THE CONSTITUTION
OF
THE ISOKO ASSOCIATION OF ATLANTA.
GEORGIA. USA
PREAMBLE:
We, the sons and daughters of Isoko of Delta state of Nigeria living in Atlanta,
Georgia of the United States of America, being cognizant of our heritage, root and
responsibilities to our people here and at home, compile this constitution as evidence to
our resolve to unite as a body, promote our culture and mutually contribute to the
advancement of all Isoko People wherever they may be.
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
a) This organization shall be called "ISOKO ASSOCIATION OF ATLANTA" here to
referred to as the Union.
b) The mailing address for this organization shall be: ---------------------------------.
c) This Union shall be a "Nonprofit" organization.
d) The motto of this Union shall be "OKUGBE HO OGAGA".
e) The logo for this Union shall be --------------------------------------------
ARTICLE 11: PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this organization at all times shall be consistent with the needs
of lsoko people, and shall reflect cultural and socio-economic desires of our people. The
purpose shall include:
a) To promote lasting unity and solidarity among Isoko people wherever they may live.
b) To encourage, support and foster economic and social welfare of Isoko people.
c) T o promote cultural advancement of our people within the community we live, and at
home.
d) T o promote, support and actively participate in the development of Isoko land and
its people.
e) To morally and/or financially support educational aspirations of our people within the
limits of our resource.
f) T o actively support efforts that enhances good relations among lsoko people, and
work in tandem with any organization around the world with similar interest.
Section I: Qualification
a) General Membership:
General membership shall be granted to all Isoko sons and daughters living in Atlanta
Area regardless of marital status. All wives/husband of Isoko sons and their offsprings as well as the offsprings of our unmarried sons/ daughters shall have general membership to this union as long as they reside in Atlanta area.
b) Observer:
The title observer shall be reserved for any person(s) that is visiting the Atlanta area.
And decides to attend our general meeting. This individual can observe and make
suggestions to the union, but does not have any voting rights.
c) Honorary: This title shall be reserve for Nigerian dignitaries in the United States and abroad, local and civic leaders in the United States and abroad
Section 2:
Obligations of Member to the Union
a) A member shall be considered in good standing when all dues, levies and registration
fee are paid.
b) Regular attendance to the general meeting shall be required of all members.
c) A member shall be required to abide by the rules and regulations of this union, and
actively be involved in the affairs of the Union.
d) All members shall respect our constitution and the rights of other members in a
democratic process.
e) The Union shall not tolerate vulgar languages from members and/or their guest.
f) Individuals that meet the above requirements shall be considered active members. (see Amendment to Constitution)
Section 3: Dues
a) Members to this Union shall be required to pay a lifetime registration fee of twenty-
five dollars ($25.00).
b) In addition, members shall be required to pay monthly dues often dollars ($10.00)
at the general meetings.
Section 4: Rights and Benefits of the Members:
The following benefits and more to be determined by the executive committee
shall accrue to the members of this Union:
a) The Union shall morally and when possible financially assist members in the case of
child birth with fifty dollars ($50.00). ($75:00, See Amendments to the Constitution)
b) The Union shall morally and when possible financially assist in the case of the death
of a member and/or member of his/her immediate fami1y. (Brother/sister of the same
parent, in case of multiple family members, the union shall bring them together under
one visitation.). With $50.00. ($100:00, see Amendments to the Constitution)
c) The Union shall provide legal assistance to the members on a case-by-case basis as
determined and approved by the executive committee.
d) The Union shall arrange group health and life insurance for the interested member.
e) The Union shall assist members in their academic graduation activities, and when
possible extend scholarships to encourage their academic aspirations.
Amendments to the Constitution
e1) $100.00, to full time members graduating @ college level and up.
f) The Union shall extend low interest loans and appropriate loans forms to members
who are in obvious financial difficulties as long as it does not jeopardize the solvency
of the Union.
g) The Union shall encourage and support mutual economic investments by members,
and shall provide members with information to enhance such partnership.
h) The Union shall encourage and create environments and opportunities for the social,
cultural and economic interactions among our sons and daughters.
i) The Union shall supply members with membership application, membership cards
and membership certificates.
j) All members shall have equal rights and duties in observance of the objectives of the
Union irrespective of class or creed.
k) Every member shall be entitled to one vote.
AMENDMENTS
l) $100.00 should be a present to newly wedded or married couples.
