Whereas the need exists for cohesive action on the part of Indo Canadian people of Rajasthani origin residing in Canada, it is determined that a not for profit organization be formed to preserve and propagate the Rajasthani cultural heritage and enhance the identity of Rajasthani people and to provide a forum for propagating Rajasthani literature & language, also for cultural, educational, social interaction among its members, and to seek a presence for Rajasthani people within various Indo Canadian Organization and all main stream Canadian organizations.
This organization will serve the needs of integration of new immigrants of Rajasthani origin into main stream Canadian society.
The name of the association shall be "RAJASTHAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (CANADA)”, hereinafter called “RANA“.
As a permanent arrangement P.O. Box in central location should be rented till then office or residential address of the President can be used for this purpose.
in the community and bring awareness among young generation about the rich Rajasthani cultural heritage.
A person of origin from Rajasthan aged 18 or older residing in Canada, subscribing to the objectives of RANA, willing to abide by the Constitution and By- Laws, may become a member of the association upon payment of prescribed fee.
A person aged 18 years or older shall be eligible to become a Single Member of RANA by submitting an application in the prescribed form with appropriate fees.
The annual SINGLE MEMBERSHIP fee shall be ($35.00) or as determined by the General Body. A SINGLE MEMBER shall enjoy all basic privileges of RANA membership, including the right to contest for Board of Directors and vote in RANA elections… per clause 5.2.
A person or a family shall be eligible to become a member of RANA by submitting an application in prescribed form with appropriate fees as determined by the general body.
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP consists of member, spouse, and children (under the age of
25 and unmarried and living together), and dependant parents living at the same address, as the member.
The annual FAMILY MEMBERSHIP fee shall be $70.00 or as determined by the General body. FAMILY MEMBERS shall enjoy all basic privileges of RANA membership including the right to contest for Board of Directors and vote in RANA elections...per clause 5.2.
A person or a family shall be eligible to become a LIFE MEMBER of RANA by submitting an application in prescribed form with appropriate fees. The life membership fee shall be $500.00 or as decided by the general body. Life membership consists of member, spouse and children (under the age of 25 years, unmarried and living together) and dependant parents living at the same address for entire life.
Life members shall have all basic privileges of RANA membership, including the right to contest for Board of Directors and vote in RANA elections…per clause 5.
A person aged 18 years or older shall be eligible to become an Honorary Member of RANA by submitting an application in the prescribed form without any fees.
An HONORARY MEMBER shall enjoy all basic privileges of RANA membership, excluding the right to contest and vote in RANA elections.
A person aged 18 years or older shall be eligible to become an Associated Member of RANA by submitting an application in the prescribed form with a fee $ 50 per year. The condition of Rajasthani origin will not apply for eligibility to be associated member.
An Associated Member shall enjoy all basic privileges of RANA membership, excluding the right to contest and vote in RANA elections, meetings (e.g. AGM, SGM etc)
4.2 A member shall remain in good standing provided that the member is not more than 90 days in arrears of the membership fee.
A membership term for all members begins and ends on Jan.1st and Dec.31st respectively for each calendar year. Membership is considered active, when membership fee is paid on or before March 31st in that particular year. Life members shall be member of RANA for their entire lifetime.
RANA shall be made up of a General Body and Board of Directors.
RANA (CANADA)
Basic Constitutional Structure.
GENERAL BODY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(9 elected + 4 nominated= total 13 directors)
(By invitation only)
(President to be elected by Board of Directors, only elected directors to vote) VICE PRESIDENTS
(Number of Vice Presidents to be decided & to be appointed by President).
(All committees to be chaired by either a VP or Director, all other members have to be paid members. A non member can be co-opted as an ADVISOR; the committees will be constituted by president in consultation with the chair)
NOTE: Present position of Secretary will be designated as VP (Corporate Secretary & Administration); Treasurer will be designated as VP (Finance). Other Vice Presidents will be designated as per activity of the committee which they will chair.
All members, Single, Family and Life constitute the general body. General body shall determine the basic philosophy and policies of the RANA.
The Board of Directors shall consist of 13 Directors, 9 elected by the general body, 4 nominated by president annually.
The Board of Directors shall provide the leadership; execute the policies and objectives of RANA, on day to day basis.
The President shall appoint Patrons from the senior distinguished life members. The Patrons will act as guide, friend and philosopher to President and Board of Directors. They will be guiding force behind all activities of RANA.
The RANA executives shall appoint distinguished persons (including non members) of Rajasthani origin as Honorary Patron .Such an appointment will be with sole purpose of conferring honor.
