Constitution & By-Laws of the Lebanese Syrian Ladies Aid Society (LSLAS)

Preamble

The Lebanese Syrian Ladies Aid Society, founded in 1917, is a charitable organization serving the Syro-Lebanese community in Greater Boston and abroad.  We strive to preserve and protect our culture and traditions while sharing our rich heritage and foremothers’ legacy with the surrounding community.  We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.

Article I-NAME

1. The name shall be: The Syrian Ladies Aid Society (Organized November 2, 1917, and Incorporated on September 14, 1920).  On May 22, 1962, the name of the Society was officially changed to “Lebanese Syrian Ladies’ Aid Society.”

Article II-PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the Society shall be to render charitable aid and assistance to needy persons of Arabic origin or descent in Boston and its suburbs, and elsewhere when possible; and also to the homeland in case of urgent need or when called upon directly; and to educate its members and prepare them for the beneficial work necessary to the Syrian and Lebanese colony.

Article III-MEMBERSHIP

1. This Society accepts into its membership all ladies of good report, who make application in writing or are proposed by a member and are accepted by a vote of the members present at a regular meeting.

2. The dues shall be $20/year. Payable January 1^st each year.

3. All donations to the Society in any amount shall be gratefully accepted from members and non-members.

4. No person shall have the right to demand a refund of any dues or donations given to the Society.

Article IV-DUTIES OF MEMBERS

1.  Members are required to attend all meetings at the stated time and place.

2. Members are required to pay their dues, which are $20/annually promptly to the Treasurer, and will receive a receipt.

3. Any member whom is absent from a meeting shall have no right to object to anything legally transacted in her absence.

Article V-OFFICERS

1.  This Society shall have a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2. Election of Officers: At the June meeting, especially called for this purpose-all officers shall be elected by a majority vote for a term of one year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

3. Nominating Committee: A Nominating Committee consisting of the three members shall be appointed by the President automatically and their duty shall be to nominate one person for each office, after asking each one and receiving their consent that they will serve and devote the necessary time to the conduct of that office.  They shall submit the names they have selected at the May meeting, for which notices should have been sent to all members stating that the election of officers shall be held at the June meeting.

After the Nominating Committee submits its list of nominees, other nominations may be made from the floor by any member before a vote is taken.  If more than one name is nominated for any office, then the vote must be by secret ballot, and the one receiving a majority vote shall be declared elected.

If no other nominations are made, a motion to elect the officers as submitted by the Committee should then be voted upon.

4.  No person shall be nominated to hold office unless she has been an active member in good standing for at least 1 year.

Article VI-DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. PRESIDENT:  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society and to conduct such meetings in an orderly manner and according to the By-Laws.  She can vote only in case of a tie vote; has the right to call the members to a special meeting when necessary; shall appoint or fill vacancies on any committee, and she should see that all the committees are doing their work well, and to help them when necessary.  She is also required to file the necessary tax documents with the help of the Treasurer.

2. VICE-PRESIDENT: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside at the meetings in the absence of the President, and to perform all other duties as pertaining to this office.

3. SECRETARY: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep records of membership, to send out notices of all meetings, to read all correspondence at the meetings, and to answer correspondence under the direction of the Society or the President.

4. TREASURER: It is the duty of the Treasurer to collect all dues, to have custody of the funds, and to make an accounting for these at the annual meeting or upon demand; shall keep records of all receipts and make all payments by check upon the vote of the Society or direction of the President, and perform all duties as they pertain to this office.  Upon her retirement from office, she shall turn over to her successor or the President, all funds books of accounts, and any other Society property in her possession.  The Treasurer is also required to file the necessary documents with the help of the President.

Article VII-MEETING

1. Regular meetings shall be held the Second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held September to December and March to June, with no meetings taking place in January and February.

2. A meeting is considered legal when ten or more members are present.

3. A majority vote of members present is necessary to approve any motion or act, unless otherwise specified.

4. Any motion requiring the expenditure of $500 or more, shall not be passed unless voted upon and approved by 2/3 vote of the members present.

5. Special meetings may be called at any time the President or a majority of the Officers.

Article VIII-COMMITTEES

1.  This Aid Committee shall consist of 2 members appointed by the President.

2. The duties of this Committee shall be to look into and investigate every case brought to its attention as needing aid or help of any kind, and report to the Society its findings and recommendations to be voted upon.

3. Other committees may be appointed by the President when necessary to perform or investigate any special work or function.

Article IX-EVENT OF DISSOLUTION

1.  No change shall be made in these By-Laws unless voted upon and approved by 2/3 of the members present at two consecutive meetings especially called for the purpose of Dissolution.

*The Lebanese Syrian Ladies Aid Society is a charitable organization established in 1917.  It is the wish of the Trustees and members of this Society that if such a time would come that the members, through attrition, or unanimous accord, could not continue the work for which this Society was formed, that the funds in the checking account of this Society, as well as Certificates of Deposit, should be turned over to its Sister organization-American Arabic Benevolent Association (AABA).

If it is acceptable to AABA, an endowment could be created with AABA as the recipient of any funds available, if the Society is dissolved. 

AABA will not have the actual use of the funds of the Society until or unless the Society is dissolved, at which time the Trustees of the Ladies Aid Society will relinquish all monies accumulated in its checking account and certificates of deposit to AABA.

No individuals of either organization will profit from this transaction.