National KRAO (KRU) Association
In the Americas, Inc.
P.O. BOX 130053
SPRINGFIELD GARDEN STATION
JAMAICA, NY 11413
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE
NATIONAL KRAO (KRU) ASSOCIATION IN THEAMERICAS
(AKA BRAPUPOLAEBOH)
Adopted by the National Assembly, this 1st day of September 1991, at Queens, New York, USA
PREAMBLE
We, the Krao people, with concern and vested interest in the social and economic development of Liberia, in general and Krao communities and people in particular, do hereby constitute ourselves into an organization to be known and styled in the English language as, THE KRAO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN THE AMERICAS (NAKRAODA) and, in the Krao ethnic language as BAPUPOLAEBOH (literally) interpreted as “Let Us Be
Together As One”)
ARTICLE I
HEADQUARTERS:
Section 1.
The administrative headquarters of the Association
shall be in New York City, the State of New York in the United States of America
Section 2.The business activities of the Association may be legally conducted throughout the United States, in
other parts of the Americas, in Liberia, and in other designated parts of the world
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES:
Section 1. To encourage and facilitate economic development in the various Krao communities, at home, towards the comprehensive social and economic Development of the Liberian nation as a whole and to pursue commercial opportunities abroad
Section 2.To promote the national interest of Liberia in so
Far as it is designed to uphold the supreme interest
of the nation-state of Liberia, as well as safeguard
the general welfare of the Liberian people
Section 3.To foster cultural awareness for the purpose of
promoting Pan-Africanism, national unity among
Liberians, and solidarity among the Krao people
and their communities everywhere.
Section 4.To seek the general welfare and social
advancement of the members of the Association.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP:
Section l.Full membership shall be open only to Krao people, but voting shall be restricted to members who are 18 years and older. (VOTING STATUS)
Section 2.Associate membership shall be open to all
Africans descent, and the spouses of members who are 18 years and older (NON-VOTING
ARTICLE IV
Section 1.The national organs of the Association shall be:
the National Assembly (NA), the National Executive
Council (NEC) and the National Standing Committees
Section 2.The National Assembly:
Section 2.1Composition: It shall consist of all full and associate
members of the Association.
Section 2.2Powers: The National Assembly shall have the
a)It shall be the highest decision-making body.
b)It shall elect the national officers.
c)It shall have the power to suspend and impeach
National officers for the violation of the Constitution and statutes of the organization.
d)It shall approve the organization annual budget.
e) It shall take disciplinary action against members in
cases of misconduct.
f)It shall have the power to create new institutions that it may deem necessary for the effective operation of
the Association.
Section 3.The National Executive Council:
Section 3.1Composition: It shall consist of all national officers
and the chairpersons of the various state branches.
Section 3.2The powers of the National Executive Council shall be:
a)It shall conduct day to day affairs of the Association
b)It shall implement the decisions of the National
Assembly
c)It shall make decisions on behalf of the National
Assembly in the case of an emergency. However, such decisions must be reported to the National Assembly at its following annual meeting
d)It shall prepare the organization’s budget
e)It shall confirm appointments made by the
National Assembly
f)It shall call emergency meetings of the National
Assembly
g)It shall perform all other duties that are assigned to it by the National Assembly
Section 4.National Standing Committees
Section 4.1The Membership Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the recruitment and
retention of members
b)It shall conduct the processing and review of all
applications for membership
c)It shall organize programs and activities for the
Purpose of not only acquainting new members about
the goals and policies of the Association, but also to foster and maintain friendship and cooperation among old members as well
Section 4.2The Economic Development Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the identification of
Viable projects of social and economic significance to Krao people at home and abroad
b) It shall be responsible for the formulation of strategies that would enhance the implementation of development projects and activities at home and abroad
Section 4.3Finance and Social Committee
a)It shall devise ways and means, including fundraising programs that would generate revenues for the Association
b)It shall be responsible for all socials and other
other entertainment related activities
Section 4.4General Welfare Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the administration of
all membership benefit programs and services
b)It shall bring to the attention of the organization
from time to time, information regarding the
welfare of the members – illness, death, job and
immigration and other related problems
Section 4.5Public Affairs Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the promotion of the
Association’s goals and objectives
b)It shall handle all publicity activities – newsletters,
occasional papers, etc., - - other than the citations
for meetings
Section 4.6 Home and External Affairs Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the gathering and the
analysis of information regarding Liberia, and shall
report same to the Association
b)It shall develop strategies and make policy
recommendations to the National Executive Council,
on ways in which the Association may make an impact
on issues of national concern at home and abroad
c)It shall serve as the liaison between the Association and other Krao, Liberian and foreign organization at
home and abroad.
