Our Constitution

ENTHURAI - COASTAL FRIENDS IN AMERICA

Preamble:

We, the children of eight villages – Erayumanthurai, Poothurai, Thoothoor, Chinnathurai, Eraviputhenthurai, Vallavilai, Marthandanthurai and Neerodi – and their families, presently working in the United States of America, solemnly commit on this historic 12^th day of August, 2007 at Peekskill, NY, to bring us all together and help us stay in touch with one another, thus continuing to build our bond among each other and our eight villages, as we work for the betterment of our people in our eight villages, under the banner of ENTHURAI.

Our ancestors were hard working fisher-people, sharing one typical landmass, one language, one culture, and one religion. We have been Catholics since the 15th century when Francis Xavier brought the Gospel to our coast. Our being Catholics and geographical marginality have brought hurdles on our way to active participation and collaboration in the mainstream civic life. To this day, even our rightful share of the diocesan resources has been denied. When the Indian states were reorganized in 1950s on the basis of language, we being part of the princely state of Travancore in Kerala were carved out to form the Kanyakumari District and annexed into Tamil Nadu, which is according us, a step-motherly treatment.

Whatever growth we have, including our migration into this land of one’s dream, is of our own endeavor. As we have come to know of the opportunities here, we feel the need to introduce our youngsters back home to these and such other opportunities and offer them a helping hand to avail these for themselves and their families, thus helping our community and our nation at large.

Towards this end, we need to promote unity among ourselves and thus leading to a greater understanding and cooperation among the people of our eight villages.

In addition, we want to see every individual in our villages benefits from our coming together..

We could identify worthy causes that we deem necessary for our people.

We will identify and mobilize local and other available resources that support our social, educational, and other causes.

Goals and Objectives:

· Support civic and religious leaders in community development

· Provide educational loans/scholarships for the needy and the deserving

· Provide job oriented trainings to our youngsters

· Create employment opportunities for social and economic mobility

· Promote cultural and recreational opportunities for the youth

· Help with employment arrangement, training and certification in India

For our people in our eight villages:

1. Provide educational help for promising but poor students so that they can complete their studies meritoriously. It could be repayable interest free loans or scholarships.

2. Introduce them to different disciplines of studies as against national and international job market.

3. Assist Educated Youth with career guidance and once they could find their own jobs, encourage them to excel in their career.

4. Foster Community Growth by joining experience and expertise with similar groups.

5. Encourage peaceful settlement of differences for village economic development

Value systems adhered by members:

· Leaders should be the ones coming forward to ensure cooperation from members

· Members should respect each other and respond professionally

· Members who add value to programs will be honored at annual gatherings

· From the very beginning, our entity should be democratic as all of us are equal.

Mode of Functioning:

· The office bearers should be elected from among the members.

· Office bearers should be elected for a particular term of two years.

· All are accountable and responsible to the general body.

· An annual subscription should be collected from the members, besides voluntary donations.

· Other collections from friends and well-wishers could be mobilized.

· Other proper fund raising projects in accordance with our values also be thought of.

· All money transactions should be supported with proper bills and vouchers.

· All our activities should be transparent, especially financial.

· Financial and other reports should be presented and passed in proper forums at regular intervals.

· Co-ordinate community NRI groups from other countries too.

· If possible, friends around the locality may pay a visit to them

· Also join families in their important functions like baptisms, first communion  and so on and certainly when they are sick or otherwise facing bad times

· Welcome and support the new comers to this country till they find a job and   get settled

· Some kind of monthly news bulletin for all members and even for our friends and well-wishers.

In order to realize these lofty ideals, we in the United States have decided to do the following:

· Annual convention for a minimum of two days. For this, friends and well-wishers could also be invited.

· A guest speaker of reputation to address us on current topics of interest to our group and our community especially in our eight villages.

· Group discussions and workshops to go deeper into it and to suggest

· Recommendations for the following year for us and for our villages

· Games and Entertainments

· General body meeting for the members only for the presentation of the Reports, accounts, plan and budgets and legislation, amendment and so on  for the following year.

Election for Office-bearers:

Article: I. The General Body:

1. General body comprises of all the members of the Association.

2. A member is one who hails from one of our eight villages or their spouses and children belonging to any one of the eight villages.

3. General body is convened once in every year.

Article II. The Governing Body:

1. The governing body is elected from the general body

2. Seven experienced and elected members comprise the Governing Body

3. The general body members are elected for a term of two years

4. One can be a member of the governing body not more than two consecutive terms

5. Ultimate residual authority is vested in the Governing Body headed by the President

6. The General Body may request the Governing Body to serve as mediator to resolve disputes among various office holders and committees. Its decision shall be final and binding

7. Governing Body members are responsible for the Fiscal welfare and operation of Enthurai In this role they represent the interests of all active Enthurai members to the management

8. The relationship of the General Body and Governing Body is by no means adversarial. Both bodies have the welfare and growth of Enthurai as their main goal

9. Collaborative effort will be more conducive to fulfilling these goals if all members keep in mind that this is the concept of "Checks and Balances" in action rather than an adversarial relationship.

Article III: Orientation of the Executive Committee:

· All elected officials are primarily responsible and answerable to the general body members

· Orientation to the newly elected officers is recommended

· The elected officers are encouraged to be in touch with the current realities of the Eight Villages and make appropriate advice on responding to the situations prevalent in every village

· They are encouraged to familiarize with the Group’s limitations, strengths and weaknesses, and make suggestions to develop the group

Article IV. The Office Bearers:

A. The President:

1. He shall be elected by the general body.

2. His term shall be that of the governing body

3. He shall not hold his post for more than two consecutive terms.

4. He shall preside over the governing body and the general body

5. He shall be the spokesperson for the organization

6. Will facilitate and promote good will and understanding between Enthurai and other organizations of similar nature and others who support our efforts

7. Will facilitate and encourage different officers to attend local events organized by member organizations

8. He shall advice the secretary to convene meetings of the governing body and the general body.

9. On the advice of the governing body, recorded in the minute’s book, he shall sign the checks and other documents along with the treasurer for the association

10. Sign all contracts on behalf of Enthurai

11. Be responsible for all modes of communication, including Enthurai website and online communications

12. Maintain good relations with media- Press reports

13. Updating website and provide material for constant improvements

14. Develop promotional material

15. Responsible for Articles of Incorporation and By-laws

16. Review the existing election policies and procedures

17. Analyze problems encountered in previous elections due to changes in bylaws and recommend suggestions.

18. Develop networking with governing body members for future convention/meeting

19. Enhance image of Enthurai

20. Develop and foster good relations among members and others

B. The Secretary:

1. He shall be elected by the general body.

2. His term shall be that of the governing body

3. He shall not hold his post for more than two consecutive terms

4. Keep account of all meetings

5. Maintain updated member list

6. Prepare an agenda for the Governing Body and Gen Body meetings in consultation with the President and other elected members

7. Keep copies of all official correspondence, newsletters, brochures etc

8. Keep an attendance record

9. Be Custodian of the Articles of Incorporation, by-laws etc.

10. Notify committee members of their appointments and assigned duties

11. File the corporate information reports to the state/federal office

12. Collect the birth days, marriage dates and other important dates of the members so as to enable members to wish them on that day and thereby to keep up the warmth of our relationships

13. Along with the president, maintain active Enthurai Corporate status

14. Along with the president, safeguard Enthurai Logo

15. In consultation with the president, be responsible for all modes of communication, including Enthurai website and online communications

16. Along with the president, establish and maintain relations with media- Press reports

17. Along with the president, update website and provide material for constant improvements

18. Along with the president, develop promotional material

19. Responsible to promote membership- develop effective strategy

20. Be in communication with the President and take steps to enhance membership and provide quarterly report on membership

C. The Treasurer:

1. Serves as the sole fiscal officer

2. Has custody of the financial accounts of the Enthurai

3. Has basic understanding of book keeping

4. Should develop a budget in beginning of the year

5. File all income tax returns.

6. Develop a protocol - set up invoices, guidelines for payment etc

7. Transfer to the next treasurer all accounts of Enthurai within 30 days

8. Oversight of Membership Fees and other funds in an account to assure prudent use of the monies and ensure growth of Enthurai

D. Committees

• Committees shall be nominated by the executive committee, especially before and during the annual meeting
• Committees are essential to carry out the association's work.
• It would be helpful to learn about a committee's mission, objectives and goals. The president may assign a charge to the committee. The committee may set goals for the year.
• Committees generally conduct their business by teleconferences in the evenings and a few at the time of GB and Annual meetings.
• Chair of the committee is expected to submit minutes of meetings or teleconference to the Secretary.
• Each committee also submits a written report to the GB and request for audio-visual equip if necessary. at each one of its meetings which is compiled in to a booklet. at least 15 days before the GB meeting.
• It is helpful if this general format is followed for the written reports.

Article V: Dissolution of Enthurai

If circumstances compel, and accordingly, the General Body, after carefully studying the reasons finds that Enthurai needs to be dissolved, can decide to dissolve the Group.

In such an eventuality, all office bearers cease to hold the positions to which they were elected.

