Organizational Constitution of the
Harvard Club of
the Republic of
|
Chapter One General Provisions |
|
Article One: This organization shall be named the “Harvard Club of the Republic of China”, to be abbreviated as either the “Club” of the “Harvard Club”.
Article Two: Established according to the laws governing civil bodies, the Club is a non-profit social organization.
Article Three: The founding purpose of the Club is to maintain contact with Harvard University (hereafter also named “alma master”), alumni of Harvard throughout the world and at home, and promote active exchange between alumni in order toe serve the interests of society and the nation.
Article Four: The activities to be maintained by the Club cover the following categories: 1. Activities and related support that serve and promote contact among alumni. 2. Regular publication of alumni news and information. 3. Reception for Harvard faculty and other alumni throughout the world. 4. The organization and support for conferences, lectures and panel discussions of an academic or public service nature undertaken by Harvard faculty and alumni. 5.
To organize and/or support exchange activities on
behalf of our 6. To handle the establishment, selection process, and administration of scholarships for continuing or first-year Harvard students. 7. To organize or assist in other academic and/or public service activities that accord with the aims of the Club.
Article Five: The Club will organize activities for members within the boundaries of the territory currently administered by the Republic of China.
Article Six: The Club is to be located in the City of
Article Seven: The general “competent authority” for this Club hereafter refers to the Ministry of the Interior. According to the Club’s major mission as set out in the Constitution, the “competent authority” for specific activities undertaken by the Club will be the Ministry of Education. All purposeful activities should be subject to the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Education.
Chapter Two Members
Article Eight: All those individuals who accept the goals of this Club and have studied, conducted research, or been hired as part of Harvard’s teaching faculty for a period of more than six weeks and who currently reside in the territory administered by the Republic of China are eligible to join the Club after the Board of Directors has duly reviewed and approved such individual’s application form, and after full payment of Club dues. Those individuals who did not study, conduct research, or teach at Harvard for a period exceeding six weeks are not to be excluded from membership if they apply for membership during the planning stages of this Club. A full roster of Club Members should be provided to the governing body. According to resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, the Board may designate Supported Members, Overseas Members, and Honorary Members, the rights and obligations, as well the standards of selection, of which should be made public by the Board.
Article Nine: In case Members contravene the provisions of the Constitution or the resolutions of the Members Congress, they may be warned or denied membership privileges according to resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. In cases where the rights of the Club have been significantly infringed upon, the Members Congress may adopt resolutions to void individual memberships.
Article Ten: Members shall lose their membership in the following circumstances: 1. Death 2. Resolution by the Members Congress.
Article Eleven: Members may withdraw from the Club by providing notification in writing, signed by the individual concerned and addressed to the Board of Directors providing explanation for the individual’s decision. In such cases, loss of membership becomes effective one month after the Club has received such written notification.
Article Twelve: All fees accrued from Members who have been expelled or voluntarily withdrawn from the Club are non-returnable.
Article Thirteen: Members have the right to speak their opinions, the right to vote on resolutions, the right to elect, the right to be elected, and the right to impeach, as well as the right to participate in all Club activities and the right to all other lawfully-guaranteed rights.
Supported Members, Overseas Members, and Honorary Members are natural guests at all Club activities, and they may also participate in the Members Congress, without the above-mentioned rights and privileges.
Article Fourteen: Members have the obligation to pay Club fees, respect the Club’s Constitution, the resolutions passed by the Members Congress, the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors, as well as the right to assume positions and jobs delegated by Club.
Chapter Three Organization and Powers of Office
Article Fifteen: The Members Congress is the highest body of authority in the Club. The Board of Directors is an executive body which also exercises authority during periods when the Members Congress is not in session. The Board of Supervisors is a supervisory body. In case the number of Members exceeds three hundred, the Members Congress shall be convened to exercise Members’ right to Congress after elections for proportional representation have been held in separate districts. The number of representatives, their term of office, and the means of election are to be decided by the Board of Directors and effected after reporting to the competent authorities.
Article Sixteen: The powers invested in the Members Congress are as follows: 1. To draw up and amend the organizational codes of this Club. 2. To elect and impeach Directors and Supervisors. 3. To pass resolutions concerning the amount and procedure for Membership fees, annual dues, and contributions. 4. To pass resolutions concerning annual projects, to prepare reports and budgets, and to undertake final accounts. 5. To pass resolutions concerning the expulsion of Members. 6. To pass resolutions concerning the disposal of Club property. 7. To pass resolutions concerning the disbandment of this Club. 8. To pass resolutions concerning the rights and obligations of Members as well as other items of major concern.
