Lightsource Filipino Photographers
Constitution

PREAMBLE

We, the Filipino photographers in Abu Dhabi, imploring the aid of Almighty God, conscious of our responsibilities as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and as residents of United Arab Emirates, aim to establish a harmonious photography club that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote unity and brotherhood, uplift socio-spiritual consciousness, propagate intellectual growth, broaden our cultural and community involvement through photography as an art, hobby, or profession, do hereby ordain and promulgate this constitution and by-laws.


ARTICLE I
NAME AND DOMICILE

Section 1.   The photography club organized under this Constitution and by-laws shall be known as the Lightsource Filipino Photographers and may be also referred to as the LFP.

Section 2.   The LFP shall have its own official seal.



ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1.   The LFP is a free, independent, democratic and non-profit photography club free from external control/manipulation. Sovereignty resides on its members and all authority emanates from them.

Section 2.   The welfare of every member is the primary concern of the LFP, and in the pursuit of this objective, all members shall be required to render personal and moral services.

Section 3.   The LFP shall recognize and uphold the rights of every member to participate in its activities.

Section 4.   The administration of the LFP shall manifest the collective efforts of all its members.

Section 5.   The decision and will of the majority shall be held inviolable at all times.

Section 6.   The promotion of a harmonious photography club of peace and justice to ensure the well-being and dignity of all the members shall be the concern of the LFP.

Section 7.   The LFP shall establish ties and relations with other photography clubs within the UAE, as well as with other photography clubs outside the UAE. This shall be done along the line of peaceful co-existence and equity in joint activities to enhance the amiable image of the LFP.

Section 8. The LFP shall have the right to represent the official position of the Filipino photographers in Abu Dhabi on matters directly affecting its welfare and interest.



ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1.   Every member shall have the right to vote and the right to be elected, if qualified, in any elective position in the LFP.

Section 2.   Every member shall have the right to be heard through the Executive Board on matters directly concerning his / her welfare.

Section 3.   Every member shall have the right to public information on matters directly concerning his / her welfare.

Section 4.   Every member shall have the right to speedy and proper disposition of his / her complaints and / or case.

Section 5.   Excessive fines or unjust punishments shall not be imposed upon any member for violation of any rule or regulation of the LFP.

Section 6.   No officer shall be removed from office without due process of law.

Section 7.   No rules and regulations shall be enacted contrary to the laws of the UAE and the LFP constitution and by-laws.



ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES

Section 1.   Any individual who is having a Philippine passport and residing in Abu Dhabi shall automatically be qualified for membership in the LFP.  He/she must be at least 18 years old on the date of membership application. He/she must have interest in the art of photography and must possess a camera of any kind.

Section 2.   An equitable membership fee shall be collected upon membership application. The Executive Board shall determine the membership fee.

Section 3.   It shall be the duty of every member to uphold and obey this constitution and by-laws; to be loyal to the LFP and to contribute to its development and welfare.

Section 4.   It shall be the duty of every member to abide by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Executive Board.

Section 5.   It shall be the duty of every member to cast his/her vote during elections and plebiscites.

Section 6.   It shall be the duty of every member to exercise his/her rights with due respect to the rights of others.

Section 7.   It shall be the duty of every member to protect the security and integrity of the LFP.

Section 8.   The Executive Board can consider any individual as honorary members. The Executive Board shall decide if a person is qualified for honorary membership. Honorary members though, do not have the power to vote and have no liability to pay except on their own expressed desire to do so, be it in cash or kind. The Executive Board has the right to cancel an honorary membership at their discretion.

Upon a majority decision, the Executive Board may grant honorary memberships to individuals who have exhibited qualities that are akin to the LFP's ideals and have provided outstanding services that have contributed to the development of the LFP members and to the LFP in general. However, such conferment is limited to two (2) for every calendar year.



ARTICLE V
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1.   The Executive Board shall be:
a. The administrative, implementing, coordinating and policy-making body of the LFP.
b. Act as the legal entity of the club. As such, no officer or member may enter into any contract, agreement or negotiation using the name of the LFP without the expressed approval of the Executive Board.
c. Be composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer.
d. Act as the final arbiter in cases within the LFP, which require judicious decisions.

Section 2.   The President shall:
a. Be the chief executive officer of the LFP.
b. Call and preside over all meetings of the Executive Board.
c. Have the power to create and dissolve standing and ad hoc committees and appoint its members.
d. Coordinate all the activities of the LFP.            
e.  Have the power to veto any resolution passed by the Executive Board. However, such veto may be overridden by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
f. Be directly responsible to the Ambassador of the Philippines to the UAE.

Section 3.   The Vice-President shall:
a. Be responsible in recruiting new members.
b. Advise the President on matters pertaining to the welfare of the club as a whole.
c. Implement programs that will develop and train the members' photography skills through seminars and workshops.
d. Implement programs that will motivate members to participate more in the LFP's activities.
d. Assume the presidency if the President is incapacitated or impeached.
e. Perform such other functions as may be officially assigned by the President.

