Constitution

Article 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be 'TAMIL MANRAM' or 'TAMIL ASSOCIATION', hereinafter called the Association.

Article 2. Purpose

The Association shall be a secular, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization having the following objectives:

• To promote knowledge of Tamil and Tamil culture among those who are interested and to provide a medium for mutual contact for them.
• To provide for its members and their families instructions and materials for studying the Tamil language and for learning about Tamil culture and Tamil Traditions.
• To collect and circulate among members Tamil and related books and journals.
• To interact with other similar organizations
• To arrange Tamil literary, cultural and social functions of interest among members and their families
• To provide other services in the interest of Tamil.

No substantial part of the activities of this association shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the association shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Article 3. Finances

This Association does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit to the members or officers and it is organized for nonprofit purposes. The financial transactions shall be carried out as set forth in the bylaws.

The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to literary purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any officer or member thereof or to the benefit of private individual. Upon dissolution or winding up of the organization, its assets remaining after payment of, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this organization, shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for literary purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If this organization holds any assets in trust, or a corporation is formed for charitable purposes, such assets shall be disposed of in such a manner as may be directed by decree of the superior court of the county In which the organization has its principal office, upon petition therefore by the Attorney General or by a person concerned in the liquidation, in a proceeding to which the Attorney General is a party.

Article 4. Organization

The Association shall function in Northern California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Association shall have a general body consisting of its voting members. The members will elect officers annually. The general administrative powers shall rest with the Executive committee defined in article six. The meetings and activities of the association shall be held as per the bylaws.

Article 5. Membership and Dues

The membership shall be open to anyone interested in Tamil and Tamil culture, and who is at least eighteen years of age. The different classes of members’ dues and method of collection, voting and other rights shall be as set forth in the bylaws.

Article 6. Officers and Executive Committee

The association shall have six officers elected annually by the general membership. Their titles in the hierarchical order are as follows: President, Administrative Vice President, Cultural Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Convener.

The Executive Committee shall have seven voting members consisting of the six officers and the immediate past president. In addition, the president or the committee may co-opt not more than three non-voting members for executing specific tasks. The term of officers and the Executive committee shall be for one year coinciding with the fiscal year set forth in the bylaws. The president shall not continue in office for two successive terms. The duties of the officers shall be as stated in the bylaws.

Article 7. Elections of Officers

The officers shall be elected by secret ballot at a general meeting of the Association. At least ten days notice shall be given to the members. Open nominations shall be invited from the membership in advance. Prior to the expiration of their term the Executive Committee shall be responsible for conducting the election of officers for the following term.

Article 8. Amendments

Any amendment of the Constitution must be initiated in writing by at least ten percent of the members and passed in a general meeting by a majority of the members present.

Bylaws

Article 1. Office and Address

Until such a time a permanent office and address are established, all correspondence shall be addressed to the president's address. (See at the end.)

Article 2. Membership and Dues

Section – 1: Classes of Members

The association shall have the following classes of membership : Individual membership, family membership which makes head of the family, spouse, children and dependent parents members, student membership for full time students and their family and, patrons who are distinguished persons contributing to the growth of the Association and elected by the members.

Section – 2: Rights and Privileges

Membership bestows voting rights and eligibility to participate in all Association activities to each individual covered.

Section – 3: Dues

The membership dues shall be as follows:

1. Individual membership: $3.00 per year,
2. Family membership: $5.00 per year and
3. Student membership: $1.00 per year.

Patrons may not be required to pay the dues.

Section – 4: Term

The term of membership will coincide with the fiscal year of the Association. Dues shall be paid at the beginning of each term. Membership shall take effect when the membership dues for the term have been paid and will be effective until the end of the term.

Article 3. Duties of the officers

The President shall be responsible for initiating and running all activities of the association. He shall preside over, or arrange a master of ceremonies for, all functions. He shall have the authority to appoint subcommittees to carry out any activities of the Association. He shall also appoint officers for any midterm or temporary vacancies arising in the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term. He shall also represent and act as the Executive Officer of the Association at public functions.

The Administrative Vice President shall be responsible for community relations, bulletins, publicity and membership drives. He shall also be in charge of educational activities.

The Cultural Vice President shall be responsible for cultural and social activities and entertainment.

The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all association funds with the approval of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all financial transactions and membership dues. He shall make a financial report at every meeting of the general membership and of the Executive Committee. He will prepare an annual budget at the beginning of each term. At the end of each term the treasurer shall make an annual financial report and shall transmit all undisbursed funds to his successor.

The Secretary shall have custody of the Association's Constitution and Bylaws and all other records of the association except financial. The secretary shall take and keep minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee and of the general membership. He shall keep an up-to-date list of members with correct addresses and will send a copy of the same to all members within a month from the beginning of each term. The secretary shall also be responsible for asking for nominations for the elections and for holding elections at the proper time.

The Convener shall be the official greeter of the Association for all functions. He shall be-responsible for reception of members and of guests. In all functions, he will coordinate activities and be responsible for arranging places and equipment.

All officers shall be directly responsible to the president or the Administrative Vice President in the absence of the president.