Article Seventeen: Members shall elect 15 Directors and 5 Supervisors to repectively form a Board of Directors and a Board of Supervisors. At the time of these elections, Members must also elect three alternate Directors and one alternate Supervisor. In case of absence on the part of Directors of Supervisors, alternates may serve according to priority. At the end of its term of office, the Board of Directors must present a reference list of candidates for elections to the next Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors. Directors and Supervisors may be elected by correspondence, but not in consecutive elections. The Board of Directors must report procedures for election by correspondence to the competent authorities and receive approval before undertaking such elections.
Article Eighteen: The powers invested in the Board of Directors are as follows: 1. To pass resolutions concerning the items to be considered by the Members Congress. 2. To elect or impeach the Club President. 3. To approve by resolution the resignation of the President of Directors. 4. To employ and release employees. 5. To prepare annual plans, reports, budgets, and accounts. 6. To fix and implement annual plans. 7. To undertake other major affairs.
Article Nineteen: The Board of Directors shall provide for a Standing Committee of five Directors. Members of the Standing Committee will be elected from among the Board of Directors. The Member with the highest number of votes shall assume the position of president; the second highest shall be vice president. The President is the general executive for internal Club affairs, and the Club’s representative in external relations. In addition, the President acts as the Chairperson for meetings of the Members Congress, the Standing Committee of the Board of Directors, and joint sessions of the Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors. The Vice President shall assist the President in handling all Club matters. In case the Vice President cannot act on his or her behalf, the Members of the Standing Committee shall collectively choose an acting President. In the event the office of the Presidency is vacant, elections for a new replacement should be held within one month of the vacancy. The Club provides for an Honorary President. This individual shall be recommended by the President, who shall notify the Members Congress of his choice. The official appointment to this position becomes effective immediately after the Members Congress has ratified the President’s choice by majority vote.
Article Twenty: The Board of Supervisors shall provide for a single Standing Supervisor to be elected from among Members of the Board. The Standing Supervisor shall be responsible for supervising daily activities, as well as convening and chairing meetings of the Board of Supervisors. In the event the position of Standing Supervisor is vacant, elections for a new replacement should be held within one month of the vacancy.
Article Twenty One: The powers invested in the Board of Supervisors are as follows: 1. To supervise the execution of work undertaken by the Board of Directors. 2. To examine the annual budget. 3. To ratify the resignation of Supervisors. 4. To ratify or impeach the appointment of the Standing Supervisor. 5. To act upon all other Club matters requiring supervision.
Article Twenty Two: The period of office for Directors and Supervisors shall be two years, which can be extended only once by re-election. The President and the Vice-President, however, may not stand for re-election. The period of office for Directors and Supervisors becomes effective from the date of the first meeting for the new term of the Board of Directors.
Article Twenty Three: The positions of Director and Supervisor are not renumerated.
Article Twenty Four: Directors of Supervisor shall be removed from their position for any of the following reasons: 1. Loss of Club membership. 2. Involuntary resignation ratified by the Members Congress. 3. Negligence, breach of Club codes, or any other substantially abnormal act shall be cause, pending ratification by the Members Congress, for impeachment or replacement. 4. Denial of membership privileges after serving more than half the term of office.
Article Twenty Five: The Club shall create the position of General Secretary, to be filled by one individual, assisted by several others. This individual, nominated by the President, shall be effectively employed after the Board of Directors has ratified the President’s choice. The proper authorities must be notified at the time of employment and termination of contract. The General Secretary acts on the President’s directives to assist in administrative matters. The tasks to be handle by the other employees in the Secretariat shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The President must, either at regular or irregular intervals, convene the Board of Directors to plan general Club activities.
Article Twenty Six: Directors and Supervisors may not fill positions as employees during their term of office.
Article Twenty Seven: In order to promote the organization and planning of Club affairs and to strengthen support and service to academic research, the Club shall organize specific committees for separate field of activity. The manner in which such committees are to be formed shall be decided by the Board of Directors.
Article Twenty Eight: The Club shall provide for the establishment of an operational organization to handle Club business as well as other internal Club affairs. The codes governing such organization shall be drafted by the Board of Directors and also implemented after the proper authorities have been notified. Said authorities should be notified in case of any changes to this code.