Section 4.   The Secretary shall:
a. Publish an annual report of the progress of the LFP.
b. Record the minutes of Executive Board and club meetings.
d. Have custody over all papers, documents and files pertinent to the Executive Board and the LFP as a whole.
e. Have the authority to call for the cooperation of all members and officers in obtaining records and information to be used in the deliberations of the Executive Board or of the LFP as a whole.
f. Have the prerogative to recommend disciplinary action for any member or officer for non-cooperation in obtaining records and information and/or for non-compliance in submitting written reports on time
g. Be responsible for furnishing documents of every project sponsored by the LFP.
h. Perform such other functions as may be officially assigned by the President.

Section 5.   The Treasurer shall:
a. Take charge in coordinating activities that are directed towards the generation of funds to finance the LFP's projects.
b. Be responsible for major fund-raising activities or marketing strategies whose primary purpose should be in line with the club objectives,
c. Keep in trust and confidence all the funds and properties of the LFP.
d. Collect and receive all dues required by the Executive Board and all receivables from other sources and issues official receipts and acknowledgement hereof.
e. Submit a financial report to the Executive Board after each activity of the LFP, except club meetings.
f. Submit an annual financial statement of the LFP upon the request of the President and submit a copy of the same to him/her.
g. Have the prerogative to recommend disciplinary action for any members or officer for non-payment of dues and other fiscal offenses.
h. Perform such other functions as may be officially assigned by the President.
 
Section 6.   The Public Relations Officer shall:
a. Supervise the LFP's official website and online forum.
b. Be responsible for all the external affairs of LFP with partner agencies and establishments.
d. Take charge in disseminating information to all members of LFP.
e. Oversee activities that promote and publicize the LFP's projects.
f. Perform such other functions as may be officially assigned by the President.



ARTICLE VI
QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1.    The candidates for any position in the Executive Board must:
a. Be a bona fide member of the LFP.
b. Have attended at least ten club meetings within a period of one year.
c. Have good character as certified by his/her employer.
d. Should not be an officer of any other photography club in and outside of the Abu Dhabi upon assumption of office.

Section 2.  The Term of Office of the Executive Board shall commence after the turnover ceremonies.

Section 3.  Any member of the Executive Board may be impeached on any of the following grounds:
a. Culpable violation of the Constitution and By-Laws.
b. Willful and gross negligence of duties.
c. Four (4) consecutive absences in the club meetings without a valid reason.
d. Malversation and embezzlement of funds and/or properties of the LFP.
e. Any other grave offenses and/or misconduct to the club.

Section 4.   Any member of the Executive Board may resign from office, except when an impeachment proceeding has been filed, by submitting a letter of resignation addressed to the Executive Board.

Section 5.   Any member of the Executive Board may be impeached by a majority vote of the Executive Board sitting en banc.




ARTICLE VII
ELECTIONS

Section 1.   The members of the LFP shall elect the Executive Board officers by secret balloting.

Section 2.   Executive Board elections shall occur during the first Friday of July every year.

Section 3.   The election campaign must be conducted only during the seven (7) days preceding the date of elections.

Section 4.   In the event where only one candidate runs for an elective position, a simple majority vote of all the members shall be required for his/her election into office.

Section 5.   No block-voting nor voting in absentia or proxy-voting shall be allowed.

Section 6.   All permanent vacancies of the Executive Board shall be filled by special elections. Provided such vacancy occurred three (3) months before the election date.

Section 7.   In case of a tie or the victory of an abstain vote, a special election shall be held.

Section 8.  Filing of candidacy should be at least one (1) week before the campaign period to allow the Executive Board to screen the candidates.

Section 9.  No member shall occupy the same position in the Executive Board for more than two consecutive terms.

Section 10.  The Executive Board will conduct a special screening for interested candidates to be able to disqualify applicants deemed a nuisance or unfit to run in the elections. Such disqualification will require a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 11.  All elections are to be held under the supervision of the Executive Board.



ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS

Section 1.   The LFP shall conduct a General Assembly for its members on a regular basis, a minimum of 1 general assembly every year. This is to regularly inform the members of the current projects of LFP.

Section 2.   All members shall meet at least twice a month for two hours for photo shoots and club meetings.

Section 3.   The President may call special meetings whenever he/she deems it necessary.

Section 4.   The quorum for any meeting shall consist of a simple majority defined as the half of the population plus one of the Executive Board members, unless otherwise provided for by this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 5.   The order of business during regular or special meetings shall be:
a. Call to order
b. Roll calling
c. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting
d. Discussion of the agenda
e. Adjournment



ARTICLE IX
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1.   This Constitution shall take effect immediately after ratification from the Executive Board of LFP.

Section 2.   The current Executive Board members shall assume their new designations after taking this oath:

I (name), do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as (position) of the Lightsource Filipino Photographers, to uphold and obey its constitution and by-laws, to be loyal to the LFP and to contribute to its development and welfare and to devote my self to the service of the club. So help me God.