PREAMBLE

  We the members of Senegalese Association of Houston, hereafter known as S.A.H. and residing in Houston and its metropolitan area, in order to further the collective interest of the members of the S A H., to provide adequate assistance to all the Senegalese in general and to the ones in need in particular, to create an harmonious and healthy forum to help the Senegalese voice their various concerns as well as reach and maintain a stable cultural and economic balance, to pursue our common goals of fostering a viable and respected community with equal access to justice and opportunity ,to uplift the image of Senegal and Senegalese ,and to research ways to galvanize prosperity in Senegal ,do hereby resolve to establish this constitution for the S A H .

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

The Association shall consist of Direct Members, Associate Members, and Honorary Members. It shall be the duty of all members to uphold the dignity of Senegal and the Senegalese in words or deeds. Any member may be expelled from the Association for acts directly countering the efforts of the Association to achieve its objectives by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly.

  SECTION I: DIRECT MEMBERS

Direct members shall be people of Senegalese descent who subscribe to the goals of the S.A.H., who apply for membership, and fulfill their membership obligations, including but not limited to payment of annual or monthly dues to be set by the Executive Committee. Direct members have the privileges of making motions, seeking or holding office, serving on committees, or participating in the business activities of the S.A.H.

SECTION II: ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Associate members shall be people of other than indigenous Senegal descent who subscribe to the goals of the S A H., who apply for membership, and fulfill their membership obligations, including but not limited to payment of annual and or monthly dues set by the executive committee.

SCETION III: HONORARY MEMBERS

Honorary members shall be people of high stature who have demonstrated a love for Senegal and Senegalese by a history of deeds and gestures that have, directly or indirectly, contributed to the prosperity of the Senegalese community .The president with the Executive Committee consent shall bestow this membership.

Section IV: Registration fees and monthly dues

Members shall pay an annual membership registration fee as well as monthly dues. Members whose dues are not paid within three month, thereafter shall be automatically dropped from membership of S.A.H. Family membership rates shall be available for members who wish to avail themselves of this privilege. The executive Committee shall determine all dues and fees, and shall from time to time revise the rates as found necessary.

ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

An executive committee shall govern the S.A.H. T he executive committee shall determine policies, approve social and cultural events, authorize the annual budget, hear members' concerns and complains, and establish rules and ordinances for the greater good of the members of the Association.
The executive committee shall consist of the president, vice president, General Secretary, General Treasurer, and Chairpersons of the following committees: Finance, Exterior Relations, Information and Membership, Program and Cultural, and Social and Education.
The offices President, Vice President, General Secretary, and General Treasurer shall be filled through elections held during the General Assembly. Only Direct members are qualified to vote and run for these offices. The terms office for all Executive Officers shall be one year beginning on July 1^st and June 30^th of the next year. All Offices are non-paying.

Section I: The President

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the S.A.H., and shall preside over all meetings that he/she is present with the exception of committee meetings other than the one he/she chairs, and which he/she partakes as an observer.
The President shall represent the S.A.H. at all official functions at the S.A.H. expense with the Execute Committee approval, or at his/her own expense without such approval. He/she may make decisions involving amounts not to exceed five percent of the annual budget at a time and not to exceed twenty percent cumulatively in any one calendar year, those involving the local perception of the S.A.H. image without the Executive Committee approval. Decisions involving more money and those involving external perception of the S.A.H. image made by the President shall require the Executive Committee approval by a simple majority. "Local" in this case means the Senegalese community; "external" means the Community at large.
The President shall reserve the power to appoint Direct Members to fill Executive Offices that become vacant during his/her tenure. The President shall appoint all ad-hoc committees of the S.A.H. not otherwise provide for in the constitution.

Section II: the Vice-president

The Vice-President shall assist the President in carrying out all presidential duties, and shall act in the President's stead in his/her absence. The Vice-President shall assume the office of the president, along with the duties and responsibilities should the presidency be vacated for any reason.

Section III: The General Secretary

The General secretary shall be the custodian of all records and literature belonging to the S.A.H., unless the President specifically assigns them to another Officer.
The General Secretary shall record the minutes of all general and executive meetings, and shall share both local external correspondence responsibilities with the president. The general secretary shall be responsible for notifying members of general meetings, as well as arranging the venue for meetings. The General Secretary shall coordinate and foster relations among members of the Executive Committee.

Section IV: The General Treasurer

The General Treasurer is the officer entrusted with the custody of the association's funds. The General Treasurer shall keep all funds of the association in an accredited bank or similar institution approved by the Executive Committee, and pay them out only on the order of the Association. The General Treasurer shall disburse funds of the Association, with the co-signature of the President and one or more Executive Officers upon the authorization of the Executive Committee.
The General Treasurer shall present a full financial report on quarterly basis, and shall present such interim reports as the General Assembly or Executive Committee may direct.

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