Chapter Four Meetings
Article Twenty Nine: The meetings of the Members Congress, convened by the President, shall be either regularly scheduled or provisional. Except for emergency meetings, all other meetings should be announced at least fifteen days in advance of the meeting date. Regularly scheduled meetings shall convene once annually. Provisional meetings may be scheduled as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, or by request from at least one-fifth of all Members, or by a written request from the Board of Supervisors.
Article Thirty: In case Members cannot attend meetings in person, he or she may designate in writing another Member to act on his or her behalf. Each Member can substitute for only one other Member.
Article Thirty One: Except in case specifically provided for by the Club Constitution or other relevant regulations, all motions adopted by the Congress shall be considered effectively ratified when passed by a majority with more than half the Members in attendance. The following items must be decided by a two-thirds majority vote in order to become effective: 1. Establishment of Club codes. 2. Membership revocation. 3. Impeachment of Directors or Supervisors. 4. Disposal of Club property. 5. All other important matters bearing upon Member’s rights and obligations.
Once the Club has applied for status as a legal person, the codes in this Constitution can only be changed either by ratification with more than a three-quarter majority vote in a meeting convened by more than two-thirds of all Members (or their appointed substitutes). Disbandment of the Club can only be undertaken with the approval of more than two-thirds of all Club Members (or their appointed substitutes).
Article Thirty Two: The Board of Directors shall convene once every three months; the Board of Supervisors shall convene once every six months. A joint session of the two Boards and/or provisional meeting of the two Board may be called as necessary. When such a joint session is called, except in the case of a provisional meeting, written notification should be provided to each of the respective Boards at least seven days before the meeting is to be held. In order to become ratified, motions made during joint session must gain a majority of votes from a session attended by more than half the total number of Directors and Supervisors.
Article Thirty Three: Directors and Supervisors must attend meetings in person; they cannot designate substitutes to act in their place. If a Director or Supervisor is absent without cause for two consecutive Board meetings, his or her person will automatically be rescinded and the next alternate in line will assume his or her place, effective immediately.
Article Thirty Four: Fifteen days before the Members Congress is convened, or seven days before the meetings of either the Board of Supervisors and/or the Board of Directors, the Club must submit to the proper authorities a report stating the nature of the meeting, an agenda of issues to be discussed, and the time and place of its occurrence. The minutes of the meeting should be submitted to the proper authorities within fifteen days after the meeting has been held.
Chapter Five Expenses and Accounting
Article Thirty Five: The Club enjoys the following sources of revenue: 1. Lifetime membership fee: Members pay a lifetime membership fee when they first enter the Club. 2. Annual membership fee. 3. Member donations. 4. Service charge. 5. Funds and the interest therefrom. 6. Other income. The amount of lifetime membership fees and annual membership fees shall be decided by the Members Congress.
Article Thirty Six: Club monies may be used only for the following expenses: 1. Club administration. 2. Salary payment to Club employees. 3. Club activities. 4. Other activities pertinent to the Club’s purpose. Club expense accounts should be reviewed every three months by the Board of Directors.
Article Thirty Seven: The fiscal year for this Club extends from January 1st thru December 31st of each year.
Article Thirty Eight: Two months before the beginning of each new fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall draft an annual plan, including an annual budget and table of employee compensation, to be submitted to the Members Congress for approval (If the Congress is unable to convene as scheduled, the draft plan should be submitted first to a joint session of the Boards of Directors and Supervisors). This plan must be submitted for approval to the proper authorities. Within two months after the end of the fiscal year, the Board of Directors must prepare a final report, including final accounts, expenses and debts accrued, and a list of assets to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors. After making any comments necessary, this report should then be sent back to the Board of Directors for review by the Members Congress. It should be submitted to the proper authorities before the end of March. In case the Members Congress is unable to ratify it before then, the report should be submitted anyway.
Article Thirty Nine: Upon disbandment of the Club, Club property becomes the possession of the local autonomous organizations or those organizations specified by the proper authorities.
Chapter Six Amendments
Article Forty: All items not explicitly covered by this Charter should conform to existing laws and regulations.
Article Forty One: The details of Club administration and activities shall be elaborated by the Board of Directors.
Article Forty Two: These codes become effective immediately after they have been approved by the Members Congress and reported to the proper authorities. Amendments becomes effective in the same fashion.
Article Forty Three: This Constitution was ratified by the first meeting of the first annual Members Congress convened on June 29, 1996. It was reported to the Ministry of the Interior on August 22, 1996, to be reviewed as case number Tai (85) Neishe Tzuti 8585074. |