Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao, (UGAT) Inc.

 

 

CONSTITUTION

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

            We, practitioners of Anthropology in the Philippines, in order to establish an organization that shall embody our ideals, promote closer working relationship among ourselves, enhance professional growth and help in the solution of problems of our fellow Filipinos, do promulgate this Constitution and By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

Section 1.  The name of the Association shall be Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. (also known as Anthropological Association of the Philippines).

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

Objectives of the Organization and Code of Ethics

 

Section 1.  The following shall be the Objectives of the Organization:

 

a.       promote, develop, and disseminate anthropological knowledge;

 

b.      promote, deepen the knowledge, understanding and participation of and among different ethnolinguistic groups in working towards an integrated national consciousness and development;

 

c.       promote and forge linkages among anthropologists and others doing related work within the country and other parts of the world; and,

 

d.      uphold the professional ethics as stated in the Constitution.

 

Section 2.  The following shall be the Code of Ethics of the Organization:

 

a.       an Anthropologist must be scientifically objective (truthful) and relevant to national and community goals; sincere to his/her host community and obliged to explain to them the objectives and implications of his/her research; to listen to criticism by his/her host community of the research he has conducted; and eventually to provide them a copy of his/her work, ideally in their language, for the host community would be the final arbiter of the validity of his/her research;

 

b.      an Anthropologist doing research has the obligation to make available the results of his/her research data not only to the host community and his/her scientific community, but also to the larger community; and,

 

c.       the Anthropologist has the right and the obligation to criticize unethical practices of fellow anthropologists and other individuals and institutions that affect the practice of anthropology.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Categories of Membership and Dues

 

Section 1.  Categories of Membership.  The Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. shall be composed of the following:

 

A.     Regular Members

 

a.1.  those who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts or Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology;

 ;

a.2.  those who are deemed acceptable by the Committee on Membership by reason of some special contribution to anthropology, anthropological research or the promotion of anthropological activities; and,

 ;

a.3.  Life Members.  They are regular members who contribute an equivalent of ten years membership fee.

 ;

B.     Institution Members.  They are those who contribute a minimum of P3,000 annually.

 

Section 2.  Application for Membership.  Any person eligible for and desiring admission to membership shall file a written application with the Committee on Membership.

 

Section 3.  Certificate of Membership.  Upon payment of dues by a newly admitted member or upon renewal of membership, there shall be issued to him a membership card that is non-transferable.

 

Section 4.  Dues.  Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the annual fee for regular members shall be P500.00.  Payment of membership fee entitles the regular members to every issue of Aghamtao journal and other publications at a discounted price.

 

Section 5.  Tenure.  Membership is valid only upon payment of the annual membership fee.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

Duties of Members

 

Section 1.  The principal duties of regular members are the following:

 

a.       to contribute to the attainment of the goals of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc.;

 

b.      attend meetings;

 

c.       to pay the annual dues;

 

d.      to elect the members of the Board of Directors;

 

e.       to abide by the Code of Ethics; and,

 

f.        to perform other duties as the General Assembly may decide for implementation.

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

Board of Directors

 

Section 1.  Board of Directors.  The corporate powers of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. shall be exercised, its business conducted, and its property controlled by a board of fifteen (15) directors who shall be elected by the regular members of the annual meeting as may then be determined; provided, that they shall so classify themselves such that the term of office of one-third (1/3) of their numbers shall expire every year; and subsequent elections of directors comprising one-third (1/3) of the board shall be held annually and directors so elected shall have a term of three (3) years; provided further, that directors thereafter elected to fill vacancies occurring before the expiration of a particular term shall hold office only for the unexpired period in accordance with Sec. 5 of this article.  Provided finally, that no person shall be elected as director unless she/he is a member of the corporation.

 

Section 2.  Election of Officers of the Board.  Immediately after their election, the new directors shall meet as a board to elect from among themselves the officers of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. namely: a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer.  The Board shall appoint the editor of the Aghamtao.  Those offices shall concurrently be the officers of the Board and serve a term of one year.

 

All Directors are subject only to a subsequent second term.  Thereafter she/he is disqualified.  However, she/he may seek reelection only after the lapse of  one term.

 

Section 3.  Board Meetings.  The Board shall meet at least twice a year to transact corporate business.  Special meetings may be called, upon the written request of a majority of the members of the Board.

 

Section 4.  Quorom.  A simple majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum of the Board of any meeting and an affirmative vote of at least a simple majority of such quorum shall be necessary to pass any resolution or authorize any corporate act.

 

Section 5.  Vacancies.  Vacancies in the Board occurring during an unexpired term, caused by death, resignation, removal from office or inability to act may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the said Board until the succeeding election, provided, however, that in the case of the Presidency, the Vice-President shall assume office in accordance with the provisions of Section 4, Article VI of this Constitution.

 

Section 6.  Removal of Board Members.  Any director of the corporation may be removed from office by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members entitled to vote; provided, that such removal shall take place either at a regular meeting of the corporation or at a special meeting called for the purpose, and in either case, after previous notice to the members of the intention to propose such removal at the meeting.  A special meeting of the members of the corporation for the purpose of removal of directors, or any of them, must be called by the Secretary on order of the President or on written demand of the majority of the members entitled to vote.   Should the Secretary fail or refuse to give notice, or if there is no Secretary, the call for the meeting may be addressed directly to the members by any member signing the demand.  Notice of time and place of such meeting, as well as the intention to propose such removal must be given by publication or written notice as prescribed by the vacancy resulting from removal pursuant to this section may be filled by election at the same meeting without further notice, or at any regular or at any special meeting called for the purpose after giving notice as prescribed by corporation code and the UGAT Constitution and By-Laws.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Executive Committee

 

Section 1.A.  The Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall be composed of not less than eight (8) members of corporation, six (6) of which shall be members of the Board, to be appointed by the Board.  Said Committee may act, by majority vote of all of its members, on such specific matters within the competence of the Board as delegated to it by a majority vote of the Board, except with respect to:

 

1.       approval of any action for which members’ approval is also required;

 

2.      the filling of vacancies in the Board;

 

3.      the amendment or repeal of By-Laws or the adoption of new By-Laws; and,

 

4.      the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by its expressed terms is not so repealable.

