PREAMBLE

We, the Kenyan Society in Houston (KENSHO), while acknowledging the supremacy of God, the Almighty creator; and proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity; in our resolve to live in peace and unity as an indivisible people abroad and in our homeland Kenya; respectful of the rule of law and the natural environment; determined to sustain our rich heritage and traditions for now and posterity; committed to nurturing and promoting the liberty and well-being of the individual, the family and the community; in recognizing the various pursuits and aspirations of our members; and in promoting political, social, intellectual and economic empowerment: adopt, enact and give this Constitution to ourselves, and our future generations.

ARTICLE I : ARTICLE II : ARTICLE III
NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be Kenyan Society in Houston (KENSHO).

PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

The purpose of the organization is to: provide a forum for the sharing of the unique Kenyan culture in all its diversity; preserve the rich history and heritage of the people of Kenya amongst KESHO members and friends of Kenya; as well as to provide a forum for communicating and addressing various issues affecting KENSHO members, including:

i. Housing
ii. Health
iii. Education and Science
iv. Religious and Social Welfare
v. Charity and Emergency Response

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership is open to all who share and support KENSHO's vision and mission, and abide by it's constitution.
Section 2. A member must be at least eighteen 18 years old, or if younger, must be emancipated.
Section 3. There shall be a one-time Membership Fee that shall be determined by KENSHO’s elected officers.
Section 4. Members shall pay a Monthly Fee which shall be determined by a vote by members. The Monthly Fee shall be used to sustain and facilitate KENSHO’s activities.

ARTICLE IV
QUALIFICATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. All Officers must have paid Membership Fees and be current in their Monthly Fee Payments.

Section 2. All Officers must be at least eighteen 18 years of age, or if younger, must be emancipated.

Section 3. Officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Organizing Secretary, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 4. Elections shall be held every two (2) calendar years. For purposes of determining the election date, a calendar year shall be computed from the date of the first election.

Section 5. The elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.

Section 6. To be elected to office, a candidate must win an election by a majority of fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) or more of the votes cast. If none of the candidates attain this majority, a run-off election of the candidates who received the highest number of votes for that office. The winner of the run-off election shall be determined by a simple majority win.

Section 7. There shall be no proxy voting.

Section 8. The President shall appoint an Electoral Committee of five (5) members to oversee the elections. The appointees shall be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. President

A. Call and Preside over all meetings.
B. Carry out the provisions of the constitution.
C. Appoint committees and chairpersons.
D. Oversee all committee activities.
E. Act as the spokesperson of the organization.
F. Appoint an Electoral Committee

Section 2. Vice President

A. Assume the duties of the President in the President’s absence.
B. Perform any duties delegated by the President.
C. Attend all Committee Meetings.
D. Report the results of the committee meetings at the Executive Council meetings.

Section 3. Organizing Secretary

A. Coordinate membership drives
B. Coordinate social events and venues
C. Act as a liaison for the organization.
D. Attend all Committee Meetings.

Section 4. Secretary

A. Record and keep accurate minutes of all meetings.
B. Has correspondence contact.
C. Distribute agenda for all meetings.
D. Attend all Committee Meetings.

Section 5. Treasurer

A. Handle funds and finances for the organization.
B. Keep financial records and collect dues.
C. Pay bills and release funds as voted by the general membership.
D. Make and provide quarterly financial reports to all members via e-mail
E. Provide monthly banking statement to the Executive Council via e-mail.
F. Send annual financial report to all members at least 21 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting

ARTICLE VI
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. The Executive Council will consist of the President, the Vice President, the Organizing Secretary, the Treasurer, and two nominated delegates, who shall meet at least once a month.

Section 2. The members shall nominate the two Executive Council delegates during the general elections.

Section 3. Duties of the Executive Council
A. To formulate the organization’s policy.
B. To execute policies determined by the general membership.
C. To govern activities of the organization.
D. To compile agenda for general meetings.

ARTICLE VII
IMPEACHMENT/REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF OFFICER AND MEMBERS

Section 1. All elected officers and members may be subject to removal by a two-thirds majority vote of the total membership.

Section 2. Grounds for removal, include but are not limited to, lack of ordinary care in discharge of duties, and misconduct that is damaging to the organization and the society at large.

An officer or member may be removed only under the following conditions:
i) there must be a quorum present during impeachment/removal;
ii) a two-thirds of the membership must vote; and
iii) prior to removal there must be two weeks’ notice publicized via e-mail to all members, or by any reasonable medium.

Section 3. Vacancies of any officer(s) shall be filled in the following manner:

i) Vacancy of the President shall be filled by the Vice President in acting capacity, until elections are held.
ii) For the vacancy of any other officer, other than that of the President, the Executive Council shall nominate any member of the Executive Council, to work in an acting capacity, until elections are held.
iii) Elections to fill vacant positions shall be held either within two months of vacancy, or within a reasonable time decided by the Executive Council.

Section 4. In the event that a majority of the Executive Council resigns, any member of the organization may call for an extraordinary meeting to fill the vacant positions.

Section 5. Resignation of any officer must be submitted in writing to the President, and in case of Presidential resignation, to all members of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS

Section 1. There must be public notice via e-mail to all members at least two (2) weeks in advance.

Section 2. There must be a meeting at least three times a year, at a venue announced by the Organizing Secretary at least two weeks in advance, or within a reasonable time.

Section 3. There must be a quorum (a quorum is 50 percent plus 1 of active members) present in order to make a financial decision.

Section 4. Minutes must be kept of all actions by the Secretary.

Section 5. The Treasurer will make a written report at least quarterly, which he/she shall e-mail to all members.

Section 6. Any aggrieved member may call an extraordinary general meeting to be attended by the Executive Council or a representative of the Executive Council. A twenty one (21) day recorded notice of the intended meeting must be given to any member of the Executive Council. The aggrieved member must get signatures of two-thirds of the membership and submit them to the Executive Council prior to convening the meeting.

Section 7. Quorum to the extraordinary meeting must constitute two thirds (2/3) of the membership.

Section 8. No other matter outside the issue(s) raised by the aggrieved member shall be discussed at the extraordinary meeting.

Section 9. Resolution(s) passed by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote during the extraordinary meeting is/are valid and binding.

ARTICLE IX
COMMITTEES

Section 1. The standing committees of this organization shall be appointed as necessary by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE X
RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1. This organization limits its liabilities to only those activities that have been approved by the Executive Council or Annual General Meeting resolutions, and are legal under the laws of Texas.

Section 2. No officer or member shall have the right to incur any debt or become involved in any business under the title or by implying the title of KENSHO in any way unless given full authority to do so by the Executive Council, or by a resolution at the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section 1. Any amendment change to this constitution requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a general or extra-ordinary meeting.

UMOJA NI NGUVU!


KENSHO Constitution Printable Version: Click Here