BCS Constitution

2.1 To cultivate a spirit of unity and friendship among the international/local students.

2.2 To help members in all aspects as international students.

2.3 To provide support for the Bangladeshi students at UNB and STU.

2.4 To assist prospective Bangladesh students in Canada and abroad.

2.5 To act as a local representative of students from Bangladesh and Bengali origin in Canada on all matter of concern and significance to members of BCS.

2.6 To fosters and promote Bangladeshi and Bengali heritage and culture.

2.7 To promote academic, social and cultural interaction between Bangladeshi students and other members of the

community, both on local and international levels.

2.8 To form unity amongst members through fun, cultural and social events and to celebrate our diversity with everybody in the community.

Membership categories shall be the following:

3.1 Active membership of BCS shall be composed entirely of all Bangladeshi students, and other students registered at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University including the faculty and staff.

3.2 Associate membership of BCS shall be opened to all other Bangladeshi/Bengali students, dependents, alumni and residents of Fredericton who express an interest in Bangladeshi/Bengali culture.

3.3 Honorary Membership: The Executive Committee will have the authority to bestow non-voting honorary

membership, which may also be revoked by the decision of the said Committee, on any person(s) of its choice.

Privileges of Members:

3.4 All members shall be entitled to participate in the meeting of Executive Committee of BCS

3.5 Only the active members are entitled:(obsolete see section 12, )

3.5.1 To vote at the BCS General meetings, and BCS elections and referendums.

3.5.2 To propose or second amendments to this constitution.

3.5.3 To nominate or second a candidate for elections to the BCS executive committee.

3.6 The active members who are of Bangladeshi origin can hold office for the president, vice president (Internal), and treasurer. The rest are open to all members.(obsolete see section 12, )

3.7. The active members who are of Bangladeshi origin are entitled (added see section 12, )

3.7.1 To vote at the BCS General meeting, and BCS election and referendums.

3.7.2 To propose or second amendments to this constitution

3.7.3 To To nominate or second a candidate for elections to the BCS executive committee.

3.8 The active members who are of Bangladeshi origin can hold office for the president, vice president (Internal),vice president (external). The rest are open to all members if and only if there are no one who are of Bangladeshi origin running for those positions. (added see section 12, )

4.1 The Executive Committee (henceforth referred to as the Committee, while the members of the Committee will be

referred to as Committee Members) of BCS shall consist of the following elected officers:

- President

- Vice-President (External)

- Vice-President (Finance)

- General Secretary

- Treasurer (obsolete see section 12, )

- Event Cordinator (added see section 12, )

4.2 Additional non-voting Committee Members may be appointed by the President with the approval of the

Committee.

5.1 Duties and powers of the President

- The President will moderate all executive board and general meetings

- The President will maintain a regular agenda for all meetings.

- The President will call, and is accountable to, Executive Board meetings on a predetermined schedule prior to

general meetings.

- The President may appoint Committees, Committee Chairman, or Committee Liaisons as needed.

- Shall sign cheques in payment of authorized accounts and bills after such cheques and bills have been prepared

and signed by the Treasurer.

5.2 Duties and Powers of the Vice-President (VP) Ext/Int

- The VP (External) will announce campus-wide events to the campus community (press, other relevant

organizations, etc…)

- The VP (External) will represent BCS in different events and function of non-campus communities and organizations if the President is unable to do so.

- The VP (Internal) will represent BCS in different events and function of campus wide communities and organizations if the President is unable to do so.

- The VP (External) will serve as liaison with non-campus groups, community groups and organizations.

- The VP (Internal) will serve as liaison with all the members, campus groups, and student union.

- The VP (Internal/External) will see through different BCS events and functions.

- The VP (Internal) will moderate meetings if the President is unable to do so.

5.3 Duties and Powers of the Treasurer

- The Treasurer will handle all accounts and financial dealings that have been elected by the active members and

approved by the Executive Board.

- The Treasurer will submit account reports at each executive Board meeting.

- The Treasurer will moderate meetings if both President and VP are unable to do so. There will be 2/3 signing

officers for the operation of BCS accounts. Any cheque should be signed by at least any two of the signing

officers among three signing officers.

