FanniBC Constitution

 

1.01 This Association is an independent, non religious, non political and non profit organization which is founded by a group of the Alumni, residing in British Columbia in 2004 with characteristics and visions mentioned hereinafter;

 

1.02 The official name of the Association shall be “Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, residing in BC, Canada (hereinafter referred to as “the Association” or “FanniBC”).

 

1.03 The Association’s mission and objectives shall be to:

 

(a) Establish and strengthen the bonds between alumni residing in BC among each other, and with other similar alumni associations or individuals in other parts of the world to help:

 

(i) Advance the opportunity of finding jobs, pertinent to their technical education, experience & profession and reducing their financial needs to government agencies.

 

(ii) Advance the knowledge of alumni members through technical seminars and such in regards to proper ways of using their technical education & experience;

 

(iii) Networking with members holding “professional engineer designation” as mentors

 

(b) Promote the interests and support FanniBC alumni so that:

 

(i) The Association and its members (the alumni) enjoy extensive visibility;

 

(ii) The quality and quantity of social gatherings and events for the purpose of raising the spirits of the alumni meet the changing needs of alumni.

 

(iii) A substantive number of alumni participate in activities and events;

 

(iv) Possible opportunities to establish business relationships between members are created.

 

(v) The Association remains an effective organization;

 

(c) Promote and support the Faculty of Engineering of University of Tehran as a centre of academic excellence with an international perspective so that:

 

(i) The “Faculty” enjoys an excellent profile and image;

 

(ii) The pursuit of higher education and research is encouraged and supported.

 

 

2.01 Three categories of members of FanniBC shall be recognized as follows:

 

(a) Graduate Member, has obtained an honorary or regular degree, certificate or diploma from the Faculty of Engineering of University of Tehran; accepts the constitution of the Association and applies to join and becomes a graduate member of the Association.

 

A Graduate member has the right to vote for, or to be voted in the election of Board of Directors provided that he/she has paid all membership dues.

 

(b) Associate Member, has obtained a bachelor degree in engineering from any accredited university, or is the academy staff of the Faculty of Engineering of University of Tehran and has paid all membership dues.

 

An Associate member has the right to vote for, but can not be voted in the above mentioned election.

 

(c) Honorary Member, a distinguished individual, who has devoted a significant contribution to the Association or Iranian- Canadian society and accepts the constitution of the Association, and is candidate by any members of the Association and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

Honorary members have the right to vote for but can not be voted in the above mentioned election.

 

2.02 Membership dues shall be in accordance with approval and decisions of General Assembly.

 

 

Fannibc is consisting of following bodies:

 

3.01     General Assembly, as the final body of the Association in making decisions.

 

3.02     Board of Directors, working under direct supervision of General Assembly conformed to this constitution

 

3.03     Committees, working under direct supervision of Board of Directors.

 

 

4.01 General Assembly is the final body of the Association in making decisions.

 

4.02 An Annual General Assembly (Annual General Meeting – A.G.M.) of members shall be held during the month of September of every year following formal announcement to and invitation of all members to A.G.M. by the Board of Directors in order to:

 

(a) Elect the members of the Board of Directors according to the procedure established by Bylaw prepared by the Board of Directors, every other year;

 

(b) Receive, review and decide about the annual report of the Board of Directors and Financial Statement of the Association of previous year;

 

(c) Receive, review and decide about the schedules of the Association activities for upcoming year; proposed budget for upcoming year

 

(d) Revise and decide about any amendments to the Constitution of the Association

 

4.03 Extraordinary General Assembly can be formed through:

 

(a) Request from the Board of Directors

(b) Written request signed by more than one third of members, submitted to the Board of Directors (B.O.D.) along with their reason for such request.

 

B.O.D. will announce and invite all members to the Extra-ordinary General Assembly at least one month in advance, via regular/ electronic mail, website or other news media.

 

4.04 Quorum

 

(a) A quorum of “50% plus one” of eligible voting members or their authorized agents should be present for the disposition of substantive motions on the first invitation.

(b) If the number of eligible voting members does not reach the quorum the General Assembly will be official on the second invitation by any number of voting members of the Association.

(c) In any case majority of votes “50% plus one” are required for approval of any decision as per the Agenda at the General Assembly.

(d) A.G.M. will be administered by the Board of Directors in all matters and issues except for the election of the Board of Directors which will be governed by the Election Committee.

 

4.05 The Election Committee

 

(a) The Election Committee consists of at least three members, who are not candidates for the election and will be volunteered at least two months prior to the Election Day.

 

(b) Election committee is liable and accountable to General Assembly of members.

(c) Eligible voting members who are not able to participate and attend at the General Assembly can send their votes to the Election Committee by regular mail or email, provided that their sealed envelope or email being received by the Election Committee not later than one day before the Election Day. Proxy voting by authorizing another voting member to vote on behalf of the absent member through official letter addressing the election Committee is also acceptable provided no member has been authorized by more than two absent members.