Article 4. Finances and fiscal year

The annual financial report shall be audited by an honorary auditor appointed by the incoming president. All disbursements above twenty-five dollars will be executed in the form of checks duly signed by both the treasurer and tile president or the administrative vice president. The fiscal Year of the Association shall begin on the first of May of every year and end on the thirtieth of April of the following year.

Article 5. Meetings and Activities

There shall be at least three general meetings of the Association each year and at least six meetings of the Executive Committee. The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the authority on any questions regarding the conduct of meeting procedures and the like, not specifically covered by these constitution and the bylaws. Twenty percent of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the Association.

Each year the Association shall arrange at least three functions to celebrate such special events as Pongal, Tamil New Year"s Day, Deepavali, Bharathy and Kamban Day. Special functions such as receptions to dignitaries or cultural programs may be called for by the President, by the Executive Committee, or by a written request of ten percent of the members. The Association may arrange such activities as Tamil language, music, Bharathanatyam, Veenai classes, sightseeing trips, and picnics among members located within reasonable commuting distances in any community at the request of ten or more members.

Article-6 Amendment of bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the members by a majority of the members present. Such amendment must be proposed in writing by an active member at least ten days in advance of the meeting.

Amendments

NOVEMBER 17, 1991

1. 10% of the surplus income (amount after paying for expenses for the event) for each event will be deposited in a separate Tamil Manrarn account. There is a cap of $5000 on this reserve account. This money can be spent at the discretion of the members for purposess (scholarships, acquiring assets, etc.) voted on by the members at a regular General Body.
2. The old committee has a thirty day grace period beginning from the day the new committee takes over to settle all accounts. Any outstanding bills after the thirty-day period is the responsibility of the old committee (not Tamil Manram or the new committee).
3. Membership rate increases will not exceed CPI (rounded off to the nearest dollar).
4. A new membership category (Life Membership) has been set up. The dues for a Life Membership will be ten times the rate for a Sponsor Couple Membership. These dues will be placed in a trust account. The interest from this account can be used for operating expenses.
5. The bylaws state types and amounts of membership. These were changed in practice a few years ago. But the by laws were never changed. The bylaws will now reflect the types and amounts of membership and benefits to be as follows:
   Member: $12 (gets discounted tickets)
   Sponsor Single: S30 (gets free admission to each program)
   Sponsor Couple: $45 (the couple gets free admission to each program)
   Sponsor Family: $80 (the family gets free admission to each program up to 4 people)
6. The existing bylaws state that Tamil Manam is a secular organization. This will be maintained. The bylaws also stated that the organization might celebrate Deepavali. This is in contradiction to the definition of secular orgaiftation. Therefore, the word Deepavali will be removed from the bylaw.
7. Tamil Chair Committee is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tamil Manram. It has a separate tax ID number which is valid under the provision that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamil Manram. As such, the finance of the Tamil Chair Committee is separate from the main Tamil Manram organization. The officers of the Tamil Chair Committee will be elected at a meeting for that purpose. As a part of the Tamil Manram organization the Tamil Chair Committee will conduct its activities in keeping with the goals of Tamil Manram.
8. Tamil Radio Program Committee is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tamil Manram. It has a separate tax ID number which is valid under the provision that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamil Manram. As such, the finance of the Tamil Radio Program Committee is separate from the main Tamil Manram organization. The officers of the Tamil Radio Program Committee will be elected at a meeting for that purpose. As a part of the Tamil Manrarn organization, the Tamil Radio Program Committee will conduct its activities in keeping with the goals of Tamil Manram.
9. The position of Youth Representative is not in the current bylaws. But this position was added in practice a few years ago. This position will be added to the bylaws.
10. If there is more than one nomination for any given position, a primary will be held to see if candidates get at least 10% of the votes polled. If not, they are not eligible candidates. If they do, and there is more than one candidate who receives equal to or more than 10% of the votes, then lots will be drawn to choose the candidate for the position.

JUNE 29, 2002

Amendments to the Constitution

Article 9: Requirements for Executive Committee Members

This article has been added to the Constitution.

PRESIDENT: A nominee for the post of the President should have been a Committee member in the previous year(s).

OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Committee Members other than the President should have been members of the Tamil Manram for at least one year with a good standing.  This may be exempted under the following conditions:

• If the individual had held office in other Tamil Associations or Tamil related organizations.
• If the individual has extraordinary histrionic/organizational abilities
• No other nominations are available.

Amendments to the bylaws

Article 2. Membership and Dues

This article has been modified as follows:

Section 3. Dues

The membership dues shall be as follows:

• Individual membership: $12.00 per year
• Single Sponsorship: $25.00 per year
• Couple Sponsorship: $40.00 per year
• Family Sponsorship: $70.00 per year
• Life Membership: $425.00

Article 4. Finances and fiscal year

This article has been modified as follows:

The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first of January of every year and end on the thirty first of December of the same year.

The sum of checking account(s) of the Manram not to exceed $5000.  In such cases the excess funds must be deposited in the form of CDs/bonds. The funds available in the form of CDs/bonds may be used on specific needs/requirements after getting prior approval from the Committee by means of a resolution.

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