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The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated in 1937, is a not-for-profit membership organization, incorporated in the State of New York. |
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ARTICLE I NAME, AIMS AND OBJECTS Section 1. The name of this
organization shall be the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated.
Section 2. The aims and objects of the Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall be: (a). To promote love and good-will among
Ethiopians at home and abroad and thereby to maintain the integrity
and sovereignty of Ethiopia, to disseminate the ancient Ethiopian
culture among its members, to correct abuses, relieve oppression
and carve for ourselves and our posterity, a destiny comparable
with our idea of perfect manhood and God's purpose in creating us;
that we may not only save ourselves from annihilation, but carve
for ourselves a place in the Sun: in this endeavor, we determine to
seek peace and pursue it., for it is the will of God for man. (b).
To promote and pursue happiness; for it is the goal of human life
and endeavor. (c). To usher in the teaching and practice of the
Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. (d). To promote and
stimulate interest among its members in world affairs, and to
cultivate a spirit of international goodwill and comity. (e). To
promote friendly interest among its members, to develop a fraternal
spirit among them and to inculcate in its members the desire to
render voluntary aid and assistance to one another at all times.
(f). To render voluntary aid and protection to its members, without
fee or charge for same when in need. And, if necessary, to provide
and care for refugees and disabled victims of the Italio-Ethiopian
War. (g) To give concrete material and voluntary aid without fee or
charge for the same, to all such refugees and disabled victims and
to raise funds by voluntary subscription for the purposes
aforementioned. There shall be no charge, fee, beneficiary tax or
other assessment upon the members of the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, except for dues, provided for in the
Constitution and By-Laws of the Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated. (h) To encourage its members to develop interest and
pride in Democratic institutions and to promote Democratic
principles and ideals. May God help us to accomplish these aims and
ideals. Section 3. Scope: The Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall be International in scope. Section 4.
Headquarters: The Headquarters of the Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall be in the City of New York, State of New York,
United States of America. Section 5. Colors. The official Colors of
the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall be the same as
the National Colors of Ethiopia Green, Gold and Red. Section 6.
Eligibility to Office. Male and female shall be equally eligible to
all offices. Section 7. Non-Partisan Character. The Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, shall be non-partisan and non-political
in character, but in cases where partisan, political, or other
issues tend to affect the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated,
adversely in the carrying out of its aims and objects, it shall be
free to combat such issues with the best legal means at its
disposal. Section 8. No individual who is a member of any other
organization, political party, religious group or sect, which
requires that individual to pledge unswerving allegiance to its
tenets, thus depriving him of freedom of thought and action which
may be necessary in carrying out the aims and objects of the
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, sbal1 be elected or
appointed to office, or shall allow himself to be elected to any
office. Any election or appointment to office in violation of this
Section, shall be null and void.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP Section 1. The membership shall
comprise the BLACK PEOPLES of the world. Section 2. APPLICATION:
Application for membership shall be in writing. Section 3.
Rejection. The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. shall have
the right to reject any application for membership without giving
reasons. Section 4. Joining fee. The Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall have the right to a fix a joining fee. There
shall be a joining fee of One Dollar (U.S. $ 1:00). However, The
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, through its Executive
Council, shall have the right to grant special dispensation to
certain areas and to adjust this fee to suit the conditions
thereof, provided, however, that in no area the amount effected by
the dispensation shall exceed One Dollar (U.S. $1.00). Section 5.
Dues: The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall have the
right to establish membership dues. The membership dues shall be
ten cents (U.S. $.10) per week. These dues shall be remitted to the
Headquarters. Section 6. Unfinancial Members: Any member who is
twelve weeks in arrears in the payment of dues shall be unfinancial
in the organization.
ARTICLE III INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS Section 1. There shall be
the following International Officers of the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated: (a). President (b). First Vice-President
(c). Second Vice-President (d). Executive Secretary (e). Treasurer
(f). Organizer (g). Chaplain Section 2. Executive Council. There
shall be an Executive Council composed of the elected International
Officers, together with three (3) additional members elected by the
Convention. Section 3. Duties of International Officers: (a). The
International President shall be the executive head of the
Ethiopian World Federation, Inc., and shall reside in the City of
New York. It shall be the duty of the International President to
preside at the International Conventions and to deliver an address
on the state of the Ethiopian World Federation. Incorporated. He
shall sign all legal documents and be Chairman of the International
Executive Council. It shall be his duty to call Conventions as
appointed by law, and in cases of emergency, by and with the
consent of the Executive Council, call special conventions. (b).
