Constitution and By-laws

  1. Name

    1. The name of the organization is Pakistan-American Society of South Jersey.
    2. The status of the organization will be a Non-Profit organization.

  2. Objectives

    1. To establish a platform for a socially active community of Pakistan/American-born Pakistani residents in coordination with the local American community.
    2. To initiate and support the efforts to unite the Pakistani community and work diligently to organize and sponsor social and cultural activities to bring the community closer and cultivate a sense of understanding and respect among them.
    3. To organize/sponsor educational programs to uplift the thinking and intellect of the Pakistan community and non-Pakistanis in general, and the local community in particular.
    4. To foster friendship, brotherhood and unity amongst the members of the community for the betterment of the community in general and Pakistanis in particular.
    5. To develop, carry out and support well-planned, progressive and highly effective programs which represent Pakistani culture, heritage and traditions amongst the members and the local community.
    6. To represent ourselves as true, sincere and dedicated Pakistanis to work together in cohesion with the local community and build a strong community sense.
    7. To provide a supporting environment, discuss and solve issues faced by community members, individuals, and families residing in South jersey to help them raise their children.
    8. Our children are the future flag carriers of Pakistan. It would be pertinent and incumbent upon the community members to educate and inform their children about the history of Pakistan, its culture and traditions so that they understand the role of Pakistan in the modern world and prove themselves to be highly respected model citizens who participate in the progress of the country.

  3. Membership

    1. Pakistani-Americans, regardless of their religion, race, cast and gender who accept the aims and objectives of the Society, as state in the Constitution and By-laws are eligible to register and be a member of the Society.
    2. The Executive Committee shall have the right to accept or reject an application for membership and to expel any member, if it believes that acceptance of such an application is against the interest of the Constitution and By-laws of the Society.
    3. There will be two member classifications, which are defined as under:
      1. Charter Member: A person who initially as contributed $100.00 at the inception toward establishment of the Society and stays current on the payment of the annual membership dues of the Society. A person who pays annual membership dues to the Society without a break for five (5) years will also become a Charter member.
      2. Full Member: Such a person who has paid annual membership regularly to the Society for fewer than five (5) consecutive years.
    4. The Board of Trustees of the Society will determine the amount of Annual membership fee for a given year.
    5. Both Charter and Full members are required to pay their annual membership before the last date assigned which will be communicated to them in due course.

  4. General Body

    1. All Charter members and Full members will constitute the General Body.

  5. Management

    1. The Society will be run and managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the following officers:
      1. President
      2. Vice President
      3. General Secretary
      4. Joint Secretary
      5. Treasurer
      6. Member
      7. Member
    2. The above positions will be elected every two (2) years by the General Body of the registered members of the Society. The term of office will be for two (2) years unless elected for the next term.
    3. All Charter members and Full members will vote to elect the Executive Committee. The minimum age for voting requirements will be limited to 18 years. Since the annual membership dues are based on a Family unit and a Single person, the voting will occur on the following criteria:
      1. Each family member over the age of 18 will have a single vote.
      2. Each single person will have a single vote.

  6. Election process

    1. The Board of Trustees will appoint an Election Committee consisting of three (3) Charter members who will conduct the election of the Executive Committee.

  7. Quorum

    1. At least two-thirds (2/3rd) of the Charter members and Full members must to present to constitute a quorum of the General Body meeting. If, for some reason, the Quorum of the General Body meeting is not complete, the meeting as such, may be postponed for some other time, date and location, as agreed to.
    2. The Executive Committee must meet once a month at an agreed date, time and location.

  8. Sub-committees

    1. In order to run the affairs of the Society in a smooth and effective manner, it is recommended that the following committees be formed under the guidelines and laid-down procedures:
      1. Fund-raising and social events
      2. Children's programs/Youth committee
      3. Educational programs
      4. Religious programs
      5. Publicity and advertising
    2. Each committee will consist of a minimum of three (3) members.
    3. In all situations, the Executive Committee shall establish the goals, objectives, guidelines and selection criteria of such entities. All sub-committees and their officers must conduct their affairs in pursuance of the laid-down procedures and by-laws of the Society answerable to the Executive Committee. Every effort shall be made to secure maximum cooperation and participation of the community members to work in harmony and cohesion.

