| By Law |
The name of the Organization shall be the Ethiopian Professionals Association Network or EPAN.
2 .Prupose:
Section 1
The mission of EPAN is to provide our fellow Ethiopians with information, so they achieve competitive advantage in the professional world.
We seek to accomplish our mission by:
1. Providing the needs of our fellow Ethiopians consistent with the information we know.
2. Seeking to understand our fellow Ethiopians needs and respond to them in a teamwork environment with all information that we are knowledgeable.
3. Maintaining network in support of sharing information and knowledge.
4. Working in partnership with various Ethiopian professionals group.
3 .Membership:
Section 1
Membership to the EPAN is open to everyone regardless of race, color, age religion, sex or disability. EPAN’s primary objective is to organizing those of Ethiopian Nationality but does not necessarily exclude from membership based on Nationality.
Section 2
Active members shall be those who have met the qualifications in Section 1 and other duties required of a member. As such, only active members are granted a voting voice for the Executive Board of the Organization of Ethiopians Professional Association Network - EPAN.
Section 3
Associate members shall be those who, though interested in the Organization as an entity, have no vested interest in active participation in its affairs.
They are granted the privilege to attend the meetings and discussions of the Organization, but they are neither granted a voting voice nor the opportunity to hold office within the Organization. This limitation also applies to all members of staff.
Section 4
At the discretion of the Executive Board shall the collection of dues and amount be decided.
Section 5
A member in good standing shall be an active member (section 2 above), subject to the pre-conditions put forth in previous sections. Consequentially, said member is eligible to vote.
Section 6
A member may withdraw from the Organization by submitting the intention to do so to the Executive Board through Electronic mail . Though not required of the member, the member is encouraged to submit why he or she is withdrawing their membership.
Section 7
An active member who
1. fails to pay required fees as specified in section 4 more than three times in a row without any explanation,
3. is found to be knowingly disturbing the smooth operation of the organization by accusing other members or officers of the organization without any factual basis, or is involved in other inappropriate actions against the EPAN, and said member has been given notifications of the negative effects of his or her actions at least two times,
shall be declared an associate and be subject to the limitations and conditions prescribed for associate members. If in the case of section 3.3, if said member had been made an associate member because of his or her actions and still continues in his or her destructive course, his or her associate membership shall be revoked at once. Said member shall not be granted membership, associate or other, for up to a minimum of two years since his or her expulsion from membership.
4 .Executive Board Officers,
Section 1
The officers of the organization shall be, in order of rank:
The President
The Secretary
The Treasurer /Finance chair
The activities and Events Chair
The Communications Chair
Section 2
All Active members of EPAN
1. who are former or current Citizens of Ethiopia
2. who have been active in the Organization for at least a year
3. who, at the time of candidacy, do not hold office in a political organization or in the government of Ethiopia are qualified to run for office.
Section 4 below could be disregarded if there could not be found a member to fill a vacant position, and if said position would remain vacant if section 4 was not disregarded.
Section 3
The officer shall be elected in a manner provided in the Constitution and shall be limited to serve a term of two calendar years, unless re-elected for the subsequent term.
Section 4
No officer may hold more than one office simultaneously within the Organization.
Section 5
An Executive Board officer may resign from office by submitting the intention to do so, in writing or Electronic email, to the Executive Board. The resignation becomes effective when the vacated position is filled. Upon the resignation of an officer, all members shall be notified as specified in the “Member Notification Procedures” with the explanation for resignation if said resigning officer has given an explanation for resignation. In such a case, a response from the Executive Board shall also be sent to all members along with the reason for resignation.
5 .Executive Officers:
Section 1
The President
· Shall preside over all regular and special meetings of the Organization.
· Shall exercise general supervision over regular activities of the Organization.
· Shall have the power to veto.
· Shall delegate responsibilities.
· Shall appoint, subject to approval from the rest of the Executive Board, replacements in the permanent absence of two or more officers.
· Shall act at all times in the best interests of the Organization.
Section 2
The Secretary
· Shall take over the duties of the President in the temporary absence of said officer.
· Shall keep the minutes of all meetings which must be filed and posted after each meetings.
· Shall be responsible for maintaining and updating all paperwork .
· Shall maintain a log of attendance at all official meetings of the Organization and keep an accurate toll of members.
· Shall be present at all Executive Board meetings.
Section 3
The Treasurer / OR Finance Chair
· Shall take over the duties of the Secretary in the temporary absence of the said officer.
· Shall supervise all financial transactions of the Organization and keep all records of said transactions.
· Shall maintain the financial welfare of the Organization.
· Shall establish, at said officer's discretion, upon approval by a simple majority of members present, dues and fees and their schedules of collection.
· Shall provide a financial report at all Executive Board meetings and as warranted after fund raising activities.
· Shall be ready to provide the Executive Board with the financial status of the Organization and all receipts of expenditures.
· Shall be present at all Executive Board meetings.
Section 4
The Activities and Events Chair
· Shall take over the duties of the treasurer in the temporary absence of said officer.
· Shall coordinate all events, such as Elections, fund raisings, and meetings, held by the Organization.
· Shall represent the Organization at other events of the same genus.
· Shall be present at all Executive Board meetings.
Section 5
The Communications Chair
· Shall take over the duties of the Activities and Events Director in the temporary absence of said officer.
· Shall maintain and facilitate intra- and inter-organization communication in such manner as deemed fit for the medium.
· Shall prepare, produce and maintain media for said communication. Such shall include but not be limited to: printed, broadcast and computer media.
· Shall coordinate and forward all materials that are to be delivered to members.
· Shall make certain that all communication to members of the EPAN is made only through the Communications committee.