The First International Vice-President shall reside in the City of
New York and shall assume the duties of the International President
in his absence or when requested to do so by him. (c). Second
International Vice-President: The 2nd International Vice- President
shall perform the duties of the First Vice- President in his
absences and shall assist the First Vice-¬President in the
performance of such duties as may be assigned to him by the
President In case of death or permanent disability of the First
Vice- President. the International Executive Council shall name the
Executive Head to serve until the next general election. (d).
Executive Secretary: The Executive Secretary shall have charge of
the main office of the Ethiopian World Federation. Incorporated,
and shall be held responsible to the Executive Council for the
conduct of the business thereof All acts of the Executive Secretary
shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Council. The
Executive Secretary shall appoint all office employees, subject to
the approval of the Executive Council and shall when necessary,
submit to the Executive Council the name of any member of the
office staff for promotion to the head of a department The
Executive Secretary shall receive all monies from locals and other
sources. All monies so received shall be turned over, within 24
hours, to the Treasurer, who shall give a receipt or receipts to
the Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary shall forward
receipts to all locals for monies received from them. The Executive
Secretary shall submit quarterly reports to the Executive Council.
(e). Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the International Treasurer
to receive all monies from the Executive Secretary. He shall, in
conjunctions with other members of the Banking Committee, deposit
all amounts of money in the bank or banks designated by the
Executive Council. His books shall be open to inspection by the
Executive Council at all times. He shall issue receipts for all
monies received by him for the organization. He shall pay out
monies upon order of the Executive Council only. He shall be bonded
by a reliable surety company. The premium for such a bond shall be
paid by the organization. He shall be a member of the Executive
Council. (f). International Organizer: It shall be the duty of the
International Organizer to organize locals, to supervise locals
already established and to keep them in good working order. He
shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by
the Executive Council. He shall keep the Headquarters informed of
his activities from week to week and he shall submit a monthly
report. (g). Absence: Any officer absenting himself from three (3)
successive meetings and failing to submit sufficient reason for his
absence, this office may be declared vacant by the Executive
Council. Section 4. The Executive Council of the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, shall instruct locals from time to time
on matters not herein mentioned. All questions of procedure not
specifically mentioned in this Constitution shall be governed by
Robert's Manual of Parliamentary Procedure.
ARTICLE IV CONVENTIONS, ELECTIONS, INSTALLATIONS, MEETINGS
Section 1. Conventions: There shall be an annual Convention of the
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. It shall be called on the
sixteenth day of July. The Convention shall select the place of
meeting of the succeeding Convention. Section 2. Delegates to the
Convention: Each local shall be entitled to representation in
Convention by delegates. There shall be 'one delegate for each 25
members up to one hundred, and for each additional one hundred
members or part thereof, one additional delegate. One-third (1/3)
of the number of duly accredited delegates to any Convention shall
constitute a quorum at that Convention. Section 3. Elections: The
election of all international officers shall take place during the
Convention. The election shall be by ballot. All locals shall hold
their election during the first two weeks in December. Section 4.
Term of Office: All officers, international and local, shall be
elected for a term of one year. Section 5. Installation: The
installation of elected international officers shall be held on a
date preceding the closing of the Convention. The installation of
officers of locals shall be at the first regular meeting in January
following the election. Section. 6. Uniforms: The Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, shall have the right to decide on the
kind of uniform, if any, to be worn during parades and Conventions.
Section 7. Meetings: It shall be within the discretion of any local
to hold its meetings as often as desired, provided, however, that
there shall be held regular meetings twice per month. Section 8.
Nine members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business in the local.
ARTICLE V LOCALS Section 1. (a). The first unit of the
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, in the City of New York
shall be known as Local Number One. (b). The duly elected officers
of Local No. I shall be the International Officers, except the
President, until a Convention is called and International Officers
are duly elected. Section 2. (a). The right to issue charters is
vested in the Executive Council. (b). The right to revoke charters
is vested in the Executive Council.
