This document presents the statutes and internal regulations of the Association des Malians de Dallas. It is a written document whose purpose is to specify the details of the association’s operation, as well as the provisions that are subject to frequent modification. It is binding on all members of the association.
It consists of six chapters (including 29 articles), as described below.
The drafting of this constitution takes place in Dallas Texas on this
7th day of September 2023 in English Language by the following signatory
members:
ARTICLE 1:
It is made up of Malians living in Dallas, Texas, and is called MANT (Malians Association of North Texas).
ARTICLE 2:
The purpose of the association is:
- to study the problems of Malians living in Dallas, Texas.
This assistance may exceptionally be extended to Malians living in the United States;
- to help the creation of their group without distinction of their religious convictions;
- to defend their socio-cultural and traditional values;
- to respect the religion of all ;
- take an active part in the economic development of the Malian community in Dallas, Texas.
This purpose may be achieved in particular by organizing meetings and cultural and sporting activities within the association.
ARTICLE 3:
The Malian Association of Dallas refrains from all religious activity and political discussion.
ARTICLE 4:
The life of the association is unlimited.
ARTICLE 5:
The Association is made up of honorary members (of any nationality) and individual members.
ARTICLE 6:
The Board of Directors, acting on a proposal from the Executive Committee, may award honorary membership to a member of the association or an external person.
ARTICLE 7:
The number of individual members is unlimited.
Individual members of the association must be of Malian origin:
- live in the United States;
- agree to abide by MANT’s articles of association and bylaws;
- agree to pay membership dues for the current year.
ARTICLE 8:
The membership fee for individual members is ten dollars ($10) per person (non- renewable payment).
Monthly dues are set at fifteen dollars ($15) per person.
ARTICLE 9:
The association’s resources come from:
- membership fees
- monthly contributions
- donations
- subsidies from public and/or private bodies
- income from economic, cultural and sporting activities
Any investment from funds raised by public and/or private organizations must be approved.
ARTICLE 10:
The association is only obliged to assist members who are up to date with their membership fees. The association will not assist a member who has not paid his monthly dues for a maximum period of six (6) months. Furthermore, this member will not have the right to vote or speak.
ARTICLE 11 :
This article is dedicated to the movement of funds.
Financial assistance will be provided in the following cases:
| Nature of event | Container(s) | Amount ($) |
| Deaths | Member of the association | Full coverage |
Deaths | Family member :FatherMotherChildHusband and wife | Five hundred dollars ($500.00) |
| Hospitalization | Member of the association | Five hundred dollars ($500.00) |
| Immigration problem | Member of the association | Five hundred dollars ($500.00) |
| Wedding | Member of the association | Three hundred dollars ($300.00) |
| Baptism | Member of the association | Two hundred dollars ($200.00) |
| Financial difficulties | Member of the association | Financial loan* (Dollars) |
- When both people are members of the association, the amount is six hundred dollars ($600.00), i.e. three hundred dollars each.
- Baptism: two hundred dollars ($200.00) per delivery.
*A financial loan will be granted to all members who are up to date with their monthly dues (minimum six (6) months for all new members).
ARTICLE 12 :
The Annual General Meeting meets once a year, at a time and place determined by the Board.
At this meeting, the Chairman presents the Association’s moral situation.
ARTICLE 13 :
All members of the Association are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting.
ARTICLE 14 :
Invitations containing the agenda are sent out by circular. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting will include the following main items:
- outgoing Chairman’s report
- outgoing General Secretary’s report
- outgoing General Treasurer’s report
- outgoing auditor’s report
- discussion of the reports presented
- election of Chairman and Officers
Any candidate for the position of President must pay a non-refundable sum of fifty dollars ($50). This sum must be paid one week before the effective renewal of the office.
The election of the Chairman and other officers is voluntary.
In the event of more than one volunteer, election will be by anonymous ballot.
ARTICLE 15 :
All decisions will be taken by a simple majority of members present and entitled to vote and speak.
- ADMINISTRATION
It comprises the following members:
- The Chairman
- Vice-Chairman
- The General Secretary
- Assistant General Secretary
- General Treasurer
- Assistant General Treasurer
- The Statutory Auditor
- The Information Secretary
- The Chairman of the Women and Children Commission
- The Conflict Secretary/Mediator
- Organization Secretary
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS MAY ONLY BE FILLED BY PERSONS WITH THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES.
- THE ROLES
The following paragraph defines the main role of each member of the management team.
- THE PRESIDENT
He leads the policy of the association, of which he is the legal representative and corporate body.
He ensures that the association’s bylaws and internal regulations are effectively applied, and that decisions taken by the Board and Executive Committee are implemented.
Every thirty (30) days, he is required to keep the Board fully informed of the Association’s activities.
He is the Association’s expense authorizer.
The Chairman and officers are elected by the General Meeting.
