Adopted: April 13, 2002
First Date of Amendment: 10/14/2006
Second Date of Amendment: 04/19/2009

Section I - Name

Article I

1. The name of this organization shall be Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal (hereafter called "RMFN").

Article II

1. It shall be a non-profit organization (501c.3).

Section II - Purpose

Article I

1. To build and strengthen the Nepalese community and it’s friends living in the Rocky Mountain. Areas through active and collective participation.
2. To promote Nepalese culture and tradition.
3. To seek and explore opportunities for broader ties and partnerships with other communities.

Section III - Activities

Article I

1. Nepali New Year
2. Summer Picnic
3. Dashain/Tihar celebration

Article II

1. Any other social activities
2. All the activities are subject to change based on the circumstances and discretion of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Section IV - Government

Article I - Members and Memberships

1. This organization shall be open to all individuals willing to support the purpose of RMFN and work within the framework of this constitution. RMFN shall not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, marital status and military status.
2. Two years membership fee shall be levied to all the members of RMFN.
3. Family life term membership will cover husband, wife and children under age 18. Children under 18 years will be considered as a beneficiary and shall not enjoy the voting privileges.
4. Membership shall start on the day of the membership/application renewal and terminate at the end of the same month that the membership was renewed, after two years.

Article II - Board of Directors (BOD)

1. There shall be up to 21 Board of Directors. Executive members also make up the 21 member Board of Directors.
2. The Board of Directors shall advise the Executive Committee and assist the RMFN in various activities.

Article III - Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee shall comprise of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Cultural Secretary, Public Relations Officer, and Technical Officer. The Executive Committee is the governing body that works in conjunction with the Board of Directors to run all activities of RMFN.
2. The following duties are required of the officers:
   1. The President shall be the chief executive of the committee and lead all activities and programs of RMFN. The President shall approve all decisions of RMFN in recommendation of the Executive Committee.
   2. The Vice President shall assist the President and assume his/her duties when the President is unable to serve or during his/her leave of absence.
   3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all finances of RMFN. The Treasurer shall maintain bank accounts and keep records of all income and expenses. The Treasurer shall prepare and present an annual financial statement. The Treasurer shall handle finances related to federal and state government authorities.
   4. The Secretary is the formal spokesperson of RMFN. The Secretary shall call all formal meetings, take attendance, keep meeting minutes and communicate the proceedings to all RMFN members.
   5. Cultural Secretary shall be responsible for organizing cultural programs for RMFN. Cultural Secretary shall co-ordinate with other parties willing to work in partnership with RMFN to promote Nepalese culture and tradition
   6. Public Relation Officer shall work to strengthen the relations between RMFN and the community.
   7. Technical Officer shall be responsible for website management. 
3. The Executive Committee in recommendation of the Board of Directors shall be able to form committees and assign responsibilities.
4. The Executive Committee in conjunction with the Board of Directors and the General Assembly shall be able to award “honorary” membership to noted individuals who contribute to the upliftment of the Nepalese communities or Nepal.

Article IV - Election Committee

1. The BOD and Executive Committee shall appoint an election committee to supervise the elections of officers three months prior to the election.
2. The election committee shall comprise of three individuals from the members of the RMFN. These individuals shall not seek any nominations.
3. The election committee shall seek nominations from within the members of RMFN.
4. The election committee shall formulate the election rules and publish election notification at least two months prior to the election. The election notification shall clearly state the nomination process, make call for nominations, set the dateline for nomination and withdrawal, specify voter eligibility, and set date and location of election.
5. The election committee shall be dissolved at the inception of the new Executive Committee.

Article V - General Assembly

1. The General Assembly shall consist of the entire membership of the RMFN.
2. The General Assembly shall assemble at least once every year on the day of the Nepali New Year celebration. It may assemble on other occasions if requested by the Executive Committee.
3. The Executive Committee must request sitting of the General Assembly if at least twenty five percent of the membership or 50 members, whichever is smaller, petition for discussion of specific issues.

