BYLAWS
ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this organization shall be The Friendship Force of the National Capital Area (FFNCA), affiliated with The Friendship Force. Inc. (FFI), a nonprofit corporation chartered in the state of Georgia.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
The purpose of FFNCA shall be to create in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, including
neighboring counties in Maryland and Northern Virginia, an environment in which friendship among nations can grow through exchange visits of their citizens.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1: Any person interested in promoting the cause of understanding, tolerance, and peace among peoples of different nations is eligible for membership in the FFNCA.
Section 2: FFNCA admits individuals of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, religion, sex, handicap, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally
accorded or made available to members of FFNCA.
Section 3: FFNCA recognizes two types of membership: single (one person) and family unit.
Each member shall be entitled to one vote at meeting of FFNCA upon payment of dues.
Section 4: Only those with paid-up memberships shall be considered members of FFNCA.
Section 5: Annual NCAFF membership dues are $10.00 for single and $20.00 for family memberships plus annual FFI Club Chartering Fee. Dues are payable in advance, due each year on the 1st of January.
Section 6: Expiration date for new members joining after September 1st will be December 31 of the following year.
ARTICLE IV: Officers & Three Elected Representatives of the Membership
Section 1: The officers of FFNCA shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
Section 2: The officers and three elected representatives of the membership (members at large) shall hold office for a term of one year or until their successors is duly elected.
Section 3: The officer of secretary and that of treasurer may be held by the same individual.
Section 4: The officers and three elected representatives of the membership shall be elected by a majority vote, provided a quorum is present (see Article VII, Section 3), at a meeting of members held during the Fall.
Section 5: The president and the vice-president may succeed themselves in the office just held for one additional year term only; to serve a maximum of two consecutive one-year terms in the same office, unless appointed under the provisions of Section 6 of this Article.
Section 6: Should a vacancy occur in the positions of vice-president, secretary, treasurer, or elected representative of the membership, the president shall appoint a member of FFNCA to serve in the vacant office for the remainder of the term, subject to approval of a majority vote of the Executive Board (see Article V, Section 1).
Section 7: An officer or elected representative of the membership may be removed from office for just cause after adoption by two-thirds of the Executive Board of a bill of particulars setting forth the reasons for the proposed removal from office. Upon approval of the bill of particulars by the Executive Board, the membership must be notified and at the next meeting of the membership confirm by a three-fourths majority vote the actions of the Executive Board before the officer or a member-at-large may be removed from office.
Section 8: The president shall:
a) Preside over all meetings of the members and of the Executive Board;
- Appoint and dissolve such ad hoc committees as may be deemed necessary;
- Cause an independent review of the treasurer's records to be performed:
- at least one time during the treasurer's term of office, or
- whenever there is a change in the office of treasurer;
- Discharge such other duties as usually pertain to the office.
Section 9: The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president in his/her absence and shall discharge such other duties as may be directed by the president. In the event of the president's disability or resignation, the vice-president shall assume all duties of the president.
Section 10: The secretary shall take minutes of all meetings, conduct club correspondence, and
maintain custody of all administrative records and archives.
Section 11: The treasurer shall:
- Receive membership dues and other income of the organization and make disbursements as appropriate;
- Maintain accurate records of all monies collected and disbursed and make a report of same at the annual meeting of members and at each meeting of the Executive Board;
- Maintain an account for the operating funds of FFNCA and the scholarship fund.
- Maintain an escrow account for exchange funds. While operating monies and scholarship monies may be co-mingled, the funds must be accounted for separately.
- The Treasurer's signature will be the authorizing signature for all club accounts. The Executive Board will designate additional authorizing signatures.
Discharge such other duties commonly incident to this office.
ARTICLE V: Executive Board
Section 1: There shall be an Executive Board consisting of:
- Elected offficers and members at large;
- The immediate past president,
Section 2: The Executive Board shall have the authority to transact business on behalf of FFNCA
between meetings of the membership. Specifically, if shall be responsible for the requesting of exchanges and for the nomination of Exchange Directors. In addition, it shall recommend and support the implementation of actions and activities which serve the stated purpose of FFNCA.
