Table of contents

Preamble …………………………………………………………………….

Chapter 1: Name …………………………………………………………….

Chapter 2: Membership ……………………………………………………..

Chapter 3: Purposes …………………………………………………………

Chapter 4: Officers …………………………………………………………..

Chapter 5: Regulation of OYA …………………………………..………….

Chapter 6: General obligation …………………………….………………….

Chapter 7: Duties of board members …………………….…………………..

Chapter: 8 Finance ……………………………………….…………………..

Chapter 9: Discipline ……………………………………..………………….

Chapter 10: Amendments ……………………………………………………

Preamble

We the Oromo youth Association of Michigan (OYA of MI), in our quest to promote and protect the welfare of our social and cultural life in the state Michigan. As the Oromo youth association in North America/Michigan state comes together and coordinated in social life to develop and promote our culture, identity and value we have together as being Oromo. We hereby establish this constitution as the highest legal document.

 

Chapter One: Name of this Organization

Article 1.

The name of organization shall be “Oromo Youth Association of Michigan”, henceforth referred as OYA’MI. The symbol representing this organization shall be clear and have full meaning to the organization.

 

Chapter Two: Membership

Article 2.

Any Oromo by racial background who has a valid ID for that purpose can becomes a member to OYA regardless of age, sex, educational status and religious affiliation. Male and female can be equally treated under this organization.

Article 3: Principal residence of the OYA Organization.

The principal residence for oya shall be place of its formation or where it carries its majority functions. All the members of OYA must meet at least one of the following criteria:

 

1. He/she has to live in Michigan state or the principal residence has to be in Michigan

2. A couple person who have at least one person living in Michigan state can request for membership, if wishes to be considered as oya member.

3. The general meeting and forum will be made at the place determined on the regulation made for that purposes.
    

Chapter Three: Purposes

Article 4. The main objectives of OYA

OYA is committed tirelessly advocating on behalf of Oromo community in Michigan, enhancing entire youth by promoting the image of Oromumma and tokkumma and upholding our culture, norm, gadaa system to the higher standards, leading with the integrity and pride. oya equally aims at promoting the cultural diversity of Oromo. An open platform of oya is to motivate and encourage cultural values of Oromo, share, appreciate and practice in the community. oya further intends to show cultural clothes, music, values, foods and norms from different parts of Oromia to Michigan community.  

 

Article 5. The Other Objectives of OYA

1. To maintain social, economic and academic welfare by fostering sense of community.

2. To teach culture, language and to promote Oromo traditions.

3. To assist and welcome Oromo coming from its homeland Oromia

4. To ensure rights and interests of all oya members suitably helped and protected.

5. To integrate all oya members with others in social, cultural and intellectual events.

6. To promote smooth relationship between oya and other local and international Oromo community.

7. To oppose and bring to light any discrimination, injustice, inequality and intolerance that obstructs the social life.

8. To create smooth relationship with other similar organizations both in USA and at international level.

 

Chapter Four: Officers of OYA

Article 6.

OYA shall consist of three main branches to accomplish its intended purposes and goals in a democratic system of checks and balances. These branches are; the legislative, executive and judiciary. All branches are under the supervision of president and coordinator of the union.

 

Legislative body

Legislative of OYA shall be appointed by coordinator and president of oya or can be chosen through the election. Legislative shall manage the monthly or annual affairs of the union. The obligations of legislative shall be stated in the regulations.

Executive body

Executive shall be appointed by coordinator or the general assembly election. The executive body consists president as the head, secretary general/vice, financial secretary, treasures, public relation officer, and culture and language officer. The executive shall manage the daily affairs of oya and takes final decisions of the oya organization to follow. The term of office of all the executive shall be one year and renewable only once. The obligations of each members of the executive are stated in the regulations.

Judiciary body

The judicial body shall investigate on any dispute that may arises with the oya organization. The judicial branch consists 1 chief justice, 2 justices and 2 court clerks. The judicial branch maintains jurisdiction over oya constitution. The obligation of judicial body are stated in the regulations. 

 

Chapter Five: Regulation of OYA

Article 7.

The constitution and regulations shall be binding on the executive and to all other members of ioya

Article 8.