 

B.     The following are the authorized powers of the Executive Committee and acts and incidents pursuant to and in the exercise thereof shall be considered within its competence:

 

1.      it shall manage and supervise the day to day business of the corporation; and,

 

2.      pursuant to paragraph A of this section, to meet at least once a month to transact corporate business within its designated authority; provided that a special meeting may be called upon the written request of any of the members given at least one week prior to the said meeting.

 

C.     Membership to the Executive Committee.  Any director of the Board may be appointed to the Executive Committee by a majority vote of all the members of the Board; provided, the President shall be the Ex-officio member and Chairman of the Committee; provided also that the two (2) non-Board members shall be appointed to the Executive Committee in the same manner and shall serve for a term of three (3) years; provided further, that physical access, dispatch, ability to attend meetings shall be considered by the Board in appointing members of the Executive Committee.

 

D.     Tenure and Vacancies.  Membership to the Executive Committee shall be co-terminus to his membership to the Board unless sooner removed with or without cause by a majority vote of all the members of the Board; provided, however, that removal from the Executive Committee shall not mean or in no way to be interpreted as a removal from his office until successors are duly elected and qualified.  Removal of Board members shall be done in accordance with Section 6 of Article V of the Constitution as amended.

 

Section 2.  President.  The President shall the chief executive officer of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc.  In addition to such duties as may be delegated to him by the Board of Directors, he shall preside at all meetings of the association and call to order all meetings of the executive committee.  He shall have general supervision of the business affairs and property of the association, and over its several officers and employees.  He shall execute all resolutions of the Board.  The President shall submit to the Board as soon as possible after the close of each calendar year and to the members of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. at the annual meeting a complete report of the operations of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. for the preceding year, and the state of its affairs, and shall report to the Board all matters within his knowledge which the interest of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. say require to be brought to its notice.

 

Section 3.  Vice Presidents.  The first Vice-President shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe.  He shall automatically assume the duties and title of President in the event of the latter’s resignation, incapacity, or a continuous absence of six (6) months from the country.

 

            The second Vice-President shall initiate or call attention to all possible linkages with other organizations of similar orientation in the country and abroad.

 

Section 4.  Secretary.  The Secretary shall take and keep minutes of all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and of all committees, in a book kept for that purpose, and shall furnish a copy of all such minutes to the Board, and when authorized by the Board of Directors.  He shall receive all application for membership and serve as the custodian of all documents related to the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc.

 

Section 5.  Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc.  He shall deposit or cause to be deposited all money and valuable effects of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. in such banks or trust companies as the Board of Directors may designate.  He shall render to the President or to the Board of Directors, whenever required, an account or the financial condition of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. and all transactions made by him as treasurer and countersigned by the President of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc and Executive Officers of the Board as designated by the Board.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Committees

 

Section 1.  The following are the committees of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. the members of which shall be appointed by the Board of Directors:

 

a.       Membership Committee;

 

b.      Professional Growth and Ethics Committee;

 

c.       Finance Committee;

 

d.      Publication Committee;

 

e.       Public Relations Committee – the PRO will see to it that the organization’s activities are amply projected to the appropriate public; and,

 

f.        Special Projects Committee – The Special Projects Committee will attend to such other activities not covered by the other standing committees.

 

Section 2.  The Board may organize other committees as it may deem proper and necessary.

 

 

BY-LAWS

 

 

ARTICLE 1

 

 

Meetings of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc.

 

Section 1.  Annual Meeting and Conference.  The annual meeting and conference shall be held on the fourth week of October unless the Board of Directors deems it desirable to designate another date.  All other meetings shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.  Special Meetings.  The Board of Directors shall have the right to call a special meeting at anytime.  Special meetings shall also be called upon written request of at least twenty regular members stating the specific business to be brought before such special meeting.

 

            Notice of all meetings, together with a statement of the purpose of such meetings, shall be delivered to each member at least five (5) days prior to the meetings, or mailed to him at least two (2) weeks prior thereto, provided however, that said notice may be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, published in Manila at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

 

Section 3.  Quorum.  A simple majority of all regular members of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT), Inc. shall represent a quorum for all meetings of the association, unless otherwise provided by law, provided that notice of meeting shall have been mailed to all regular members at least two (2) weeks before the set date for the meeting.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

Voting Power and Election

 

Section 1.  At all corporate meetings, each regular member shall be entitled to vote, either in person or by mail.

 

Section 2.  The election shall be by secret ballot.  No voting by proxy shall be allowed.

 

Section 3.  A nomination committee appointed by the Board of Directors shall submit to the Secretary, at least two (2) months before the annual meeting, the names of the nominees for the Board of Directors.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Amendments

 

Section 1.  Methods of Amending.  These By-Laws may be amended, or repealed, or new By-Laws adopted in any of the following way, to wit:

 

a.       by a vote of the majority of all members present at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called for the purpose; and,

 

b.      by the Board of Directors when delegated thereto by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all members present at the meeting.  Members who send in their vote at a time designated should be regarded as present at any such meeting.

 

 

 

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