The Constitution
PREAMBLE
We the people of Putu Administrative District, Grand Gedeh County, Liberia, in America, for the purpose of promoting unity, helping ourselves and others, regardless of geography location, race, or nationality, to foster cordial relationships with all friendly and peace-loving people of the world. We do hereby resolve to establish and proclaim this constitution as the organic law to govern our existence as members within the framework as a non-profit organization.
We shall provide assistance to people in need irrespective of nationality, race, creed, religion, ethnicity, and gender.
Article I: The Name
The organization shall hereafter be known and styled,
Putu Apoleagbo in America or PAA for short.
ARTICLE iI: MOTTO
The motto for Putu Apoleagbo in America shall be: United for Progress and Community Empowerment.
ARTICLE III: HEADQUARTERS
The Headquarters for Putu Apoleagbo in America. (PAA) is in the City of Philadelphia, PA USA.
ARTICLE IV: GOAL(S) AND OBJECTIVE(S)
The objective(s) of the Association shall be:
- To promote, protect and seek the interest and welfare of members in the Americas and elsewhere.
- To provide assistance in fighting poverty, diseases, and unemployment by providing financial services, scholarships, grants to poor and low income persons in need in America, war ravages African countries and elsewhere.
- To promote development in Africa through education and training. Empowering women, children and others disadvantaged persons to assist in improving health conditions by developing local capacities to provide health care.
Membership of Putu Apoleagbo in America (PAA) shall be opened to individuals, a Branch, and Chapter who ascribed to the goals and objectives of the Association as mentioned in article IV. He /She/branch/Chapter must declare intention and fill an application form. Membership shall not be awarded based on creed, color, race, religion, sex, tribe or nationality.
A group of persons twenty-five (25) and above residing in the same location and desiring to form part of Putu Apoleagbo in America shall request a chapter status from the administration and when granted status shall enjoy all rights and privileges thereof.
A group of persons less than twenty-five (25) and more than nine (9) residing in the same location and desiring to form part of Putu Apoleagbo in America shall request Branch status from the Administration and if granted shall enjoy all rights and privileges thereof.
Individual membership of the Putu Apoleagbo in America shall be in two categories: Bona fide and Associate Membership.
A bona fide membership shall be opened to a born citizen of Putu District who expressed desire and declared his/her intent by the completion of a membership form.
Associate membership shall be open to spouse(s) of bona fide members, friends, and others, this category shall have the right to seek elective positions, except the office of the president, vice president, chair and co-chair of the board of directors. The associate membership shall have the right to vote on all matters of interest to the Association.
- Each person desiring membership shall pay $10.00 (ten dollars) membership registration fee and complete a registration form.
- Each chapter shall pay a membership registration fee of $150.00 (one hundred fifty dollars).
- Each Branch shall pay a membership registration fee of $100.00 (one hundred dollars) 2Member(s), chapter(s), and Branch that meet these requirements shall enjoy all benefits as stipulated in Article V: section IV.
- The Association shall provide scholarships, grants, educational or business loans to qualified member(s) and their dependents. The executive committee shall set qualifications and other criteria in its administrative policy and guidelines.
- Member(s) to enjoy these benefits shall submit a request to the local chapter’s and branch leadership, who may submit it to the national administration and onward to the Board of directors for approval or disapproval after a careful review.
Principal body of the Putu Apoleagbo in America shall be:
- NATIONAL CONVENTION
- THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- THE ADMINISTRATION
- THE ELDERS COUNCIL
- The national convention shall be the national forum where every member of the association meets to discuss issues regarding the affairs of the association. The convention shall have exclusive authority to adopt, amend or repeal this bylaws and constitution and other resolutions of the association.
- The national convention location shall be determined by a vote of simple majority at the conference. The national convention shall be held the 2 nd week of March each year. The national convention activities shall include but not limited to fund raising, workshops, installation of officers, amendments, etc.
- Member, Branch, and Chapter shall pay a convention sitting fees as indicated herein;
- Member $50.00
- Branch $150.00
- Chapter $300
A. The Board of Directors shall be composed of three members representing each chapter.
B. Chapters shall have board elections and summit names of board members on or before January 31 st in the year of their end term. All new and reelected members of the Board shall be inducted into office at the convention of the same year at the business meeting of the convention.
C. The Chair of the Board of Director shall preside over all national conferences.
D. The Board of Directors shall be responsible to appoint all administrative officers of the association including the president, vice president, General Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain and the financial secretary.
E. The Board shall elect its officers, which include the chairperson, co-chairperson and secretary.
F. The Board of Director shall have no power to remove any member of the Administration except through an impeachment proceeding as indicated in Article XI section III of this bylaws.
G. The Board of Director can refer any matter including impeachment petition to the council of Elders for intervention and resolution. However, the Board must declare a decision of said matter. All matters referred to the board of Directors must be addressed within forty-five (45) days from the date of said matter submission to the Board.
