Constitution

LEMNIAN BROTHERWOOD OF SOUTH AFRICA

SEAT: JOHANNESBURG

CONSTITUTION

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(With amendments – 1989)

FIRST ARTICLE: The cultural and benevolent association with the “LEMNIAN

BROTHERHOOD OF SOUTH AFRICA” was established on 11 January 1943.

The name of founder members – who are all of Lemnian descent – are recorded in

the minutes of the first general meeting of the members of the Brotherhood.

SECOND ARTICLE: It is stipulated that the seat of the Brotherhood will be the city of

Johannesburg of the republic of South Africa.

THIRD ARTICLE: The aims of the Brotherhood are:

(a) To provide material and moral assistance to destitute Lemnians, to the sick, and to those who are suffering for any reason

(b) To contribute to benevolent institutions of Lemnos and at that same time to be interested in promoting benevolent activities of the organized Hellenic establishment of South Africa.

(c) To be interested in and to support schools and other educational institution in Lemnos and in South Africa, to protect orphan or destitute children and to maintain a fund for scholarships.

(d) to be interested in and to contribute in the maintenance of churches of the Christian Orthodox faith, in Lemnos and in South Africa.

(e) To promote the development of amicable relations amongst the Lemnians brothers and to cultivate constant communication amongst them.

(f) To maintain good relations with our national representatives as well as with Religious authorities and in addition to co -operate with the Greek Community of Johannesburg and the fraternal association, within the framework of the Constitution of the Federation of Communities and Association of South Africa.

FOURTH ARTICLE: MEMBERS: The members of the Brotherhood are divided into

three categories:

REGULAR MEMBERS

EXTRAORDINARY MEMBERS

HONORARY MEMBERS

(a) Regular members are person of Lemnian descent or descendants of Lemnians

or person who are married to Lemnians, men or women.

The regular members have the right to elect and to be elected for duties in administrative authorities, by general meetings,once they have completed their

21st year of age.

(b) Extraordinary members or members who are of assistance will be accepted according to the

ruling of the council or even with a resolution of a general meeting, for the

purpose of offering some assistance or co-operation. The extraordinary members have the right to elect but they cannot be elected.

(c) The title of honorary chairman or even of an ordinary members is bestowed

upon a member who, according to the ruling and resolution of the council or

even the general meeting, has offering exceptional services to the Brotherhood.

FIFTH ARTICLE: CONTRIBUTIONS: The annual contributions are paid in

advance and they are payable from the 1st of January of each year. To Council

will have the right to alter the amount of the contribution from time to time,

following the approval of a general meeting.

A member, who is registered at any month of the calendar year will have to pay the contribution of the full year.

The present members of a regular or extraordinary general meeting have the

obligation to pay the contribution of the current year and any contributions

in arrear.

SIXTH ARTICLE: INCOME OF THE BROTHERHOOD: The income of the Brotherhood is derived from the contributions of the members, donations, sales of raffle tickets and from the net income of celebrations and other celebratory events.

The Brotherhood is considered to be, according to the state regulations of South Africa, a non profitable and non trading association.

The monetary amounts which derive from the above sources and events are to be deposited in specific accounts of an official bank – in the name of the

Lemnian Brotherhood of South Africa – and they are to be inspected at the

regular meeting of the Council of the Brotherhood.

SEVENTH ARTICLE: GENERAL MEETING:

(a) The annual general meeting of the members must be convened during the

the month of February, following a notification addressed to all the regular members of the Brotherhood, without any exception. This notification must be in writing or even in some other way of information. This must happen at least TEN days before the set date of the Annual General Meeting.

(b) The Chairman of the Council of the Annual General Meeting or if he is absent

the vice Chairman or even any other regular member who is appointed by the

General Meeting.

(c) There is a quorum of General Meeting when more than half of the registered

regular members are gathered. Should there be no quorum half an hour after

the appointed time, the members present, with a minimum number of FIFTEEN,

are considered to be a quorum.

(d) In an Annual General Meeting, the Chairman of the Council or the Vice- Chairman are obliged to present a report regarding the activities and the resolutions which were executed during the previous year as well as the detailed financial report of the Brotherhood.

(e) The General Meeting has the right to discuss the above reports, to request

clarifications for any part or point of the reports which is not clear and finally the Meeting will approve or will reproach the reports of the Chairman.

(f) The Council obliged to call an Extraordinary General Meeting if this is requested

in writing, by at least FIFTEEN (15) members, and in this request the reason of this Extraordinary General Meeting must be mentioned. The fifteen members

who requested this extraordinary general meeting are obliged to be present during

that meeting.

