Gambia Education Support Organization
I. Mission
The mission of the Gambia Education Support Organization is to
provide assistance to Gambians and Gambian institutions in
education in the Gambia. A vital part of the Organization's mission
will be to become a medium through which intellectual, logistic
and material resources of Gambians and friends of the Gambia can
be utilized to improve education in the Gambia.
To this end, the Organization will:
Provide intellectual, material, logistic and other support to
individuals and institutions in need at all levels of education in
the Gambia.
Facilitate access to information and resources on education and
research in the Gambia.
Improve coordination and communication among members to support
education in the Gambia.
Develop and maintain a responsive and financially stable
organization.
II. Organization structure:
General Membership
Membership to the Organization is open to all (Gambians and
non-Gambians). There shall be two categories of membership, voting
and Honorary members. Voting members will be required to pay annual
membership fees as determined by the Organization. All voting
members will have the right to vote and run for office. Members
who fail to fulfill their obligations will cease to have the above
rights. All other contributors who do not fall under this category
shall become Honorary members.
Executive Committee
The Organization will conduct its overall activity through the
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will oversee the
planning and implementation of the Organization's activities. The
Committee will be voted in every two years. It shall consist of the
Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, ex-Executive
Director, three Zone Coordinators (Gambia, Europe and North
America), and a Treasurer.
Zones/Regions
Geographically the Organization will be divided to three zones:
Europe, North America and Gambia. Members in other regions can
chose their zone of affiliation at their convenience. Zone
Coordinators will oversee the Organization's activities in their
zones and will act and speak on behalf of their zones.
III The Constitution
Article I The Name of the Organization.
The name of the organization (hereinafter referred to as the
Organization) shall be the GAMBIA EDUCATION SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION,
GESO.
Article II Location and Address
The Principal office of the organization shall be at the address of
the current GESO Exective Director.
Article III Membership
Section 1. Membership of the Organization is open to all (Gambians
and non-Gambians). There shall be two categories of membership,
voting and honorary members. Voting members shall be required to
pay annual membership fees to be determined by the the Executive
Committee in consultation with the Financial and Fund Raising
Committee. All voting members will have the right to vote and run
for office. Contributors who do not wish to be active members in
the Organization shall become honorary members.
Section 2. The membership year is the calendar year ending December
31.
Article IV Membership fees
The following membership fee will be charged accordingly.
US $10 per month for non-student members residing in North America,
Europe, Australia New Zealand and Japan.
US $2.5 adult members elsewhere including Gambia.
US $5 Students in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.
US $1.00 for students elsewhere.
Article V The Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee, subject always to the
provisions of this Constitution, shall have general supervision and
control of the management and administration of the affairs of GESO
and may exercise all or any of the power of GESO including, without
limitation , power to make donations of, and accept donations to,
the funds of GESO and to invest and re-invest its funds in any
property, real or personal, to such extent deem advisable PROVIDED,
however, no such donation shall be made to any member and no such
investment shall be made in the securities of, and no loan made to,
any member.
Section 2. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be
called by the Executive Director or by any four (4) or more of the
officers.
Section 3. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Executive Committee shall constitute a simple majority of
officers.
Section 4. Every officer shall be entitled to vote at any meeting
on all matters.
Section 5. The Executive Director shall give notice of every
meeting of the Executive Committee to each officer at least one (1)
week before the meeting. Notice of the Executive Committee meetings
must specify the purpose.
Article VI Officers
Section 1. The officers of GESO shall be a Executive Director,
Deputy Executive Director, a Treasurer, and three Zone
Coordinators, one from each Zone. An Executive Committee shall
consist of all the officers, who shall have the power of a Board of
Directors and other such members that the Executive Committee shall
appoint to serve from time to time at the discretion of the
Committee.
Section 2. The Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and
Treasure shall be elected by the members as specified in Article
IX. Zone Coordinators shall be chosen by their Zones to represent
them on Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee may designate one or more
individuals as temporary officers, to continue as such during such
term as shall be specified by the Executive Committee. Such
temporary officers need not be members of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Any temporary officer appointed by the Executive
Committee may be removed from office by the Executive Committee
when his or her duties as prescribed by Executive Committee, has
been executed out as determined by the Executive Committee.
Section 5. Any officer may resign by filing with the Recording
Secretary or filed with the Executive Committee a written
resignation, which shall take effect on being filed or at such
other time as may be prescribed therein. Any vacancy at any time
existing in the Executive Committee or in any other office or in
any committee may be filled by the Executive Committee at any
meeting and the person chosen to fill the vacancy shall hold office
for no more than 120 days or until an elected member is chosen. Any
officer may be removed from office with just cause by the Executive
Committee following notice, which states her/his removal, is
proposed.
Article VII Powers and Duties of officers
Section 1. The Executive Director shall be the chief executive
officer of GESO, shall preside at all meetings of GESO and of the
Executive Committee, and shall have the general and active
management of the affairs of the Executive Committee, subject to
the approval and direction of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. In the absence of the Executive Director, or in case
of her/his death, resignation, incapacity or refusal to act, the
duties pertaining to the office shall, until the election of new
Executive Director, be performed by the Deputy Executive Director,
or in the event of the absence, death, resignation, incapacity, of
refusal to act by the Deputy Executive Director, the Executive
Committee shall designate one member to act.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall be in charge of all moneys of
GESO, shall collect all moneys due to GESO, shall have the power to
accept donations to GESO and (subject to the control of the
Executive Committee) shall deposit the funds of GESO in its bank
account, and may invest the funds of GESO subject to the prior
approval of the Executive Committee. She/he shall keep such books
as may be necessary for the duties of her/his office, which at all
times shall be open to the Executive Committee. She/he shall report
in detail annually, and as often as required by the Executive
Committee, all moneys collected, expended or invested, all
outstanding obligation of GESO, and such other matters as may be
deemed proper in connection with her/his office, and shall perform
such other duties as the Executive Director or the Executive
Committee may require. She/he shall keep updated records of the
membership and updated records of the mailing lists with the help
of the Recording and Corresponding Secretary.