Section 3: All individuals serving on the Executive Board must be members as defined in Article
III.
Section 4: Meetings of the Executive Board are to be held on the call of the president or three members of the Executive Board. Meetings shall be held at least three times a year and shall be open to all FFNCA members and invited guests. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
Member(s) currently serving as Exchange Directors and Chairpersons of the Standing Committees are encouraged to attend all Executive Board Meetings
Section 5: Each individual on the Executive Board shall have one vote.
Article VI: Committees
Section 1: Chairpersons of standing committees shall be appointed or removed by the president subject to approval by the Executive Board. The following standing committees are authorized:
Section 2: Standing committees shall dissolve upon induction of the new officers at the first Executive Board meeting in January.
Section 3: Ad hoc committees may be appointed and dissolved be the president at any time.
Section 4: A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the president, subject to approval by
a majority vote of the Executive Board, approximately three months prior to the elections held annually in the Fall.
Article VII: Meetings of the Membership
Section 1: The annual meeting of members shall be held in the Fall. Additional meetings or special events may be held at any time at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Section 2: Adequate notice of each meeting or special event shall be given to each membership before the date of the event.
Section 3: Twenty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 4: Active membership in FFNCA is not required for attendance at meetings.
Article VIII: Procedures
Roberts Rules of Order, Revised shall be parliamentary authority for all procedural matters,
except where otherwise provided for by the Bylaws of FFNCA or by the Constitution and procedures provided by FFI.
Article IX: Dissolution
Section 1: Upon the dissolution of FFNCA, its Executive Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all its liabilities, distribute any assets remaining to organization(s)
that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions or any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Section 2: Upon dissolution, if FFI still exists and qualifies under the provisions of Section 1 of this Article, then the remaining assets of FFNCA shall be distributed to FFI.
Article X: Net Earnings
No part of the net earnings of FFNCA shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons.
Article XI: Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the memberships present and voting (provided that a quorum is present) at any regular meeting of members, provided the proposed amendment was submitted to the Executive Board in sufficient time for written notice of the proposed amendment to be mailed to each membership at least 15 days before the date of said meeting.
Article XII: Transition
These Bylaws shall take effect upon passage by the membership in accordance with Article VIII of the November 18, 1984 FFNCA Constitution. All elected officers and members-at-large (now known as elected representatives of the membership) in office at the time of passage shall be deemed to have met the election requirements of these Bylaws.
APPENDIX A: AMENDMENTS TO THE SEPTEMBER 19, 1987 BYLAWS
May 20, 1990 Change in the timing of the FFNCA Executive Committee's election from January to September and tenure from 2 years to 1.
September 13, 1992 Change to allow president and vice-president to be re-elected for a consecutive one-year additional term.
November 6, 1993 Change the annual dues from $15 to $25 (which includes FF magazine and FF passport) and the dues period from annually based on the member's anniversary date to annually on a calendar year basis.
January 22, 2000 Change the annual dues from $25 for all memberships to $30 for a single and $35 for a family unit. This change was necessitated by FFI establishment of an annual chartering fee based on FFNCA membership.
December 1, 2003 In addition to editorial changes, deletion of the term "Board of Directors;"
Executive Committee shall now be incorporated into a single entity called the Executive Board.
Some paragraphs are reworded to reflect the above change. Deletion of rule that only one individual of a membership may serve on the Executive Committee at the same time. Each member of the board will have one vote as well as each member of the membership will have one vote.
Change of the Annual meeting of the membership from September to the Fall.
Disbursements may be made with one individual's signature, either the Treasurer or an
Executive Board designee.
Change of the annual dues from $30.00 for a single and $35.00 for a family to $10.00 for a single and $20.00 for a family plus the annual FFI club chartering fee.
Treasurer's records shall be subject to a "review" rather than an audit. New: Dues for new
members after September 1st will expire December 31st of the following year. Change of the
quorum for the membership from 25% to 20%.
THE FRIENDSHIP FORCE OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA
Bylaws as accepted and approved September 19, 1987. Most recent amendment: December 1, 2003
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