H. The Board of Directors shall have the power to recommend / propose constitutional amendment(s) from time to time in the best interest of the association. Such a proposal shall be disseminated to the general membership who shall vote to approve or disapprove the amendment(s) during the conference.
I. The board shall receive projects proposals, protocols, and other programs from the administration for thorough review and subsequent approval/disapproval.
J. The Board has 30 days to approve or disapprove any request including and but not limited to non-budgetary expense, budget, and proposal from the Administration. Failure of the board is an automatic approval. Automatic approval is not applicable in the case where the Board is actively discussing with the administration regarding said proposal.
K. The board shall serve as monitor and principal policy advisor of the association.
L. The board shall receive complaints of any or unethical behavior against any official and invite said official for consultation, set up an impartial body to conduct a probe based on the gravity of the act allegedly committed; the special inquiry committee shall upon completion of the investigation submit its report to the Board for decision-making process.
In the event where compromises cannot be reached between the board and any official found in violation, the board in conjunction with administration and the Elder council of advisors, shall institute disciplinary action against the officer concerned to be decided by members.
M. All major decisions/actions affecting the behavior of any officer/member shall be decided by two/third majority vote of both administration and the Board shall make a decision to address said situation.
The administration shall be in two categories, National and local. Either Administration shall include the president, vice president, general secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain and financial secretary except Branch which shall be headed by coordinator. The national Administration shall include Standing committee chair and co-chair appointed by the president.
- The president shall be the chief executive officer of the association; he /she shall uphold and defend the bylaws of the association. He/she shall have the power to develop, supervise and direct all administrative policies and coordinate financial programs, provide funding for new or continuing projects in a consistent manner to produce maximum outcome.
- The president shall call and preside over all regular and call/emergency meetings whenever the need arises.
- The president shall have the power to retain the service of a legal counsel to defend the interest of the association. He/she shall also have the power to enter business contract(s) with individuals, profit, and nonprofit corporations or government agencies for the benefit of the association with the consent and advice of the Board of Directors.
- The president shall have the power to raise funds from the membership, other charitable organizations, foundations, profit and nonprofit cooperation and the general public for the sole benefit of the association.
- The president shall have the power to appoint all chair and co-chair of the standing committee.
- The President shall be a signatory to the association bank account.
- The president shall appoint an Ad-Hoc committee as he sees fit to carry out a specific task. And thereafter He / She can dismiss or retain it as he desires.
- The president shall acknowledge and announce to the general membership of an Elder council membership after a careful review of the constitutional requirements.
The vice president shall serve as the principal deputy of the president. He /she acts as president in the absence of the president, and may carry out other functions as may be directed by the president.
He /she shall ascend to the presidency in the event of impeachment, resignation, incapacitation, or death of the president.
The general secretary shall be the chief custodian of the association documents. He /she shall record and read minutes of meetings, and send out official communications as may be directed. He /she shall be a signatory to the association’s bank account.
SECTION VII: THE TREASURER
A. The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and custodian of the association’s properties. He / she shall prepare and maintain all financial records and shall make quarterly comprehensive financial reports.
B. The treasurer shall supervise all monies collection, receive and deposit it into the association’s bank account within 72 hours from time of receipt. The Treasurer shall be a signatory to the association’s bank.
SECTION VIII: FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The financial secretary shall serve as principal deputy to the treasurer and shall be the chief custodian of the association’s financial records. He /she shall act in the place of the Treasurer in the event of resignation, impeachment, incapacitation or death of the Treasurer.
SECTION IX: CHAPLAIN
The chaplain shall be a Godly person regardless of faith. He/ she shall provide spiritual guidance to the association and conduct all invocations and benedictions at every meetings and functions.
ARTICLE VII: STANDING COMMITTEES
The association shall have the following standing committees:
A. Planning and social committee
B. Education and Public relations committee
C. Membership and welfare committee
The planning and social committee shall be headed by chairperson and shall:
A. Explore, plan, and execute social programs undertaking by the association
B. Execute appropriate programs to raise funds for the association.
C. Plan and execute short and long term development projects such as, but not limited to:
1. Health and education
2. Socio-culture
3. Infra-structure
4. Agriculture and economic development(s)
The education and community relations shall be headed by a chairperson and shall:
A. Promote the aims and objectives of the association.
B. Prepare publications and releases concerning the activities and programs of the association.
C. Monitor and evaluate all relevant programs of the association; coordinate all video and audio recordings, as well as photographs of the association’s activities and functions.
D. Monitor the media to obtain information relevant to the association. He /she shall have authority over the web site.
E. He/she shall plan, direct and supervise all educational programs and benefits including grants, scholarships, school supplies etc.
