2003 AMENDMENT

ARTICLE I
NAME, LOCATION AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1 - NAME
This Association shall be known as the FILIPINO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of WESTERN CONNECTICUT, (FAAWC), hereinafter called the Association.

SECTION 2 - LOCATION
The principal office of the Association shall be in the Greater Danbury area of Connecticut.

SECTION 3 - PURPOSE
The FAAWC is a nonprofit organization, whose purpose shall be as follows:

• To help, in times of emergency, the FAAWC members, other Filipinos in the United States and our countrymen in the Philippines who are in urgent need of food, clothing, shelter, health and education assistance.

• To enhance unity and friendship among Filipino-American families in Western Connecticut and other Filipino-American communities in the United States.

• To promote awareness of and interest in the Philippine culture and heritage among its members and their communities.

• To extend a warm welcome and concrete assistance to newcomers, visitors from the Philippines, and other Filipino-American associations in the United States.

• To participate in various civic and community services and encourage member involvement in these activities.

• To foster among its members love and concern, loyalty and respect for the Philippines and the United States. 

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP, VOTING RIGHTS AND DUES

SECTION 1 - MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the FAAWC shall include resident members, nonresident members, associate members, and honorary members whose qualifications are hereinafter defined, as those who voluntarily desire to become members of the FAAWC.

A. RESIDENT MEMBER

• Must be of Philippine ancestry or origin by birth, citizenship, or marriage or have resided in the Philippines for a period of five or more years

• Must be eighteen years of age or older

• Must reside within the boundaries as defined in Article III of these Bylaws.

B. NON-RESIDENT MEMBER
A nonresident member must have the same qualifications as defined in Section 1(A.1) and (A.2) of Article II but resides outside of the boundaries as defined in Article III of these Bylaws.

C. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Any person of good moral character who is interested in the affairs of the FAAWC and desires to become a member of the FAAWC but does not qualify as a resident or nonresident member as defined in Section 1(A) and 1(B) of this Article may become an Associate Member.

D. HONORARY MEMBER

• Must have the same qualifications as defined in Section 1(A) of this article.

• Must be a distinguished member of the community, sixty five years of age or older.

SECTION 2 - NOMINATION & VOTING RIGHTS
Only resident members shall be entitled to nominate and vote, provided he or she has paid his/her membership dues for the fiscal year before the nominations process.

SECTION 3 - DUES
Annual membership dues of $10.00 per family will be collected annually. Honorary members are exempted from payment of annual membership dues. All dues collected shall be turned over by the Membership Committee to the Treasurer.

ARTICLE III
BOUNDARIES

SECTION 1 - BOUNDARIES
The boundaries of the Association shall include the western areas of Fairfield County and Litchfield County of Connecticut.

ARTICLE IV
GOVERNMENT

SECTION 1 - MANAGEMENT
The general management of the business and affairs of the Association shall be vested to the Officers of FAAWC, who shall be elected and constituted in the manner provided by these Bylaws.

SECTION 2 - OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer an Assistant Treasurer, an Auditor, and five (5) Public Relations Officers duly elected in the manner provided under these Bylaws.

SECTION 3 - COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
The chairman of each committee will be appointed by the President. The chairman of a committee will be responsible to recruit at least (3) committee members on which one member is an elected officer of the association.

SECTION 4 - ADVISERS
The advisers will be appointed by the President and shall consist of two (2) resident members and one (1) honorary members. The primary responsibility of the advisers is to give guidance to the president for the welfare and benefit of the association.

SECTION 5 - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The board of trustees shall consist of the past presidents of the FAAWC, responsible to interpret and safeguard the FAAWC Constitution and By- Laws and oversee the nomination and election process.

ARTICLE V
MEETINGS

SECTION 1 - GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The general meetings of members of the Association shall be held during the association's summer picnic of each year. All FAAWC members shall be notified least ten (10) days prior to the meeting

SECTION 2 - SPECIAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
Special meetings of members may be called by the President at any time on his or her own initiative, or upon a written request by ten (10) members of the Association. Members shall be notified of the meeting and its purpose by the Secretary at least ten (10) days before the event and only the business specified in the call shall be considered during the meeting.