 

 

 

5.01 The Board of Directors is the administrative and executive body of the Association, and is responsible for all matters of the Association.

 

5.02 The Board of Directors shall consist of seven principal members and two substitute members as follows:

 

(a) A Chair;

 

(b) A Vice Chair;

 

(c) A Treasurer;

 

(d) A Secretary;

 

(e) Other Members;

 

5.03 Five “members” and two “substitute members” of B.O.D. are to be elected by the Association eligible voting members for a term of two years. In case a “member” can not continue to serve, the “substitute member” with highest votes will automatically substitute him/her.

 

5.04 Two other members of B.O.D will be selected /appointed at the end of period of service of B.O.D. with the majority of the votes of B.O.D. as transition members to the newly elected B.O.D.

 

5.05 The B.O.D. “members” can not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

 

5.06 If at least five members of B.O.D. resign or don’t appear on more than three consecutive meetings of B.O.D. without notice, the remaining directors will immediately call for Election via the election committee for a new B.O.D.

5.07 BOD members provide services pertinent their duties voluntary and free of charge.

 

5.08 Without restriction to the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors:

 

(a) Shall meet not less than once a month;

 

(b) Shall be convened within fourteen days at the request of three directors;

 

(c) Shall, between General Meetings, have full power and authority to manage the affairs of the Association, in coordination with the decisions of general assembly and the constitution;

 

(d) May exercise such powers and take such steps as are not, under the Constitution, reserved to the membership of the Association at General Meetings of alumni;

 

(e) Utilizing services of “members” or “substitute members” may fill any vacancy within the Board of Directors;

 

(f) May appoint committees and delegate to them such powers as it may deem advisable; and

 

(g) May approve such strategic, action or financial plans, policies or resolutions as it may deem advisable.

 

 

 

5.11 The quorum for meetings of B.O.D. shall be majority of remaining ‘members”. Decisions made at the Board of Directors are official upon the majority of the votes of the members who are present in the meeting.

5.12 Duties of the members of B.O.D. are as follows:

 

a) The Chairman/Vice Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the B.O.D.

The Chairman shall be responsible for the general administration and supervision of the affairs of the Association and shall make sure that all policies and actions approved by the General Assembly and the B.O.D. are properly implemented.

 

b) The Vice Chairman shall perform duties as designated by the Chairman and shall fulfill the duties of the Chairman in his absence or inability.

 

c) The Secretary shall keep a hard copy and approved record of minutes of all meetings of B.O.D. The Secretary shall provide notices required to B.O.D. members. The Secretary shall be responsible for the books, records correspondence, contracts and other documents of the Association.

 

d) The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements of the Association in the proper books of account and shall arrange to have deposited in the name of the Association, all funds belonging to the Association in such bank or banks as designated by the B.O.D. The Treasurer shall submit an audited financial statement for the year to the members at the General Annual Meeting.

 

e) Present awards, prizes and certificates of recognition.

 

 

6.01 In addition to the Election committee, the Association may have the following committees:

 

(a) Membership Committee

 

(b) Academic Affairs Committee

(c) Social Activities Committee

 

 

 

 

6.02 The B.O.D. will appoint one of its members as the liaison between B.O.D. & each Committee.

 

6.03 Committees will provide any plans (by themselves) conform to the Constitution of Association and submit for discussions and approval of the B.O.D. and subject to receiving the approval will act and execute their plans independently.

 

6.04 The liaison will submit the report of activities of the committee in due intervals to B.O.D.

6.05 The chair of committees should be a Member of Fannibc, cooperating with the appointed liaison between B.O.D. and that committee.

6.06 Other committees can be formed due to the needs and wants of the Association.

 

7.01 The Constitution may be amended:

 

(a) At G.A., upon such notice as may be established by Bylaw, by a two-thirds majority of the members or their authorized agents present and voting; or

(b) By a resolution of two-thirds of the members of B.O.D. and approval of two-thirds majority of the members of Association.

 

7.02 The Bylaws may be amended:

 

(a) At G.A., upon such notice as may be established by Bylaw, by a majority of the members or their authorized agents present and voting; or

 

(b) By a resolution of two-thirds of the members of B.O.D. and approval of two-thirds majority of the members of Association.

 

 

8.01 The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on September 1^st and shall end at August 30^th.

 

8.02 Farsi and English shall be the languages used by the Association.

 

8.03 The Association shall adhere to the principles of equal opportunity for men and women and non-discrimination in all matters related to gender, race, creed, or age.

 

8.04 Unless otherwise provided, the use in the Constitution and the Bylaws of the masculine or neutral form shall apply to men and women.

 

 

 

9.01 Minimum of two third of eligible graduate members are required to vote for Dissolution of Association.