We, Filipino-Americans, residents of Austin and nearby areas in the State of Texas, do unite to establish a non-profitable and permanent organization.

ARTICLE I – NAME

This organization is named PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN SOCIETY of AUSTIN, abbreviated as PASA, and shall hereinafter be referred to as THE SOCIETY.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES

1. To foster harmonious relationship among Filipino-Americans.
2. To engage in social, cultural, and civic activities for the advancement and unity of its
members and their families.
3. To give support to members and their families with exceptional scholastic and athletic abilities enabling them to participate in local and national competitions
4. To create various kinds of fun activities for the enjoyment of the membership
5. To provide charitable assistance and/or monetary aid to the needy

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION A – ELIGIBILITY
1. Any Filipino-American family or individual in good standing shall be eligible to join THE SOCIETY
regardless of social, economic, educational status, religious preference, and ethnic background
2. Non-Filipino-Americans interested in the affairs of THE SOCIETY, may join this organization.

SECTION B – TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Membership expires and is renewable on March 15th of each year. A member is CURRENT if he/she has paid the annual membership dues by MARCH 15th or within a 60-day grace period. A reminder will be mailed to delinquent members. Previous year payments made after March 15th will be applied pro rata upon renewal.

Following are the types of membership and their respective dues:

1. FAMILY (Husband and Wife with dependent children) - $20.00/year
2. FAMILY (Husband and Wife only) or SINGLE PARENT with Children - $15.00/year
3. INDIVIDUAL (single, 18 years old and above) - $10.00/year
4. SENIOR CITIZEN COUPLE (one is at least 62 years old) - $10.00/year
5. HONORARY (Upon approval by the officers and board of advisors, conferred to a person or
couple who has given outstanding contributions to the cause of THE SOCIETY) – exempt
from annual membership dues

SECTION C - MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES
A current member may partake in the various yearly and special activities and functions of THE SOCIETY. He shall be entitled to: ticket discounts, inclusion in the membership directory, contribute articles to newsletter publications, serve on various committees, vote in the election of officers and, run for office if qualified under Article IV Section A.

SECTION D - LIMITATIONS
Dependent children under the age of 18 are not entitled to vote.

Membership may be terminated for any of the following reasons.
1. Misuse or unauthorized use of THE SOCIETY funds
2. Creating conflicts within the organization
3. Violation of the Privacy Act
4. Any just cause as determined by the President and the Advisory Board

The officers and Board of Advisors, in an open meeting held at least seven days prior to termination, shall deliberate on, and by majority vote, decide upon the termination of a member.

ARTICLE IV- ELECTION OF OFFICERS

SECTION A – QUALIFICATIONS

President and Vice-President:
Any current member, who is at least 30 years of age and of Filipino descent, shall
be eligible to run for the position of President or Vice President.

Other Elective Positions
Any current member is eligible to run for any of the other elective positions.

SECTION B – ELECTION
1. Election of officers for THE SOCIETY shall he held each year before or during the last
general membership meeting, by secret ballot.
2. Any qualified member interested in running for office may submit his name seven days
before the elections or he may be nominated during the general membership meeting.
3. No member may be nominated for any position, in any form or manner, without
his or her consent.
4. A candidate shall be declared elected if he or she receives the majority of votes during the
elections.
5. The President can not vote during the elections.
6. The President will only vote to break a tie in the election of any position.

SECTION C - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

1. The PRESIDENT shall:
a) Preside on all meetings of THE SOCIETY and conduct such meetings according to the
ROBERT RULES OF ORDER
b) Implement projects approved by the membership
c) Appoint chairpersons to standing committees and other committees constituted for special projects
d) Appoint members to the Executive Advisory Board
e) With the assistance of all elected officers, ensure early and confirmed reservations of a venue for the New Year’s Party

2. The VICE PRESIDENT shall:
a) In the absence of the President, assume all the duties of the President.
b) Concurrently chair no more than one committee

3. The SECRETARY shall:
a) Record minutes of all association meetings and read them on subsequent meetings
b) Make and maintain permanent records of all meeting minutes and correspondences of THE SOCIETY
c) Prepare and distribute documents, letters and memorandums, as needed

