bylaw(English)

Bylaws of Hunan Club of Houston, Texas

 (Approved by the First General Assembly of Members on  07 December 2002)

Article 1.   Official Name of the Organization.

The official name in English is “Hunan Club of Houston, Texas” while the translated version in Chinese is “休斯顿湖南同乡会.”

Article 2.   Nature of the Organization.

Hunan Club of Houston, Texas is a non-profit, non-political organization.

Article 3.   Purpose and Goals.

The primary purpose of Hunan Club of Houston, Texas is to promote communications and interactions among those who have either origins in Hunan or close ties with Hunan and now live in the Greater Houston Area. Through various social activities, the Club wishes to promote the friendship, unity, cooperation, and mutual help among its members. The Club also values friendly cooperation with other community-oriented clubs, associations, and organizations in the Greater Houston Area. Additionally, the Club wishes to promote U.S.-China cooperation, playing the role of a bridge between Houston and the various regions in Hunan Province of China and providing services that foster mutual exchanges in cultures, academics, sciences and technology, and business and commerce.

Article 4.    Organizational Structure.

4.1.            Hunan Club of Houston, Texas comprises members who live in the Great Houston Area and either have origins in Hunan or once worked, attended school, and/or lived in Hunan Province and their family members. The Club’s organizational structure consists of two parts: The General Assembly of Members and the Board of Directors. The General Assembly of Members is the highest authority of the Club, and the Board of Directors oversees the routine operation of the Club and organizes various Club activities.

4.2.            The Board comprises no less than nine directors, from whom one is to be elected Chairperson, one to be elected Secretary, and several to be elected Vice Chairpersons. Based on the actual operational needs, the Board may designate specific titles to Directors specifically related to the affairs and/or activities of the Club of which they are in charge, such as Director of Finance or Treasurer, Director of Membership, Director of Recreation, Director of Information, Director of Commerce, etc. Director of Finance or Treasurer manages the financial affairs of the Club; Director of Membership processes member registration, communicates information to members, and develops new members; Director of Recreation organizes, plans, and coordinates the Club’s recreational activities; Director of Information administers the website of the Club to manage and update information regularly; Director of Commerce coordinates the commercial and business activities.

4.3.            The Club usually holds a general assembly of members each year to review and, when necessary, revise its bylaws, and elect new Directors to the Board. The term of a director is usually one year, and a director may be reelected to serve. Revisions to the bylaws may be discussed in a Board meeting attended by more than half of the directors and endorsed by the Board with a simple majority vote before such revisions are presented to the General Assembly of Members for review and final approval. The Club can be disbanded only when two-thirds of the members present at the general assembly vote to do so.

Article 5.   Membership.

Anyone who lives in the Greater Houston Area and has an origin in Hunan or once worked, attended school, and/or lived in Hunan and his/her family members is/are eligible to apply to join the Club. Under unusual circumstances, the Board of Directors may approve to admit Honorary Members by a simple majority vote of the Board.

Article 6.   Obligations and Rights of Members.

6.1.   Members have the obligations to observe the bylaws of the Club, pay membership dues, implement resolutions of the General Assembly of Members and decisions of the Board of Directors, protect and defend the rights and interests of the Club, and help achieve the goals of the Club.

6.2.   Members have the rights to elect and be elected to serve in the Club, participate in activities organized by the Club, and make suggestions and criticism of the Club’s activities, and terminate at will their membership in the Club.

Article 7.   Membership Dues.

Members must pay their annual membership dues in a timely manner. Individual membership dues are ten ($10.00) dollars per year; family membership dues are fifteen ($15.00) dollars per year; and membership dues for college students (including undergraduate and graduate students and visiting scholars) and senior citizens are five ($5.00) dollars per year.

Article 8.   Activities.

The Club usually holds a general assembly of members each year and organizes two recreational and/or special events open for participation by all members.

Article 9.   Operational Funds.

The Club’s operational funds come from membership dues, event participation fees assessed according to needs, and sponsorship and advertising fees raised for special events.

Article 10.   Office Location.

The Club’s office is located in the building of Hua Xia Chinese School at 5925 Sovereign Drive, Houston, Texas 77036.