The Vice President (Corporate Secretariat & Administration) shall present a report on the past year's activities.
A single, and family member, in good standing, for at least 2 full years. The Member and his/her spouse or person designated as primary member on membership form, over the age of 18, residing in Canada, with a paid up membership before March 31st of that year and life members are entitled to stand for election for any one position of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
President will be elected by elected directors.
PRESIDENT: ONE TERM ONLY
Member once elected president will not be entitled for re election as director. President will have two, 1 year terms only as president.
Member elected vice president will be entitled for re election. However they will have two, 2 years consecutive terms only.
Member elected director will be entitled for re election on expire of each 2 year term. However they will have two, 2 years consecutive terms only.
Members nominated by President as Director will have one year term only.
Single, Family & Life members of RANA with a paid up subscription before March 31st, and whose names are there as spouse, designated member or primary members on the membership form, are eligible to nominate a candidate, as well as cast vote for all positions for which elections are conducted.
In the AGM, if no more than one member is proposed for any office, the Election Committee shall announce that member elected unopposed to that office. A nomination will be entertained on the floor only if there is no nomination received by the due date for any specific position.
The Election Committee will distribute the ballot papers to all eligible voters at the meeting and conduct secret balloting and declare the winners after counting.
The election committee can decide to have electronic/online voting.
A portion of the life membership fee shall be set aside as a reserve fund. The balance amount of fee is to be used for activities of RANA.
No part of the net earnings of RANA shall be distributed to its members, officers or any other private persons.
If the Association is dissolved the general body should decide on the process of Disbursement of available funds
Article 11: AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION & BY LAWS
The bylaws of this constitution can be amended at a general body meeting by 2/3 majority of members present and the proposed amendment shall be circulated at least 3 weeks prior to such meeting.
In accordance with aims and objectives of RANA it is imperative for A Member and officers including Directors, to respect fellow members and maintain professional behavior at all times & in all kinds of communications. On violation of the Code of Conduct shall be entitled the Member to be terminated from the Association with no re course and no repayment of any fee or severance whatsoever be.
The discipline committee appointed by the Board of Directors shall have jurisdiction and discretion to decide on such action.
Rajasthan Association of North America Member’s Code of Ethics”
I, the undersigned, have consented to act as a Member of Rajasthan Association of North America (Canada), here after referred as RANA (Canada), and I agree to comply fully with the Member’s Code of Ethics throughout my term(s) as a Member.
Neutrality, Honesty and Good faith: I will act honestly and in good faith. I will not promote my own interest or those of my family member and friends. I will act only in the best of Association.
Care, Diligence and Skill: I will exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person in comparable circumstances. I will make a sincere and honest effort to attend all Board Meetings. I will act responsibly and with due diligence to become familiar with the affairs of the Association and to uphold aims of Association.
Conflict of Interest: I am not currently aware of any actual or potential conflict of interest. If I become aware of any conflict, I will immediately disclose the nature and extent of interest to the Board in writing. I will not, under any circumstances, promote my own interest to the detriment of the Association.
Confidentiality: I covenant and agree not to discuss with or disclose to any person any information by me in my capacity as a Member that relates to affairs of the Association. Any confidential or privilege information, or information which reasonable ought to be deemed confidential, will be held in strictest confidence.
Good Conduct: At all times, I will conduct myself in a professional and businesslike manner at meetings of Board of Members, I will approach all Board issues with an open mind, preparing to make best decisions on behalf of the Association and ensure my standard of care and the provisions of this document are exercised in each instance. I will act ethically with integrity and in accordance with legal criteria, I will comply with rules of good conduct and deal with others in respectful manner and act in a civil manner at all times. I will comply with the principles of good governance and procedurals rules of order and covenant to not be a disruptive force on the board.
Support: I will abide by the decisions of the majority of the Members even though I may disagree. Any views contrary to a decision of the majority of board members will be kept to myself. I will express my views only to the other board members during to the course of a board meeting. I acknowledge the decisions are to be made democratically and I will provide ongoing support for the partnership between the Board of Members.
Preparedness: I will prepare for each Board meeting by reading all relevant material prior to the meeting and be prepared to discuss and if necessary vote upon all issues that my come before the meeting. I will provide advance notice any issue, which I may wish to have included on the agenda for the discussion.
Defamation: I will not make any erroneous or defamatory statements about the Association, or its Members and Officers.
