USVI Public Records

Document text

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS MOVEMENT OF THE vie Moisegnps iF 10 ARTICLE I — Name The name of this unincorporated body shall be the INDEPENDENT CITIZENS MOVEMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, hereafter referred to as the “ICM” Party. ARTICLE II — Offices The Independent Citizens Movement of the Virgin Islands shall have one or more offices on the Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. ARTICLE II — Purpose The purpose and objectives of this political organization shall be to achieve the following goals: To further promote the political, cultural, economic growth and development of the Section 1. people of the Virgin Islands; Section 2. To promote the ideas, ideals, philosophy, code of ethics, platform and the Bylaws of the ICM Party; Section 3. To promote and enhance the relationship between our children and elders through the process of education and traditional values; Section 4. To promote policies to improve Education, Health Care, homeownership and to enhance , business development; Section 5. To promote transparency, accountability, responsibility, honesty and democratic self- government; Section 6. To promote self-sufficiency in agriculture, manufacturing and other industries; To provide educational forums and disseminate information of general public interest; Section 7. To engage in any kind of lawful activity political parties are formed to foster. ARTICLE IV — Powers TH 21, 8349 The Independent Citizens Movement Party shall have the power to: A. Charter, organize, form, approve, recognize or terminate satellite clubs; (a B Call meetings, elect officers, name committees, arrange conventions, raiséi monies; C. Set standards for qualification of membership; D Establish requirements for candidates endorsed by, and representing, the party; ‘om Ox E. Do such other legal acts deemed advisable and practical by the governing body of the Party. ARTICLE V — Management of Affairs The affairs of this organization shall be managed by a Territorial Committee, elected by ICM registered members each election year or on a date designated by the Supervisor of Elections of the U.S. Virgin Islands. ARTICLE VI — Territorial Committee The Territorial Committee of the Independent Citizens Movement of the Virgin Islands Inc., shall have the authority to make all rules and to promulgate all regulations necessary for the governance of the ICM Party. However, that such rules and regulations must be in consonance with the Constitution of the United States of America, the Laws of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Constitution and By-Laws of the ICM Party. ARTICLE VII —- Membership The Territorial Committee shall be comprised of thirty-two (32) elected members, the presidents of each club in good standing, and any elected member of the Senate registered as an ICMer, for a term of two (2) years, starting at noon on the first Saturday in December, following a general election. ARTICLE VIII — Elected Component The elected component of the Territorial Committee shall be as follows: Eight (8) At-Large Members from the District of St. Croix; Eight (8) At-Large Members from the District of St. Thomas/St. John providing one resides on the island of St. John; Seven (7) District Members from the District of St. Croix; Seven (7) District Members from the District of St. Thomas; and Two (2) Members from the island of St. John. ARTICLE IX — Officers The officers of the Territorial Committee shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant-At-Arms and/or such other officers as the Territorial Committee may deem necessary. ARTICLE X The maximum indebtedness or liability to which this organization may at any time become liable shall not exceed $ ARTICLE XI The duration of this Political/Non-Profit Corporation shall commence as of the date these Articles of Incorporation shall have been filed in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, as required by law, and is ARTICLE XII In the event this Political/Non-Profit Corporation, formed in accordance with Title 13 VIC Sec. 492 (c) applies for exemptions under the provisions of Sec. 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, upon dissolution, its assets shall be distributed for an exempt purpose or for public use, in accordance with the provisions of the said Sec. 501 (c) (3) and the regulations issued there under. ARTICLE XIV These Articles of Incorporation may be amended as prescribed by the By-Laws of this Organization. BY-LAWS Section 1. Meetings A. The Territorial Committee of the Independent Citizens Movement, the “ICM Party”, shall convene on the first Saturday in December, following the general election, to elect officers, to discuss upcoming business and to formulate schedules of activities for the duration of the term; The regular meeting of the Territorial Committee shall be held alternately/jointly on each island on the first Saturday of each quarter — January, April, July and October, respectively, or on a day is said months previously agreed upon by a majority of the members; The President of all the clubs in concert may call an emergency meeting, provided that a number of elected Territorial Committee Members sufficient to form a quorum join the quest. . The Chairman may call meetings as situations require; Any