The membership and welfare committee shall be headed by a chairperson and shall:
A. Encourage, recruit and establish a database for the general membership. He/ she shall oversee membership registration and general accountability of the membership. Individual member, Branch, and chapter registration should be processed through him /her.
B. The committee shall receive and evaluate all request(s) for benefits and assistance made to the association from individual members / Branch/chapter and make appropriate recommendations to the president.
SECTION I: Qualification of the executive / administrative and members of the board of directors shall be
Candidate(s) who:
A. Have a bona-fide or associate membership for at least one year.
B. Legally resides in the United states of America
C. Must be a high school graduate or its equivalent, except a member of the board of directors.
D. Is not indicted on human rights violation or abuse.
E. Is in good financial standings with the association. This shall include but not limited to all due Payments, fines, donations, pledges, etc.
F. All members of the executive committee must have leadership /administrative experience.
SECTION I: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of directors shall be composed of three members representing each chapter. Each member shall serve a three-year term and may be re-elected to serve as many terms as elected by his / her chapter.
The administrative officers shall include the president, vice president, general secretary, treasurer, chaplain, and financial secretary who shall:
A. Serve a two-year term and maybe re-appointed for a second term
B. The president shall not serve a third term in succession. He/she shall serve after a gap of two years from served term to the next appointment.
A. The Elder council shall serve for life time until he or she decides to retire.
B. A member of the Elder council shall be 55 years and above, express desire and be in compliance with Article V section I & III of this by-law and constitution.
C. The Elder council shall serve as advisor to the Administration and the Board on all matters.
The association shall raise funds to finance all projects and defray all administrative and operational expenses from the following;
A. Membership due and fees.
B. Donations from foundations, profit and not profit, other charitable organizations and the general public.
C. Funds raising events and programs.
D. Special projects, enterprises and other funds raising activities as permitted by law.
Bank account shall be established at a recognized legal financial institute/ bank for safe keeping of the association’s funds within and outside of the United states of Americas as permitted by law. The Association shall operate two (2) accounts, operational and business accounts.
The signatories to the account of Putu Apoleagbo in America shall be the President, Chairman of the board of Director, Treasurer, and General Secretary. A minimum of two signatures shall be required for any withdrawal from the account. The association shall not issue a cash card.
A. All disbursements from the association’s account shall be in accordance with budgetary allotments appropriated by the administration and approved by the Board of Directors.
B. All non-budgetary expenses exceeding one hundred dollars must be approved by the Board of Directors. Non budgetary expenses exceeding one hundred must be submitted for approval once in a quarterly.
SECTION I:
The authority to impeach or remove any member(s) of the Board of Director or the administration shall be vested in the board of directors. Cause(s) for impeachment(s) shall include but not limited to:
A. Inability to conduct the affairs of the office he /she holds.
B. Violation of any provision of the bylaws and constitution of the association.
C. Embezzlement or misappropriation of the association’s funds
SECTION II:
An impeachment petition emanating from the membership, shall be filed with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be compelled to institute impeachment proceedings against the person(s) mentioned therein the petition.
SECTION III:
All impeachment proceedings must be thoroughly conducted by all members of the Board of Directors and the administration, a guilty verdict obtained by a single majority vote is enforced.
ARTICLE XII:
DISSOLUTION OF THE PUTUAPOLEAGBO in America. (PAA)
SECTION I:
The authority to dissolve the Putu Apoleagbo in America. (PAA) shall be vested solely in the membership for dissolution to take effect. A resolution with the full names and signatures of the membership must be passed by a 2/3, two third majority vote at a given meeting. The resolution to
dissolve must clearly spell out the reason that necessitated the decision. Following the dissolution by a majority vote of membership, PAA’ assets and liabilities at such dissolution, shall be dispensed of as follows:
A. The assets must be assessed after all other commitments have been discharged as provided for.
B. Shall be devoted to charitable organizations that are in favor of the majority at the time of the dissolution.
C. Property acquired by PAA shall be donated and put up for sale through public auction and proceeds from such sale shall be donated to charitable organizations.
ARTICLE XIV: AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
Two-third of the members of the association at the convention shall have the authority to amend or repeal any provision in part or whole of this constitution and other resolution(s).
I ___________________ DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND SATISFACTORILY, EXECUTE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, OF _____________, OF THE PUTU APOLEAGBO in
AMERICA. (PAA), AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DEFEND, UPHOLD, AND ABIDE BY THE BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION OF THIS ASSOCIATION, SO HELP ME GOD.
Adopted this 8th day of December 2018 AD in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1. Mr. Isaac T Kannah Sr.————-Chairman
2. Mr. George K. Saydee————–Co-chairperson
3. Mr. Steve Boley ——————–secretary
4. Mr. Nathaniel Sayon—————Member
5. Mr. William Payne—————–Member