SECTION 3 - QUORUM FOR MEMBERS’ MEETING
At all meetings of the Association, either regular or special, ten percent (10%) of the registered voting members and three (3) officers shall be present to constitute a quorum.

SECTION 4 - MEETING OF OFFICERS
Regular officer's meeting will be held at Brookfield Center between 2pm to 5pm every first Sunday of the month. Special officer's meetings or re-schedule of regular officer's meeting can be called by the President on his/her own initiative whenever in his/her judgement it may be deemed necessary. The Secretary shall notify all officers the meeting place at least 48 hours before special or re-scheduled meetings. It is the prerogative of the President to invite advisers, board of trustees or guest to the meeting.

SECTION 5 - QUORUM FOR OFFICERS MEETING
At least fifty percent (50%) of the officers shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 6 - ORDER OF BUSINESS
At all meetings of the officers of the Association, the order of business shall be as follows:

A. Reading and approval of the minutes of the prior meeting
B. Treasurer’s Report
C. Report of Committees
D. Unfinished Business
E. New Business

ARTICLE VI
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS
Only resident members who are also registered voters may be nominated and elected for office.

SECTION 2 - NOMINATIONS
Nomination of candidates shall be conducted in a secret ballot at least 30 days before election. The top two (2) nominees for each position will be declared as official candidates. The candidates will be notified by the COMELEC and will have 72 hours to accept or decline his/her candidacy. If only one of the top (2) nominees accepted his/her candidacy he/she will be elected by acclamation. If both top two (2) nominees decline his/her nomination the COMELEC will contact the other nominees according to the number of nominations received.

SECTION 3 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be elected every two years. The election of officers will be conducted in a secret ballot at the association's summer picnic of the election year.

SECTION 4 - TERM OF OFFICE
The elected officers and advisers shall hold office for a term of two (2) years unless they resign, are removed, or are disqualified to serve.

SECTION 5 - REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
An officer may be removed from office in a special meeting called for the purpose by vote of majority of the registered voting members in attendance.

SECTION 6 - RESIGNATION
Any officer may resign from office at any time by giving written notice to the President of the Association.

SECTION 7 - VACANCY
A vacancy occurring in any office can be filled as soon as possible for the unexpired term by any member of the Association appointed by the President with the approval of the majority of officers.

ARTICLE VII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1- PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all meetings; approve and sign contracts, leases, deeds, and other related documents on behalf of the Association; sign all checks in the absence of the Treasurer; appoint chairpersons, and oversee the activities of all standing committees, including the installation of other committees as deemed necessary.

SECTION 2 - VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall preside and assume the duties of the President in the latter’s absence; and assist the President in the overall supervise and coordinate activities in social events, fund raising, cultural affairs and other miscellaneous events; and exercise and discharge all other duties as may be required of him or her by the President.

SECTION 3 - SECRETARY
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and proceedings of the association; publish minutes of the meeting through email, or FAAWC website, inform officers through email or telephone, the agenda, place and date of the next meeting. keep appropriate current records of the names and addresses of members; and exercise and discharge all other duties as may be required of him/her by the President.

SECTION 4 - TREASURER
The Treasurer shall receive and deposit in appropriate bank accounts all monies of the Association, and shall disburse such funds as directed by the President with the resolution of the officers of the Association; sign all checks and withdrawal slips on behalf of the Association; keep proper books of account; prepare periodic financial reports to be presented at the officers’ meeting and at the annual meeting or as may be required by the President; shall prepare an annual budget of income and expenditures; and collect and receive all fees, dues and charges paid by members.

SECTION 5 - ASSISTANT TREASURER
The Assistant Treasurer shall function in the absence of the Treasurer, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Treasurer.

SECTION 6 - AUDITOR
The Auditor shall examine ,at least once a year, the Association’s books to ensure proper accounting and recording of all financial transactions of the Association during the selected period; and assist the public accountant that may be required to audit the records of the Association at the completion of the fiscal year, to ensure that the Association’s financial reports are presented fairly, and in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles for a nonprofit organization.

