BY-LAWS
OF
CENTRO ARGENTINO
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be CENTRO ARGENTINO.
ARTICLE II
OBJECT
This is a non-profit organization. The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and to foster:
1. The unity and friendship of the Argentinians living in the Dallas/Forth Worth Metropolitan area.
2. The knowledge of Argentinian culture.
3. Literary and educational purposes.
4. Interamerican relations.
5. Organizations that serve as gathering nucleus for Argentineans.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
1. ELIGIBILITY: Any individual or family who desires to help in achieving the goals of this organization may become a member by submitting an application to the Board of Directors. Once accepted by the Board by majority vote the prospective member/s shall pay the annual dues for the first year.
2. REQUIRED DUES: The Board of Directors shall set the schedule of dues for each year. Membership dues shall be approved by simple majority at the annual general meeting. Membership becomes due and payable within the first ten days of each year, with a grace period until the end of January. The Treasurer shall notify members in arrears.
3. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP
INDIVIDUAL: Corresponds to any person who singly wishes to join the organization. This type of membership entitles the member to one vote during the general meeting held for the election of the Board of Directors.
FAMILY: Corresponds to spouses and children under the age of 21. This membership entitles the household to one vote during the general meeting held for the election of the Board of Directors.
TERMINATION: Any member/s desiring to resign from the organization shall notify in writing his/her decision to the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has the authority to terminate the membership of any member that does not abide by the by-laws of this organization.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
1. The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of a President, a President Elect, and six Officers.
2. Only members in good standing can be nominated for the Board of Directors. But the office of the President shall be occupied only by an Argentinean. Exceptions could be made with the approval of two thirds of the membership.
3. Officers shall be elected by direct and secret vote of the members in good standing. Vote by proxy is allowed.
4. The President shall serve for one year. The President Elect shall serve one year in this capacity and then become President. The six Officers shall serve for two years, with three of them being renewed in alternate years.
5. The terms of the officers of the Board of Directors shall commence on the 15th of February immediately after the annual general meeting.
6. For the Board of Directors elected in 1997, the following special provisions will apply:
6.1: The President and President Elect shall be elected at the same time.
6.2: The two Officers with the least number of votes in the general election shall be renewed after the first year of office. In a case of a tie, the Board of Directors will decide which Officers shall be renewed.
7. The Board of Directors shall elect within its members a Treasurer and a Secretary for a one year term.
8. No member shall hold more than one elected office at a time.
9. Any vacancy occurring among the Board of Directors by death, resignation or otherwise shall be filled by election for the unexpired term, at the next special meeting of the Board of Directors. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the President Elect shall become President until the expiration of his/her original term. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President Elect, the Board of Directors shall call a special general election meeting to fill in the post.
In the case of vacancy of an Officer, the Board of Director shall designate a replacement for the remaining of the unexpired tern
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. PRESIDENT: Preside the Board of Directors and general meetings. Keep the Board fully informed of the work of the organization and perform any other duties delegated by the Board of Directors.
The vote of the President shall count as two in case of a tie in the meetings of the Board of Directors.
The President shall present a semi-annual report to be presented to the members
2. PRESIDENT ELECT: Be acquainted with the work of the organization, participate in the Board of Directors meetings with the right to vote and perform any other duties as delegated by the Board of Directors.
3. SECRETARY: Keep records of all proceedings of the organization - usually called the minutes. Keep on file all committees reports. Make the minutes and records available to members upon request. Sign all certified copies of acts of the organization. Maintain a record book containing the by-laws and minutes and any amendments properly documented. Prepare prior to each meeting an order of business for the use of the presiding officer. In the absence of the President, to call a meeting to order and preside until the immediate election of the chair for that meeting who shall act as an interim President. Perform any other duties as delegated by the Board of Directors.
4. TREASURER: The Treasurer of the organization is the officer entrusted with the custody of its funds. The Treasurer is required to collect dues from members, to deposit such dues and other funds pertaining to the organization in a bank account of the organization, to notify the member whose dues are in arrears, to keep the organization*s official membership roll, to make such interim financial reports as directed by the Board, and to make an annual full financial report.
5. OFFICERS: Vote in the Board of Directors meetings and perform any duties applicable to the office of counselors and other business delegated by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
1. The Board of Directors shall call a general meeting of the members in good standing once a year for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees and for any other business that may arise.
The annual general meeting shall be held within the first fourteen days of February of each year.
The order of business of the general meeting shall be included in the call to the meeting and cannot be altered.
2. The Board of Directors shall hold a meeting at least every two months. The quorum is formed for at least five members of the Board of Directors.
3. Special general meetings may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of at least fifteen members in good standing. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. At least fifteen days notice shall be given. Modification of these by-laws and removal of elected officers require the approval by direct and secret vote of at least two thirds of all members in good standing at the time of the special meeting.
4. For purpose of constituting quorum at the regular general meeting, twenty five per cent of the members are required.
ARTICLE VII
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
1. Candidates to hold office as members of the Board of Directors shall be nominated and seconded from the floor by members in good standing during the annual general meeting. In case of a tie, the President of the Board of Directors shall cast a deciding vote.
2. The officers of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a simple majority of the members in good standing present, and by proxy, at the annual general meeting.
3. Special provision for the first election of the organization: a tie between two contending candidates for a seat at the Board of Directors shall be broken with a Truco game without "flor" between the tied candidates. The winner shall become the elected officer.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES
Members may form committees to perform different activities as deemed necessary. The Committees shall report to the Board of Directors.