number of Territorial Committee Members forming a quorum may call a meeting at anytime; by notice to all members in advance. F. The Chairman must convene a meeting when so notified. ow mo 0 Section 2. Attendance The Territorial Committee must visit and review its attendance patterns and by a two-thirds majority vote of the elected component present, shall exercise discretion in disqualifying from further participation in policy-making matters and activities, any member who habitually fails to physically answer roll call at regularly scheduled meetings. Section 3. Disqualification The Territorial Committee shall have the power to disqualify any of its members who fail to maintain the standards of the party, betrays the purposes and objectives of same and to expel anyone convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. A. A disqualified district members shal] be replaced by a party member in good standing in the district from which the disqualified was elected; Section 4. A. Section 5. A disqualified At-Large member shall be replaced by a party member in good standing from the district from which the disqualified resided at time of certification by the Board of Elections. Quorum Fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the elected members of the Territory Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the Independent Citizens Movement of the Virgin Islands. In the event there is less than fifty percent plus one (50% +1) members present, vote by proxy shall be accepted to complete the quorum; All resolutions passed by a majority of the members present, not in conflict with the Constitution and By-Laws, shall be binding upon the Independent Citizens Movement Party, and upon the affiliated clubs and members, No proxy shall be valid from any member who has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regularly quarterly meetings without good reason, except that such a member may have become inextricable involved in extended assignments at the committee level during said time-framing and such involvement attested to by the committee chairman. Governing rules Revised Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the business, conduct and proceedings of all meetings. Section 6. A. Section 7. A. Clubs The Territorial Committee of the Independent Citizens Movement Party shall have the power to issue charters to as many clubs per island, upon receipt of a signed application of not less than (10) registered members of the ICM Party, as the Committee deems practicable; The Territorial Committee shall have the power to revoke any club of the Independent Citizens Movement Party which such club knowingly retain as members any person who has linked up with another political group, party, body, or organization, to the detriment of the ICM Party; Every club receiving a charter from the Territorial Committee shall be autonomous, except that no club may pass any resolution which conflicts with the Constitution and By-Laws of the ICM Party, nor shall any club endorse, support, assist or aid any manner a non-party candidate seeking political office, or any other political entity, party or organization competing against an ICM candidate or the ICM Party. Each club chartered by ICM Party of the Virgin Islands shall furnish the Secretary of the Territorial Committee a list of its membership by November 30" of each year; Each club shall cause to be paid into the treasury of the Territorial Committee, by November 30", yearly assessment, of $500.00 dollars, number of club members, notwithstanding; Upon dissolution of any club charter, all assets belonging thereto shall automatically accrue to the treasury and ownership of the Territorial Committee, as receiver for the ICM Party. Conventions The ICM Party shall call a Convention for the purpose of nominating candidates for all elective positions in the Virgin Islands, formulating a platform, passing resolutions or conducting any other business of major importance to the Party; Notice of the time, place and purpose of the Convention shall be published to the presiding officer of each club at least fifteen (15) calendar days in advance of the event, C. Conventions shall be held alternately in the Districts of St. Croix, and the District of St. Thomas/St. John; D. The Officers of the Convention shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Sergeant-At- Arms, Parliamentarian and such other officers deemed necessary by the Territorial Committee; E. The election of all officers at the Convention shall be determined by majority vote; F. The term of office of any candidate elected as an officer at the Convention comes to an end at the close of said Convention. Section 8. Delegates A. Each club shall elect ten (10) delegates to the Convention and, in addition thereto, shall elect an alternate who, in the absence of an elected delegate, shall vote instead; B. In the event a club is unable to fulfill the requirement of the preceding section, the Territorial Committee shall draft, or invite, any registered member of the ICM Party, will to serve; Cc While attendance at the Convention shall be opened to all members of a club in good Duly subscribed and sworn to by the following officers: Chairman Chairman L . Secretary £ Treasurer Duly eG ed and sworn to before me this day of Mave rrbey 2004 Notary Pfiblic} / ee 41 ba i,