Bylaws

BYLAWS OF THE

 

CHINESE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

We, the Chinese government employees currently employed under the Los Angeles County, join ourselves together in the creation of a strong dedicated and loyal non-profit group who shall work to embody the ideals and aims of this organization, establish this Constitution and Bylaws for the CHINESE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

 

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

 

The name of this organization shall be known as CHINESE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, hereafter referred to as “CEALAC” or “Association”.

 

 

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

 

Section 1 - Purpose

 

• To organize and unite all Chinese Los Angeles County employees into a solid and cohesive group to promote unity.
• To work for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage and tradition.
• To obtain social justice and the guarantees for equal opportunities.

                       

Section 2 - Objectives

 

• To promote friendship and mutual interest in the Chinese and American cultures of its members.
• To conduct cultural and employment related activities for its members.
• To encourage the recruitment, appointment and promotion of its members in Los Angeles County services, and to promulgate information on employment and promotional opportunities to its members.
• To counsel and assist members in matters relating to grievance procedures, affirmative action, race and sex discrimination.
• To work with the Los Angeles County management and other parties toward the achievement of the above goals.

 

 

ARTICLE III

QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS

 

Section 1 – Membership

 

All Los Angeles County employees, current employed or retired, and their family may become members of the Association, and such other person(s) granted membership by the Board action for reason(s) considered meritorious to the Association. The Association has no restriction on membership based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age or disability.

 

Section 2 –Rights of Members

 

All members shall have the right to:

• Attend and speak at general meetings.
• Receive meeting notices, newsletters and other Association publications.
• Serve on committees.

 

Section 3 – Classes of Membership

 

• Regular Members: Those who are currently employed by the County of Los Angeles are eligible for active membership.
• Associate Members: Any family members of a Regular Member, who is not a Los Angeles County employee; retired County employees and their family members who are 18 years of age, may become Associate Members. An Associate member must be sponsored by a Regular Member in good standing; however, whenever a Regular Member becomes a retired member, he/she need not be sponsored. An Associate Member has no voting rights and may not be nominated to the Board of Directors.
• Honorary Members: Those who by reason of meritorious services(s) to the Association have been granted honorary membership by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4 – Admission to Membership

 

Any person desiring to become a member shall fill out a membership application form to the Association for processing. An eligible applicant may be accepted to membership as defined in Section 3 above. The Board of Directors shall reserve the right to approve or deny any application for membership.

 

Section 5 – Termination of Membership

 

Any member may terminate his or her membership by submittal of written notice to the Secretary of the Association at any time. Involuntary termination may occur when requirements of the Los Angeles County, Human Resources Department are not met. The Board of Directors shall reserve the right to determine and take appropriate actions.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

GOVERNING BODY AND OFFICERS

 

Section 1 – Board of Directors and Board Officers

 

• The Board of Directors -- composed of seventeen (17) Board Members who are elected from the Regular Members. Subsequently, the chairperson and Board Officers are elected among the Board Members. All the Board Members shall hold a two-year term but may not hold more than two succeeding terms.

 

• The Board Officers – composed of six (6) Officers who are elected among the Board Members, which are the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, public relations officer, and event coordinator. The responsibility shall be assumed as of the first day of the fiscal year for which they were elected to serve.       All the elected officers shall hold a two-year term but may not hold more than two succeeding terms.

 

Section 2 – Termination of Officer Status

 

Any elected officer may resign his office by submitting his resignation in writing to the Board of Directors. Such officers shall continue to be responsible for the conduct of the duties of his office until his resignation has been formally accepted and a suitable replacement has been duly appointed.

 

 

ARTICLE V

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1 – Organization

 

The Board of Directors shall consist of seventeen (17) Members, which are a Chairperson, six Officers, and other ten (10) Board Members. Nine members present at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 2 – The Board of Directors Responsibilities

 

• The Board of Directors’ responsibilities include the implementation of all policies, orders and resolutions of the Association membership. Lacking such guidance, the Board of Directors shall formulate and execute policies and initiatives deemed necessary and in the best interests of the Association. It shall determine the number and functions of committees and shall generally supervise the business affairs of the Association. Decisions and actions taken by the Board of Directors shall be reported promptly to the Association through general meetings or Association publications.

 

• The Board of Directors will elect a chairperson among themselves to lead the Board. The chairperson must have at least one year of service in the Board in order to facilitate the internal operations of the Board.

 

• The Board of Directors will elect six (6) Officers among themselves to govern the Association.

 

• The Board of Directors, after due process, has the sole power to suspend, disqualify or expel any erring member or candidate for membership. It shall have the power to impeach an officer for malfeasance in office, provided that charges against an officer shall be specified in writing and signed by no less than six members of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3 – Meeting Schedule

 

The Board of Directors shall meet at the times and places set by the Chairperson, at least three times each year, presided by the Chairperson. At the last Board of Directors meeting of each fiscal year, appropriate arrangements shall be agreed upon for an orderly transition of authority and management to the incoming Board of Directors.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

 

Section 1 – President

 

President, representing for the Association to the public, shall be charged with the executive function of protecting the Bylaws of the Association. He/She shall consolidate the body and the spirit of the Association. He/She shall preside at Officers’ meetings. With the Treasurer, the President shall sign all checks issued against the funds of the Association. As ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and with equal rights and powers granted to a Board member, the President may sit at the Board of Directors meetings. The President holds the right to fill vacant positions, with Board of Directors approval, in the event that, an impromptu election is deemed costly and impractical.

 

Section 2 – Vice President

 

Vice President shall perform duties assigned to him/her by the President; shall, in the absence or incapacity of the President, perform the duties of the President.