- The Treasurer will receive all monies, issue and sign all cheques for authorized expenditures and present them

to the President for signature.

5.4 Duties and Powers of the General Secretary (GS)

- The GS will take minutes and attendance at each meeting and save dated copies in the organization files within

ten days.

- The GS will notify members of scheduled or Emergence Meetings (EM).

- The GS will concurrently be the Web Page Editor, and will exclusively maintain BCS page. Anyone may

express needs or suggestions related to the web page.

- The GS will have the e-mail list and shall send reminder to the executives three days prior to any meetings.

- The GS will check the BCS mailbox regularly and follow up with any inquiry.

5.5 All the Executives should make an effort for proper information interchange among them and work in harmony

setting aside personal interest, conflict and agenda to uphold BCS interest.

The Society shall hold meetings as often as necessary for the smooth functioning of BCS. Quorum at all meetings of

the officers shall be 50%.

7.1 After the election the new committee should ensure the smooth running of BCS radio show, JHANKAR, during

the summer and through out their whole term.

7.3 The committee should ensure that the BCS budget for the next year is finalized by the middle of February for the

approval from UNB Student Union for funding.

7.4 The committee should make an effort to raise funds for different BCS activities, (BCS newsletter "Tok-Jhal-Mishty", Yearbook, JHANKAR and so on), and ensure their smooth running.

8.1 If a Committee Member resigns or is unable to continue, the President will nominate a replacement for the

remainder of the term, with the approval of the Committee.

8.2 In the case of replacement of the President, the Vice President will assume responsibility for the remainder of the

term of the President.

8.3 In the case of replacement of the Vice President, the General Secretary will assume responsibility for the

remainder of the term of the President.

9.1 Membership of any person(s) may be put on probation for thirty (30) days by the Committee, during which time all

membership privileges of the said person(s) will be temporarily suspended.

9.2 A second term of suspension imposed by the Committee will result in automatic revocation of membership

privileges for any person(s).

9.3 Person(s) whose membership was revoked by the Committee will have the right to be heard at any general

meeting, at which time a simple majority of the voting members will decide the issue.

9.4 Membership of any person(s) may also be revoked on the majority decision by two-thirds (2/3) of the voting

members present in a general meeting.

10.2 Those who are elected should make themselves known to the Student Union after election. First year

representatives can be elected by a by-election on September.

10.3 The President, the Vice President, the General Secretary and the Treasurer will be elected to a one-academic year

term by ballots of the voting members

10.4 There will be no term limit for Committee membership.

11.1 No part of the net earnings of BCS will inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers,

or other private person(s), except that the corporation will be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable

11.2 No member of the BCS Executive Committee will be personally liable to any extent for debts incurred by BCS.

12.1 The Constitution of the BCS may only be amended by two third of the active members in question. One-week

notice shall be given and members shall be notified of all said amendment(s). Amendment of the whole or part of

the Constitution and the Bylaws may be made in a general meeting convened for such purpose.

12.2 If a one third quorum is not reached, a second meeting will be held regardless of the turnout, on condition that a

written notice is given one week in advance.

12.3 All amendments to this constitution shall be subject to approval of the Student Representative Council of the

University of New Brunswick.

NOTE:
A. In a general meeting of BCS held on 23^rd September, 2000 , it has been decided that only the active members who are of Bangladeshi origin can vote in BCS General meetings, BCS elections and referendums, and propose or second amendments to this constitution and nominate or second a candidate for elections to the BCS executive committee. The Active members who are of Bangladeshi origin can hold office for the president, vice president (external),vice president (finance) and General secretary . The rest are open to all members.

B As of October 14, 2000, the office of treasurer has been dissolved and Vice president Finance has been added to the executive committee. The office of Event co-ordinator has been created.

C. On the voting day which was supposed to be held on the first week of April, 2000, it has been decided that the election for the executives of BCS, shall take place by the last week of September of that fiscal year. The voting for BCS executives on that day was cancelled and was decided that it should be held on last week on September of that fiscal year.

BCS may be dissolved in a Special Meeting convened for such purpose in the presence of (3/4) of all voting members and a simple majority of Committee Members, after paying all debts and liabilities.

© Bangladesh Cultural Society

University of New Brunswick