BYLAWS OF SOUTHERN SUDANESE YOUTH CONNECTION

 

Article I

Name
This organization, incorporated under the Laws of the state of Tennessee, shall be known as SOUTHERN SUDANESE YOUTH CONNECTION, INC., herein after called the “SSYC”

Article II

Location

The principal office of the organization is to be located in Sumner County, Tennessee.  The mailing address of the SSYC is P.O. Box 116, Gallatin, TN  37066.

Article III

Purpose

Section 1:  To form SSYC chapters across the United States for charitable purposes.

Section 2:  To eliminate our previous life and live as Southern Sudanese in one country, one love as our country, unity is a power for people who have no power, welcoming our brothers and sisters who have left our country, leaving their families, jobs, and possessions.

Section 3:  As a non-political organization, to help all the Southern Sudanese in the area, with God as our Guide to help us in our efforts to promote peace.  With tolerance and forgiveness, promoting peace, unity and cooperation of all Sudanese cultures.

Section 4:  To contribute money to build schools, hospitals, and churches.

Section 5:  To encourage female participation and their enrollment into the executive body.

Section 6:  To work with the United Nations and the Red Cross concerning Southern Sudan.

Section 7:  To provide a place to celebrate Cultural Diversity and awareness, with fellowship and encouragement for SSYC.

Section 8:  To establish classes for English as a Second Language to enable our members to obtain jobs, to obtain medical treatment, and to communicate in business.

Section 9:  To establish scholarships for high school graduates that they can return and teach in southern Sudan.

Section 10:  To provide Citizen Classes for those desiring to become American citizens.

Section 11:  To provide community and cultural orientation for newcomers.

Section 12:  To provide job training, assistance, and placement.

Section 13:  To help with Human Services; interpreters, health care, child care, and elderly care.

Article IV

Policies

Section 1:  This organization does not allow those who supported our enemies, or who want to live in tribes.

Section 2:  This organization is for equality for all, everyone counts, if you own it – do it, do it better every day, do the right things for your country, as everyone has the opportunity to make a difference.  There is one love, one problem and one country.

Section 3:  SSYC is an equal opportunity organization.  All member decisions will be made without regard to tribe, age, gender, religion, blind, handicap, orphan, quality, non-quality.  Every member is responsible for helping and preventing discrimination and abuse in the meeting place.

Section 4:  A leader must be an active member who will do their best for the Sudanese people.

Section 5:  Any person who uses the organization’s money for their private purpose shall be prosecuted by the proper legal authorities.

Article V

Officers

Section 1:  President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the SSYC.  The President shall direct the general management of the corporation, including the duty to preside at all meetings.

Section 2:  Vice President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President during the absence of the President.

Section 3:  Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings and proceedings of the organization.  The Secretary shall perform other such duties as are from time to time delegated to the Secretary.

Section 4:  Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the organization and keep accurate records of all receipts and disbursements.  He/she shall deposit all funds in such depositories as the officers shall direct.  The Treasurer shall render upon request of the President an account of all transactions and a statement of financial condition.  It shall also be the duty of the Treasurer to file whatever tax returns are required by law.  The Treasurer shall help develop fundraising plans.

 

Article VI

Directors

Section 1:  The business of the SSYC shall be conducted by a Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall se that the membership of the SSYC is kept current of the objective, policy, plans and progress of the organization.

Section 2:  The Board of Directors shall consist of nine members elected immediately following the adoption of these By-laws.  The Board of Directors shall be elected by the simple majority of the membership.  Three (3) of the directors shall serve a one year term, three (3) of the directors shall serve a two year term, and three (3) of the directors shall serve a three year term.  Thereafter, three (3) directors shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve for three years, so that the term of three (3) directors will expire each year.  Directors who have served less than two full terms may be nominated for a three year term.

Section 3:  Any proposed action may be taken upon the majority consent of the Directors at any time voting, a quorum being present.

Section 4:  One-third (1/3) of the voting membership of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5:  Any Director may be removed upon the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining Directors.  Any Director who misses more than three (3) consecutive meetings without an acceptable reason may be dropped from membership on the Board of Directors upon a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining Directors.

Section 6:  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur on the Board of Directors or among its officers.  Any Director so elected shall serve until the next annual membership meeting at which time said vacancy shall be filled by the membership in the same manner as provided for the election of Board of Directors and Officers herein.

Section 7:  No officer or Director shall receive any compensation for his/her services to the SSYC.  Provided, however, an officer or director may be reimbursed for expenses incurred on behalf of the SSYC upon approval of the Board of Directors.

Article VII

Committees

Section 1:  The information Committee shall have a Chairperson with five members on the committee.  The persons on the committee are to be elected by the simple majority of the membership.  The duty of the committee is to clarify the plans of the organization.

Section 2:  The Cultural and Fund Directors shall be composed of four members.  The persons on the committee are to be elected by the simple majority of the membership.  Their duties are to plan secure party times from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  If there is any violence, they are to see that the security is in place, and appropriate action taken against any violators.  They are to welcome the good friends of the SSYC, and encourage them to share their words with the group, but enforcing a limit of five (5) minutes to an individual speaker.

Article VIII

Membership

Section 2:  An active member is one who loves Southern Sudan and will work with our people in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Section 3:  Must be a member of good standing to attend the meetings.

Section 4:  Membership will be terminated after two years on non payment of dues, unless reasonable cause is given to the leadership of the SSYC.

Section 5:  If a visitor or non-member of the organization causes a disturbance, legal authorities are to deal with that person.

Article IX

Meetings

Section 1:  A meeting of the SSYC is to be held monthly, on the second Saturday of each month.

Section 2:  Personal appearance at a meeting requires that one should be neat, clean, and professionally dressed.

Article XI

Trip Plan Policies

Section 1:  Based on quote “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.  John F. Kennedy.  1961-1963.

Section 2:  “Let us love each other”.  Whenever you love your country, you must love your people too.  Each year someone for the SSYC must travel to Southern Sudan to help our people there.  We the Southern Sudanese, allow all Christians to travel to Southern Sudan with us, or individually.  We encourage all churches to settle in Southern Sudan except Islam Muslim people.

Article XII

Fiscal Year

The Fiscal Year End for the Southern Sudanese Youth Connection shall be on December 31.

Article XIII

Rules of Order

Roberts Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary manual of the SSYC as to matters of procedure not specifically covered by the rules of the SSYC.

Article XIV

Amendments

Section 1:  These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.

Southern Sudanese Youth Connection
PO Box 116
Gallatin, TN 37066