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| In order to effect Unity, Solidarity, Liberty, Freedom and Self-determination, to secure Justice and maintain the Integrity of Ethiopia, which is our Divine Heritage, do hereby establish and ordain this Constitution for the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. |
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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ETHIOPIAN WORLD FEDERATION, INCORPORATED 1937 EWF Constitution Section 2. The aims and objects of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall be: (a). To promote love and good-will among Ethiopians at home and abroad and thereby to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of Ethiopia, to disseminate the ancient Ethiopian culture among its members, to correct abuses, relieve oppression and carve for ourselves and our posterity, a destiny comparable with our idea of perfect manhood and God's purpose in creating us; that we may not only save ourselves from annihilation, but carve for ourselves a place in the Sun: in this endeavor, we determine to seek peace and pursue it., for it is the will of God for man. (b). To promote and pursue happiness;
for it is the goal of human life and endeavor. (c). To usher in the teaching and practice of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. (d). To promote and stimulate interest among its members in world affairs, and to cultivate a spirit of international goodwill and comity. (e). To promote friendly interest among its members, to develop a fraternal spirit among them and to inculcate in its members the desire to render voluntary aid and assistance to one another at all times. (f). To render voluntary aid and protection to its members, without fee or charge for same when in need. And, if necessary, to provide and care for refugees and disabled victims of the Italio-Ethiopian War. (g) To give concrete material and voluntary aid without fee or charge for the same, to all such refugees and disabled victims and to raise funds by voluntary subscription for the purposes aforementioned. There shall be no charge, fee, beneficiary tax or other assessment upon the members of the Ethiopian World Fed¬eration, Incorporated, except for dues, pro¬vided for in the Constitution and By-Laws of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated.
Section 3. Section 4. Section 5. Section 6. Section 7. Section 8. No individual who is a member of any other organization, political party, reli¬gious group or sect, which requires that individual to pledge unswerving allegiance to its tenets, thus depriving him of freedom of thought and action which may be necessary in carrying out the aims and objects of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, sbal1 be elected or appointed to office, or shall al¬low himself to be elected to any office. Any election or appointment to office in violation of this Section, shall be null and void. ARTICLE II Section 1. The membership shall comprise
the BLACK PEOPLES of the world. Section 2. Section 3. Section 4. Section 5. Section 6. ARTICLE III Section 1. There shall be the following International Officers of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated:
(b). First Vice-President (c). Second Vice-President (d). Executive Secretary Section 3. (a).The International President shall
be the executive head of the Ethiopian World Federation, Inc.,
and shall reside in the City of New York. It shall be the duty
of the International President to preside at the International
Conventions and to deliver an address on the state of the Ethiopian
World Federation. Incorporated. He shall sign all legal documents
and be Chairman of the International Executive Council. It
shall be his duty to call Conventions as appointed by law,
and in cases of emergency, by and with the consent of the Executive
Council, call special conventions. (b). The First
International Vice-President shall reside in the City of New York and shall
assume the duties of the International President in his absence
or when requested to do so by him. (c).Second
International Vice-President: The 2nd International Vice- President shall
per¬form the duties of the First Vice- President in his
absences and shall assist the First Vice-¬President in
the performance of such duties as may be assigned to him by
the President In case of death or permanent disability of the
First Vice- President. the International Executive Council
shall name the Executive Head to serve until the next general
election. (d). Executive
Secretary: The Executive Secretary shall have charge of the main office
of the Ethiopian World Federation. Incorpo¬rated, and shall
be held responsible to the Executive Council for the conduct
of the business thereof All acts of the Executive Secretary
shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Council.
The Executive Secretary shall appoint all office employees,
subject to the approval of the Executive Council and shall
when necessary, submit to the Executive Council the name of
any member of the office staff for promotion to the head of
a department The Executive Secretary shall receive all monies
from locals and other sources. All monies so received shall
be turned over, within 24 hours, to the Treasurer, who shall
give a receipt or receipts to the Executive Secretary. The
Executive Secretary shall forward receipts to all locals for
monies received from them. The Executive Secretary shall submit
quarterly reports to the Executive Council. (e). Treasurer: It
shall be the duty of the International Treasurer to receive
all monies from the Executive Secretary. He shall, in conjunctions
with other members of the Banking Committee, deposit all amounts
of money in the bank or banks designated by the Executive Council.
