Constitution
I Organization
1.1 The name of this organization is the Boston Estonian Society (hereinafter “the Society”
or “BES”). The Society was founded on April 19, 1936 as a non-profit organization.
1.2 The Society shall operate in Boston and the surrounding area.
1.2.1 The official and mailing address of the Society is… [See Addendum ***].
1.3 The Society’s fiscal year commences on January 1st and concludes on December 31st.
1.4 The term of annual activities of the Society shall commence and conclude with an Annual
Meeting of the members each year. The length of the term shall be at least 10 months.
1.5 The Society is a legal entity, with all of the rights and responsibilities of a legally constituted entity.
1.6 The Society shall have exclusive control of any symbol representing the Society. The Executive Board shall decide the appropriate uses of said symbol.
1.7 The Society shall have its own seal and shall have the power to maintain bank accounts at financial institutions in the United States and elsewhere; it shall have the power to make and issue loans; grants and stipends to fulfill the purposes of the Society.
1.8 The internal business of the Society, as among its members, shall be conducted in the Estonian language.
II Purposes
2.1 The purpose of the Society is to serve as a cultural and social organization for individuals
of Estonian descent.
2.2 To fulfill its purpose, the Society shall:
2.2.1 maintain contact with organizations and individuals in, and with accredited representatives of, the Republic of Estonia;
2.2.2 maintain contact and work cooperatively with other Estonian organizations outside of the Republic of Estonia;
2.2.3 keep its members informed of cultural and other developments in Estonia;
2.2.4 maintain and promote the activities of the Society;
2.2.5 gather and maintain items of historical significance to the Society;
2.2.6 maintain the Estonian language, culture and traditions;
2.2.7 distribute documents and information related to the activities of the BES;
2.2.8 establish, on an as needed basis, commissions, work groups, youth groups and other similar ad hoc committees to further the purposes of the Society;
2.2.9 subject to need and provided it has the means to do so, procure and operate a club house in Boston or the surrounding area;
2.2.10 provide, based on need and ability, assistance to members of the Society.
2.3 The Society shall not be affiliated with any political party or religious group, nor shall it
participate in any partisan political activity.
III Powers of the Society
3.1 The Society shall have the power to contract with or otherwise establish and maintain legal relationships with government organizations, educational or student organizations, and individuals.
3.2 To allow it to fulfill its purposes, the Society shall have the power to engage in fundraising activities, and to accept donations of real and personal property.
3.3. The Society may own, rent, lease or otherwise acquire and distribute real and personal property in the United States or abroad.
3.4 The Society may establish sub-organizations, or may become a member of another organization.
IV Membership
4.1 Membership in the Society is voluntary. To join, a new member shall submit a written application to the Executive Board. All decisions concerning acceptance or rejection of new members shall be made by the Executive Board. The Society shall have the power to assess membership dues .
V Governance
5.1 The Society’s Governing Body is the annual meeting of its members (“Annual Meeting”).
5.2 The Annual Meeting shall elect an Executive Board to carry out the business of the Society.
5.3 Details of the Society’s conduct of business shall be laid down in the Society’s Bylaws.
VI Funding
6.1 The Society shall have the power to raise funds through membership dues and other methods of fundraising, and to solicit and accept gifts, bequests, donations, grants and other forms of contribution of money as authorized by law.
VII Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
7.1 Amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws shall be approved by a two thirds vote of Adult/Full members, provided, however, that notice and the text of the proposed amendment is included in the agenda which is sent to members prior to the Annual Meeting.
VIII Termination
8.1 The Society may terminate its affairs upon a vote at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws, provided the meeting is attended, in person or by proxy, by at least half its voting members, and provided a two-thirds majority of the Adult/Full members present, who have been full members for at least three (3) years, vote in favor of such a motion.
IX Addendum
*** In the absence of a Building owned or leased by the Society for its purposes, the official address of the Society shall be the address of the Society’s President. This address shall be used only for purposes of compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the conduct of a nonprofit organization. Use of this address in any of the Society’s publications shall be optional. The Society shall have no property interest in any address used for purposes of establishing a mailing address and said address shall not be considered the property of the Society.