Section 4.7 Education and Culture Committee
a)It shall be responsible for the promotion of Krao
cultural heritage and create an awareness within the
Association for the other cultures of Liberia, in
particular and African people, in general
b)It shall be responsible to conduct research on various
Aspects of Krao cultural history and social life
c)It shall administer all other educational and
cultural-related projects and activities.
Section 4.8 The Judicial Affairs Committee
a)It shall be composed of a chairperson and four other
Members to be elected by the National Assembly for a
three year term. They can only be removed from office
by a two-third majority vote of the National Executive
Council for misconduct and/or negligence of duty
b)It shall be the legal arm of the Association
c)It shall ensure compliance with the Constitution and
By-Laws of the Association
d)It shall be the chief and sole interpreter of the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws
e)It shall represent the Association in all contract
negotiations to which it is a legal party
f)It shall maintain and enforce a public code of conduct that would guide the actions of the Association’s officers and members
g)It shall adjudicate all disputes between and amongst
members and between and amongst the various institutions of the Association
Section 4.9 Sports and Athletics Committee
a)It shall formulate fitness and other exercise-oriented
programs that would encourage good health or the
members
b)It shall organize all sporting activities or the
Association
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS AND DUTIES:
Section 1. The principal national officers of the Association shall be:
National Chairperson, First National Vice Chairperson,
Second National Vice Chairperson, Secretary,
National Treasurer and National Chaplain
Section 2. The National Chairperson
a)He/she shall be the chief administrative officer of the
Association, and shall be the principal executive responsible for the implementation of the Association’s programs and policies.
b)He/she shall be the principal spokesperson of the
Association
c)He/she shall appoint the chairperson and members of and members of all standing committees, with the advice of the National Executive Council, and approval of the National Assembly
d)He/she shall preside over all the meetings of the
National Assembly and the National Executive Council
e)He/she shall call emergency meetings of the National Assembly and the National Executive Council
f)He/she shall submit an annual report to the National
Assembly, and bi-annual reports to the state branches
Section 3. The First National Vice Chairperson
a)He/she shall be the principal deputy to the National
Chairperson
b)He/she shall assume the office of the National Chairperson in the case of absence, resignation, impeachment, illness and death
c)He/she shall coordinates the activities of the
Membership, Finance and social, General Welfare, Judicial Affairs, Public Affairs and Sports and Athletics committees
d)He/she shall assist the National Chairperson with other internal functions of the Association, and shall make monthly reports to the National Chairperson
Section 4. Second National Vice Chairperson
a)He/she shall be the third principal administrative officer
of the Association
b)He/she shall assume the office of the National
Chairperson if both the National Chairman and First National Vice Chairman become incapacitated –
Absence, resignation, impeachment, illness and death
c)He/she shall coordinate the activities of the Education
and Culture, Economic Development and Home and External Affairs committee
d)He/she shall assist the National Chairperson with all
other economic development, and home affairs and external activities of the Association, and shall make bi-monthly reports to the National Chairperson
Section 5. National General Secretary
a)He/she shall be the chief custodian of all the records of
the Association
b)He/she shall record that minutes of all meetings of the
National Assembly and the National Executive Council
c)He/she shall be responsible for correspondence and
other clerical functions
d)He/she shall be responsible for the preparation and the
sending of citations for all meetings of the National Assembly and the National Executive Council
e)He/she shall perform all other duties that my be assigned
by the National Assembly and the National Executive
Council
f)He/she shall be assisted by recording and corresponding aides in the performance of duties
Section 6. National Treasurer
a)He/she shall be responsible for maintaining proper
account of the Association’s finances
b)He/she shall be responsible for the collection of dues
c)He/she shall prepare all vouchers and checks in
Consonance with the approved budget and other allocations which may be made by the National Assembly and/or National Executive Council
d)He/she shall serve as member ex-officio of the Finance
and Social Committee
e)He/she shall make a quarterly report to the National
Executive Council and an annual report to the National
Assembly
ARTICLE VI
STATE ORGANIZATIONS:
Section 1.State organizations (Branches) shall be established in the
various states of the United States and in other parts of
Section 2.Each state branch shall devise its own organizational
structure and elect its own officers. The proviso is that such
actions must be conformity with the National Association’s
Section 3.state branches may formulate and implement their own
programs, provided they do not contravenes, in part or whole,
the National Association’s plan of action
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS:
Section 1.The National Assembly:
a)The National Assembly will meet once a year during the
Labor Day weekend, in the month of August and at the
beginning of the month of September, at a place be
designated by it
b)Emergency meetings may be called by the National
Chairman with the advice and consent of a two-third majority of the members of the National Executive Council, and /or by a two-thirds of the state branches
Section 2.The National Executive Council:
a)The regular meetings shall be held quarterly in a place and
time to be designated by it
b)Emergency meetings may be called by the National
Chairman or a simple majority of the members of the
National Executive Council
Section 3.Quorum:
a)The National Assembly: representation from two-thirds
of the state branches and/or their general membership shall constitute a quorum. All decisions, excluding the impeachment of national officers and the expulsion of members, shall be made by a simple majority vote.