His books shall be open to inspection by the Executive Council
at all times. He shall issue receipts for all monies received
by him for the organization. He shall pay out monies upon order
of the Executive Council only. He shall be bonded by a reliable
surety company. The premium for such a bond shall be paid by
the organization. He shall be a member of the Executive Council. (f). International
Organizer: It shall be the duty of the International Organizer
to organize locals, to supervise locals already established
and to keep them in good working order. He shall also perform
such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Executive
Council. He shall keep the Headquarters in¬formed of his
activities from week to week and he shall submit a monthly
report. (g). Absence: Any
officer absenting himself from three (3) successive meetings
and failing to submit sufficient reason for his absence, this
office may be declared vacant by the Executive Council. Section 4. ARTICLE IV Section 1. Section 2. Section 3.
Elections: The election of all international officers shall take place
during the Convention. The election shall be by ballot. All
locals shall hold their election during the first two weeks
in December. Section 4.
Term of Office: All officers, inter¬national and local, shall be
elected for a term of one year. Section 5.
Installation: The installation of elected international officers shall be
held on a date preceding the closing of the Convention. The
installation of officers of locals shall be at the first regular
meeting in January following the election. Section. 6. Uniforms: The Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall have the right to decide on the kind of uniform, if any, to be worn during parades and Conventions. Section 7. Meetings: It shall be within
the discretion of any local to hold its meetings as often as
desired, provided, however, that there shall be held regular
meetings twice per month. Section 8. Nine members
in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business in the local. ARTICLE V Section 1. (b). The duly elected
officers of Local No. I shall be the International Officers,
except the President, until a Convention is called and International
Officers are duly elected. Section 2. (b). The right to revoke charters is vested in the Executive Council. ARTICLE VI Section 1. (b). The fee for this charter shall be Ten ($10.00) Dollars. Section 2. Section 3. Section 4. (a) President: The President shall preside at all meetings, sign all documents of the local and appoint all committees and units. The President shall have power to call special meetings in the general interest of the organization whenever he deems it necessary. The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees. (b) Vice-President: It shall be the
duty of the Vice-Presidents, in their order to preside at regular
meetings in the absence of the President or whenever requested
to do so by him or her. (c) Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive from the Financial Secretary all monies belonging to the local giving a voucher for same, and shall deposit or cause to be deposited, twenty-four hours after its receipt, such monies in a bank or banks selected by the Executive Committee. He shall payout monies on order of the Executive Committee only. He shall make a monthly report to the local on a blank provided for the purpose, submitting a certified copy to the Headquarters. He shall be bonded. (d) Financial Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to receive all monies from subscriptions, dues, contributions, rallies and special efforts from the members of the local, and from all other sources, give a receipt and keep an accurate record thereof. He shall turn over all such monies to the Treasurer at the close of each meeting and shall demand a voucher therefor. He shall be bonded. The books of the Financial Secretary shall be open to the Executive Committee of the local or to any person authorized by said committee to examine them. The Financial Secretary shall be required to collaborate with the Recording-Corresponding Secretary and shall, on request, give such information as may be required by the Recording Corresponding Secretary of entries or records made in his books. The Financial Secretary shall make a monthly report to the local on a blank provided for the purpose, submitting a signed copy to the Headquarters. (e) Recording-Corresponding Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Recording Corresponding Secretary to keep a correct record of the minutes and proceedings of the regular meetings. He shall keep a correct list of the members of the local. He shall be required to collaborate with the Financial Secretary and shall on request give such information as may be required by the Financial Secretary of entries or records made in his books. He shall keep on file all reports and communications. He shall affix his signature, together with the seal of the local, to all documents. He shall keep the seal of the local under his personal supervision. He shall read all reports and minutes of previous meetings. He shall be a member of the Executive Committee of the local. The Recording-Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all books, literature, flags, buttons, stamps and all salable articles of the local and shall turn over the proceeds from the sale thereof to the Financial Secretary. (f) Chaplain: It shall be the duty
of the Chaplain to open and close every meeting of the local
with prayer and to minister to the spiritual needs of the members.
He shall be responsible. for the moral tone pervading the local.
