This organization shall be known as the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran, henceforp class="pa"ward referred to as MCSDI. MCSDI is an organization of conscientious Iranian-Americans in Minnesota dedicated to supporting Iranian people’s struggle for human rights and democracy.
The MCSDI is an active, independent, non-political, non-governmental body. It is strictly a non- profit organization, with its resources being exclusively used to foster and promote the objectives given in Article 4.
The MCSDI's headquarters shall be where the president of the organization resides. Persian and English languages will be used according to the need.
The objectives of the MCSDI are as follows:
To organize community activities, especially those promoting human rights and democracy in Iran, and encourage Iranian-Americans in Minnesota to get involved in these activities.
To promote communications between members of the organization, other Iranian-American organizations focused on human rights and democracy in Iran, and other members of the community.
To establish collaboration with other national and international organizations, societies, and agencies, focused on the promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran.
To Support Persian cultural and social activities/events while promoting our cause during such activities/events.
To support human rights and democratic activities of likeminded individuals or groups.
General membership is open to anyone with an interest in human rights and issues related to the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy by applying using the link on the website, or by submission of a paper membership form, and approval by the membership committee.
Every MCSDI member has the following rights and obligations:
To be elected or elect others for the various offices of the organization at election time.
To participate with voting rights at the MCSDI’s regular or extra-ordinary general meetings.
To submit items for discussion at any of organization’s meetings.
To foster the objectives of MCSDI.
To request attendance at the BOD meetings upon notifying any board member in advance.
Upon written notice by the MCSDI member.
Upon the death of the MCSDI member.
Upon approval of the membership committee indicating that a member has behaved in a manner which has brought disrepute to MCSDI.
By misrepresentation of the member’s political or societal affiliations.
Any MCSDI member whose MCSDI membership is terminated loses all benefits, rights and obligations arising from the articles of MCSDI.
No person shall be elected to membership unless the membership committee has approved the candidate in accordance with the relevant articles concerning membership.
Any request for re-admission upon termination of membership shall be dealt with in the same manner as an original request for membership.
Once a candidate has been approved by the membership committee, the secretary will notify the member accordingly and membership shall become effective upon acceptance of the offer of membership.
The Board of Directors of MCSDI is an elected body as follows:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Four to six at-large members
The BOD executes policy and manages the affairs of MCSDI.
The BOD is convened regularly at least once a month, and more often as needed at the discretion of the secretary, president, or at least half plus one of the board members.
The term of office for any MCSDI board member is two years. All board members are eligible for re-election. This is to give all board members a chance to experience different challenges in the MCSDI organization affairs.
The president shall not serve more than two terms.
For each office, a member will need to be nominated and seconded by another member.
If a member resigns during their term of office, the membership will elect a replacement through a special election, who will serve the remainder of their term.
If four board members resign within any period of six months, elections for a new BOD will have to be held. The new BOD will serve the remainder of the term of the previous BOD. In this case, the MCSDI secretary remains in an acting capacity with the sole charge of preparing for new elections and convening the relevant BOD.
The MCSDI board is considered to be in quorum when any four members are present. If a member of BOD is unjustifiably absent from four consecutive meetings, they lose their post and will be replaced by another member by the BOD.
The MCSDI secretary keeps regular minutes of the meetings. In addition, The president or vice president have the option to keep records of meeting minutes as backup as well as for any business related documentation needed (e.g. to submit them to financial institutions, or state and/or federal government agencies.
Each BOD member has one vote.
The BOD sets-up standing committees composed of members to facilitate any of the organization's specialized work, including the membership committee.
The BOD represents the organization in its dealings with other entities.
The results of the election will be announced during the annual general assembly meeting.
The organization shall hold a regular annual general assembly (AGM) meeting, at a date decided by BOD.
All other general meetings shall be considered as Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) and shall be convened at the discretion of the BOD or following a written signed request giving the reasons for the meeting by 1/3 of the members in good standing.
All EGMs shall be convened at a date set by the BOD. EGMs called by members shall be convened no later than 30 days from any written request satisfying 11.2 above.
The secretary or president shall circulate to all members the agenda and any background documents for all meetings.
All members in good standing have the right to vote in any of the AGM or EGM meetings.
Any member who wishes to have an item discussed during the AGM should submit this in writing, together with a brief background, to the secretary 15 days before the date set for the AGM.
At the AGM, the president presents the yearly report of the organization, the proposed budget, activities and policy for the forthcoming year. The treasurer presents the financial standing of the organization. The secretary records the minutes.
The AGM or EGM set the general guidelines and policy, which the BOD should follow.
Any meeting will have a quorum if half plus one of the members in good standing are present. In the case where a quorum is not secured then the meeting will be considered as having secured its quorum by any number present after 30 minutes from the original starting time set.
All decisions at meetings are carried by a simple majority vote of the members present.
The president chairs all meetings. In the absence of the president, the vice president takes the chair. In the case that the president and vice president are not unavailable, the secretary shall chair the meeting.
In the case of voting for new board members, a ballot Committee of three persons, who are not candidates, are appointed by the secretary to carry out the elections by secret ballot.
Ballots (paper or electronic), are prepared by the secretary, approved by BOD, and made available to the ballot committee.
Chairs the AGM, EGM, and BOD Meetings.
Co-signs with the secretary all correspondence concerning the convening of meetings.
Co-signs with the secretary the minutes of all meetings.
Co-signs with the treasurer bank withdrawals and authorizations for payments.
Signs any routine correspondence related to organization business, represents the organization in all legal and non-legal matters.
Stands-in for the president in all duties when the president is unavailable.
Records and maintains the minutes and member roster.
Carries out all correspondence of the organization.
Prepares ballots and all related correspondence.
Announces the election time and receives nominations.
Keeps a record of applications for membership and submits them to the membership committee.
Keeps the accounts of the organization and prepares its budget following the directives of BOD.
Collects all fees and dues owed to the organization, issues receipts and makes relevant bank deposits.
Keeps record of memberships dues.
Presents accounts for audit to any auditor(s) that BOD may decide to appoint.
These bylaws or articles thereof may be amended by a majority of the membership at an AGM or EGM. Minor editions to the articles are allowed by the BOD with consensus of all members present.
Any member wishing to introduce amendments must submit these to the board in writing together with signatures of 1/3 of the membership.
Any amendments to the bylaws or introduction of new articles need a majority vote of members present. The proposed constitutional changes should be circulated to all members 15 days prior to the meeting.
The organization will be considered as dissolved if this is decided by a secret ballot of 2/3 majority at any AGM or EGM.