b)The National Executive Council: a simple majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. All decisions shall be
made by simple majority vote
ARTICLE VIII
TERMS OF OPERATION:
Section 1. The Association, through its designated officials, is
empowered to solicit funds from public entities or the general public, and private groups and individuals with the primary
purpose of funding a part and/or the whole of its programs and
projects both at home and abroad
Section 2. The Association is organized to serve a public purpose.
Accordingly, it shall remain so subject to the direct supervision of its National Assembly and National Executive Council
Section 3.All national, state and auxiliary functionaries of the Association shall be deemed to have no time receive compensation from the Association for their services
Section 4.The raison d’etre for the formation of the Association is not for pecuniary gains or profit making. Hence, no part of the Association’s assets, income or other earnings shall be designated to or insure to the benefit of any private individual or group of individuals. However, reasonable honoraria may be paid for special services that rendered the Association.
Section 5.All real and personal properties that are purchased, erected or rehabilitated by the Association shall be deemed for the use of the Association or any other entity that may be so authorized to use such facilities.
Section 6.For the duration of this Constitution’s application to all transactions involving the Association, no real property of the Association my be sold, transferred, encumbered or assigned to any one individual or a group of individuals except under other provisions of the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 7.In the event of dissolution, any assets incurred after settlement of all of the Association’s obligations, shall be distributed and disposed of, and title to the property (ies) may be convened in fees only, and in other forms as may be prescribed by the Association, in consonance with the Not-for-Profit Corporation Laws of the State of New York, USA, and/or the Liberian Code of Law.
ARTICLE IX
ELECTIONS AND TERM OF OFFICE:
Section 1. National Elections: The election of national officers shall be held in keeping with the terms of the Constitution and By-Laws. Only
members who have fully fulfilled their responsibilities shall be
eligible to vote and run for office. The voting shall be by secret
ballots; and the winners shall be determined by plurality.
Section 2: State Elections: The election of all state officials shall be
conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of
respective state branches which must be in conformity with the
National Association’s Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 3: National Election Commission: The National Chairperson shall
appoint an Election Commission, with the advice and consent of
the National Executive Council, at least four months prior to the
holding of the election for the national officers. The Commission is empowered to formulate guidelines for the free and fair conduct
of national elections, in consonance with the National
Association’s Constitution and By-Laws
Section 4: Tenure of Office:
a) National Office: All national officers shall serve for a period of
two years. No officer may serve for more than two consecutive
terms.
b) State Offices: All officials of state branches shall serve for a
period of two years. They may be re-elected for succeeding
terms.
Section 5:Vacancies:
a)National Offices: Vacancies or the offices of National Chairperson and First National Vice Chairperson shall be filled in accordance with the succession provision of the Constitution and By-Laws. All other vacancies may be filled by the National Executive Council, pending the annual regular meeting of the National Assembly. The National Assembly may concur with such appointment or may proceed to elect someone else to fill the vacancy.
b)State Offices: All vacancies shall be filled in accordance with
rules and regulations of each state branch. However, such decisions or actions must be reported to the National Executive Council and the National Assembly.
ARTICLE X
FINANCES:
Section 1.Source of Revenue: The Association may receive money from
gifts, donations, dues and from all other legitimate sources.
Section 2.Membership Dues: Each member of the Association shall be
required to pay a monthly due of $10.00; with 70% allotted to the
national Association and 30% given in support of local state
branch activities.
Section 3.Special Taxation: The Association may raise money for
development and other activities through taxation and/or voluntary
contributions from its membership.