He shall transmit to the local such instructions and literature
as shall be sent to him from time to time by the International
Chaplain. He shall be a member of the local committee on Complaints
and Grievances and of the Sick Committee. (g) Sergeant-at-Arms: The Sergeant-at-Arms shall attend all meetings of the local
and see that the meeting room is in order. He shall attend
at the door of the meeting room, prevent the admission of any
person who is not entitled to admission, or whose conduct is
unbecoming; and when instructed by the President, shall remove
from the meeting room any person whose conduct is not in keeping
with good order and discipline. He shall perform any and all
such other duties pertaining to his office as might be required
of him by the President. ARTICLE VI Standing Committees: The following committees shall be established: Section 1. Banking. Membership, Education,
Publicity, Sick, Ways & Means, Information, Auditing, Complaints & Grievances,
House Committee and such other committees as shall from time
to time become necessary provided that such committees are
approved by the International Executive Council. (a). Banking Committee: There shall be a Banking Committee composed of the Presi¬dent, Treasurer and three (3) other members elected from the body. It sha11 be the duty of the Banking Committee to keep a check on the deposits and withdrawals by the Treasurer and to assist him in any way he desires. It shall have access to the bank books held by the Treasurer and may from time to time check with him, his bank accounts and financial dealings. (b) Membership: It shall be the duty
of the Membership Committee to devise plans to increase the
membership of the local; to visit delinquent members; to encourage
their attendance at the meetings and encourage them in the
full performance of their duties. (c) Education: It
shall be the duty of the Committee on Education to provide
for the use of the members, books, papers, magazines and all
historical and cultural material and literature touching racial
questions as well as political, economic, social, health, agricultural
and other matters which will aid in the betterment of Black
Peoples and humanity in general. This committee shall from
time to time plan and conduct educational programs. (d) Publicity
Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee on Publicity to keep
before the public the aims and objects of the organization
and the work of the local. It shall endeavor to publicize its
activities. It shall be responsible for the distribution of
the official organ of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated (e) Sick Committee: It shall be the
duty of the Sick Committee to keep a list of the sick members;
to visit them regularly and to encourage the general membership
to do so. It shall evince a genuine interest in the sick members,
doing all in its power to aid and comfort them. It shall raise
funds for their financial assistance; these funds shall be
deposited with the Treasurer of the local and kept by him in
a separate account. The committee shall recom¬mend to the
Executive Committee the nature and amount of the aid that may
be given. (f). Ways
and Means: It shall be the duty of the Ways and Means committee to devise
plans for raising money to conduct the business of the local. (g). Information
Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee on Information to gather
information for the general welfare of the Federation. (h). Auditing
Committee: There shall be an Auditing Committee of three (3) members.
It shall be the duty of the Auditing Committee to make an audit
of the books of the local and submit its report to the local
with a signed copy of the report to the Headquarters quarterly.
The Executive Committee shall be em¬powered to demand an
audit at anytime. No member of the Executive Committee shall
serve on the Auditing Committee. (i). House Committee: The House Committee shall have charge of the building and all other physical property belonging to the local. They shall see to it that these are kept in proper order and repaired and shall prepare the house for meetings. They shall make a monthly in¬ventory of all physical property. (j). Complaints and Grievances Committee: Any member having complaints or grievances affecting the organization or any member thereof, shall submit the same to the Committee on Complaints and Grievances. The Committee shall hear all complaints and grievances submitted to it and shall make a determined effort to settle in committee, all differences. Failing to effect a settlement, the matter shall be presented by Secretary of the committee to the Executive Committee of the local. It. shall review the entire case. The party failing to abide by the decision of the Executive Committee shall have the right of appeal to the Executive Council of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. The decision of the Executive Council shall be final. ARTICLE VIII Whenever an officer of any local shall practice malfeasance in office, or shall conduct himself in a manner unbecoming an officer, he shall be impeached. Any member of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, in good standing may present charges against an officer. Charges shall be in writing; whenever a charge is preferred against an officer, it shall first be presented to the Committee on Complaints and Grievances. This Committee shall hear and examine the evidence immediately upon presentation of the charges. Should the evidence be found insufficient to warrant a trail, the Committee on Complaints and Grievances, shall, by majority vote, dismiss the charges. Should the evidence warrant a trial, the committee shall recommend to the President suspension of the officer. The President shall suspend the officer, pending trial. Should the officer charged be the President, any recommendations for his suspension shall be made to the First Vice-President. The Committee on Complaints and Grievances, if it finds that a trial is warranted, shall submit the charges to the Executive Committee within twenty-four hours. The Executive Committee of the local shall hear these charges and on the evidence submitted on both sides render a fair decision. The defendant shall have the right of appeal to the Executive Council of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated. The decision of the Executive Council shall be final. ARTICLE IX Section 1. A unit
is a group within a local, which is required to perform certain
specialized duties or task. The personnel of all units, appointed
by the president, sha1l be subject to the approval of the Executive
Committee. (a). Medical: The
Medical Unit shall constitute persons who are members of the
medi¬cal, dental, pharmaceutical and nursing profes¬sion.