 

Section 3 - Secretary

 

Secretary shall record the Association minutes and attendance, and take note of all proceedings. Motions or resolutions adopted shall be logged into the Association folder. He/She shall furnish the President a copy of such minutes which may be read or passed around to the members during subsequent meetings. The Secretary shall obtain from the membership committee a mailing list of all members showing dates and classification of membership. He/She shall serve all notices required by the Association. He/She shall keep records of election materials, minutes from all meetings including those submitted by committees, etc.

 

Section 4 - Treasurer

 

Treasurer shall collect, issue and record receipts for all dues, fees, monies, properties, receivables and donations to the Association. He/She shall open an account with a bank or trust company approved by the Board of Directors and deposits thereat all monies/notes of the Association; report all its income, expenses and financial transactions at all regular meetings. Together with the President, he/she shall prepare and co-sign all checks for disbursements approved by the President and the Board of Directors. He/She shall prepare monthly and annual financial statements and shall make an itemized report of the same to the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5 – Public Relations Officer

 

Public Relations Officer shall compile the history, membership and activities of the Association. He/She shall see to the Association’s publicity and representation needs. He/She may serve as the Association’s spokesperson in the absence of the President.

 

Section 6 – Event Coordinator

 

Event Officer shall coordinate all the activities which are held by the Association. The activities comprise of Association meetings, the Lunar Year Banquet, seminars, trainings, workshops, fund raising events, elections and so forth. Responsibilities for the implementation of the activities include: conducting location searches, program designs,

flyers distribution, etc. All events decisions are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION

 

Section 1 – Appointing a Nominating Committee

 

The President shall appoint a nominating committee, no later than the 15th of April of the election year. The nominating committee shall nominate no more than 30 enthusiastic candidates for Board members. Each nominee must agree to serve and accept the responsibilities of being the Board member.

 

Section 2 – Approval of Slate of Nominees

 

After approval by the Board of Directors, the slate of nominees will be announced, in writing, to the Association membership no later than the month of May of the election year. Additional nominations for Board members may be submitted, in writing, to the Secretary in the form of a petition signed by no less than ten members of the Association in good standing, and accompanied by the written acceptance of the nomination by nominee. Such petition must be in the possession of the Secretary no later than three calendar weeks subsequent to the date of the announced slate of nominees.

 

Section 3 - Election of Board Members

 

No later than the 15^th of June of the election year, a duly announced general membership meeting shall be conducted for the purpose of electing Board Members.

 

Section 4 – Election of Officers

 

Officers shall be elected individually in the sequence listed in Article IV from the Board members. A simple majority of the membership in good standing present at the time of election will be required for the election of each officer.

 

Section 5 – Appointment for Non-Elected Position(s)

 

The President, with majority approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint member(s) a vacant position to fulfill the needs of the Association.

 

Section 6 – Temporary Appointment

 

In the event that a Board member is unable to fulfill his/her duties, a Regular Member may assume, upon the majority approval of the Board of Directors, the duties of that position.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

 

Section 1 – Minimum Requirement

 

There shall be a minimum of two general meetings per year. Additional meeting featuring matters of interest to the Association membership shall be scheduled, as directed, by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2 – Officers Meeting

 

A regular monthly officers meeting, with other members welcome, will be held the 3^rd Saturday of each month. The agenda consists of reports from officers and discussion of upcoming activities and events.

 

Section 3 – General Meeting

 

Annual general meetings will be held in the month of October and June each year, on a day fixed by the President with Board of Directors approval, to discuss policies and issues beneficial to members of the Association.

 

Section 4 – Special Meeting

 

A Special Meeting may be called for by the President or Board of Directors in case of emergency or for special elections.

 

Section 5 – Voting Completion

 

Matters that require voting in general meeting, the Board of Directors meeting and officers meeting should be completed by a majority of the members are present.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1 – Quorum

 

The presence of majority members of the officers shall constitute a quorum sufficient to transact business.

 

Section 2 – Rules of Order

Except as otherwise cited in the Bylaws, meetings of the Association and Board of Directors shall be conducted in accordance with the Robert’s Rules of Order (see Attachment).

 

Section 3 – Membership Fee

 

The Board of Directors shall set the membership fee of $20.00 a year, payable to CEALAC. The membership fee is subject to change.

                                          

Section 4 – Expenses of the Association

 

No compensation shall be made or given to any officer or member of the Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors may reimburse officers for expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.

 

 

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

 

Section 1 – Submission and Evaluation of Amendments

 

Amendments to these bylaws may be initiated by written petition to the Board of Directors. In its wisdom and in light of other Association affairs, the Board shall formulate a position on the petition. The proposed amendment and the position of the Board shall be presented at the next Association meeting and provided to the entire Association membership through an appropriate publication.

 

Section 2 – Voting on Amendments

 

At the next subsequent meeting, the amendment will be called to a vote. A two-thirds majority of the members in good standing and present at the time the vote is taken is required to amend bylaws.

 

 

APPROVED AND RATIFIED on this 10th day of August, 2011 in Los Angeles, State of California

 

 

Notes:

Pursuant to Article X, By–Law of Chinese Employees Association of Los Angeles County has been revised and approved by two-third of majority CEALAC members in a good standing and present at the time the vote is taken on this 17^th day of June, 2012 in Los Angeles, State of California.

 

AMENDED BYLAWS

 

Attachment

Robert's Rules of Order

 

For Fair and Orderly Meetings & Conventions

 

Provides common rules and procedures for deliberation and debate in order to place the whole membership on the same footing and speaking the same language. The conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership - the right of the deliberate majority to decide. Complementary is the right of at least a strong minority to require the majority to be deliberate - to act according to its considered judgment AFTER a full and fair "working through" of the issues involved. Robert's Rules provides for constructive and democratic meetings, to help, not hinder, the business of the assembly. Under no circumstances should "undue strictness" be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation.