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CONSTITUTION
Name The organization shall be known as the Iranian Queer Organization “IRQO”.
Objectives The objectives of the IRQO are as follows: 1. To continue the mandate of the organization known as the Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization; 2. To remain a non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organization with no ties to any religious institution that strives to improve the situation of Iranian sexual minorities; 3. To raise social and cultural awareness in order to improve the life situation of Iranian sexual minorities living in Iran or abroad; 4. To collect and present research, news and information about topics such as sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity to Iranian sexual minorities living in Iran or abroad; 5. To remain practically committed to the human rights laws expressed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; 6. To facilitate equality in rights and the end of discrimination against sexual minorities in Iran; 7. To advocate and advance sexual, physical, and psychological health and safety for sexual minorities in society; and 8. To ensure that the organization’s activities remain non-political and free of racial, ethnic and religious bias.
Non-Profit Status The organization shall operate without the purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or accretions shall be used to promote its objectives.
Membership It shall be a condition of membership that members shall conduct themselves at all times in a reasonable manner, at meetings or in premises used by the organization. Any member may be excluded for breach of this condition, or for any conduct contravening the objectives of the organization, by a majority of those present and voting in any committee or General Meeting. Any member so excluded shall have the right of appeal to the following General Meetings.
Election of Directors
Eligibility Any Member in good standing who is 18 years of age or older, who has the authority to contract, who is a resident of Ontario and who otherwise fulfills all the requirements of law for serving as a Director is eligible for election to the Board of Directors.
Method of Election The Board of Directors shall be elected every 2 years by Members at the Annual General Meeting.
Length of Term and Reappointment All Directors shall serve for terms of two (2) years and are eligible for reappointment.
Vacancy Whenever the position of a Director becomes vacant for whatever reason, the Board may appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy until such time as a Director is elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Resignation of Director A Director may resign from the Board by presenting a notice of resignation to the Board. The resignation shall become effective on the date the Board accepts the resignation.
Officers of the Board of Directors The Officers of the organization are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
Duties of the Officers
Chair The Chair shall chair all meetings of the Board of Directors. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Organization. He or she shall have the general and active management of the affairs of the organization. He shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.
Vice-Chair The Vice-Chair shall, in the absence or disability of the Chair, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chair and shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be delegated to him or her by the Board or by the Chair.
Secretary The Secretary shall have custody of and be responsible for the safekeeping of all books, records, correspondence, and other documents pertaining to the affairs of the organization, other than those required to be kept by the Treasurer. He or she shall perform duties incidental to the offices of a recording/corresponding/general secretary, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, he or she shall conduct all routine correspondence on behalf of the organization; refer to the Chair matters from correspondence that require consideration of the Board or any Officer; and perform other duties in connection with his or her Office when requested by the Board or Chair.
Treasurer The Treasurer shall keep and maintain all account books of the organization, which shall contain all receipts and disbursements, and shall have custody of all such books of account, bank books, cancelled cheques, vouchers, statements, and other documents pertaining to the accounts of the organization, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, he shall: from time-to-time, when requested by the Chair, furnish information about the financial situation of the organization; annually, on the last day of the fiscal year or as set at the discretion of the Board, stop-gap the organization’s accounts, prepare a financial statement for the Board, and file a copy with the Secretary, over his or her signature; at the direction of the Board, file a copy of these statements with the Auditor appointed by the Board, submitting for examination all records that the Auditor may require in order to effect an appropriate examination and in order to issue a certificate; prior to, or within thirty (30) days following the Annual Meeting, prepare a budget for the fiscal year.
Auditor At each Annual General Meeting the Directors shall appoint an Auditor
General Meetings General Meetings of the organization shall be held at least two times per year. When a vote is required to reach a decision, a simple majority will be used. In the event of a tie, the chairman of the meeting will have a casting vote. A General Meeting of the organization is the final decision-making body. All members of the organization shall not be given less than 14 days notice of a General Meeting.
Annual General Meeting The Board shall call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Organization. Not less than 28 days notice of the AGM shall be given to all members. The Treasurer or another nominated officer shall present the annual accounts of the previous year. Any proposals submitted to the Secretary in writing not less than 7 days in advance of the meeting shall be discussed.
Special General Meetings The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting (SGM) at the written request of at least 10 members of the organization giving reasons for their request. The Secretary shall give not less than 7 days notice of the holding of a SGM, which shall take place within twenty-one days of the request.
Quorum The quorum for general meetings shall be a majority.
Notice of Meetings Notice of all meetings shall be sent to each member by post, fax or email and shall include the date, time and place of the meeting and an agenda of matters to be discussed. Notice of meetings shall be posted on the website, in public places and all reasonable attempts made to publicize the meetings.
Alterations to the Constitution Any proposals to alter this constitution shall be put to a Special General Meeting (SGM) called for that purpose. The rules for the conduct of business for SGMs shall be observed. Not more than two Special General Meetings for the express purpose of changing the constitution shall be called in any one year. Any alteration shall require the approval of the majority of those present at the Special General Meeting.
Dissolution The organization can decide on its own dissolution. There shall be general agreement from all members at a general meeting to decide on its own dissolution. The assets, financial and otherwise, remaining when the organization has satisfied its liabilities, shall be applied for such purposes of benefit to the community as the meeting shall decide.
Effective Date This Constitution is effective as of the 25 day of August, 2006.
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