4. The TREASURER shall:
a) Collect annual membership fees and special dues negotiated by THE SOCIETY for special projects
b) Deposit all collections of cash and/or checks in the bank within three (3) working days following their receipt
c) Take custody of the checking and/or savings account of THE SOCIETY
d) Pay promptly, all bills for expenses on authorized activities and projects. Payments greater than One Hundred Dollars ($100) must be approved by the President or Vice President.
e) Maintain a minimum of $500 in the checking account at all times. The Treasurer and the President (The Vice President in the absence of the President) are the only officers authorized to sign any outgoing disbursement checks.
f) Maintain a permanent record of all financial transactions and report the financial status of THE SOCIETY to members at every general membership meeting

5. The HISTORIAN shall write a history of the association by recording activities and take pictures of each event.

6. The EDITOR shall:
a) Be appointed by the President and approved by the elected officers
b) Prepare, produce and distribute the quarterly newsletter and any publication that may be required
c) Facilitate adequate review and approval by the President or Vice President, of all newsletters and publications prior to its distribution

SECTION D - REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Any elected officer shall be removed from office if found guilty of any of, but not
limited to, the following: misappropriation of funds, conduct unbecoming of an
officer of the organization, abuse of authority, and maliciously causing conflict. The
case will be reviewed and decided upon by members present in a special meeting.
The officer will be given the opportunity to defend himself. Removal from office,
however, will not automatically result in expulsion of the member from THE
SOCIETY.

SECTION F – VACANCIES
1. Vacancies that arise in any of the offices within the election year shall be filled by
qualified members appointed by the President.
2. The Vice President will take over as President in the event the office of the
President becomes vacant. He will then appoint a new Vice President, both of
whom will serve until the next elections.
3. The chairman of the Advisory Board shall appoint a new President in the event
the offices of the President and Vice President become vacant. The Acting
President will then appoint a new Vice President. Both appointees will serve until
the next elections.
4. Any member appointed to any position must qualify under Article IV, Section A –
Qualifications.
5. Resignation from any elected office must be submitted to the President, in
writing, two weeks prior to the resignation date. If the President resigns, he shall
hand in his resignation letter to the Vice President, who will then submit it to
the Executive Advisory Board, for final acceptance. If the Vice President resigns
simultaneously with the President, both shall submit their resignation letters
directly to the Executive Advisory Board.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

The President shall, with the consent of the member, appoint him or her to chair
one or more committees. The appointed committee chairperson will, at his/her
discretion, then select his/her members.

1. The MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE shall be responsible for the recruitment and retention of the members.

2. The PASA PERFORMING ARTS COMMITTEE shall:
a) Coordinate all activities related to social functions of THE SOCIETY
b) Initiate and conduct fund-raising activities for THE SOCIETY

3. The FOOD AND CONCESSION COMMITTEE shall:
a) Provide food and beverages to activities that require such service. Any amount of
expenses incurred must be approved by the officers
b) Coordinate what kind of food and drinks to be brought on “Potluck” activities

4 The DECORATION COMMITTEE shall decorate, appropriately, the venue of events for each activity

5. The EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS COMMITTEE shall:
a) Choose and screen candidates with exceptional scholastic and athletic abilities
b) Verify the candidates’ talents, achievements, and accomplishments

6. The WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE shall:
a) Provide moral and/or financial support: to members, who are in serious or emergency conditions; to the surviving member who has lost his/her spouse, child or parent; to surviving spouse, children or parents of members; to members who are victims of environmental and natural disasters such as chemical spills, tornadoes, floods, and fires
b) Extend greetings to members who are newlyweds; have a newborn child; have children graduating from college; have children getting married; and are celebrating their wedding anniversaries
c) Limit cost of flowers and/or monetary support extended under a) and b) above, to
a maximum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) on each occasion

7. The ELECTION COMMITTEE shall
a) Ensure honest and orderly election
b) Screen candidates for any elective office in THE SOCIETY
c) Take full control of the distribution of ballots
d) Accept absentee ballots that are clearly marked with the names of the absentee
member and his representative, and supervise the use of absentee ballots to ensure integrity in the use thereof.

8. The FINANCIAL AUDIT COMMITTEE shall:
a) Conduct an audit before the end of each election year
b) Prepare an audit report to be reviewed by the past President and Treasurer and then turn over the report and all financial records to the newly elected President and Treasurer.
The newly elected Treasurer shall present the Audit and financial reports to all members
during the first general membership meeting.