OTA By-laws / Constitution (2010)

Ottawa Telugu Association (OTA) is a Not-for-Profit organisation incorporated as a Corporation Without Share Capital in Ontario province, Canada. OTA comes under the purview of Ontario Corporations Act and eventually would move under Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act once it comes into force.

A copy of OTA’s Governing Constitution can be opened by clicking here.
A text version of the same is available on this page.
Any updates to the constitution / by-laws would be updated on this page along with a link to the document.

THE CONSTITUTION

Article 1: NAME
The name of the association shall be “Ottawa Telugu Association”, herein after called OTA.

Article 2: MAILING ADDRESS
Every year, one of the Board Members residence address will be used as the association’s mailing address. The Board of Directors will decide the address that is to be used as the official Association’s mailing address of that year.

Article 3: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of the OTA shall be:

3.1 Preserve, promote, perpetuate and enrich the cultural heritage of people of Telugu origin or people interested in Telugu culture in Ottawa and neighbouring regions.
3.2 To create and promote interaction and cooperation among OTA members.
3.3 Organize, promote and sponsor educational and social activities.
3.4 Provide information, guidance and assistance to new immigrants of Telugu origin.

Article 4: POWERS OF ASSOCIATION
The Association, through the Board of Directors and Executive Committee Members, shall have powers

4.1 To raise funds through membership fees, special fund raising events, per-event charges, sponsorships and advertisements.
4.2 To spend the funds collected in organizing activities for the benefit and interest of the OTA members, and for the purpose of advancement of the OTA.

In exercising the powers described in Article 4, the Association shall ensure that no funds are collected for the profit and/or financial gains of its Board of Directors, Executive Members and general members.

Article 5: MEMBERSHIP
A person aged 18 or older subscribing to the objectives of OTA, willing to abide by the constitution is entitled to become a member of the association upon payment of prescribed fees. Voting members must be 18 years of age or older. All membership fees will be determined by the executive committee.

5.1 FAMILY MEMBER
Family Membership consists of member, spouse, dependent children and dependant parents living at the same address as the member. Family membership consists of at the most two votes.

5.2 SINGLE MEMBER
Single member has one vote.

5.3 STUDENT MEMBER
Student member shall be a full time student with a valid student ID card. Married student will have the same privileges as family membership.

5.4 MEMBERSHIP TERM
A membership term is valid for one year: starting from April 1st of any given year and ends on March 31st of next calendar year.

Article 6: MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS

6.1 A member in good standing is entitled to take part in the activities of the Association including elections.
6.2 Any member is entitled to contest the elections to the Executive Committee / Board of Directors.
6.3 A member shall be entitled to receive the Minutes of the general body meeting and yearly financial statements.

Article 7: ORGANIZATION
OTA shall be made up of a General Body, Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

7.1 GENERAL BODY
All members: Family, Single and Student constitute the general body.

7.2 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EC)
The executive committee shall provide the leadership and execute the policies, and objectives of OTA on a day to day basis. EC will be elected by the general body annually. Executive Committee shall consist of Seven Officials as follows:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President Finance
  3. Vice-President Communications
  4. Vice-President Cultural Activities
  5. Vice-President Operations
  6. Youth Representative 1
  7. Youth Representative 2

7.2.1 High level responsibilities of the executive committee consists of the following

  1. Overall coordination of the events (President)
  2. Represent the association at the external events (President)
  3. Communications with the members (President)
  4. Conduct AGM and EC meetings (President)
  5. Provide leadership to the executive committee (President).
  6. Collect the membership dues and manage the funds (VP-Finance)
  7. Sponsorship and advertisement – Fund raising (VP-Communications)
  8. Maintain the website (VP-Communications)
  9. Annual report to Industry Canada (VP-Communications)
  10. Booking of the function hall or making necessary arrangements for the hall (VP-Operations)
  11. Make arrangements for the sound system & setup (VP-Operations)
  12. Coordinate menu and assign menu items to members (VP-Operations)
  13. Receive food-items brought by members (VP-Operations)
  14. Facilitate and coordinate cultural programs (VP-Cultural Activities)
  15. Generate program list and coordinate programs on the function day (VP-Cultural Activities)
  16. Plan and coordinate the stage setup including material purchase (VP-Cultural Activities)

7.3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board of Directors will be elected by the general body annually. The board should contain at least three directors. Board of Directors will have a maximum term of two years and can be re-elected or reappointed by general body.

7.3.1 High level responsibilities of the Board of Directors consists of the following

  1. Accountable to manage the Government regulatory affairs
  2. Responsible to draft, ratify and maintain the OTA Constitution and ensure that the Constitution is followed at all times.
  3. Ensure to provide coaching and direction to the newly elected OTA Executives.
  4. Ensure to resolve issues and maintain smooth operations of the Association activities.

Article 8: ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING
The Association shall hold an Annual General Body Meeting each year to review its activities, to establish policies and programs for the next year, and to elect a new Executive committee and the board of directors.

Article 9: DISSOLUTION
The Association may be dissolved with the will of the membership or due to lack of interest. On dissolution of the Association, its property and assets after liquidation of all liabilities shall be distributed as the membership in the General Body meeting shall decide (or the Executive and the board of directors, as the case may be).

————– End of Constitution Document ————–!