GONZAGA ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

Article I: PREAMBLE
We, the Gonzaga Association of North America, living in the United States of America and elsewhere around the world, in order to unify ourselves; to foster and promote our town's own unique culture; to encourage and maintain our integrity, mutual love & respect amongst us; do hereby promulgate and adopt this constitution and by-laws.

Article II: NAME 
The name of the organization shall be: Gonzaga Association of North America. 

Article III: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. 
Section 1.) to unite into one indivisible organization all sons & daughters of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines, who are now residing in the USA and elsewhere around the world regardless of sex, age, religion, race, political, fraternal and civic affiliations. 
Section 2.) to promote and strengthen community spirit among members and friends. 
Section 3.) to encourage and maintain a high moral conduct for the promotion of goodwill among members. 
Section 4.) to harness the community spirit and resources of its members for the improvement of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines & the well-being of its people.
Section 5.) to sponsor educational programs/scholarships for the town's needy yet 
deserving sons and daughters. 

Article IV: MEMBERSHIP 
Section 1.) Membership shall be open to all who were born in Gonzaga, Cagayan; the relatives of families either by affinity or sanguinity and marriage; and those who once lived in the municipality of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines. 
Section 2.) There shall be classes of membership, namely: 
a.) Active 
b.) Honorary 
Section 3.) Active members are those described in Section (1) who have paid their annual dues. They may vote, hold elected or appointed position. 
Section 4.) Honorary membership is conferred to an individual by a majority vote of the active members; however, awardee(s) are non-voting, may not hold elected or appointed positions, and pay no dues. 
Section 5.) Executive Board shall be comprised of all the elected officers and the representatives from the different areas of the USA, Canada & others 
Section 6.) The Headquarters of the organization shall be in Los Angeles,CA. 

Article V: OFFICERS 
Section 1.) The officers of the association shall consist of a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and an Auditor. The officers shall be responsible for all administrative duties of the organization. 
Section 2.) The President shall have the power to establish and maintain operation procedures, call meetings, and represents the organization. The president shall be able to vote in all decisions affecting the association, and one of the signatories pertaining to the organization's funds. 
Section 3.) The Vice-president shall assist the president with all the administrative duties and assume those duties in the absence of the president. 
Section 4.) The Secretary shall keep detailed and accurate records of all meetings and activities, send/transmit all official correspondence, and coordinate preparation & distribution of flyers, handouts and publications. 
Section 5.) The Treasurer shall receive and distribute/disburse funds upon authorization of the president in accordance with established financial rules and regulations, present financial reports at meetings, and coordinate all fund raising activities, should they occur. 
Section 6.) The Auditor shall review the activities and financial transactions of the organization, and to ensure that the resources are used according to its mission and without fraud. 

Article VI: ELECTIONS 
Section 1.) The officers shall be elected by active members to serve a term of two (2) years, but no more than two (2) terms continuously. Elections shall be held at the organization's HQ. 

Section 2.) Nomination of candidates shall be done by members either by standing from the floor during a meeting and seconded, or in writing. A nominee for particular office may not necessarily be present during nominations. However, the "nominee" should have communicated beforehand the intended candidacy. 

Section 3.) Voting shall take place after the close of nominations of each position. Winners are decided by a majority vote of all members present physically or electronically either by a secret ballot, show-of-hands, & “viva-voce”.

Article VII: MEETINGS 

Section 1.) There shall be an annual meeting of the association held at a time and place selected by the Executive Board, with sixty (60 ) days written notice to all members on record. 

Section 2.) Special meeting of the general membership, other than the annual, maybe called by the Executive Board for matters it deems require approval by its members, held at a time & place TBA. The Secretary shall notify the members at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting. Notice shall include an agenda of the special meeting. 

Section 3.) The Executive Board shall meet at least two (2) times a year at a predetermined time called by the President. 

Section 4.) A "quorum" shall constitute one-fourth (1/4) of all the members of the organization. 

Section 5.) A "quorum" for meetings of the Executive Board shall be a majority of all its members.

Article VIII: COMMITTEES 

Committees shall be established by the association to conduct its affairs. 

Section 1.) STANDING COMMITEE shall be established to provide the functions of a continuous or recurring nature, which may include audit committee, nomination committee, membership committee, and scholarship committee. The Executive Board may create a committee which is deemed permanent, until abolished by the Executive Board. 

Section 2.) SELECT COMMITTEE may be formed to consider topics on an "ad hoc" basis. It is for special assignments and shall continue to exist until the specific job is completed.

Section 3.) Committee Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Board. All members shall serve in at least one (1) committee of their choice for two (2) years. Committee members can be reappointed with no restrictions on number of terms served. It shall be the discretion of the Executive Board to appoint the number of persons to each committee. Every attempt shall be made to accommodate geographical location and representation. 

Section 4.) Each committee Chair shall prepare an annual work plan and budget. The work plan shall detail specific short term goals and planned activities to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. All work plans shall be submitted to the President and to the Executive Board. 

Section 5.) Each committee shall prepare a written report on the activities and accomplishments for presentation at the annual meeting.

Article IX: FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

Section 1.) All members shall pay an annual fee of twenty US dollars ($20.00 USD) at the start of the calendar year ( or by installment until paid in full.). 
Section 2.) The TREASURER shall deposit all funds of the organization in a bank chosen by the Executive Board. 

Section 3.) Withdrawal, payment, and reimbursement of funds from the association's account shall only be made upon prior consultation and approval of the President. All funds disbursements shall be fully documented and all records shall be maintained by the Treasurer for review by the Auditor. 

Section 4.) All checks must bear the President’s signature and another member chosen by Executive Board. 

Article X: POLICY STATEMENT

Section 1.) Definition: - Policy statements are those resolutions passed by the association members that express the stand of the organization as a single unit. 

Section 2.) The organization will not adopt any policy with religious or political in nature.

Section 3.) Procedure: - Policy statements may be proposed at any time and must be submitted in writing to the President, who shall present it to the members for adoption, revision, or rejection. A policy may be adopted by a simple majority vote.

Section 4.) Policy statements shall in no way bind an individual member when expressing the opinion of the organization. 

Article XI: ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT

Section 1.) This constitution may be amended or changed at any regular meeting by a majority vote of the active members present. 

Section 2.) By-laws may be adopted to fit the needs of the organization at any regular meeting by a majority vote of the active members present. 

Article XII: MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.) For future use/activities

a.) registration of the organization for tax exemption
b.) purchase of office stationeries & equipments
c.) use of teleconference during meetings 
d.) fund raising programs 
e.) committee programs (e.g.: educational/scholarship program)
f.) annual meeting: when and where (e.g.) mid-July or early part of August when school year ends. 

Mission:

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. 

Section 1.) to unite into one indivisible organization all sons & daughters of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines, who are now residing in the USA and elsewhere around the world regardless of sex, age, religion, race, political, fraternal and civic affiliations. 

Section 2.) to promote and strengthen community spirit among members and friends. 

Section 3.) to encourage and maintain a high moral conduct for the promotion of goodwill among members. 

Section 4.) to harness the community spirit and resources of its members for the improvement of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines & the well-being of its people.

Section 5.) to sponsor educational programs/scholarships for the town's needy yet deserving sons and daughters.

Click Here

 to see pictures during the Inaugural Meeting at Montebello, California and 2nd Meeting at  West Covina, California