· Shall be present at all Executive Board meetings.
6 .The Executive board:
Section 1
The management of this Organization, EPAN, shall be vested in the Executive Board.
Section 2
The Executive Board shall be composed of the President, The secretary, The Finance/Treasure, the Activities and Events Chair and the Communication Chair.
Section 3
The Executive Board shall meet at least Once in a 6 month and report to members about the status of the Organization and ongoing projects.
Section 4
The Executive Board shall fill any permanent vacancy of office by appointment. Excluded from this installment of offices is the Presidency. Said position shall be determined in the manner put forth in this Constitution.
Section 5
In the case of a permanent vacancy in the Presidency, the Secretary shall fill the said office.
Section 6
No member of the Executive Board shall abuse their power or utilize any governing instruments, for personal benefit.
7 .Duties of The Executive Board committee:
Section 1
The Finance committee
· The Finance Chair /Treasurer shall have the power to supervise and oversee the activities of the said committee.
· Shall be responsible for the coordinating all financial transactions of the Organization and keeping all records of said transactions.
· Shall maintain the financial welfare of the Organization.
· Shall establish dues and fees and their schedules of collection.
Section 2
The Activities & Events Committee
· The Activities & Events Chair shall have the power to supervise and oversee the activities of the said committee.
· Under the leadership of the Activities & Events Chair, shall coordinate all events, such as Elections, fund raisings, and meetings, held by the Organization.
· Shall record using available media, such as Video Cameras and written documents, all events for future reference: historical, legal or internal review.
· Shall have the power to form sub-committees or appoint an active member to a sub-committee office to organize its activities.
· Shall work closely with the Finance Committee to coordinate the handling of proceedings obtained from fundraising events or to request funding for an activity.
Section 3
The Communications Committee
· The Communications Chair shall have the power to supervise and oversee the activities of the said committee.
· Shall have the power to form sub-committees or appoint an active member to a sub-committee office to organize its activities.
· Shall be the outlet for the distribution of all information from the organization to members or other third parties.
· Shall coordinate with regional committees to facilitate the distribution of information to regional offices and members.
8 .Executive Board meetings:
Section 1
The Executive Board shall meet at the end of every 6 month of the year.
Section 2
The Executive Board has the right to change the day of meeting as necessary.
Section 3
Special meetings may be called by the President with a 24-hour written notice to all Executive Board members with appropriate justification.
Section 4
In order for any business to take place at a meeting, a quorum shall be presumed unless challenged by the floor by a member in good standing.
Section 5
The physical presence of officers or members is not necessary for a meeting to take place. The Headquarters Communications Committee shall facilitate the appropriate means for officers or members to hold a meeting through available media such as electronic chat rooms, Video Conferencing or electronic Discussion Forums.
9 .Executive Board elections:
Section 1
Executive Board elections shall take place during the General meeting every two years.
Section 2
Nominations for Headquarters office shall be formally submitted in writing by an active member anytime prior to the elections meeting.
Section 3
The order of Executive Board elections shall be President, Secretary, Treasurer (Finance Chair), Activities & Events Chair and Communications Chair.
Section 4
All persons pursuing a Executive board position shall
· Present themselves to the membership and state reasons and goals of said pursuit.
· Have a working knowledge of the organization and its pursuits.
· Be willing to have their record at the Organization available to any active member upon request.
Section 5
Votes shall be cast by secret ballot.
Section 6
Introduction of new officers shall take place at the general meeting.
Section 7
Newly elected President shall not pursue the same position on another Executive Board in the same presidential year (two years). ???
Section 8
Candidates running for office of the Executive board are not restricted to be in the same geographical location as is the Executive Board of EPAN.
10 .Executive Board Impeachment:
Section 1
Any officer of this organization can be impeached insofar as there is a justified reason for said course of action.
Section 2
Impeachment may be initiated by petition, in writing, by 25% or more of active members with proper justification.
Section 3
At the next meeting where the President or at least half of the Executive board members are present, the plaintiff, and the defendant are given due course to present their cases to active members. After both cases are heard, a written vote shall be taken.
Section 4
Conviction of impeachment shall require a 2/3 vote by members in good standing, a quorum being present.
Section 5
Conviction of impeachment shall cause removal from office and loss of all privileges thereof.
11 .Operation fund:
Section 1
The Organization, EPAN, shall use the funds obtained through member contributions and fees for its operations.
Section 2
EPAN shall have the right to accept contributions from other third party Organizations, Corporations, Governmental agencies, or non-members so long as said contribution is to be used by EPAN at its sole discretion.
Section 3
EPAN shall not accept operation funds from political organization if said contribution could be used to associate said political party with EPAN or if said political party, explicitly or implicitly, states how the contribution should be used.
Section 4
No officer of EPAN, shall receive contributions from sources, as specified in sections above, personally. All contributions shall be made to the Executive Board Finance Committee or Finance Chair.
12 .Dissolution:
In the case of dissolution, all materials and financial assets shall go to Addis Ababa University. These funds shall be used by the Addis Ababa University to meet the demands of ever-changing technological advances in the field of Science and Technology.
13 .Amendments:
Section 1
An amendment to this constitution may be proposed by any member in good standing, in writing, at any business meeting or may be directly mailed to the Executive Board at the head quarters.
Section 2
The proposed amendment shall be voted upon by ballot at the next meeting or by a special meeting called by the president.
Section 3
Passage of the amendment shall require a 2/3 affirmative vote of all eligible members present.
Section 4
Before the proposed amendment shall become operational, it must be approved by the Executive Board.
14 .Member notification:
Section 1
All communiqués to members from the Executive Board shall go through the Communications Committee.
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