(g) The elections of new council members is conducted, at an annual general meeting

by an electoral committee which consists of five members. This committee is

proposed and appointed following the exit of the Council whose period has come

to an end. The Chairman of the electoral committee has to manage the conduct

of the elections with impartiality, strict neutrality, and bearing in mind the

relevant articles of the constitution.

(h) The electoral committee requests nominations of the candidates and their names

are written on a board. Following this there will be a secret voting fir the NINE

MEMBERS and TWO RUNNERS-UP. Should there be a pre-established

combination, which is acceptable by the majority of the members, the meeting

can elect the candidates of the combination by raising of hands and to approve

the election as legal. The electoral committee has the right to examine the minority which did not approve or voted against the combination.

(I) The newly Council will preside in order to discuss general matters, and it

• 1. will also attend to the keeping of notes for the compiling of minutes.

(j) The General Meeting of the members has to be informed, regarding the legal

handing over and taking over a Books, and other particulars regarding the

movable assets of the Brotherhood, both from the departing Council but also

from the Council that is undertaking its duties.

EIGHTH ARTICLE: COUNCIL

(a) The Council is elected by the annual General Meeting, it consist of NINE

members and it serves for 24 months.

(b) Within ten days from its election the first regular meeting of the Council takes

place, and by secret vote, it elects the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the

Secretary and the Treasurer and following that it prepares its programme of

activities.

(c) The results of the election of the new Council are notified in writing to our

National Representatives, the Church Authorities, the Federation of Hellenic

Communities and Associations, and by a circular to the communities, associations

and brotherhood of Witwatersrand area. In addition the Bank where the

Brotherhood conducts its financial transactions is notified regarding the persons

who are responsible to sign cheques and other bank documents for the legal

transactions of the accounts.

(d) THE CHAIRMAN of the council conducts the proceedings of the meetings, undertakes duties according to the decisions of the meetings, co-operates with impartiality with all the members of his council and represents the Brotherhood

in front of any authority, activity or meeting or meeting of communities and associations regarding matters of common or the organized Hellenic establishments of our area (South Africa) The Chairman can serve only for two

terms of 24 months each.

(e) He can sign, together with the secretary, the correspondence or other documents following a decision of the council. In addition he can sign together with the Treasurer bank cheques, payments instructions, accounting reports and the annual financial statements.

(f) The treasurer keeps the file records of the Brotherhood in order, takes minutes of the meeting, prepares notifications, attends to the correspondence and works ` together with the Chairman and the treasurer.

(g) The treasurer attends to the receipt of the contributions, looks after the updating

of the registry, makes deposits and inspects the bank statements. With the co -operation of of the Secretary he keeps the accounting Books of the Brotherhood up to date.

(h) The Vice – Chairman undertake all the duties of the Chairman when the Chairman is absent or is prevented from exercising his duties for justifiable reasons and in general he co -operates closely with the Chairman.

(I) The remaining five members of the Council undertake the execution of the various duties of daily nature, according to a ruling of the Council or following the request of the Chairman and Vice – Chairman.

(j) Should a member a Council resigns or is disinterested and refuses to co - operate, The Council can call the first runner – up, from the elections of the annual General Meeting, to take the place of the Councilor who has resigned.

NINTH ARTICLE AUDITING COMMITTEE

An auditing committee, consisting of three members, can co – operate with treasurer

of the Council,when, from time to time, the assistance of auditors is requested.

The above mentioned auditing committee will be elected during the regular general meeting and will submit its report on the annual Financial Statements and the accounts of each period.

TENTH ARTICLE “INTEGRITY OF THE BROTHERHOOD”

The Lemnian Brotherhood of South Africa is an independent association, consisting of members who are Lemnians permanent residents of the Republic of South Africa and it is not subject to the control or binding of another organization or community. The

Council of the Brotherhood or the regular or extraordinary general meeting of the members will proceed to the resolution of serious problems without the intervention of an outside person or persons or any other authority.

ELEVEN ARTICLE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSITUTION

The amendment of an articles of the Constitution can only take place following the proposal of members to the Council or during a regular or extraordinary general meeting and only after similar proposals are discussed and confirmed by the mejority of members must then be notified by proper notification.

TWELFTH ARTICLE “DISOLLUTION OF THE BROTHERHOOD”

The Lemnian Brotherhood of South Africa can dissolve as an entity only if:

(a) The Lemnians, who are permanent resident of South Africa, repatriate or emigrate to another country or cease to exist in this country.

(b) If the dissolution of the Brotherhood becomes necessary the Council that is in charge during the dissolution period must contact the highest local authority of Lemnos (today is the Prefecture of Lemnos) and request their support and legal advice. And in this case the total immovable and movable property will be transferred, together with the record of the Brotherhood, on the island prefecture of Lemnos.

The above amended constitution was approved during the Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Lemnian Brotherhood of South Africa on 20 September 1989.

• PDF Format