ARTICLE IV- OFFICERS OF THE UNION
The elected positions of the Isoko Union shall comprise the following offices:
I) President
2) Vice President
3) General Secretary
4) Publicity Secretary
5) Financial Secretary
6) Treasurer
7) Provost
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF THE ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1: The President
a) The President shall be the chief executive officer and the spokesperson of the Union.
b) The President shall call for executive meetings, emergency meetings, and special
sessions of the General Assembly when requested by the Executive Committee.
c) The President shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee and the
General Assembly.
d) The President shall perform other duties as prescribed by the Executive Committee.
e) The President shall cast vote in General meetings, and break ties in Executive
Committee meetings.
f) The President shall deliver annual State of the Union address.
g) The president shall be a signatory on the checks of the union.
Section 2: The Vice President
a) The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President in the absence of, or at the
request of the President.
b) The Vice President shall preside over the special committees of the union.
c) The Vice President shall perform other responsibilities assigned to him by the
Executive Committee.
Section 3: General Secretary
a) The General Secretary shall be in charge of the Secretariat of the Union.
b) The General Secretary shall record the minutes of an Executive Committee, General
Assembly, emergency meetings and special sessions and keeps custody of the
Union's documents, seals and central files.
c) The General Secretary shall receive all external correspondences to the Union, and
prepare responses as may be instructed by the President and/or the Executive
Committee.
d) The General Secretary shall work with the Publicity Secretary to write, dispatch and
publicize all meetings and activities involving the Union.
e) The General Secretary shall be a signatory on the checks and external financial
documents of the Union.
f) The General Secretary may be required to perform other secretarial duties as
determined by the President and or the Executive Committee.
Section 4: Publicity Secretary
a) The Publicity Secretary shall be the Media director or public relation officer of the
Union.
b) The Publicity Secretary shall be responsible for writing, publication and circulation of
approved events involving the union.
c) The Publicity Secretary shall be in charge of the organization and execution of social
events approved by the Executive Committee.
d) The Publicity Secretary shall present proposal for social activities to the executive
committee for approval.
Section 5: Financial Secretary
a) The Financial Secretary shall be the financial or fiscal director of the Union.
b) The Financial Secretary shall keep and maintain all financial records of the Union.
c) The Financial Secretary shall cooperate with the treasurer in formulating fund raising
programs for the Union.
Section 6: Treasurer
a) The Treasurer shall receive all funds from the Financial Secretary on behalf of the
union.
b) The Treasurer shall bank all monies of the Union, and keep receipts.
c) The Treasurer shall be a signatory on the checks and external financial documents of
the Union.
Section 7: Provost
a) The Provost shall be the parliamentarian of the Union.
b) The Provost shall maintain order during General and Executive Committee meetings.
c) The Provost shall make sure that proper parliamentary procedure is maintained during the meetings.
d) The Provost may be assigned other duties by the Executive Committee and/or the
President.
ARTICLE VI - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1: Composition
The executive committee shall consist of all elected officers of the Union, and one
other non-office holding member .
Section 2: Duties of the Executive Committee
a) The Executive Committee shall be the policy making body of the Union.
b) It shall appoint auditors when necessary .
c) It shall take disciplinary action and/or remove from office any officers of the Union
for misconduct and/or negligence of duty .
d) The Executive Committee shall hold meetings once every month or at any other time
as the President considers necessary .
e) The Executive Committee shall act in the absence of the general body during special
emergency.
f) The Executive Committee shall formulate the budget of the Union.
g) The Executive Committee shall have the powers to deliberate and recommend the
impeachment or recall of any officer to the general assembly.
h) The Executive Committee shall have the power to recommend to the general
assemble, withdraw and/or deny membership.
ARTICLE VII - THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
a) The general assembly shall compose of all members of the Union. regardless of their
membership status.
b) The general assembly shall meet once every month, known as the "Monthly
Meeting. "
c) In all deliberations of the general assembly , a simple majority of the members present
and voting shall be sufficient to carry the motion.
ARTICLE VIII - TERMS OF OFFICE
a) All offices of the Union shall be for a period of one year. (Two Year, See Amendments to the Constitution
b) In case of death, resignation. pre-mature removal from office, the Executive
Committee shall appoint an immediate substitute to fill the vacancy .
c) Officers of the Union can be re-nominated and re-elected, but for no more than two
terms for one office.
ARTICLES IX - BY-LAWS
By-Law 1 - Parliamentary Procedure
a) The President shall call the meetings to order at 3:00 P.M., followed by a short prayer.
b) The General Secretary shall take roll call to recognize the members present.
c) The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and adopted.
d) The Union shall
devote time to unfinished business from previous meeting(s).
followed by any new businesses.
a) For the general meeting. a quorum shall exist when 1/3 of the members are present.
b) The affirmative majority of the voting members present shall be necessary for the
adoption of any motion.
c) In case of tie in votes. The members shall separately re-vote. If the tie continues, the
President shall break the tie
d) For the Executive Committee meetings 2/3 the members shall constitute a quorum.
