Constitution of the Chios Society "Agia Markella" of Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan, Feb 2, 1936

(This is a translation of the original written in Greek)

The Chian residents of Detroit and its suburbs in the State of Michigan, having convened this day, February 2, 1936, have decided all together to legally form an independent section under the name Chios Society "Agia Markella" of Detroit, Michigan, here forth called Society.

Article I. Purposes/Goals of the Society

  1. Develop ties of friendship and solidarity between the members of the Society.
  2. Provide philanthropic and moral support to the needy members of the Society.
  3. Provide economic assistance to needy people on the island of Chios and elsewhere, provided they were suggested for assistance by members of the Society, and the assistance was granted by the executive board of the Society.
  4. The contribution of the Society, according to the available means, in the event of a national crisis in Greece or the USA.

Article II. Obligations and Rights of the Members of the Society

The registered members of the Society are residents of the State of Michigan who are 18 years old or older. The annual registration fee is set at $25.00 per family. The annual registration fee should be paid at the beginning of the year, between January 1 and March 31, and covers the whole year until December 31 of that year. The registration fee is collected by the treasurer of the Society or the assistant treasurer.

Article III. Ordinary and Associate Members

Ordinary members are all those who trace their descent from the island of Chios, Greece. Associate members are all those who trace their descent from all other regions of Greece. The associate members have the same benefits as the ordinary members, except they cannot be candidates for the office of the president or vice-president of the Society.

Article IV. Past Due Registration Fee

A member who neglected to pay their registration fee for a year ceases to be a member, and their name is crossed out from the records of the Society. A member may reinstate their membership status by paying the past due registration fee, which in no case should exceed two years of registration fees. Any member who harms the interests of the Society, either materially or ethically, is subject to disciplinary action by the general assembly, which may even remove the membership from that member.

Article V. Participation in Elections and Eligibility for Office

  1. Every member in good standing, meaning registered, is eligible to vote.
  2. Only members who have been registered for more than a year are eligible to be candidates for an office in the Society. Specifically, for the offices of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, candidates must have been members for at least two years.

Article VI. Duties of the Election Committee

  1. Thirty (30) days before the elections, an election committee consisting of three (3) members of the Society is appointed to oversee the elections, prepare the ballots, declare the elected officials, and ratify the elections. No member of the election committee can simultaneously be a candidate for an office of the Society.
  2. The annual elections take place under the direction of the election committee.
  3. Every voting member receives the ballot from the election committee, either in person on the day of the elections, by postal mail, or attached to an email message.
  4. The information written or shown on each ballot includes:
    • A unique identification number for each voting member.
    • The names of the candidates written in alphabetical order.
    • An empty square to the left of each candidate’s name. The voter wishing to vote for a candidate places an 'X' inside the square.
    • Those who receive the most votes are elected, with a maximum of seven (7) elected officers.
    • The executive council consists of the following officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary for Minutes, Secretary of Correspondence, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer.
    • The executive council, based on a simple majority, decides on any issue pertaining to the Society.

Article VII. Duties of Officers, the Governing, and Executive Council

President:

  • Represents the Society.
  • Calls general assemblies and executive council meetings.
  • Signs the minutes of meetings with the Secretary for Minutes.
  • Appoints committees to examine records and submits reports.
  • Ensures adherence to the constitution.
  • Promotes the Society’s goals.

Vice-President:

  • Substitutes for the President when absent.
  • If both the President and Vice-President are absent, the Secretary, Treasurer, or the senior-most executive council member of Chian descent assumes leadership.

Secretary for Minutes:

  • Keeps the files with minutes.
  • Maintains the Society’s seal and records.
  • Compiles meeting minutes.
  • Co-signs official documents with the President.

Secretary of Correspondence:

  • Manages correspondence with the approval of the executive council.
  • Substitutes for the Secretary for Minutes when absent.

Treasurer:

  • Collects funds and issues receipts.
  • Handles payments and maintains financial records.
  • Requires executive council approval for withdrawals over $1000.
  • All checks must be co-signed by the President or Vice-President.
  • Can authorize payments up to $500 independently.
  • Must be insured for $5,000.

Assistant Treasurer:

  • Performs treasurer duties except signing bank checks.
  • Reports to the Treasurer and President.

Article VIII. Members of the Governing Council

  1. A member absent for three (3) consecutive meetings without excuse is considered resigned.
  2. Governing council members must promote the Society’s goals.
  3. The council approves contributions and presents them to the general assembly for voting.
  4. In case of a member’s death, flowers or a $25 donation is sent to their family.
  5. The council may decide on financial assistance for a member/family in need.

Article IX. General Assembly

  1. Regular assemblies convene every two months, on the first Sunday, with notifications sent by mail or email.
  2. A quorum is 25% of members; if not met, the assembly reconvenes the following Sunday with a reduced quorum of 12%.
  3. For constitutional changes or Society dismissal, a 35% quorum is required.

Article X. The Seal of the Society

The Society’s seal carries the inscription in Greek:

ΧΙΑΚΟΣ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΣ ΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΡΚΕΛΛΑ ΝΤΗΤΡΟΙΤ ΜΙΣΣΙΓΚΑΝ

Translation: CHIOS SOCIETY "AGIA MARKELLA" DETROIT MICHIGAN

Article XI. Benefactors

  1. Donors: Contributions of $50-$99.
  2. Benefactors: Contributions of $100-$499.
  3. Grand Benefactors: Contributions of $500 or more.

Article XII. Society Celebrations

  1. Annual religious service for Agia Markella on the Sunday closest to July 22.
  2. Annual icon rotation among members.
  3. Celebration of Chios Independence Day from the Ottomans (Nov 11).
  4. Annual dinner dance in November.

Article XIII. Dismissal of the Society

The Society dissolves if membership falls below twelve (12). Upon dissolution, all property is donated to the Skylitsion Hospital in Chios, Greece.

Article XIV. Constitution and Future Amendments

Ratified March 1, 1936. Amendments can only be made by the general assembly.

Revision History:

  • 1987: First revision by Iosif Kessel & Nikolaos Kondylis.
  • 2015: Second revision (English translation by Emmanuel M. Tsimis). Added voting by mail/email.

President: Emmanuel M. Tsimis
Treasurer: Eleni Gerazounis