CONSTITUTION

Where as over the years the number of Havyakas in America has been growing; and whereas the interest in maintaining the Havyaka tradition is significant among the Havyakas; and whereas it is deemed desirable to form as association with a view to serving their common interest; such an association is formed by such persons.

ARTICLE 1

Section 1 - Name

The association shall be Havyaka Association of Americas, hereafter to be referred as Association.

Section 2 - Non-profit

The Association shall be non-profit organization and shall always remain so during its lifetime.

Section 3- Religious

The association shall initiate, sponsor and support religious activities of common interest to the membership.

Section 4 -Tradition

The Association shall strive to rekindle courage and confidence in the members as believers in the Havyaka tradition

Section 5- Harmony

The Association shall promote friendship, fellowship, and mutual understanding among the members and between the members and the community.

Section 6 - Ties to India

The Association shall set up cultural ties with Havyaka Association in India.

Section 7- Vegetarianism

The Association shall promote vegetarianism, and Havyaka style cooking.

Section 8 - Culture

The Association shall actively encourage the members to preserve and promote the valuable Havyaka traditions such as (a) speaking Kannada language at home and teaching Kannada language to children, (b) daily worship and study of our scriptures, (c) abstention from alcoholic beverages, (d) activities that promote self-development.

Section 9 - Charity

The Association shall try to raise funds on a voluntary basis by direct mail contacts. When the Association has adequate funds at its disposal, the Association shall establish loan facilities for needy students here and abroad. Informed of such activities by mail to their address of record.

ARTICLE II - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - Composition

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Governing Body and at least two members to be nominated by the Governing Body and elected by the general membership. Each geographic region shall have directors for the following categories: (a) publicity and communication, (b) cultural activity, (c) sports and arts activity.

Section 2 - Qualifications

Only one person of the family can be a member of the Governing Body at any time. A person must have been an Association member for at least six months before his election or appointment to the Executive Committee.

Section 3 - Succession

The president shall be the head of the Executive Committee and the Association. The General Secretary shall assume responsibility in the absence or resignation of the president. If both offices of the President and General Secretary are vacant, the Executive Committee shall elect a President from among themselves at a special meeting to be called by any member of the committee.

Section 4 -Responsibilities

Each office holder or his representative by proxy shall attend Executive Committee and the membership meetings.

ARTICLE III-DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - President

The President shall coordinate the activities of the various officers, head all meetings, enforce all decisions of the Executive Committee, policies, rules and regulations of the Association, and make provisions for discharging the duties of absent officers.

Section 2 - Vice Presidents

The Vice-Presidents shall act as deputies to the President, and will be responsible for organizing and managing all the activities of their regions, and report and coordinate such activities to the Executive Committee. Each Vice-President is responsible to appoint the regional directors.

Section 3 - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be in charge of collecting all the revenues of the Association, keep an account of incomes and expenditures, present a report of the accounts at each Executive Committee meeting, keep orderly records of all the transactions for auditing and other matters, help the auditors as necessary, collect all the membership dues, present accounting of membership to the Executive Committee, keep proper membership records and prepare directory of membership.

Section 5 - Functions of Directors

(a) Publicity and Communication: magazine and newsletter editing and publishing (b) Cultural and Spiritual Activity: To plan and arrange all the social and spiritual and cultural activities of the Association and report plans to the Executive Committee, and explore new ways to encourage members to preserve Havyaka traditions. (c) Sports and Arts Activity: To plan and arrange sports for the members and develop artistic interests of the members.

ARTICLE IV - ELECTIONS

Section 1 - Elections

There shall be two elections, one for electing office holders of the Governing Body, the other for electing additional members of the Executive Committee as defined in Article V, section 2. The Governing Body elections shall be held every two years in the month of June; the subsequent election of additional Executive Committee members shall be completed by September. Each office holder may be re-elected for the same office for three consecutive terms.

Section 2 - Nominations-Election Committees

The existing Executive Committee shall appoint the nomination - election committee consisting of two members of existing Executive Committee and two members of general membership. This committee shall be appointed in the first week of April. No one on this committee shall be a candidate in the election. The committee shall elect its own chairman.

Section 3 - Functions of Nomination-Election Committee

The committee shall be responsible for inviting and soliciting nominations from the general membership at large and conduction of elections according to guidelines:

I. Till the membership increases to one hundred in number, the nomination committee shall seek nominations by personal contacts and the voting will be done in a general body meeting by casting and counting secret ballots. II. When the membership increases over one hundred in number: (a) The nomination committee will invite the nominations for the Governing Body office holders from the general membership by mail in the month of April. The nomination may also be sought by personal contact. (b) The nomination committee shall place on ballot names of all the candidates who meet the qualifications as per Article II Section 2. Provision should also be made for possible write-in candidates. (c) The nomination committee shall send out ballots by mail at least three weeks before the election. (d) The voting shall be carried out by mail and in a general meeting. The nomination committee shall institute proper procedure to avoid accounting for a member's vote more than once. (e) The nominating committee shall announce the results of the election before June 30.

ARTICLE V - GOVERNING BODY

Section 1

The newly elected Governing Body shall meet the existing Executive Committee to participate in planning and procedures in order to promote continuity.

Section 2

The Governing Body shall place in nomination at least three additional members to function in their Executive Committee. The ballots for this election will include provision for the write-in candidate and should be mailed by August 15. The formation of the new Execituve Committee shall be completed by Septmeber.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1 - Membership The membership meetings may be called by the Executive Committee by giving three weeks notice and purpose. Membership meetings must be called within a month of written request of 20% of membership.

The membership shall be restricted to all Havyakas and those who have belief in Havyaka tradition, and who shall abide by the rules and regulation laid down in this constitution, the Association bylaws and the Association procedures and practices.

Section 2

Membership categories shall be defined by the Association bylaws and membership shall be non-transferable.

Section 3

The Association membership is voluntary and no member shall have right to sue the Association or the Association officers in a court of law.

Section 4

No member shall speak politically or take political stand on behalf of the Association.

ARTICLE - GOVERNEMENT

Section 1

There shall be a governing body for the management of the office of the Assocation, which shall include at least an elected President, General Secretary, Treasurer and three Vice presidents. The three vice presidents shall be one for each regions of the United States: East, Midwest and the West.

Section 2

The composition of the governing body, the elections of the office holders, their duties and designations not specified in Section 1 and related subjects shall be defined by the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII - AMMENDMENTS

Section 1

The membership must be given a notice three weeks for the meeting along with the proposed amendments.

Section 2

This constitution can be amended by participating members of the Association at a meeting or by postal ballet.

Section 3

A simple majority of those voting shall be required to pass the amendments, which shall become effective immediately.

ARTICLE VIII - BYLAWS