Criminal offences: I understand that, in order to be qualified to act as a Member of the Association, I could not have been convicted of a criminal offence on Canada or any other jurisdiction within the past ten years. By executing this Member’s Code of Ethics, I hereby confirm and the Association may rely on same that, I am not in contravention of this qualification provision. I also understand that the board by resolution, if it deemed necessary, may request a criminal reference check in this regard and I further agree to comply with such a request, if made.
Acknowledgment & Direction: I, the undersigned, understand that, that in addition to satisfying my standard of good conduct as a Member I must always act in the best interest of the Association. In this regard, I acknowledge that the provisions within this Member’s Code of Ethics form an important and integral part of establishing the care and responsibility that I as a Member of the Association am entrusted fulfill. Accordingly , if it is determined that I have violated provisions of code of ethics on two (2).occasions over the course of my term, then I understand that I will cease being qualified to be a Member of the Association and accordingly forth with tender my resignation , failing which it shall be deemed to have been given. I understand that this requirement is applicable to all Members of Association and hereby agree to same.
Rajasthan Association of North America
Director’s Code of Ethics”
I, the undersigned, have consented to act as a director of Rajasthan Association of North America (Canada), here after referred as RANA (Canada), and I agree to comply fully with the Director’s Code of Ethics throughout my term(s) as a Director.
Neutrality, Honesty and Good faith: I will act honestly and in good faith. I will not promote my own interest or those of my family member and friends. I will act only in the best of Association.
Care, Diligence and Skill: I will exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person in comparable circumstances. I will make a sincere and honest effort to attend all Board Meetings. I will act responsibly and with due diligence to become familiar with the affairs of the Association and to uphold aims of Association.
Conflict of Interest: I am not currently aware of any actual or potential conflict of interest. If I become aware of any conflict, I will immediately disclose the nature and extent of interest to the Board in writing. I will not, under any circumstances, promote my own interest to the detriment of the Association.
Confidentiality: I covenant and agree not to discuss with or disclose to any person any information by me in my capacity as a director that relates to affairs of the Association. Any confidential or privilege information, or information which reasonable ought to be deemed confidential, will be held in strictest confidence.
Good Conduct: At all times, I will conduct myself in a professional and businesslike manner at meetings of Board of Directors, I will approach all Board issues with an open mind, preparing to make best decisions on behalf of the Association and ensure my standard of care and the provisions of this document are exercised in each instance. I will act ethically with integrity and in accordance with legal criteria, I will comply with rules of good conduct and deal with others in respectful manner and act in a civil manner at all times. I will comply with the principles of good governance and procedurals rules of order and covenant to not be a disruptive force on the board.
Support: I will abide by the decisions of the majority of the directors even though I may disagree. Any views contrary to a decision of the majority of board members will be kept to myself. I will express my views only to the other board members during to the course of a board meeting. I acknowledge the
decisions are to be made democratically and I will provide ongoing support for the partnership between the Board of Directors.
Preparedness: I will prepare for each Board meeting by reading all relevant material prior to the meeting and be prepared to discuss and if necessary vote upon all issues that my come before the meeting. I will provide advance notice any issue, which I may wish to have included on the agenda for the discussion.
Defamation: I will not make any erroneous or defamatory statements about the Association, or its Directors and Officers.
Criminal offences: I understand that, in order to be qualified to act as a director of the Association, I could not have been convicted of a criminal offence on Canada or any other jurisdiction within the past ten years. By executing this Director’s Code of Ethics, I hereby confirm and the Association may rely on same that, I am not in contravention of this qualification provision. I also understand that the board by resolution, if it deemed necessary, may request a criminal reference check in this regard and I further agree to comply with such a request, if made.
Acknowledgement& Direction: I, the undersigned, understand that, that in addition to satisfying my standard of good conduct as a director I must always act in the best interest of the Association. In this regard, I acknowledge that the provisions within this Director’s Code of Ethics form an important and integral part of establishing the care and responsibility that I as a director of the Association am entrusted fulfill. Accordingly , if it is determined that I have violated provisions of code of ethics on two (2).occasions over the course of my term, then I understand that I will cease being qualified to be a director of the Association and accordingly forth with tender my resignation , failing which it shall be deemed to have been given. I understand that this requirement is applicable to all directors of Association and hereby agree to same.
Dated at:
This:
day of:
201:
Witness:
Director:
Name:
Office Bearer of a political party or Person, who has been a candidate from a political party in any election, is NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE A DIRECTOR OF ASSOCIATION. However, such persons can be appointed as Honorary Patron, by Board of Directors.