be held responsible for any personal injury or damage during its activities where its members involved

3.6. This bylaw allows for the nomination of three patrons from the life members. Patrons are instrumental in forming HATS and continue in that role for life or until they resign from HATS.

4. Article 4 – OFFICERS

4.1. The officers of the HATS shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Joint - Secretary, a Treasurer, a Joint Treasurer, and an Entertainment Committee Director, Entertainment Committee members, Communication Director and a Food committee Director.

4.2. All officers shall be full members of the HATS, in good standing.

4.3. No person shall hold more than one office concurrently.

4.4. The terms of office for the officers shall be one calendar year.

5. Article 5 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

5.1. The Board of Directors of the HATS for any fiscal year shall consist of the all the Officers and three General Directors.

5.2. The president shall act as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

5.3. The Board of Directors shall have and exercise authority in the management and functioning of the HATS.

5.4. The Board of Directors shall have the power to remove any Board member, including an Officer, if his or her activities are not in the best interests of the HATS. Such a removal requires a two third majority vote of the full Board.

6. Article 6 - ELECTIONS

6.1. An Election Officer shall be nominated by the Board of Directors, in October of every Year. The Election Officer shall not contest for any office including Board membership during the annual election.

6.2. The Election Officer shall work out the detailed procedure of the election and conduct the election with the approval of the Board, in November / December of every year, during the Annual General Body meeting.

6.3. Any HATS member is eligible to contest for any position of the Board of Directors.

6.4. The members of the HATS shall elect every year the Board of Directors consisting of all Officers and three General Directors.

6.5. Each Household has one vote in electing the Board of Directors.

6.6. Terms of the office for the Board of Directors shall be one calendar year.

6.7. No officer shall be eligible for election to the same office for more than two consecutive one-year terms.

6.8. In case of retirement or permanent absence of any Officer, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor for its members for the unexpired portion of the term. Permanent absence is defined as absence from three consecutive meetings of the Board.

6.9. Nominations for all Board of Directors shall be received by the Election Officer at least 15 days prior to the Election Day meeting. No nomination can be made on the floor. Any unfilled/vacant position will be filled by the elected Board.

7. Article 7 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

7.1. President and Vice-president

7.1.1. The President shall manage and direct the overall functioning of the HATS with the help of Vice-president.

7.1.2. The President shall serve as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

7.1.3. The President shall preside the business portion of all meetings.

7.1.4. The President shall call special meetings of the Board of Directors, as needed.

7.1.5. The President shall fill any vacancy of the Board of Directors with the approval of the other members of the Board of Directors.

7.1.6. The President shall present an Annual Report at the end of each year.

7.1.7. The President and the vice-president shall ensure that all accounts, reports, statements, minutes and other papers pertaining to the activities of the HATS are properly kept and filed in accordance with the requirements.

7.1.8. The President and Vice-president shall ensure that all accounts and the documents pertaining to HATS will be handed over to the newly elected President in a timely manner.

7.1.9. The President or the vice-president shall assume the duties of the Secretary or the Treasurer during their temporary absence.

7.1.10.The Vice-president shall assume the duties of the President during his or her temporary absence.

7.2. Secretary and Joint Secretary

7.2.1. The Secretary or the Joint-Secretary shall take and keep all minutes of the Board of Directors meeting and the General body meeting.

7.2.2. The Secretary or the Joint-Secretary shall keep all the reports of the HATS.

7.2.3. The Secretary shall notify all members of the Board of Directors about the committee meetings.

7.2.4. The Joint-Secretary shall assume the duties of the Secretary during his or her temporary absence.

7.3. Treasurer and Joint Treasurer

7.3.1. The Treasurer and Joint Treasurer shall handle all funds of the HATS.

7.3.2. The Treasurer and Joint Treasurer shall pay all the bills payable by the HATS.

7.3.3. The Treasurer and Joint Treasurer shall keep accounts of all the receipts and expenses of the HATS.

7.3.4. The Treasurer shall prepare a Quarterly status report of the budget/bank balance to the Board of Directors.

7.3.5. The Treasurer shall present an annual written financial report to the Annual General Body Meeting.

7.3.6. The Joint-Treasurer shall assume the duties of the Treasurer during his or her temporary absence.

7.3.7. The Treasurer or Joint-treasurer shall handle all correspondence of the HATS to the members on the direction of the president or the board of directors.

7.4. Entertainment Committee Director and the Committee

7.4.1. The Entertainment Committee Director shall coordinate all the cultural programs of the HATS activities.

7.4.2. The Entertainment Committee members shall work with the Director and the HATS members to develop cultural programs during the HATS gatherings.

7.5. Communication Director

7.5.1. The Communication Director shall maintain the HATS website.

7.5.2. The Communication Director shall publish a quarterly Newsletter.

7.6. Food Director

7.6.1. The Food Director shall be in charge of all the arrangements for the food during the HATS functions.

8. Article 8 - MEETINGS

8.1. The Annual General Body meeting will be held during November / December of every year.

8.2. Special General Body meeting shall be called by the Board of Directors with a majority approval of the Board members.

8.3. One third of all members shall constitute a Quorum in a General Body meeting.

8.4. At least four meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in a year.

8.5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President or a majority of its members.

8.6. A majority of the Board members shall constitute a Quorum in a Board of Directors meeting.

8.7. A majority of all members present at the meeting shall be necessary to adopt any

resolution. On all questions, a vote shall be taken. There shall be no votes by proxy for any reason whatsoever.

9. Article 9 - MANAGEEMNT OF FUNDS

9.1. All the collections shall be deposited in the bank within two weeks.

9.2. Any instrument used to draw funds from the bank or to make payments must contain at least two signatures, of which one must be that of Treasurer. The Board must authorize the other signatory(s).

9.3. The Treasurer shall prepare a Quarterly status report of the budget/bank balance and present to the Board of Directors.

9.4. The Treasurer shall present an annual written financial report to the Annual General Body meeting.

10. Article 10 – AMENDMENTS

10.1. Any amendment(s) to these BY-LAWS must be submitted in writing to the board at least 60 days prior to the Annual General Body meeting or a special General Body meeting.

10.2. The Board of Directors shall communicate in writing the proposed amendment(s) to these B Y-Laws to all HATS members at least four weeks prior to the Annual/Special General Body meeting.

10.3. Amendment(s) to these BY-Laws shall be made at the Annual/Special General Body meeting, by a two third majority vote of the members present