The money that remains, after paying off all the bills and commitments made, will be donated to charitable organization/s or that work for the wellbeing of the fisher-people in the eight villages that make up Enthurai.

Before dissolving the group, at the recommendation of the Executive Body, the General Body has the sole authority to decide on the group/s or organization/s to which the money be sent, benefiting the people in one or several villages, that make up Enthurai.

Annexure:

Article VI: Narrative Description of Our Activities

Activities of Enthurai include: Supporting social/cultural and religious leaders in community development in the eight villages India; Providing educational loans/scholarships for the needy and deserving; Providing job oriented trainings to our youngsters; Creating employment opportunities for social and economic mobility; Promoting cultural and recreational opportunities for the youth; Helping with employment arrangement, training and certification in India

Enthurai plans to provide educational help for promising but poor students so that they can complete their studies meritoriously. Introduce students from the Region to different disciplines of studies as against national and international job market; Assist Educated Youth with career guidance and once they could find their own jobs, encourage them to excel in their career; Foster Community Growth by joining experience and expertise with similar groups; And encourage peaceful settlement of differences for village economic development.

Article VII: Mode of Activities

Enthurai has been formed to support social, educational, and cultural activities that enhance community development in the eight villages in Tamil Nadu, India, through offering educational loans/scholarships for the needy and deserving; Providing job oriented trainings to youngsters; Creating employment opportunities for social and economic mobility; Promoting cultural and recreational opportunities for the youth; Helping with employment arrangement, training and certification in India.

All the activities and programs will be confined to the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India.

Ours is a voluntary organization, consisting of members in the US, whose sole objective is the community development in the eight villages in Tamil Nadu, India, which is predominantly an underdeveveloped region, both socially and economically. Tax-exemption status will motivate the members to sacrifice their resources and skills to advance the cause of the organization, and thus help the people in the region, whose development is the sole priority of the organization.

Article VIII: Executing Our Activities

Enthurai is committed to the development of the fisher people in the eight villages in Tamil Nadu, India. This we intent to do through providing grants/loans to promising but poor students so that they can complete their studies meritoriously. These and other services, we may provide directly to clients or through church-based and other social networks, such as St. Vincent De Paul Society, Coastal People’s Organization, who are already providing similar services to the needy people in the region.

As ours is a new organization, we have not provided any financial assistance to anyone in the past, and we do not have any forms/grant proposals.

Our policy will be based on the need of the person or organization and that fits our objectives and goals, contributing to the realization of the mission of Enthurai.

Once the individual or organization has been chosen to receive our grants/assistance, there will be an agreement entered into, that specifies our requirements, including proof of need, method of selecting recipients, monthly report of the progress, and a detailed annual report with accounts of the money spent on the project. In addition, our members will visit the region periodically to assess the impact of the project on the beneficiaries.

While choosing, members of Enthurai will identify organizations that fit our objectives and goals, contributing to the realization of the mission of Enthurai. These are mainly local small-village based groups, which do not accept contributions earmarked for a specific country/organization. It is our responsibility to make them aware through discussions and in writing that the contributions made available to them are for exempt purposes only.

We will scrutinize the nature, purpose and functioning of each organization to which we intend to provide assistance to, before deciding to provide grants. As stated earlier, we will support only those organizations that enhance/contribute to the realization of the mission/goals of Enthurai.

Once the grants have been made, there will be a procedure established to verify if the grants have been used for the purpose for which they were given through independent assessors, through direct contact with the beneficiaries, wherever possible. Since the area of operation is limited to a small region, supervision, review, accountability, and follow up are easily possible, and we intend to do them very faithfully.

Enthurai intends to provide educational help for promising but poor students so that they can complete their studies meritoriously. The grants and loans will be based on the availability of funds and the need of the candidate. The loans could be repayable interest free or scholarships that are given away to deserving students without expecting them to be paid back.

Availability of such loans will be made known to prospective candidates through the parishes or village libraries. Candidates will be chosen after scrutinizing them on their ability to pursue studies and the economic condition of each student. The application process and review will be transparent and meet the criteria of any not-for-profit agency.

Each candidate who receives support from Enthurai will be on the list of our beneficiaries and the relationship we establish will be ongoing, encouraging her/him to succeed in life, and become a responsible citizen, contributing to the growth of humanity. In addition, we will introduce students to different disciplines of studies as against national and international job market. We will assist Educated Youth with career guidance and once they could find their own jobs, encourage them to excel in their career.

The Above Constitution for Enthurai Has Been Approved By:

1. Ajay Ghosh, President _______________________________________

2. Tommy Raymond, Secretary________________________________

3. Thadeus Kamalappan, Treasurer_____________________________