1. NAME

1.1 The name of this organization shall be Tamil Association of Greater Delaware Valley Incorporated (hereafter referred to as Tamil Association).

1.2 The Tamil Association of Greater Delaware Valley is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1 Cultivate and promote Tamil culture and friendship by organizing various cultural events and social activities.

2.2 Promote and foster the knowledge of Tamil Language and literature.

2.3 Strive for and promote better understanding between peoples of Tamil and other cultures and organizations with compatible objectives.

2.4 No part of the net earnings of the Tamil Association of Delaware Valley shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause thereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

3. OFFICE

3.1 The location of the office shall be decided by the Executive committee.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1 The membership of the Tamil Association shall be open to all nationals who are willing to share and promote the objectives of the Tamil Association.

4.2 The membership categories shall be classified as family, single and student. The family shall consist of husband, wife (or either) and any minor children (under the age of 18) in the same household. Student membership shall be confined to full-time students.

4.3 The annual, non-refundable membership dues to Tamil Association shall be determined each year by the Executive Committee. The fiscal year of the Tamil Association shall be January 1 to December 31. The life-time membership dues can also be determined by the current executive committee and collected anytime during the fiscal year.

4.4 Only those who have paid their membership dues shall be considered as members of Tamil Association.

5. COMMITTEES

5.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of four Officers, President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer and five additional members called Member -at-Large.

5.2 The Executive Committee shall have the authority to manage the activities of the Tamil Association.

5.2 The Standing Committees for (a) Tamil School (shall run the Tamil School), (b) Fine Arts (shall develop music, play, dance programs), (c) Literary Forum (shall organize a forum for discussion of Tamil Literature), (d) Finance (shall develop financial resource base of the Tamil Association), (e) Publications (shall be responsible for developing a newsletter and a magazine), (f) Human Services (shall develop human service programs), (g), Sports (shall organize sports activities), (h) Tamil Library (shall develop a Tamil Library), (I) Youth Activities (shall develop programs suitable for youth) and U) Host Family (shall develop programs to host students who are new to the area) shall be appointed each year by the Executive Committee.

5.3 The Executive Committee shall have the authority to appoint other Committees as and when found necessary for effecting function of the Tamil Association.

5.4 All Committees shall work in close association with the Executive Committee to realize their specific goals. Programs and activities of the Standing Committees shall be carried out under the direction of the Executive Committee.

6. ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

6.1 Only an adult (of age 18 and above) who has been a member of the Tamil Association as of August 1st preceding the election is eligible to contest or vote for any office of the Executive Committee. Every adult member shall

have a vote.

6.2 The term of office of the Executive Committee shall be for a period of two years or until their successors assume their respective offices.

6.3 The election of the incoming Executive Committee shall be conducted in October/November during Deepavali Day celebrations. The term of office shall begin on January 1st following the election. 3

6.4 Election is to be conducted by an Election Committee of three members, of whom one shall not be a member of the Executive Committee. One of them will be the Chairperson. The Election Committee is responsible for receiving nominations, verifying eligibility of nominees and conduct of the elections. Nominations shall be in writing, which shall include a statement of the nominee's willingness to serve and the signature of the proposer. Members of the Election Committee shall not contest in the election. A member of the Tamil Association shall not contest for more than one position on the Executive Committee in a given year. The deadline for closure of nomination shall be one week prior to the Election Day and the deadline for withdrawal of nomination shall be three days prior to the scheduled election. Floor nomination for a position on the Executive Committee shall be admissible only in the absence of a nomination for that position.

6.5 The Executive Committee will elect a new Officer/Member in case any vacancy is created in the Executive Committee. The new Officer/Member should be approved by the General Body in the next meeting/function organized by the Tamil Association.

7.0 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

7.1 PRESIDENT

The President

(a) Shall in general manage all activities and business of the Tamil

Association. He/She shall call for and preside at the meetings of the Tamil Association and the Executive Committee.

(b) Shall, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoint members of all standing and other committees.