Section V - Election and Appointments

Article I - Executive Committee (EC)

1. The members of the RMFN shall elect the officers of the Executive Committee every two years, through voting. Voting is allowed for people only 18 and over.
2. The officers of the Executive Committee shall have at least one-year prior membership with RMFN.
3. The officers of the Executive Committee cannot remain in one position for more than two consecutive terms.
4. Board of Directors must be RMFN members

Article II – Board of Directors (BOD)

1. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the members of RMFN.
2. Board of Directors must be RMFN members.
3. Immediate ex-president shall be automatically appointed as a BOD. If the position cannot be filled by this criterion, the Executive Committee shall nominate from the members of RMFN.
4. At least one female and one student in addition to seven regional base representatives shall be elected to BOD by the members of RMFN at the time of election of the Executive Committee.
5. In case there is no nomination for the election of one or more members of BOD, the Executive Committee shall fill in the vacant position.
6. Four members of BOD shall be nominated by the Executive Committee.

Article III – Elections

1. Election of Executive Committee and BOD shall be held in every two years, in the month of March.
2. The term of the office shall start on the day following the Nepalese New Year party and terminate on the day of the Nepalese New Year party.

Article IV – Election Supervision

1. An election committee will hold the election.

Article V – Election Tie

1. In case of a tie for any position the election committee shall decide based on the flip of a coin.

Section VI - Operational Details

Article I – Meetings

1. The Secretary shall call meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors as needed. A written or verbal notice of each meeting stating the agenda, place, day and time shall be given at least a week in advance. At least one meeting of the BOD and Executive Committee must be called every three months. Special meetings can be called by the President at his/her discretion in case of special circumstances without prior notice.
2. The Executive Committee must request the sitting of the BOD if at least seven members of BOD petition for discussion of a special issue.

Article II – Decisions

1. All major issues related to the RMFN will be decided at the meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. In conflict, the decision will be taken by the vote of Board of Directors during the meetings.
2. At least majority votes of BOD shall be required to pass decisions of RMFN.

Article III – President’s Discretion

1. The President shall have the right to act upon the issues that need immediate attention. The decision must be communicated to both Board of Directors and the Executive Committee within the next seven days and form a general consensus on that decision.

Article IV – Attendance

1. A member of the Board of Directors cannot miss more than three BOD meetings unless the President excuses their absence prior to the meetings. More than three unexcused absence is subject to dismissal from the Board of Directors.

Section VII – Amendments

1. These by-laws may be adopted, amended and repealed by a majority vote of the members of RMFN. Members of RMFN include the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

Section VIII - Resignations, Vacancies and Removals

1. Any member of the RMFN Executives and Board of Directors may resign from their post with a two-week prior notice, in writing to the President. The vacant position will be filled by the BOD within two quarters of vacancies.
2. If any executive member or BOD member is not fulfilling his/her duties, the General Assembly can suspend or remove him/her from the position by a two-third-majority vote of RMFN members. Such suspension or removal shall only come after prior warning of his/her conduct.

Section IX – Dissolution

1. In the event of dissolution of this organization, the organization shall donate the residual assets to the state or federally recognized charity.

Adoption and Amendment History
Adoption:
Through a resolution presented to the Members of the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal by its initial Board of Directors in a meeting convened on April 13, 2002.

First Amendment:
Through a resolution presented to the General Assembly of members of the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal by its Board of Directors in a meeting convened on October 14, 2006:
Section IV- Government
Article I – Members and Memberships
Previous clause ii. An annual membership fee shall be levied to all the members of RMFN.
Amended clause ii. Two years membership fee shall be levied to all the members of RMFN.
Article II – Board of Directors (BOD)
Previous clause i. There shall be up to 15 Board of Directors. Executive members also make up the 15 members Board of Directors.

Amended clause i. There shall be up to 21 Board of Directors. Executive members also make up the 21 member Board of Directors.
Section V – Election and Appointments
Article II – Board of Directors
Added the following clauses to this article:

1. Immediate ex-president shall be automatically appointed as a BOD. If the position cannot be filled by this criterion, the Executive Committee shall nominate from the members of RMFN.
2. At least one female and one student in addition to seven regional base representatives shall be elected to BOD by the members of RMFN at the time of election of the Executive Committee.
3. In case there is no nomination for the election of one or more members of BOD, the Executive Committee shall fill in the vacant position.
4. Four members of BOD shall be nominated by the Executive Committee.

Second Amendment:
Through a resolution presented to the General Assembly of members of the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal by its Board of Directors in a meeting convened on April 19, 2009

Section IV – Government

Article I – Members and Membership
Previous clause iv. Membership shall start and renew on the day of the Nepalese New Year party and terminate a day before the Nepalese New Year party the following year.

Amended clause iv. Membership shall start on the day of the membership application/renewal and terminate at the end of the same month that the membership was renewed, after two years.