- VICE-PRESIDENT
He is primarily responsible for assisting the Chairman in the performance of his duties. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the Vice-Chairman acts as Acting Chairman until the next Annual General Meeting.
- SECRETARY GENERAL
He chairs the Executive Secretariat.
The Secretary General is also responsible for the planning sector, studying the future development of MANT and determining the human and financial resources needed to bring about reforms.
He is responsible for all administrative matters. He convenes Board meetings and proposes the agenda.
Minutes will be kept of the Board’s deliberations.
He is responsible for external relations. He is the custodian of MANT’s archives.
At any time and at his request, the General Secretary must convene a meeting, giving five (5) days’ notice. He must specify the place, day, time and general nature of the business to be transacted.
- ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
He assists the General Secretary in the performance of his duties and replaces him in the event of a vacancy.
He is also responsible for protocol and the organization of the Association’s activities.
- GENERAL TREASURER
The Treasurer General is the Association’s accountant and manages the Association’s funds, cheques, bills of exchange and other negotiable and transferable instruments. All receipts for sums paid by MANT must be co-signed, drawn, drawn up or accepted by the Treasurer General.
In addition, he keeps the appropriate books concerning all sums of money received and spent by the association and the matters giving rise to these receipts and expenditures.
- ASSISTANT TREASURER GENERAL
He assists the General Treasurer in his work and replaces him in the event of a vacancy. He is also responsible for collecting membership fees.
- THE STATUTORY AUDITOR
Its role is to verify the accuracy and regularity of the annual financial statements prepared by the association.
He is responsible for carrying out an accounting and financial audit.
- INFORMATION SECRETARY
He is responsible for developing the association’s outreach and information programs. It coordinates all communication activities.
He is also responsible for relations with the zones and sections, and for conveying information within the Association.
- PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN COMMISSION
It is responsible for promoting the status of the women and children of the association’s members.
It must make proposals to enable MANT to better understand the needs and aspirations of women and children.
- THE CONFLICT SECRETARY/ MEDIATOR
Its mission is to facilitate relations and establish a dialogue between association members in conflict situations.
He must be in a position to try to put an end to an existing conflict between members of the association. He/she is responsible for reporting any incidents that have occurred to the board members, and for providing the necessary solutions to resolve the problem.
- ORGANIZATION SECRETARY
It organizes cultural events to enable MANT members to deepen their knowledge and exchange practical experience.
ARTICLE 16 :
Any member whose behavior is contrary to the aims and/or spirit of the Association may be excluded.
Any member who has exceeded the maximum period of six (6) months will be contacted by the association’s mediator. If no resolution is reached, the member will be dismissed. Exclusion is decided by the Board. Any member subject to exclusion has the right to appeal to the General Meeting. The appeal must be sent by registered letter or e-mail to the Chairman within thirty (30) days of receipt of the exclusion decision.
ARTICLE 17 :
Any member of the Association who misappropriates its property will be excluded permanently. Any member who misappropriates the Association’s property will be permanently excluded from the Association and will be obliged to reimburse the misappropriated value, failing which he or she will be brought to justice.
ARTICLE 18 :
Any member of the Board who abandons his or her position or resigns for reasons deemed unsatisfactory by the Board shall not be entitled to claim any position of responsibility within the Association for a period of four (4) years.
ARTICLE 19 :
Any member of the Board who demonstrates incompetence or lack of competence will be excluded. They will not be eligible for any position of responsibility within the Association.
ARTICLE 20:
In the event of a vacancy in the Executive Committee due to death, resignation, incompetence or incapacity, the Executive Committee, convened by the Chairman, is required to fill the vacancy with an individual member of the Association within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days.
ARTICLE 21:
In the event of dissolution, the General Meeting appoints one or more persons to be responsible for liquidating the Association’s assets. The assets will be allocated by the General Meeting to an Association with the same purpose.
ARTICLE 22 :
In all cases not provided for in the present regulations, the law of the registered office shall apply.
ARTICLE 23 :
The Board must have internal rules for its work. All financial transactions of the Association must be co-signed by the Chairman and the Treasurer General.
ARTICLE 24 :
The Association’s fiscal year will be identical to the calendar year.
ARTICLE 25 :
The Association’s accounts will be kept in accordance with standard accounting rules.
ARTICLE 26 :
The organizers of all the Association’s events shall submit the accounts of these events to the Board within fifteen (15) days.
ARTICLE 27 :
Unless otherwise stipulated, it is forbidden to hold more than one position.
ARTICLE 28 :
Board members must not receive any financial compensation f o r their services.
ARTICLE 29 :
The keeping of books shall not be deemed proper unless they are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of MANT’s affairs and to explain its transactions. The books of account kept by MANT’s Treasurer General must always be open to inspection by the Auditor. MANT keeps a register of members, which must include names, postal addresses and telephone numbers. Individual membership is lost through resignation or exclusion.