Section 4. The Deputy Executive Director and three (3) Zone
Coordinators of the Executive Committee shall be responsible for
convening standing and ad hoc Committees, and responsible for
conference programs, minutes from Executive Committee and Annual
meetings, and other GESO documents. All four (4) shall perform such
other duties as the Executive Director and the Executive Committee
may require.
Section 5. The Executive shall nominate the appointment of a
Recording and Correspondence Secretary for approval by the General
membership within sixty (60) days from the day of nomination. The
Recording and Correspondence Secretary can not vote in the
Executive Committee.
Section 6. The primary responsibility of the Recording and
Corresponding Secretary shall be to act as liaison between GESO and
outside organizations; the secretary shall insure that notification
of GESO meetings be posted. The Recording and Corresponding
Secretary shall also assist the Treasurer in updating mailing
lists. She/he shall conduct all correspondence of GESO and assist
the Executive Director in maintaining contact with the standing
committees. She/he shall perform such other duties as the Executive
Director and the Executive Committee of GESO may require.
Section 7. Zone Coordinators. Geographically, the Organization
will be divided to three zones, Europe, North America and Gambia.
Members in other regions can chose their zone of affiliation at
their convenience. Each Zone Coordinator will oversee
Organizational activities in their zones and will act and speak on
behalf of their zones.
Article VIII Committees
The Executive Committee and the Executive Director may from time to
time appoint such committees, consisting of such persons, for such
purposes and with such powers as the Executive Committee or the
Executive Director shall determine. The members of any such
committees shall serve at the discretion of the Executive
Committee. A member of the Executive Committee shall serve on, but
need not chair, each committee, and shall act as liaison between
the committee and the Executive Committee.
Ad hoc Committees (Working Committees) The Working Committee
members will be appointed by the Executive Committee on need bases.
The Working Committees will be technical working groups to prepare
activity plans, or implement activities. The Working Committee will
be dissolved at the end of their assignment or at the discretion of
the Executive Committee.
Financial/Fundraising Committee: The Organizations will raise the
necessary finances through membership fees, individual
contributions and fund raisers. The Committee will be the
Organization's official fund raiser. The committee shall coordinate
all fundraising activities and will consist of four members. The
Committee will be responsible to consult with Executive Committee
to determine annual membership dues. If this Organization is
dissolved all its net funds will be donated to an institution or
institutions of its choice.
Audit Unit
This unit will help ensure that the organization's funds are used
as specified. The unit will comprise of a Chairperson and two
committee members. Members of the committee will be appointed by
the Executive Committee as needed. The unit will prepare its own
operational document to be approved by the General membership.
Article IX Elections and Nominations
Section 1 A four (4) member Elections and Nomination committee
shall be chosen by the general membership to oversee and supervise
nominations and elections of officials. The Elections and
Nominations Committee shall elect one (1) of its members to serve
as head of the Committee. Members of this committee can not run for
any other office during their tenure as election officials. The
committee shall have final say on election results.
Section 2. The Nomination and Election Committee shall request
suggestions from the members for nominations for the GESO'S
officers at least two (2) months before elections. The Committee
shall devise and mail to the voting members a proposed slate of
nominees at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.
Biographical sketches, together with optional statement of intent
consisting of no more than one hundred words, shall accompany all
nominations. All nominations shall also submit a statement to the
Committee on Nominations of their willingness to serve.
Section 3. All elections shall be held by ballot and candidates
receiving the largest vote cast shall be considered elected. In the
case of ties, there shall be another vote between the two top
contenders.
Section 4. A Executive Director shall be elected every two (2)
years and shall serve in the two succeeding years as Executive
Director. The term of the Executive Director shall be two years.
Section 5. The Deputy Executive Director, Treasurer and Zonal
Coordinators shall be elected every other year to a two-year term.
Section 6. The term of the office shall begin on the first Moday
after the first day of January end on the third Monday of
December. Each officer shall serve a maximum of two terms in the
office.
Article X Checks, Notes, Drafts and Other Instruments
The treasurer must draw up checks, Notes, Drafts, and other
Instruments for the payment of money drawn or endorsed in the name
of GESO but he or she should not sign it. The signatories are the
Executive Director and two (2) other Executive Committee members
besides the Treasurer. Neither the Executive Director nor other
members shall sign any such instrument as foresaid unless
authorized by the Executive Committee to do so.
Article XI Fiscal Year
The Fiscal year of GESO shall be the year ending with the
thirty-first (31) day of December of each year.
Article XII Amendments
Section 1. All proposed ammendments to the Constitution, together
with comments and recommendations of the officers of GESO shall be
submitted to all voting members for ballot by postal or electronic
mail.
Section 2. A two third majority of the members returning their
ballots within thirty (30) days of the date of mailing of the
proposed amendment(s) shall amend the Constitution
Article XIII Agreement of GESO
The provisions of the Agreement of GESO as they from time to time
exist are a part of this Constitution. We, whose names are hereto
subscribed, do, by this agreement, associate ourselves with the
intention of forming an organization under the General Laws of ...
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