Aloran Seafarers Association

Constitution and By-laws

Article 1: Name and Purposes

Section 1. The name of the organization is ALORAN SEAFARERS ASSOCIATION, an association of seafarers from Aloran, Misamis Occidental.

Section 2. The purposes of the association are:

2.1 To create camaraderie among members and dependents through periodic social gatherings;

2.2 To keep members aware of benefits offered to seafarers and dependents by government agencies like but not limited to: Department of Labor (DOLE), Oversea Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), etc.

2.3 To help members who are in dire need of financial assistance by providing loan with reasonable interest rate from the association’s general fund.

2.4 To help member’s beneficiary defray final expenses with the association’s mortuary fund, provided however the member’s enrollment in the optional mortuary fund program is current.

2.5 To show honor and respect to a member during wake by presenting wreath and by joining the procession to the member’s final resting place. Members must be in full uniform during both occasions.

Article 2: Membership and Dues

Section 1. New member must be a seafarer.

Definition of seafarer: A person whose job, profession or career is/was performed on-board water vessel cargo or passenger plying inter-island or overseas.

Section 2. New member must be Aloranon.

Definition of Aloranon:

2.1 Anybody born in Aloran, Misamis Occidental;

2.2 Anybody born to Aloranon parent;

2.3 Anybody married to an Aloranon;

2.4 Any seafarer who chose Aloran, Misamis Occidental his/her permanent residence.

Section 3. Application for membership shall be submitted in the prescribed form to the Association and approved by simple majority in a regular, special or emergency meeting.

Section 4. An annual membership fee of Php 365.00 (calculated from Php 1.00 a day) is due during enrollment and this covers January-to-December (calendar year).

Section 5. Members joining after 31^st of May shall pay one half of the membership fee for the balance of the year.

Section 6. Membership shall be terminated as of February 15^th for any member whose dues remain unpaid for that year. Any member so terminated may re-apply for good cause and may be reinstated upon approval by simple majority of the members attending a regular, special or emergency meeting.

Section 7. Association membership information shall be used solely for the Association purposes and shall not be for general distribution.

The same can be used for business solicitation provided however, that the beneficiary shall be the Association.

Article 3: Organization

Section 1. The activities of the Association shall be managed by an Executive Board of Directors numbering seven consisting of Captain, Chief Officer, Scribe, Treasurer, Auditor, Press Relation Officer and Sergeant-at-arms.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to carry out the purposes of the Association as stated in Article 1 in accordance with the By-laws, Rules and Policies, as maybe adopted from time to time.

Section 3. The general duties of each officer are the following:

3.1 Captain: The Captain is the chief executive officer of the Association. The Captain, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the general membership and the Executive Board, and shall have all the powers ordinarily exercised by the president of an organization, subject to the limitations imposed by the Executive Board. The Captain shall annually prepare a full and true statement of the affairs of the Association, which shall be submitted at the Annual Membership Meeting.

3.2 Chief Officer: The Chief Officer shall, in the absence of the Captain, perform all the duties of the Captain and, when so acting, shall have the powers of the Captain as authorized by the Executive Board.

3.3 Scribe: The Scribe shall keep the minutes of all meetings; shall be the custodian of all Association records, and shall ensure that all required notices are timely given in accordance with the By-laws or as required by law.

The Secretary shall keep a separate register of all rules and policies adopted by the Executive Board.

3.4 Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds, receipts and disbursements of the Association, and shall deposit the same in a local bank or any bank as maybe designated by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall submit statement of financial condition of the Association at all Executive Board and General Membership meetings. The Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to the office of an association treasurer.

3.5 Auditor: The Auditor shall have charge of making sure that receipts and disbursements of funds are in accordance with the Associations By-laws, Rules and Policies.

3.6 Press Relation Officer: The PRO shall charge of all activities for the projection

and promotion of the Association’s excellent public image in accordance with the Association’s By-laws, Rules and Policies.

3.7 Sergeant-at-arms: The Sergeant-at-arms shall have charge of the peace and order of the Association in all meetings and social gatherings.

Section 4. In the case of a vacancy on the Executive Board, the Captain, with the approval of the remaining members of the Executive Board, shall appoint an eligible Association member to serve the remaining term of the vacant position. All Executive Board members shall name an alternate who will serve on board in the event of the board member’s absence. The alternate shall have voting rights when serving in the absence of the elected board member.

Section 5. The Executive Board may make Rules and Policies as it may, in its discretion, deem necessary, provided that no such rules and policy shall be inconsistent or conflict with these By-laws. Any change to the Rules and Policies deemed necessary by the Executive Board will be announced at the general meeting preceding the month that the change will go into effect. Any such rules and policy shall be binding on all Association members and will be recorded by the Scribe and placed on the Association’s website – http:aloran.coffeecup.com/asa.html.

