Constitution for the Seattle Puget
Sound Chapter of the
Society for International Development
A. NAME
Article 1
The name of this Chapter of the Society for International
Development (“SID”) shall be the Seattle Puget Sound Chapter, hereafter referred
to as the “Chapter.”
B. IDENTITY
Article 2
SID is a global forum of individuals and institutions concerned
with development which is participative, pluralistic and dynamic. SID promotes
aspirations, new ideas, and policy action designed to transform development
policies towards a world which is people-centered, sustainable, just and
inclusive.
C. OBJECTIVES
Article 3
Further to the purpose set forth in Article 2 of the International
Constitution of the Society for International Development, the objectives of
the Chapter shall be:
a) to advance and refine the theory and a coherent
practice of sustainable human development and democratic governance;
b) to identify and communicate policy options;
c) to create fora to exchange and review development
information, initiatives and experience;
d) to foster constructive global dialogue by building
bridges between different actors in development;
e) to empower individuals and groups for greater
community self reliance; and
f) to act as a catalyst for civil society through the
creation of opportunities for expression of civil society perspectives and
roles in development.
D. MEMBERSHIP
Article 4
Membership of the Chapter shall be limited to persons and
institutions holding membership of the Society for International Development.
Article 5
Membership of the Chapter shall be defined in four (4) broad
categories as follows:
a) Regular Members
b) Student Members
c) Institutional Members
d)
Sustaining Members
Article 6
Any person who wishes to further the purposes of the Society for
International Development shall be eligible for membership in either category
(a), category (b) or category (d) above.
Organizations and institutions shall also be eligible, as such, for membership
within categories (c) and (d) above.
Article 7
In addition to the international membership fee, members shall pay
an annual chapter membership fee as decided upon by the General Assembly of the
Chapter.
Article 8
All members shall have the right to attend the meetings of the
Society, to vote, to hold office and to participate in its activities.
Institutional members, not being physical persons, shall be exempt from the
right to hold office.
Article 9
Any member not complying with articles and policies of the Chapter
shall forfeit his/her membership of the Society. After consideration of
relevant facts and a fair hearing, the General Assembly may vote for the
expulsion or removal of any such member.
A simple majority vote of the attending members is necessary for
expulsion.
Article 10
A member who resigns, is expelled or removed, shall forfeit the
right to any part of the assets of the Chapter.
E. CHAPTER OFFICERS
Article 11
The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Chair, all physical persons.
Article 12
The officers of the Chapter shall be elected every two (2) years
at the Annual General Meeting of the Chapter by a simple majority vote of the
Chapter’s membership.
Article 13
Officers of the Chapter may be re-elected, but in any case, shall
not serve in the same position for more than two (2) consecutive terms.
Article 14
The Chapter Officers shall have full power of management and
administration subject to the prerogatives of the general assembly of members.
The Chapter Officers may delegate the day-to-day management of the Chapter to
the Secretary.
Article 15
The Chapter Officers may rescind their delegation of the day-to-day
management of the Chapter by the Secretary should he/she not perform in its
best interest.
Article 16
All deeds committing the Chapter shall, except for special
proxies, be signed by two (2) of the Chapter Officers.
F. THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Article 17
The Chapter President shall be responsible for carrying out the
decisions of legislative meetings of the members and coordinating the work of
the Chapter.
Article 18
The President shall preside at Chapter meetings and at sessions of
the Chapter Executive Committee. In his/her absence, these duties shall be
performed by the Vice President.
G. FINANCES
Article 19
The revenues of the Chapter shall consist of membership dues and
fees, grants, gifts and whatever sources the Chapter might decide.
Article 20
The Chapter’s financial responsibility shall be limited to its
assets and members and officers shall not be liable personally.
Article 21
The use of funds and the bookkeeping of the Chapter shall be
governed by the Chapter Financial Regulations. These regulations may be amended
by a simple majority vote at a General Assembly of the members.
Article 22
The financial year of the Chapter shall run from January 1 to
December 31.
Article 23
Annually, the Chapter Officers shall submit the accounts of the
closed financial year and the estimated budget for the following year for the
approval of the general assembly of the members.