  9. Annual general meetings

    1. Annual general meetings will be called by the General Secretary each year in December at an agreed date, time and location with a notice of a minimum of four (4) weeks to all Charter and Full members.
    2. An extra/emergency General Body meeting, if needed, may be called with a notice of two (2) weeks to all registered members.
    3. Reports on finances, activities during the preceding year, and other related matters of interest are to be read out by the members of the Executive Committee for the information of the General Body.
    4. Election of new office bearers shall take place in the General Body meeting on a one-person one-vote basis.

  10. Amendments/Additions/Deletions to the By-laws

    1. Any proposal/suggestions for amendments/alterations/deletions in the by-laws of the Society must be made available to all the registered members and be presented for discussion in the General Body meeting for approval.
    2. No amendments/alterations/deletions will be effective unless approved by the General Body.

  11. Board of Trustees

    1. Three shall be three (3) or more -- to a maximum of five (5) -- Trustees elected for ten (10) years by the Charter Members from amongst the Charter Members. Three (3) Trustees will be elected at the inception. Additional Trustees, if required based on membership growth shall be appointed by the existing Board of Trustees from amongst the Charter Members.
    2. The following three founding members of the society will continue to function as members of the Board of Trustees for the next ten (10) years. Election of the new Board of Trustees will be held in January, 2016.
      1. Mr. Aqiluddin A. Khan
      2. Mr. Habib A. Quraishi
      3. Mr. M. Aslam Khan

  12. Functions/Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

    1. The Board of Trustees (BOT) will:
      1. Serve as custodian of all capital assets of the Society and to maintain, use and liquidate them in accordance with the principles and intent and spirit of the constitution of the Society.
      2. Be an organization with responsibilities for long range strategies and planning for the Society based on and in alignment with the Mission and Objectives of the Society.
      3. Oversee, advise and content with the Executive Committee and any other committees/sub-committees that may establish in future for a total alignment between the spirit and intent of the Constitution of the Society and the way the activities and functions are being carried out on a day-to-day basis. In case of any misalignments, the Board of Trustees shall advise the Executive Committee to correct the discrepancies with a specified time period. In case of non-compliance and non-performance by the Executive Committee in such matters the Board of Trustees shall have the right to dismiss the Executive Committee by at least two-thirds (2/3rd) majority vote and hold free elections of the Executive Committee within three (3) months of its dismissal during which period the Board of Trustees shall assume the role of the Executive Committee until the election of a new Executive Committee.
      4. Provide interpretation on any constitutional matters to any member of the Society or the Executive Committee.
      5. Act as the final decision-making authority on any unresolved disputes and disagreements arising in the Executive Committee or any other committees/sub-committees that may be established in the future.
      6. Establish other committees/sub-committees -- and their by-laws governing them -- that may be needed to meet the emerging needs of the Society.
      7. Establish an Election Committee to conduct elections of the Executive Committee.

  13. Society funds

    1. Funds collected by the Society will be deposited in a bank account (both checking and savings) in the name of the Society. Accounts will be operated by the President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Society. At least two (2) of these officers will have to sign the checks for withdrawal of funds from the bank.
    2. The Treasurer will be responsible for maintaining all financial records and books, income and expenditure with proper receipts. At the end of each year, in the month of December, all the books will be balanced and will be presented before the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees for approval.

  14. Dissolution

    1. Criteria for dissolution: A minimum for three (3) members of the Board of Trustees on record can decree the dissolution of the Society for a reason and a cause. The decree must be approved by a two-third (2/3rd) majority of the General Assembly in a meeting specifically called for this purpose. A meeting called for dissolution must have 60% of the members present. The 60% quorum requirement will not be waived if the meeting is postponed due to lack of quorum.
    2. Method of dissolution: The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for carrying out the dissolution process in a manner satisfactory with State and Federal authorities. Upon dissolution of the Society, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Society, dispose of all Assets to similar Organizations in the United States as are already exempt from Federal Income Tax.