ISGP Constitution
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful PREAMBLE We, the Muslims of Greater Portland area, have agreed to and adopted the following constitution and do hereby establish an organization to be managed and run under the guidance of Quran and Sunnah. A “Muslim” in the context of this organization is any person who holds true the five basic pillars of Islam and participates in all religious activities of the organization, including the congregational prayers.
ARTICLE I: NAME:
The name of the organization shall be The Islamic Society of Greater Portland, hereinafter referred to as I.S.G.P. or the Society.
ARTICLE II: AIMS & OBJECTIVES:
The Society shall be a non-profit organization with the following aims and objectives.
1. To promote closer understanding among all Muslims in the Greater Portland area and to strengthen bonds of friendship and brotherhood among them.
2. To carry out activities and projects related to religious, social, charitable, and educational aspects of the life of the community.
3. To foster cordial relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims and to promote the understanding of Islam among non-Muslims.
4. To increase outreach programs with government agencies, officials, and interfaith organizations.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP:
The membership of the Society shall consist of the following categories:
• Member: Any adult Muslim who wants to participate in the affairs of the Society and has paid the annual membership dues. A member shall have the right to vote.
• Associate Member: Any individual interested in and sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the Society. An associate member shall have no voting rights.
• Honorary Member: Any person who has rendered distinguished service to the Muslim community of Greater Portland area. An honorary member shall have no voting rights.
• Membership Dues: Membership dues of the Society shall be decided upon by the Executive Committee and written in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION:
The Society shall have the following office bearers on its Executive Committee who will be elected by a simple majority of the general membership (General Assembly) for a period of two years. 33 of the eligible voters will constitute a quorum for the purpose of this election. Any voting member of the General Assembly who has been a part of the community for at least one year will be eligible for these positions.
President:
The President shall:
a) Preside over the meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly and present the annual report of the Society to the General Assembly.
b) Direct and coordinate all activities of the Society.
c) Appoint special and ad-hoc committees for various purposes.
d) Act as the spokesperson for the Society in all external affairs.
Vice-President:
The Vice-president shall:
a) Carry out the management of the Society in the absence.of the President.
b) Assist the President in the activities of the Society.
General Secretary:
The General Secretary shall:
a) Prepare agendas for Executive Committee and General Assembly meetings, keep minutes of these meetings, and present these minutes for approval at subsequent meetings.
b) Notify the Executive Committee and the General Assembly of the upcoming meetings.
c) Maintain and update various mailing lists for the Society, dealing with membership, education, etc.
Education Secretary:
The Education Secretary shall:
a) Direct and supervise all educational activities of the Society, including Islamic education of children.
b) Plan and coordinate lectures on Islamic topics, inter-faith dialogues with members of other religions, and disseminate information to the general public about such activities.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall:
a) Receive all dues, donations, and contributions on behalf of the Society and keep accurate, up to date records of all financial transactions.
b) Present financial reports at the meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly.
c) Prepare annual budgets for the Society and be responsible for all banking and. tax-related, activities for the Society.
In addition to the office bearers listed above, the outgoing President shall act as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS:
Elections for the Executive Committee posts shall be held every two years. The President shall appoint an election committee which will be responsible for seeking nominations, conducting the elections, and disseminating information about the outcome of these elections to the General Assembly. Procedural details of the elections are covered in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI: AFFILIATION:
The Society shall be affiliated with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and local Islamic organizations sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the Society. These organizations are listed in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII: SUSPENSION AND DISSOLUTION:
a) Any or all members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office by a vote of no confidence by a simple majority of the eligible voters. Any member of the General Assembly can initiate this process of removal as stated in the Bylaws.
b) In the case of dissolution of the Society, all assets and liabilities shall be transferred to a consenting Islamic organization in the state of Oregon or ISNA and the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT).
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS:
Amendments to the Constitution may be made by a two third majority of the eligible voters.