The measures, issues and decisions found strictly contrary to the constitution and law of the state shall require the formal amendment of the constitution.

Article 9.

The primary languages to be used in oya will be English and Affan Oromoo

Article 10.

Any action found contrary to the constitution and regulation shall be subject to approval by 2/3 of the executive body or by the 2/3 of general assembly decisions.

 

Chapter Six: General obligation

Article 11: The general obligations under oya:

1. All the executive, legislative and judiciary members of oya shall further the objectives of oya and assist its conducts if necessary.

2. All board members (the executive, legislative and judiciary) are required to write down their monthly or annual report as per their duties.

3. The oya executive member’s takes responsibility to initiate proposal of specific tasks and ensuring it is carried out based on the objectives of oya.

4. The executive members with the other members shall conduct the overall evaluation of its tasks at the begging of January annually. Place and time shall be fixed by regulations.

5. It is the responsibility of every Executive member to know, observe, and enforce the bylaws and the intentions of the Constitution.

6. Any Executive member can access and use the e-mail address, Facebook, and any other social media account of the organization, with approval from the President or the two-third majority of the Executive members.

7. The agenda for the Executive meetings needs to be approved by the President or the two-third majority of the Executive members.

8. All the Executive members are responsible for participating in the events and activities organized by the organization.

Chapter Seven: Duties of board members

Article 12. The Executive

Section one: President is the chief officer of the union – OYA

1. He/she acts as chairperson in oya executive meetings and general assemblies.

2. He/she delegates tasks, responsibilities, duties and organize the events in oya.

3. He/she is the main representative of oya internally and externally.

4. He/she is the prominent spokesperson for oya at various forums.

5. Endorse financial decisions of the oya

6. Signs off on minutes and any other official documents and papers including bank account.

7. He/she has the right to nominate acting executives and shall be responsible in managing, scheduling and leading executive meeting.

Section two: Secretary General

1. Responsible for organizing all kinds of meeting times, dates and venues.

2. Notifies the Board of scheduled meetings.

3.  Prepares agenda for meetings in liaison with the President of oya

4.  Takes thorough minutes during each Board meeting.

5.  Responsible for clearing the Association’s mail, email and messages in coordination with the president.

6.  Prepares and distributes those minutes to all Board members.

7.  Assists the President in his/her general duties and writing reports.

8.  Responsible for the preparation and final version of the Annual General Report

9.  Custodian of all oya records.

Section Three: Vice secretary general

1. Assist the General Secretary in minutes and all other activities as seen above writing.

2.  Takes full duties of the General Secretary when he/she is not there.

3.  S/he assists the General Secretary to prepare and distribute minutes to all board members.

Section Four: Financial secretary

1. The duties of the Financial Coordinator shall be to keep in trust all monies received by the organization.

2. S/he must maintain adequate and accurate financial records of its financial operations

3.  To disburse the same only upon proper requirement according to the rules stated in the constitution.

4.  He/she must keep an accurate account of all money received or disbursed and provide a budget report at every meeting.

5.  He/she is responsible for any negligence on his/her part pertaining to careless handling of the treasury and shall be held liable for the same.

6.  Shall be responsible for organizing activities that produce income for ioya in coordination with the Vice President.

7.  Perform other activities as assigned during the term in office.

Section Five: Treasurers

1. The treasurer is responsible for finances, including all IAU-ISU bank accounts.

2.  S/he is one of the two signatories for all IAU-ISU bank accounts.

3.  Is responsible for the transfer of all IAU-ISU bank accounts to the next Board in collaboration with the President.

4.  Prepares budgets and financial reports for various activities.

5.  Manages receipts and returns records

6.  Advises the President on financial matters.

7.  Assists the Vice-president with the initiation of fundraising activities and events.

8.  Prepare a budget for all costs involved for marketing activities

9.  Perform other activities as assigned during the term in office

Section Six: Public relations officer

1. Maintain and updates to oya with the upcoming information regarding the upcoming events in the community and globally.

2. Cooperate with other board members to prepare and publish articles about oya.

3. Extend its activities internationally with other organization with similar functions.

4. Co-operates with the Social Officer and other board members to inform the oya members about the upcoming social, recreational and sporting activities within the Oromo community.