H. COMMITTEES
Article 24
The Chapter Executive Committee shall consist of the elected
officers of the Chapter namely, the President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, and Membership Chair. The
Chapter Executive Committee shall have the power to act on matters arising
between regularly scheduled meetings of the Chapter General Assembly and those
that are not specifically or otherwise provided for in this Constitution.
Article 25
There shall be a Nominations Committee that will serve as the
coordinating body for Chapter Elections. This committee shall be constituted at
the Annual General Meeting immediately preceding the year of elections and
shall comprise three (3) members including a Chairperson, all of whom shall be
elected from amongst the membership of the Chapter. The Nominations Committee
shall exclude incumbent members of the Chapter Executive Committee and
candidates running for office from its membership.
Article 26
The Chapter President shall appoint such other committees as are
necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Chapter. Such committees
shall function until their assignment is complete.
I. ELECTIONS
Article 27
Candidates for Chapter offices shall be nominated by the
Nominations Committee. In addition to this, nominations may be submitted by
written petition signed by not less than ten percent (10%) of the paying
Chapter members. Individuals may also be
nominated for officer positions at the election meeting.
Article 28
Before any candidate is nominated, their willingness to
participate in the election process shall be established.
Article 29
Nominations shall be made no later than twenty-five (25) days
prior to the expiration date of elected officers as established in Article 12
above. Nominations shall be submitted to the entire Chapter membership for vote
no later than fifteen (15) days before such established day. All voting shall
be by secret ballot. The Chairperson of the Nominations Committee is
responsible for tallying and relaying the results to the membership. Voting may be done at the General Assembly
Meeting.
Article 30
Each member shall have one (1) vote in any election process.
Article 31
Election shall be by simple majority of votes cast. In the event
of a tie, the Executive Committee shall have a casting ballot.
J. MEETINGS
Article 32
Regular meetings of the Chapter shall be convened at least once
every quarter. The time and location of such meetings shall be determined by
the Chapter Executive Committee with consideration for securing maximum
membership attendance and transaction of essential business.
Article 33
At least one (1) meeting annually shall provide opportunity for
conduct of normal Chapter business including appropriate annual reports from
officers and committees. This meeting shall be referred to as the Annual
General Meeting of the Chapter.
Article 34
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be
twenty-five-percent (25%) of the paying members of the Chapter either present
in person or represented by proxy.
Article 35
A member may be represented at a meeting by another member. No
member may hold more than one (1) proxy.
K. PROGRAMS
Article 36
The Chapter shall develop a program of work that shall respond to
the needs of its immediate society, keeping in mind the over-arching objectives
of the Society.
Article 37
The Chapter shall collaborate with other Chapters and the
International Secretariat and contribute to the development and implementation
of national, regional, and international programs of work.
L. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND DISSOLUTION
Article 38
Any proposal regarding amendments to the constitution or dissolution
of the Chapter shall emanate from the Chapter Executive Committee or ten
percent (10%) of the paying members of the Chapter. The Chapter Executive
Committee shall advise Chapter members at least four (4) weeks in advance of
the date of the meeting which will deliberate on such proposals.
Article 39
Any amendment to the constitution shall be adopted if it receives
a two-thirds majority vote of the paying members of the Chapter in attendance.
Article 40
An updated constitution of the Chapter, incorporating any and all
amendments shall be lodged with the International Secretariat within forty-five
(45) days of the meeting deliberating on such amendments.
Article 41
The Chapter may be dissolved by a three-quarters (3/4) majority
vote of paying members of the Chapter. In the event of dissolution, the last
Chapter Executive Committee shall act to pay all just debts of the Chapter out
of Chapter funds and transfer all remaining money and assets to the International
Secretariat.
M. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 42
Anything not provided for by the present Constitution shall be
settled according to the provisions of Washington State laws and regulations,
and United States federal laws and regulations, as applicable.
N. REGISTERED OFFICE AND LOCATION
Article 43
The registered office of the Chapter is at present at:
Seattle Puget Sound SID
c/o Monika Aring
909 N 35th Street, Unit 201
Seattle WA
98103
It may be relocated to any other address within the boundaries of
Washington State by a decision of the Chapter Executive Committee. Such
decision shall be communicated at the earliest possible opportunity to the
International Secretariat.
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