(c) Shall sign all documents in the name and on behalf of the Tamil Association.

(d) Shall see that all activities of the Tamil Association are properly documented and filed.

(e) During the temporary absence of any Officer of the Executive Committee, the President shall assign the officer's responsibilities to other members of the Executive Committee.

7.2 VICE-PRESIDENT

The Vice-President shall perform all duties of the President during the latter's temporary absence and any other duties which may be assigned by the President.

7.3 SECRETARY, the Secretary

(a) Shall be responsible for recording and presenting the minutes of all meetings.

(b) Shall sign and attend to all correspondence of the Tamil Association. He/She shall send all to members, notices of all meetings and functions held on behalf of the Tamil Association.

(c) Shall be the custodian of records, documents and physical assets of the Tamil Association other than those under the jurisdiction of the Treasurer. He/She shall maintain an updated list of members and an updated list of physical assets of the Tamil Association.

d) Shall file any certificates required by any statute, Federal or State.

(e) Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the President.

(f) Shall present a consolidated report of the activities of the Tamil Association at the Annual General Body Meeting.

7.4 TREASURER the Treasurer (a) shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds of

The Tamil Association.

(b) Shall establish a bank account in the name of Tamil Association. (c) Shall make, countersign and endorse in the name of the Tamil Association all checks, drafts, notes and other orders for the payment of money, under the direction of the Executive Committee. Checks above $500 (Five hundred dollars) shall be signed by the Treasurer and one designated Officer of the Tamil Association.

(d) Shall maintain records of all financial transactions made by or on behalf of the Tamil Association in accordance with approved accounting principles.

(e) Shall present an up-to-date, audited financial report at the annual General Body meeting of the Tamil Association.

 (f.) Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the President.

8. MEETINGS

8.1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

(a) The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times in a year.

(c) The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or

Majority of its members.

8.2 GENERAL BODY MEETINGS

(a) The President may convene a General Body meting anytime during the year.

(b) There shall be a General Body Meeting in October/November during Deepavali Day Celebrations to elect the incoming Executive Committee.

(c) The President should convene a General Body meeting if a majority of the members of the Tamil Association demands one.

(d) Notice including the agenda of the General Body meetings shall be given to all members of the Tamil Association at least two weeks in advance.

8.3 QUORUM

(a) One third of the members of the Tamil Association shall constitute a

Quorum for a General Body Meeting.

 (b) A majority shall constitute a Quorum for the Executive Committee Meetings.

8.4 PASSAGE OF RESOLUTIONS

A simple majority of members present is required for the passage of any resolution in Executive Committee or General Body Meetings.

9. DISSOLUTION

9.1 DISSOLUTION

The Tamil Association can be dissolved by a four-fifths vote of the

Members present at a General Body Meeting.

9.2 DISPOSITION OF FUNDS UPON DISSOLUTION

Upon the dissolution of the Tamil Association, assets shall be distributed for one or exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

10. AMENDMENTS

10.1           These bylaws may be amended at any General Body Meeting of the Tamil Association by two-thirds vote provided that the amendment has been sent to the members at least 14 days prior to the General Body Meeting.

10.2            A member proposing an amendment shall submit in writing to the Executive Committee at least twelve weeks prior to a General Body Meeting.  The Executive Committee shall determine the worthiness of the amendment and inform the propose of its evaluation within six weeks of receipt.  Upon finding the proposed amendment worth, the Executive Committee shall include the proposed amendment for consideration in the next scheduled General Body Meeting, subject to the prior notice requirement of 10.1.

10.3            In the event that the Executive Committee rejects the member’s proposed amendment, the member may petition in writing, signed by thirty members, to the Executive Committee, at least four weeks prior to a General Body Meeting.  Proposed amendments, in its entirety, shall be sent to the membership by the Executive Committee for consideration in the next scheduled General Body Meeting.

10.4            In the case when the Executive Committee proposes an amendment, only the prior notice requirement of 10.1 need to be satisfied.

11.              PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY