Our Mission & By Laws
Posted on October 25th, 2005 by Danielle
SEATTLE EUSKAL ETXEA
Founded the 19th day of April, 1997 at a lunch meeting at the house of Debbie Coscorosa.
PURPOSE
This corporation is a non-profit organization and is formed to keep and practice the culture and traditions of the Basque people; to engage in educational, social, and recreational activities to bring together those interested in the Basque people; to support the members in any reasonable manner; and to promote the Basque culture in the greater community.
In order to accomplish these goals there shall be a set of rules and by-laws that will be followed as set forth in the following articles.
ARTICLE IMEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1 – Membership will be open to any person having an expressed interest in the Basque culture, including those with or without Basque heritage.
Sec. 2 – There shall be two (4) classes of membership in the organization and an annual membership fee for each classification.
A. Individual membership, Twenty Dollars ($20).
B. Family membership, Thirty-five Dollars ($35).
C. Patron of the club, One-Hundred Dollars ($100).
D. Honorary membership for those over Seventy (70) years of age, free ($0).
Membership fees will be due and payable by the first day of May each year except for the first years memberships which will be due and payable at the time of joining. After the first year new membership only fees shall be pro-rated as follows: January – June 100%, June – December 50%.
Fifty cents ($.50) of each membership fee will be paid to the North American Basque Organization (N.A.B.O) for membership dues.
Payment of membership fees will give the members and dependent children all the rights and privileges of the organization.
Sec. 3 – There shall be at least two (2) general meetings of the members each year.
A. One, held the first Saturday of March, for the purpose of electing the open slate in the governing body and receiving the annual report of the Secretary/ Treasure. Only members in good standing will have the right to cast a vote. An audit of records must be completed by the Board by the 15th day of January each year. A review of by-laws will be made and proposed amendments will be submitted and numbered for membership considerations at the same time.
B. The second general meeting will be held the second Sunday of August for the purpose of bringing the members of the club together. This will be the Annual Picnic and will also have the purpose of involving the larger community with the club.
Sec. 4 – All meetings of the members shall be called by not less than two (2) weeks prior written or printed notice, mailed to the members at their last known addresses shown on the Corporations rolls.
Sec. 5 – At least fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the membership shall be present for a quorum.
Sec. 6 – Membership in the Corporation shall not entitle the members to any interest whatsoever in the assets of the Corporation. In the event of dissolution of the Corporation, only members in good standing will have a say in dissolution proceedings. This may be by written vote or attendance at a special meeting. In order to dissolve the Corporation there must be a 50% plus 1 vote to proceed, at which time all proceeds would be directed as to allocation of funds.
Sec. 7 – If any member is charged with conduct deemed prejudicial to the welfare of the organization, the Board of Directors, upon ten (10) days notice to such member of the nature of the charges and after said member has an opportunity to appear before the Board and explain or refute the same, may, by a majority vote, expel said member from the organization; provided, however; that the action of the Board in expelling a member will be reviewed at the next general meeting of the membership for final disposition. Voting at such meeting on the expulsion of a member shall be by ballot and will require the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present to reverse the action of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II
Form of Board
Sec. 1 – The Board of Directors , also known as the Board, shall govern the business and activities of the organization. The Board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary/ Treasurer and four (4) Directors. For the first year, to ease the amount of initial work on the Board, there will be eight (8) Directors.
Sec. 2 – Each Director will serve for one (1) year. The President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer will serve for two (2) years. Terms will be measured from the general meeting at which the Officer was elected. The President and Vice-President will not be elected at the same meeting to ensure a smooth transition between elections.
Sec. 3 – Any member of the organization is eligible to be elected to the Board.
Sec. 4 – The election of Board members shall be held in conjunction with the meeting of the membership. Nominations for all positions will come from the floor. A simple majority will give the results.
ARTICLE III
Power of Board, Relation to Members
Sec. 1 – Vacancies occurring on the Board will be filled from the membership by a vote of the remaining Board members. Vacancy terms will last until the next general election.
Sec. 2 – The Board will have the power to expel a member subject to Article I, Sec. 7.
Sec. 3 – The Board will have the power to enact any rules or by-laws deemed necessary to better govern the organization. All new rules, by-laws or amendments will be subject to Article VIII.
ARTICLE IV
Responsibilities of Board
Sec. 1 – Regular meetings of the Board will be held the first Thursday of February, May, August and November except when such date is not convenient to the majority of the Board in which case the meeting shall be moved to a date as close to the original date and such changes will be entered into the minutes of the prior meeting stating the reason for the change.
Sec. 2 – Any member of the organization will be welcomed to the Board meeting as a visitor.
Sec. 3 – Four (4) members of the Board will constitute a quorum.
Sec. 4 – At the annual meeting of the membership, the Board will give a full report to including a financial report and a report on all activities of the year.
Sec. 5 – Every activity, involvement on projects and expenditures will be approved by the Board.
Sec. 6 – The Directors, Vice-President and Secretary/ Treasurer shall each have one (1) vote. The President shall vote only to break a tie.
ARTICLE V
Duties of Officers
The President
Shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the members whether general or special. Shall sign all contracts, deeds and other instruments ordered to be executed by the Board. Shall represent the organization on all public relations as deemed necessary by the Board.
The Vice-President
Shall be in charge of the Club Newsletter and will also assume all duties of the President when the President is unable to carry them out.
The Secretary/ Treasurer
Shall record all proceedings of the Board meetings and membership meetings. Shall keep the book of accounts showing all receipts and disbursements and will deposit all funds in a bank account assigned and approved by the Board. The accounting will be available to the Board upon request. Shall be responsible for all correspondence deemed necessary and approved by the Board. Will maintain membership roster with current addresses and status.
The Directors
Shall be in charge of all activities. Shall be responsible for all news releases, official announcements and advertising. Shall be responsible for all procurements, equipment, donations and purchases approved by the Board. Shall be responsible for selecting committees and presiding over such committees as needed to accomplish the above.
ARTICLE VI
Removal of Officers
Sec. 1 – The membership may remove any officer by two- thirds (2/3) majority vote at a meeting called for that purpose. Full disclosure of this action will be reported to the membership ten (10) days prior to the meeting by letter, initialed thru the Secretary or designated person in the event the Secretary is in question.
ARTICLE VII
Visitors
Sec. 1 – Visitors and guests accompanied by members may be admitted to the activities except on those occasions as the Board may designate as members only. Members will be responsible for the actions and conduct of such guest.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
These by-laws may be repealed or amended or new by-laws adopted at the annual meeting or at any meeting of the membership called for that purpose by a vote representing two- thirds (2/3) of the membership present.
The foregoing by-laws were adopted at the meeting of members held April 19th, 1997, at the house of Debbie Coscorrosa, and ratified at the meeting of the Board on ________.
Signed:
______________________President
Blas Pedro Uberuaga
______________________Vice-President
Michelle Errecart
______________________Secretary/ Treasurer
Kristi Hill
______________________Director
Gonzalo Aranguren
______________________Director
Jean Escoz
______________________Director
Miren First
______________________Director
Claudette Mendiola
______________________Director
Virginia Goitia O’Neal
______________________Director
Nicholas Vroman
______________________Director
Debbie Coscorrosa
______________________Director
John Etulain