Section 6. The term of office for all positions on the Executive Board shall be the calendar year.

Section 7. The election of the members of the Executive Board shall be held every November during its monthly regular meeting and a simple majority shall prevail.

Section 8. Members are expected to participate in some Association activities each year. The participation may take the form of social or program planning or other participation. The Executive Board may adopt minimum participation requirements from time to time, as a basis for continued membership. Any such adoption shall become effective only upon approval by vote of the General Membership.

Section 9. No two individuals residing in the same household can hold offices on the Executive Board at the same time.

Section 10. No individual can hold two positions on the Executive Board.

Section 11. An officer or director shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Article 4: Meetings

Section 1. General Membership meeting shall be held in the afternoon of the first Sunday of each month, unless from time to time another meeting date is set by the Captain. In such event, notice shall be given to the members in a timely manner.

Section 2. Executive Board meeting shall be held in the morning of the scheduled General Membership meeting, unless changed in advance by the Captain upon notice to the Executive Board members.

Section 3. Association members may attend meetings of the Executive Board, but they may not speak unless accepted by the Board to be put on the agenda.

Section 4. The Captain or a designated alternate will preside at all general meetings and meetings of the Executive Board.

Section 5. The November General Membership meeting shall be the Annual Membership Meeting, unless changed for cause by the Executive Board. The primary purpose of this meeting is the election of the Executive Board for the ensuing term.

Section 6. Nominations for Executive Board positions may be made from the floor only at the November General Meeting ea h year, provided that each nominee has agreed to serve if elected.

Section 7. Those elected at the Annual Membership Meeting shall take office on January 1^st of the following year.

Section 8. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Captain, a designated alternate or by the Executive Board.

Section 9. A quorum to conduct business of the general membership shall be one-half plus one of all members currently on-land and entitled to vote (one member, one vote). A simple majority of the voting members present shall be required to carry the question. Voting may be by voice, show of hands, or ballot as deemed appropriate by the presiding officer.

Article 5: Committees

Section 1. There shall be five Standing Committees as follows:

1.1 There shall be a Membership Committee and it shall be chaired by a member appointed by the Captain. This committee shall have the responsibility of maintaining membership records and for any other membership matters prescribed by the Executive Board.

1.2 There shall be Social Committee and it shall be chaired by a member appointed by the Captain. This committee shall have responsibility for the overall social activities for the Association.

1.3 There shall be Review Committee appointed by the Captain, with the approval of the Executive Board, consisting of a Chairperson and two members, excepting the Captain himself, the Scribe, the Treasurer and the Auditor.

The Committee shall have the responsibility for reviewing all the books of the Scribe and the Treasurer, all financial transactions of the Association and any other information necessary to determine the well being of the Association. The Review Committee shall become effective on January 1^st to carry out their inspection for the previous fiscal year and shall issue a written report of their findings and recommendations to the Executive Board by the February Executive Board meeting.

A summary report shall be made at the February General Membership meeting.

1.4 There shall be a Financial Budget Committee chaired by the Treasurer. This committee shall prepare an annual budget of income and expenditures based on requirements of the various committees. This committee shall present tentative budget plan to the Executive Board for review at its November meeting. The Executive Board shall review the plan and present a final budget recommendation to the membership for a vote at the regular December meeting.

1.5 There shall be Communications Committee chaired by a member appointed by the Captain. This committee shall be responsible for communications, publications and digital media.

Section 2. The Captain, with the approval of the Executive Board may appoint special committees as he/she deemed necessary for the operation of the Association.

Article 6: Rules of Order

Section 1. “Seafaring Tradition”, written or unwritten, shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the General Membership and the Executive Board. The presiding official may appoint a “parliamentarian” for interpretation or clarification of any rules, should the need arise.

Article 7: Revision of the By-laws

Section 1. These By-laws may be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the membership attending general meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. Any such special meeting shall not take place until at least two Sundays have elapsed from the giving of notice as provided in these By-laws.

Section 2. Any proposed amendment to the By-laws may be submitted by any member in writing to the Scribe, who shall provide copies to the Executive Board. After review of the proposed change, the Executive Board will vote to decide whether the change should be presented to the general membership for amendment to the By-laws.

Section 3. Written notice of any proposed amendment/s shall be provided to the membership by the Scribe at the General Meeting preceding the meeting at which the proposed amendment/s are to be considered and voted upon. Included in the notice are the proposed amendment/s, an explanation of the proposal/s and the date of the general meeting at which they will be considered.

Article 8: Dissolution

Section 1. In the unlikely event of dissolution of the Aloran Seafarers Association, the remaining net assets of the Association shall be donated to an Aloran-based civic organization that the General Membership may designate by a vote of simple majority at the regular meeting or a special meeting called by the Captain for that purpose.

Any such special meeting shall not take place until at least two Sundays have elapsed from the giving of notice as provided in these By-laws.