Section 4.The Collection and Disbursement of Funds: All monies of the
Association shall be collected by the Treasurer and deposited in the
Association’s account in a bank to be designated by National
Assembly. All disbursements of funds shall be done in accordance
with the Association’s approved annual budget or by the
authorization of the National Assembly and the National Executive
Council. For each financial transaction, the Treasurer shall prepare
a voucher and check and sign same along with the National Chairman other designated national officers.
ARTICLE XI
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Section 1.National and State Officers: All officials of the Association are
required to uphold the National and State Constitutions and
By-Laws and to conduct themselves in a respectable manner at
all times.
Section 2. Members: All members of the Association are required to fulfill
their obligations both under the provisions of the National
Constitution and their respective states’ rules and regulations. This
entails, inter alia, the refraining from all activities that may be
injurious to the goals and objectives of the Association and its
public image.
Section 3.Disciplinary Action:
a) National and State Officers: Any official who violates the
responsibilities of his or her office and/or other provisions of the
National and State Constitutions may be warned, suspended or
impeached by the National Assembly, in the case of National
officials, and the local state Assembly, in the case of state
officials.
b) Members: Any member of the Association who fails to meet
part of and/or the entirety of his or her obligations and
responsibilities to the state branch and/or national
Association, may be warned and/or suspended from the
organization. State branches are empowered to effect
warnings and suspensions, but such actions must be reported
to the National Executive Committee.
c)Procedures: Any officer or member who is accused of the dereliction of duties and responsibilities must be informed of the charge or charges, and be given the right to defend himself or herself. No disciplinary action must be taken without a thorough investigation, in keeping with due process.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT:
Section 1.An amendment to the National Association’s Constitution and
By-Laws may be recommended by the National Assembly, the
National Executive Council, a state branch or an individual member.
In all such cases, the proposed amendment must be filed with the
national secretary at least three months prior to the annual meeting
of the National Assembly. The national general secretary must
immediately report said action to the National Executive Council no
more than one week after the receipt of the proposed Amendment. In addition, he/she must circulate the proposed amendment to all
members of the association, at least two months prior to the regular
meeting of the assembly.
Section 2.All amendments must be approve by two-thirds of the state
Branches’ delegation in attendance at the National Assembly
meeting.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS:
Section1.Motto: The motto of the National Association shall be determined
by the National Executive Committee, with the consent and approval of the National Assembly.
Section 2.Colors: The colors of the National Association shall be determined
by the National Executive Committee with the consent and approval
of the National Assembly.
Section 3.Logo: The logo of the National Association shall be determined by
The National Executive Committee with the consent and approval
of the National Assembly.
Section 4.Transitional Provisions: This Constitution and By-Laws shall come
Into effect after it has been ratified by the membership, with national
and state elections conducted and the national officials inducted.
This Document was prepared by George Klay Kieh
(State of Illinois) with Toe Blamo Gbi (State of New Jersey), and
Submitted to the Planning Group for the formation of a National
Krao Association in the Americas, this 27th day of February 1991.
It was adopted by the National Assembly, at the Organizing Summit
Meeting, as the official Constitution and By-Laws of the National
Krao Association in the Americas, this 1st day of September 1991.
@1991 TBG/GKK
August 31 2003
AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE III
Section 2 Associate membership shall be open to all Africans, others of
African descent of Africa and spouses of members who are 18
years and older (VOTING STATUS)
ARTICLE IV
Section 3 The National Executive Council
Section 3.1 Composition; it shall consist of all National officers,
Chairpersons of the various state branches and former National
Chairpersons.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS AND DUTIES;
Section 1 The principal National officers of the Association shall be; National
Chairperson, First National Vice Chairperson, Secretary,
Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Chaplain.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings;
Section 2 The NATIONAL Executive Council
Section 2(a) The regular meeting shall be held once a year at a place and time
to be designated by it.
Section 2(a) The National Executive Council shall conduct regular meetings or discussions via teleconference as often as necessary; and, in place of a quarterly meeting, the body shall meet on Friday, the first day of each national convention, which is a day before the General Assembly’s deliberations. However, the results of the Executive Council’s Friday meeting shall not amend the already prepared annual souvenir program for the national convention. Approved by a majority vote, and adopted by the General Assembly effective the 30th day of August 2008, this amendment supersedes previous amendments.
ARTICLE IX
Section 1 NATIONAL ELECTION;
Section 1(a) National Chairperson, FIRST National Vice Chairperson, and
Treasurer shall be elected by the national assembly. Secretary,
Financial Secretary and Chaplain, shall be appointed by the
national chairperson.
AMENDED August 31, 2003 at the 12th Annual National Convention held in
Minneapolis, Minnesota