By-Law 3- Language of the Union
a) The meetings of the Union shall be conducted in Isoko dialect with occasional use of
English language.
b) The minutes of the meetings shall be written in English language.
c) Other official businesses shall be conducted in English language.
By-Law 4 - Amendments to the Constitution
a) The power to amend, repeal or adopt new or part of this Constitution shall be the
responsibility of the general assembly.
b) The affinitive vote of two third (2/3) of voting members present at the general
assembly shall be sufficient to amend or repeal any part of this constitution.
c) The proposal to amend or repeal any part of this constitution shall be in writing to the
Executive Committee, who reviews the proposal and recommends line of action for,
the general assembly.
By-Law 5- Election of Officers
a) A returning officer shall be nominated by majority of the members to oversee the
election process.
b) Voting shall be by secret ballot.
c) There shall be three nominees to each office, and the Candidate with majority of the
vote wins.
d) Members shall be allowed to nominate themselves.
e) There shall be separate election for each office.
f) Any active member of the Union may nominate or be nominated for an office. All
nominations must be seconded to be accepted.
g) lndividuals who accept nominations shall be in good standing with the union (see
article ill section 2, a.).
h) A person may be nominated for more than one office, but can only contest to one at a
time.
i) The candidates for any elective office shall be registered active members of the
Union, and they must also be of good character, dedicated, efficient and committed to
the principles of the Union.
j) Elections shall be held during the General Assembly.
k) Election shall be held in November, except when vacancy is created prematurely.
I) Nominations shall be made on the day of the elections, and as such, campaigns shall
not be encouraged.
By- Law - Recall of Officers
a) Any officer of the Union shall be recalled if 2/3 of the active members find him/her
guilty of these infractions.
1. Embezzlement
11. Felony convictions
111. Inactivity in Union affairs
IV. Abuse of power or unauthorized use of power
v. Negligence of duty
By-Law 7- Hand-over
a) Hand-over of the documents of Union shall be on the first general meeting after an
election.
b) During transition, the newly elected officers shall attend the Executive Committee.
By-Law 8- Venue of the Meeting
a) The general assembly and the Executive Committee meetings shall rotate among the
residences of the members on a voluntary basis.
b) In the future the Union may decide to meet at a centralized location.
By-Law 9 - Financial Record
a) The Treasurer shall update the Executive Committee on the financial status of the
Union monthly.
b) The Financial Secretary and the Treasurer shall make a comprehensive yearly
financial report to the general assembly.
c) The Executive Committee shall appoint auditors to audit the financial records of the
Union before the new officers take office in December.
d) The Treasurer shall be allowed no more than fifty ($50.00) as petty cash for
emergency expenses on behalf of the Union.
By-Law 10- Dissolution
a) If the Union is unable to live up to its objectives, it shall dissolve, and evenly share its
assets and liabilities among the active members at the time of dissolution.
b) The proposal to dissolve the Union shall be supported by two third (2/3) of the active
members to the general assembly through the Executive Committee.
COMMITTEE: MEMBERS
Alphonsus Osiezagha
Godwin Emonina and Sam Erutere.
Amendments to the Constitution
==========================
Article VIII –
Page 11
a) All Office of the Union should run 2 years instead of 1year.
Article III Page 5 – Section – 4.
a) An increase from $50.00, to $75.00, in case of child Birth in a family.
b) An increase from $50.00, to $100.00, in case of death in a family
e) $75.00, to full time members graduating @ College level and up.
Among other things to be considered
============================
*** $100.00 should be a present to newly wedded or married couples.
***** Two officials should be sponsored to an event outside Atlanta as
a delegate.
(The President and the General Secretary.)
There will be a one year waiting period before greeting new members
Members must have a 50% attendance for the previous year to be eligible for greeting.
Member’s due must be paid up-to-date for the previous 12 calendar months to be eligible for greeting
NOTE: 50% is attending five (5) meetings in a year or calling the President, Vice President, or the PRO if you will not attend the next meeting because of work or traveling out of town.
One member of the family-attending meeting counts towards the entire family.
Amendments to the Constitution
Article III
Page 5 – Section – 4.
e) $75.00, to full time members graduating @ College level and up
The Association would not greet
members graduating from college level and up