Dear honourable GPC members,

Here is a draft constitution for Guwahati Press Club for valued feedbacks. The draft is based on our old constitution (prepared in 1976) and it will be accepted following the supports from our members with formal constitution amendment meeting to be held in GPC during December, 2006.

Feedbacks should be sent to Nava Thakuria, GPC Secretary
(At gpc@journalist.com and navathakuria@rediffmail.com).

DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF GUWAHATI PRESS CLUB

Whereas it is expedient to provide and define the rules and regulations governing the various aspects of existing Guwahati Press Club, this Constitution is being adopted as follows:

SHORT TITLE AND NAME

i) This Constitution shall be called the Constitution of Guwahati Press Club and shall be applicable to all the members of the Guwahati Press Club.
ii) The name of the institution shall be Guwahati Press Club (hereinafter called the Club).

Office:

The office of the institution shall be situated at GNB Road, Ambari, Guwahati -781001.

Aims and Objectives:

The Club has been formed with the following aims and objectives:

i) To protect and preserve the legal and constitutional rights of journalist members through reasonable and justified means.
ii) To work for enrichment and overall growth of journalism.
iii) To promote credible journalism in the northeastern region.
iv) To share ideas by interaction of journalists with civil society.
v) To do such other things as may be expedient accomplishing or incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any such objects of the Club.

Membership:

i) Any media person (print or electronic) with professional experience of minimum three years or freelance journalist with five years, is entitled to become the member of the Club, if he or she agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Club.
ii) There are three categories of the Club members,
a) General members are the working journalists and freelance journalists,
b) Editors and management journalists can become Associate members,
c) Patrons are the proprietors of the media houses.
iii) Annual membership fee for general and associate members is Rs.100 only at present and for patrons the same would be Rs.500 only.
iv)Persons desiring to become member may submit their application on prescribed form duly completed along with membership fee to the Secretary, who will put up the same before Screening Committee and after approval, the membership would be granted.
v) A member shall cease to be a member:
a)On his/ her death, or
b)On removal of his/her name from the register of membership for non-payment of dues, or
c)On expulsion for violation of rules of the Club.

The Club shall maintain a register of members with all the particulars of the members

Executive Committee:

i) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Club and it will be constituted with the following office bearers and members:
a) The President,
b) One Vice President,
c) One secretary,
d) One Asst Secretary,
e) One Treasurer and
f) nine executive members excluding one nominated Press Club member.
ii) All the office bearers and other executive body members shall be elected in the general meeting of the Club.
iii) The term of tenure of the Executive Committee shall be for one year from the date of assumption of office by the new Executive Committee.
iv)The management and control of the Club shall be vested with the Executive Committee of the Club.
v) Regular sittings of the Executive Committee shall be held preferably in the first week of every month
vi) A simple majority of the total number of Executive body members shall form the quorum for the meeting. No quorum shall be necessary for an adjourned meeting, which was adjourned for want of quorum.
vii) The Executive Committee shall have the power to make any levy from the members of the Club to meet any unforeseen emergency. But the Executive Committee must place it before the general meeting to be convened for the purpose within a reasonable time.
viii)Everyone of the office bearers except the President shall be answerable individually to the Executive Committee, which again shall be jointly responsible to the general body.
ix) Three days notice shall be necessary for sitting of the Executive Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities of Executive Committee

i) The Executive Committee shall subject to overall control and supervision of the general body meeting carry on all affairs of the Club for the fulfillment of the aims and objectives for which the Club has been formed.
ii) The Executive Committee shall give due weightage to the various resolutions adopted in the general meetings from time to time and give effect to those resolutions.

Duty Of the President

i)The President shall have to preside over the sittings of the executive and general body and conduct those meetings as per rules and stick to the agenda.
ii) The President also shall have the powers to
a) Supervise all the works of the Secretary
b) Inspect minutes, account etc, thereof
c) Instruct the Secretary to convene any emergency meeting of the executive body or the general body
d) Convene himself such meetings if the Secretary fails to comply with his/her direction within a reasonable time.
iii) The President shall have power to represent the Club in the meetings others than its own.

Duty of the Secretary ;

i) Subject to the control and supervision of the Executive Committee, the Secretary shall be responsible for doing and transacting all business of the Club.
ii) The Secretary will be in charge of entire management of the office, all accounts of the Club and minutes and proceedings of various meetings and committees.
iii) The Secretary shall carry out all the official correspondence with all agencies and offices on behalf of the Club.
iv) The Secretary shall submit quarterly statement of accounts before the Executive Committee, prepare the annual budget and submit annual return to the authority concerned.