5. Liaises with other organization and community groups in order to initiate and organize joint events and activities as deemed appropriate by the Board of oya.

Section Seven: Culture and language officer

1. Organize the Oromo cultural night.

2. In cooperation with other board members of oya prepare events on Oromo traditional norms.

3. Facilitate for Oromo language and culture center.

4. Facilitate for teaching Oromo language, culture, and other Oromo literatures in cooperation with other community.

 

Article 13. The Legislative

1. Coordinate all oya for different activities, including cultural events, film show, sporting activities, music show, cultural cloth show, mass meeting, etc.

2. Coordinate oya members to react on current happening issues in Oromia to reach the issue with the world community.

3. To search on the individual problems in the community and calling for discussion and bringing them to the executive for solutions.

4. Work in close cooperation with the executive and other board of members.

 

Article 14. The Judiciary

1. The chief justice shall be appointed by president or by 2/3 of the executive body of the oya.

2. Operate as the chair of the Constitutional Council and the chief officer of the Judicial Branch.

3. He/she gives advice for oya on legal and constitutional questions.

4. The justices shall be appointed by president or by approval of 2/3 majority vote of the executive body.

5. The justices give legal advice and interpret the constitution of oya

6. The justices decide all cases in which an officer of the Legislative or the Executive branches of the oya is involved and cases between oya and the other community members or similar organizations.

7. The justices try all cases of impeachment.

8. The justices have the power to examine evidence, call available witnesses, authorize the issuance of such writs as it shall require, and make rules necessary and proper for the conduct of its business.

9. The court clerks shall be elected by chief justices and the justices. It have the function of collecting evidences, coordinating dates and make collection of pre-trial documents.

 

Chapter Eight: Finance

Article 15.

oya shall operate a Bank Account with any bank of its choice, where it’s all funds of oya shall be kept.

Article 16.

The signatories to the oya account shall be president and treasurer.

Article 17.

The annual report on financial record shall be published and made clear for all oya members after approval by the board members.

Article 18.

The source of funding for oya shall come from; member’s contributions, individual donations, application to other funding organizations and the community. The details of collection and raising fund is determined on the regulations.

 

Chapter Nine: Discipline

Article 19.

All officers of oya are required to attend meetings, unless he/she has an appropriate excuse.

Article 20.

In case of absence from meetings, officers are required to report their absence to the President or Vice President prior to the meeting. Any absence without reporting will count as a negligence of the office and thus bear punishment. The nature and extent of punishment is determined by regulations.

Article 21.

All the officers of oya are required to be punctual at all meetings and organizational activities.

Article 22.

When a (n) member/officer of oya or other attendants of the meeting presents an idea, other members at the meeting are required to respect it and pay attention to the speaker.

Article 23.

Any officer or members of the oya found committed crime or disrespect shall be brought before legal punishment. The degree of punishment is determined by regulations.

 

Chapter Ten: Legal sanctions on executive officers

Article 24.

The executive bodies can be removed from power due to the following acts. This shall be made after the final decision by judicial bodies based on the regulations passed for this purposes.

1. Economic frauds (which will be reported to the police).

2.  Actions contrary to the interests of oya.

3.  Actions damaging the oya organization.

4.  Failing to attend Executive meetings on a regular basis.

5.  Taking actions/decisions without the approval of the President, or the two-third majority of the Executive members.

6.  Having contributed very little, or not at all, by the member/s of oya.

7.  Failing to take transparent, unbiased and professional minutes of the meetings.

 

Chapter Eleven: Amendment of oya constitution

Article 25.

The oya constitution shall be amended when the Executive members should approve the constitutional or Regulations changes to be proposed in the General Assembly by simple majority, before calling for the General Assembly. The Constitutional/Regulations changes cannot be proposed in the General Assembly without the prior approval of the majority of the Executive members.

Article 26.

The support of at least two thirds (2/3) of the members present at the General Assembly shall be required to amend the Constitution or the Regulations.

Article 27.

The oya can only be dissolved where 2/3 majority vote of the General Assembly present with a significant members present.

 

Effective Date: Friday, January 01, 2016

In Grand Rapids, Michigan