Constitution

1.      Organization's name

The name of this organization is First Step Children’s Fund, referred to in the Constitution as "FSCF". 

The organization is non-profit and unincorporated based in the province of Alberta.

2.      Purpose

a.   To provide street children in Sierra Leone with a home and necessary care.

            b.   Ensure they receive necessary medical attention and are given an opportunity to attend school.

c.   Establish the required facilities to accommodate the children in the program.

            d.   Run a child sponsorship program in Sierra Leone.

3.      Financial Arrangements & Signing Authority

a.   Fiscal Year:  January 1^st to December 31^st.

b.   The organization shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and directors. Any profits, donations or other accretions to the organization shall be used solely to promote its objectives as stated in paragraph 2 (Purpose).

c.       Funds received from donation, child sponsors etc. shall be deposited to a designated bank account set up in the name of the charity. Account set up and choice of bank will be determined by the executive committee.

d.      Any payment, wire transfer, withdrawal or checks may be authorized by either the President or Vice President. Another director may be appointed by the executive committee to receive the same signing privileges and conduct transactions as directed by either the President or Vice President.

4.      Organization Structure

5.      Appointments

a.       The organization will appoint the following executive positions:

President

                  Vice President

                  Treasurer

                  Secretary

b.      The above positions may in some cases be combined

c.       The appointed positions will be determined by a majority vote by the FSCF directors.

6.      Duties

The President of the organization shall be responsible for the following:

a.       The overall management of the organization.

b.      Convening and chairing directors meeting and meetings of the Executive Committee.

c.       Act as the official spokesperson for the organization.

The Vice President of the organization shall be responsible for the following:

a.       Assume the responsibilities of the President in his absence.

b.      Assist the President with overall management and other assigned duties.

The Treasurer of the organization shall be responsible for the following:

a.       Prepare a budget for each fiscal year.

b.      Maintain the financial records for the organization.

c.       Maintain records of donations and issue tax receipts to qualified donors at the end of each fiscal year.

d.      Prepare financial statements at the end of each fiscal year.

e.       Prepare and submit the necessary reports and forms to Revenue Canada.

f.        Issue copies of budgets and financial statements to all directors of the organization.

The Secretary of the organization shall be responsible for the following:

a.       Contact donors and arrange collection of assistance.

b.      Maintain the records of the organization.

c.       Handle in and outgoing correspondence.

d.      Manage the organization’s website.

7.      Executive Committee

a.       The executive committee shall consist of not less than 3 and not more than 7 directors appointed by a majority vote by the directors of FSCF.

b.      The appointed President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary are automatically members of the Executive Committee.

c.       The term in the executive committee is not pre determined but shall not be less than one year from appointment.

8.      Termination of membership of Executive Committee

A member of the executive committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

a.       Receives a vote demanding termination from the Executive Committee by at least 75% of the directors of FSCF.

b.      Becomes incapable of managing and administering his or her own affairs due to illness or injury, or inability to reason due to mental disorder,

c.       Has been absent without permission of the Executive Committee from tending to appointed duties, or has not taken part in any meeting for a period of 6 months and the Executive Committee resolves his or her position to be vacated.

d.      Notifies the Executive Committee of his or her wish to resign as long as no less than 3 members will remain in the Executive Committee at the time of resignation.

9.      Executive Committee members not to be personally interested

No member of the Executive Committee shall acquire any personal interest in property belonging to the charity in any contract entered into by the Executive Committee.

10.  Directors

a.       The organization will have no less than 5 and no more than 15 directors.

b.      Any existing director may nominate a person for director appointment with FSCF.

c.     The candidate(s) that receives the most votes on the following directors meeting and that receives acceptance as director from at least 50% of  the existing directors will be appointed new director with FSCF.

11.  Termination as director

A director may be terminated for the following reasons:

a.       Notifies the Executive Committee of his or her wish to resign as director with FSCF.

b.      Termination is immediate if it becomes evident that a director has used the organization to gain personal financial or contractual benefits.

c.       Any director caught embezzling funds from the organization will be immediately terminated and prosecuted.

d.      A director will be terminated if 75% of the remaining directors demand resignation from FSCF based on incompetence, inability to perform assigned duties, or breach of organizational policies and regulations.

e.       A director will be considered for resignation by the Executive Committee if he or she has not taken part in nor shown interest in participating in the organizations activities, completing assigned duties, attended meetings, or responding to correspondence etc.

12.  Constitutional changes

a.       Any director may propose amendment to the constitution. Such proposal must be supported by at least 50% of the directors of FSCF.

b.      An approved proposal to change the constitution shall then be forwarded to the Secretary in the Executive Committee, which will make the necessary amendments.

c.       When the amendment is implemented in the constitution a revised document will be issued to all directors in the organization.

13.  Dissolution 

a.       The Association may be dissolved only after a referendum has been held of the board of directors.

b.      A referendum may be called by any majority of the directors.

c.       A minimum of 75% of the directors must agree to dissolve for dissolution to take effect.

d.      In the event of the dissolution of FSCF, its remaining financial assets shall be given over to a registered Canadian charity. In the unlikely event the organization is in debt, the debt shall then be divided evenly among the directors of the organization. 

This constitution is effective as of  October 15, 2004