SECTION 7 - PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS
The Public Relations Officers shall prepare publications, correspondences and announcements for distribution to members and the general public. They shall also establish contacts with various government agencies, media, business establishments, and private institutions, upon authority by the President, for the purpose of promoting the activities and projects of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

No member or officer shall receive any type of compensation for any services rendered to the Association; however, any member or officer may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of his or her official duties.

ARTICLE IX
COMMITTEES

SECTION 1 - COMMITTEE ON ELECTION (COMELEC)
The Committee on Election will be composed of the board of trustees. They shall be responsible for soliciting nominations for all offices insuring that the candidates nominated possess the qualifications to run for such offices and the candidate accepts such nomination. The Committee shall oversee the election including the distribution and accounting of ballots, tabulation of votes, announcements of results, and declaration of elected officers. The members of this Committee shall not run for any office while serving in this Committee.

SECTION 2 - MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for the yearly updated of FAAWC member list and taking all proper action to secure a large enrollment in the Association. The committee is responsible for welcoming new members and collecting annual membership dues.

SECTION 3 - CULTURAL COMMITTEE

HIYAS NG SILANGAN DANCE TROUPE
The Hiyas ng Silangan Dance Troupe shall be responsible for preserving and promoting the Philippine culture through dance.

HIYAS NG SILANGAN CHORAL GROUP
The Himig Silangan Choirs shall be responsible for preserving and promoting the Philippine culture through singing. The group is responsible to providing choir during FAAWC mass and social function.

SECTION 4 - PUBLICATION AND WEBSITE COMMITTEE
The "Kabayan is the official newsletter of the FAAWC and serve as a public informant and pictorial record of event of the associations through publication in newsletters and FAAWC website. It is the committee's responsibility to inform it's members of current events and news of general interest to Filipino-Americans in the greater Danbury. The FAAWC website address is www.faawc.org and the email address is faawc@yahoo.com.

SECTION 5 - FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance committee is responsible to oversee the financial undertaking of the association and to assist the Treasurer and Auditor in preparing a financial report to be published quarterly in FAAWC website and newsletter.

SECTION 6 - YOUTH COMMITTEE
The Youth Committee shall be responsible for planning, organizing and administering the activities of the children of the members of the Association. These activities include, but are not limited to, membership, cultural affairs, social events, fund-raising, newsletter and dance group.

SECTION 7 - TERM OF OFFICE
The chairpersons and members of the committees defined in Sections 1 through 8 of this Article shall serve concurrently with the incumbent elected officers of the FAAWC.

SECTION 8 - KABAYAN AWARD
The kabayan Award Program recognizes those who have made a significant contributions to the association, produced a profound impact to the unity of the Filipino-American community and best demonstrates the goals and ideas of the FAAWC. Nomination will be submitted to the President along with a specific and complete detail of nominee's achievement. The President and the board of trustees will choose and the award the recipient of the year Kabayan Award during the Gala Night of the association.

SECTION 9 - OTHER COMMITTEES
Other committees maybe installed, as requires, by the President, and shall operate only within the time frame they were installed for.

SECTION 10 - CALENDAR OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES

FILIPINIANA WEEKEND (Last Saturday of April)
An Association spring time gathering to promote Philippine culture and heritage through filipiniana fashion show, singing and folk dancing.

FIESTA NG NAYON (Last Saturday of July)
An association summer picnic that include Pilipino mass, a taste of different Philippine dishes and various palarong pinoy.

GALA NIGHT (Last Saturday of October)
A formal dinner dance of the association. Induction of new officers will be held during this event.

PASKO SA NAYON (Last Saturday before Christmas Eve)
FAAWC family Christmas celebration featuring children nativity, Pilipino mass, Santa Claus and parol contest and a taste of Filipino dishes.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be revised by the FAAWC board of trustees and will be amended with a majority vote of the officers at a regular or special meeting.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION

The Association may be dissolved in a special meeting called for that purpose by a vote of no less than three-fourths (3/4) of the registered voting members in attendance. Upon dissolution of the Association, no member shall be entitled to any distribution or division of its remaining property or its proceeds, the balance of all funds and other property received by the Association from any source, after the payment of all debt and obligation from any source, shall be used or distributed exclusively for the purpose within the intent of Section 501 © of the Internal Revenue Code, as the same now exists or as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE XII
FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of August and end on the last day of July of every year.