ARTICLE VI ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCALS Section 1. (a). Any
twenty-five (25) persons or more, desirous of forming a local,
shall apply to the Executive Council for a charter. (b). The fee
for this charter shall be Ten ($10.00) Dollars. Section 2. The
officers of each local of the Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall be: President, First Vice-President, Second
Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Financial Secretary,
Recording-Corresponding Secretary, Chaplain, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Section 3. Each local shall establish an Executive Committee. This
Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, First
Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Financial
Secretary, Recording-Corresponding Secretary, Chaplain,
Sergeant-at-Arms and the three (3) other members elected by the
local. Section 4. Duties of officers-Locals: (a) President: The
President shall preside at all meetings, sign all documents of the
local and appoint all committees and units. The President shall
have power to call special meetings in the general interest of the
organization whenever he deems it necessary. The President shall be
ex-officio member of all committees. (b) Vice-President: It shall
be the duty of the Vice-Presidents, in their order to preside at
regular meetings in the absence of the President or whenever
requested to do so by him or her. (c) Treasurer: It shall be the
duty of the Treasurer to receive from the Financial Secretary all
monies belonging to the local giving a voucher for same, and shall
deposit or cause to be deposited, twenty-four hours after its
receipt, such monies in a bank or banks selected by the Executive
Committee. He shall payout monies on order of the Executive
Committee only. He shall make a monthly report to the local on a
blank provided for the purpose, submitting a certified copy to the
Headquarters. He shall be bonded. (d) Financial Secretary: It shall
be the duty of the Financial Secretary to receive all monies from
subscriptions, dues, contributions, rallies and special efforts
from the members of the local, and from all other sources, give a
receipt and keep an accurate record thereof. He shall turn over all
such monies to the Treasurer at the close of each meeting and shall
demand a voucher therefore. He shall be bonded. The books of the
Financial Secretary shall be open to the Executive Committee of the
local or to any person authorized by said committee to examine
them. The Financial Secretary shall be required to collaborate with
the Recording-Corresponding Secretary and shall, on request, give
such information as may be required by the Recording Corresponding
Secretary of entries or records made in his books. The Financial
Secretary shall make a monthly report to the local on a blank
provided for the purpose, submitting a signed copy to the
Headquarters. (e) Recording-Corresponding Secretary: It shall be
the duty of the Recording Corresponding Secretary to keep a correct
record of the minutes and proceedings of the regular meetings. He
shall keep a correct list of the members of the local. He shall be
required to collaborate with the Financial Secretary and shall on
request give such information as may be required by the Financial
Secretary of entries or records made in his books. He shall keep on
file all reports and communications. He shall affix his signature,
together with the seal of the local, to all documents. He shall
keep the seal of the local under his personal supervision. He shall
read all reports and minutes of previous meetings. He shall be a
member of the Executive Committee of the local. The
Recording-Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all books,
literature, flags, buttons, stamps and all salable articles of the
local and shall turn over the proceeds from the sale thereof to the
Financial Secretary. (f) Chaplain: It shall be the duty of the
Chaplain to open and close every meeting of the local with prayer
and to minister to the spiritual needs of the members. He shall be
responsible. for the moral tone pervading the local. He shall
transmit to the local such instructions and literature as shall be
sent to him from time to time by the International Chaplain. He
shall be a member of the local committee on Complaints and
Grievances and of the Sick Committee. (g) Sergeant-at-Arms: The
Sergeant-at-Arms shall attend all meetings of the local and see
that the meeting room is in order. He shall attend at the door of
the meeting room, prevent the admission of any person who is not
entitled to admission, or whose conduct is unbecoming; and when
instructed by the President, shall remove from the meeting room any
person whose conduct is not in keeping with good order and
discipline. He shall perform any and all such other duties
pertaining to his office as might be required of him by the
President.
ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES Standing Committees: The following
committees shall be established: Section 1. Banking. Membership,
Education, Publicity, Sick, Ways & Means, Information,
Auditing, Complaints & Grievances, House Committee and such
other committees as shall from time to time become necessary
provided that such committees are approved by the International
Executive Council. (a). Banking Committee: There shall be a Banking
Committee composed of the President, Treasurer and three (3) other
members elected from the body. It sha11 be the duty of the Banking
Committee to keep a check on the deposits and withdrawals by the
Treasurer and to assist him in any way he desires. It shall have
access to the bank books held by the Treasurer and may from time to
time check with him, his bank accounts and financial dealings. (b)
Membership: It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to
devise plans to increase the membership of the local; to visit
delinquent members; to encourage their attendance at the meetings
and encourage them in the full performance of their duties. (c)
Education: It shall be the duty of the Committee on Education to
provide for the use of the members, books, papers, magazines and
all historical and cultural material and literature touching racial
questions as well as political, economic, social, health,
agricultural and other matters which will aid in the betterment of
Black Peoples and humanity in general. This committee shall from
time to time plan and conduct educational programs. (d) Publicity
Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee on Publicity to
keep before the public the aims and objects of the organization and
the work of the local. It shall endeavor to publicize its
activities. It shall be responsible for the distribution of the
official organ of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated (e)
Sick Committee: It shall be the duty of the Sick Committee to keep
a list of the sick members; to visit them regularly and to
encourage the general membership to do so. It shall evince a
genuine interest in the sick members, doing all in its power to aid
and comfort them. It shall raise funds for their financial
assistance; these funds shall be deposited with the Treasurer of
the local and kept by him in a separate account. The committee
shall recommend to the Executive Committee the nature and amount of
the aid that may be given. (f). Ways and Means: It shall be the
duty of the Ways and Means committee to devise plans for raising
money to conduct the business of the local. (g). Information
Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee on Information to
gather information for the general welfare of the Federation. (h).
Auditing Committee: There shall be an Auditing Committee of three
(3) members. It shall be the duty of the Auditing Committee to make
an audit of the books of the local and submit its report to the
local with a signed copy of the report to the Headquarters
quarterly. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to demand an
audit at anytime. No member of the Executive Committee shall serve
on the Auditing Committee. (i). House Committee: The House
Committee shall have charge of the building and all other physical
property belonging to the local. They shall see to it that these
are kept in proper order and repaired and shall prepare the house
for meetings. They shall make a monthly inventory of all physical
property. (j). Complaints and Grievances Committee: Any member
having complaints or grievances affecting the organization or any
member thereof, shall submit the same to the Committee on
Complaints and Grievances. The Committee shall hear all complaints
and grievances submitted to it and shall make a determined effort
to settle in committee, all differences. Failing to effect a
settlement, the matter shall be presented by Secretary of the
committee to the Executive Committee of the local. It. shall review
the entire case. The party failing to abide by the decision of the
Executive Committee shall have the right of appeal to the Executive
Council of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. The
decision of the Executive Council shall be final.
ARTICLE VIII IMPEACHMENT OF AN OFFICER Whenever an officer
of any local shall practice malfeasance in office, or shall conduct
himself in a manner unbecoming an officer, he shall be impeached.
Any member of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, in good
standing may present charges against an officer. Charges shall be
in writing; whenever a charge is preferred against an officer, it
shall first be presented to the Committee on Complaints and
Grievances. This Committee shall hear and examine the evidence
immediately upon presentation of the charges. Should the evidence
be found insufficient to warrant a trail, the Committee on
Complaints and Grievances, shall, by majority vote, dismiss the
charges. Should the evidence warrant a trial, the committee shall
recommend to the President suspension of the officer. The President
shall suspend the officer, pending trial. Should the officer
charged be the President, any recommendations for his suspension
shall be made to the First Vice-President. The Committee on
Complaints and Grievances, if it finds that a trial is warranted,
shall submit the charges to the Executive Committee within
twenty-four hours. The Executive Committee of the local shall hear
these charges and on the evidence submitted on both sides render a
fair decision. The defendant shall have the right of appeal to the
Executive Council of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated.
The decision of the Executive Council shall be final.
ARTICLE IX UNITS Section 1. A unit is a group within a
local, which is required to perform certain specialized duties or
task. The personnel of all units, appointed by the president, sha1l
be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. (a).
Medical: The Medical Unit shall constitute persons who are members
of the medical, dental, pharmaceutical and nursing profession. It
shall be their duty to give instructions, lectures and general
information on health and other topics affecting the well-being of
the membership. They shall give to any group desiring training,
instruction in first aid, hygiene and preventive medicine. The
local failing to include any of the above named professional
persons in its membership shall form a medical unit among the lay
members. This unit shall invite such members of the above named
professions as are available to conduct classes and give
instruction in the subjects aforementioned. (b). Musical: Every
local shall have the right to set up a Musical Unit. This unit
shall consist of a band. orchestra and a choir. Each department
shall have its own musical director. The musical directors shall be
qualified musicians. (c). Juvenile: Every local shall have the
right to set up a Juvenile Department and to determine its
functions. (d). Women's Auxiliary: Each local shall have the right
to establish a Women's Auxiliary. It shall be the duty of the
Women's Auxiliary to raise funds to be used for the expense of
delegates to the Convention, to provide for the care, keep and
comfort of international officers visiting the local on business,
and for any other business which the Executive Committee shall
decide.
ARTICLE X BENEFITS Section 1. Benefits: All financial
members of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall be
entitled to the benefits hereafter mentioned: (a). All applications
for help shall be referred to the Sick Committee, which may
recommend aid according to the circumstances of the case. (b). The
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall attempt to make or
find employment for its members who make application for such
employment. (c). Death: The Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, shall establish a burial fund; each member of the
Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, in order to obtain the
benefits of this burial fund shall have subscribed to the fund for
at least one (1) year and shall be in good financial standing in
the organization. The subscription to the burial fund shall be $.25
per month. Upon conclusive proof of death, the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, shall subscribe from this fund the sum of
One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars towards the funeral expense of the
deceased. Any member who fails to subscribe to the burial fund for
three months shall be unfinancial in this fund and shall not be
entitled to the benefits of this fund Any member who is unfinancial
in the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall be
classified as unfinancial in the burial fund. The Financial
Secretary of the local shall collect from each member monthly the
subscription to the burial fund.
ARTICLE XI OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS The Constitution
may be amended by the following procedure: 1. Notice setting forth
a copy of the proposed amendment shall be submitted at a regular
Convention and shall require a majority vote for endorsement The
Convention, shall set a time limit not exceeding one (l) year
within which each local shall vote upon the proposed amendment The
Executive Secretary shall transmit an official transcript of the
endorsed amendment to each local. A majority vote in each local
shall determine the vote of the local. The amendment shall be
declared ratified when three-fourths of the total number of locals
shall have voted affirmatively for the proposed amendment.
BY-LAWS
Section 1. Order of Business. 1. Call to Order by the
Presiding Officer. 2. Devotional Exercises. 3. Roll Call of
Officers. 4. Remarks by the Presiding Officer. 5. Reading of
Minutes of the Previous Meeting. 6. Unfinished Business. 7.
Communications. 8. Applications for Membership. 9. Report of
Special Committees. 10. Report of Standing Committees. 11.
Admission of New Members. 12. Good and Welfare. 13. Closing
Remarks. 14. Receipts of the Meeting. 15. Adjournment. Section 2.
Monthly Reports. All locals must send monthly reports and returns
to the Headquarters. Section 3. Names and Addresses of Officers.
The names and addresses of the officers of all locals must be filed
at Headquarters. It is the duty of the local to send this
information to the headquarters within ten days from the date of
election. Section 4.Tlime and Place of Regular Meetings. All locals
shall inform the Headquarters of their time and place of regular
meetings. Section 5. Oath of Office. Each elected officer shall
take the following Oath of Office before he is installed:
(Repeat, with right band upraised.) I (Full Name)
_________________________________________, solemnly pledge to
uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, and to perform faithfully the duties of
my office to the best of my ability. So help me God. Section 6.
Admission of New Members. Each new member shall make the following
pledge: (Repeat, with right arm upraised.) I solemnly pledge to do
all that I can to carry out the aims and objects of the Ethiopian
World Federation, Incorporated, and to abide by its Constitution
and By-Laws. Section 7. Appointment of Committees. The President
shall appoint the chairmen and members of all committees, except in
cases where provision is made in the Constitution for election of
members to any committee. Section 8. Removal of Officers. The
President shall have the right to remove any officer from an
appointive office. Section 9. All members, committees, and units
must submit their suggestions, recommendations, findings, and
reports to the Executive Committee for its approval, before such
suggestions, recommendations, findings and reports shall be
presented to the general body of the local. Section 10. Application
for Charter. All applications for charters shall be made to the
Executive Council of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated,
on prescribed Application Forms. These forms can be obtained from
the Headquarters upon, request. Section 11. No officer or member
shall discuss the business of the Ethiopian World Federation,
Incorporated, in public or with any person or persons who are not
active members of the Federation. Section 12. Expense of Delegates.
Each local shall bear the expenses of its own delegates and should
in case it is found necessary for the Executive Council to send a
special delegate or delegates to any local, that local may be
required to pay the expenses of the delegate or delegates. |
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