It shall be their duty to give instructions, lectures and general
information on health and other topics affecting the well-being
of the membership. They shall give to any group desiring training,
instruction in first aid, hygiene and preventive medicine.
The local failing to include any of the above named professional
persons in its membership shall form a medical unit among the
lay members. This unit shall invite such members of the above
named professions as are available to conduct classes and give
instruction in the subjects aforementioned. (b). Musical: Every
local shall have the right to set up a Musical Unit. This unit
shall consist of a band. orchestra and a choir. Each department
shall have its own musical direc¬tor. The musical directors
shall be qualified musicians. (c). Juvenile: Every
local shall have the right to set up a Juvenile Department
and to determine its functions. (d). Women's
Auxiliary: Each local shall have the right to establish a Women's Auxiliary.
It shall be the duty of the Women's Auxiliary to raise funds
to be used for the expense of delegates to the Convention,
to provide for the care, keep and comfort of international
officers visiting the local on business, and for any other
business which the Executive Committee shall decide. ARTICLE X Section 1.
Benefits: All financial members of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated,
shall be entitled to the benefits hereafter mentioned: (a). All applications
for help shall be referred to the Sick Committee, which may
recommend aid according to the circumstances of the case. (b). The Ethiopian
World Federation, Incorporated, shall attempt to make or find
employment for its members who make application for such employment. (c). Death: The Ethiopian
World Federation, Incorporated, shall establish a burial fund;
each member of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated,
in order to obtain the benefits of this burial fund shall have
subscribed to the fund for at least one (1) year and shall
be in good financial standing in the organization. The subscription
to the burial fund shall be $.25 per month. Upon conclusive
proof of death, the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated,
shall subscribe from this fund the sum of One Hundred ($100.00)
Dollars towards the funeral expense of the deceased. Any member
who fails to subscribe to the burial fund for three months
shall be unfinancial in this fund and shall not be entitled
to the benefits of this fund Any member who is unfinancial
in the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated, shall be classified
as unfinancial in the burial fund. The Financial Secretary
of the local shall collect from each member monthly the subscription
to the burial fund. ARTICLE XI The Constitution may be amended by the following procedure: 1. Notice setting forth a copy of the proposed amendment shall be submitted at a regular Convention and shall require a majority vote for endorsement The Convention, shall set a time limit not exceeding one (l) year within which each local shall vote upon the proposed amendment The Executive Secretary shall transmit an official transcript of the endorsed amendment to each local. A majority vote in each local shall determine the vote of the local. The amendment shall be declared ratified when three-fourths of the total number of locals shall have voted affirmatively for the proposed amendment. BY-LAWS Section 1. 1. Call to Order by the Presiding
Officer. Section 2. Monthly Reports. Section 3. Names and Addresses of
Officers. Section 4.Tlime and
Place of Regular Meetings. Section 5. Oath of
Office. (Repeat, with right
band upraised.) Section 6. Each new member shall
make the following pledge: Section 7. Section 8. Section 9. Section 10. Section 11. No officer
or member shall discuss the business of the Ethiopian World
Federation, Incorporated, in public or with any person or persons
who are not active members of the Federation. Section 12. Expense of Delegates. Each local shall bear the expenses of its own delegates and should in case it is found necessary for the Executive Council to send a special delegate or delegates to any local, that local may be required to pay the expenses of the delegate or delegates.
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View a brief history about The Ethiopian World Federation, Inc. 1937, Courtesy of Lion of Judah Society, Local #33 NY. For more information visit ethiopianworldfederation.org |
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