Prepared by: Dr. Samuel S. Wakim

Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership
April 29, 2008  

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

The Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the relationships of entrepreneurs, professionals and businesspeople between the Americas and Lebanon in compliance with international law.

ARTICLE II: MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership is to bring together successful Lebanese American business, entrepreneurial, professional, and community leaders of diverse skills from throughout the Americas and the world to make their collective experience and extensive networks available as a link between Lebanese entrepreneurs and their emigrant counterparts for mutual success in the global marketplaces.

ARTICLE III: VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership is to support the civil society and civic institutions of Lebanon, to lift up the spirit of the Lebanese people, to work with the international community to achieve neutrality and modernize the Lebanese state. LARP assists the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies of the Americas in their efforts to promote economic growth, to foster peace, stability and democratic institutions in an effort to enhance the sovereignty and freedom of Lebanon.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Eligibility for Membership.

All members of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP) shall be those individuals and corporations that are supportive of the mission and vision of the organization.  It is open to all nationalities and religious sects

Section 2. Classes of Membership.

A. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.  Members shall be those who pay the annual dues and are representing themselves solely with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges that come with membership.

B. CORPORATE MEMBERS. Members shall be those companies and organizations that pay the annual dues and may have one director or company officer that represents it during our meetings with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges that come with membership.

C. HONORARY MEMBERS. The Executive Committee may in its discretion select individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to the principles of the organization as honorary members for one year.  This membership comes with no voting privileges and is not eligible for life membership unless the contribution requirement is made on the honorary member’s behalf.

D. LIFE MEMBERS. Members who pay the equivalent of 25 years of annual dues in one year may be eligible for Life Membership.  The funds will be placed in an interest bearing account and the principal cannot be used for any general fund obligations.  Life memberships are only available as individual or corporate and shall not be extended to honorary members.

Section 3. Responsibilities of Members.

A. All members will receive a copy of the bylaws of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership and will be required to sign a letter saying that they understand the bylaws and will comply with them.

B. No member may speak, write or represent himself or herself as representing the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership unless specifically approved by the President.  

C. Dues. Individual members are required to pay dues of $1,500.00 per year. Corporate member’s dues will be $5000.00 per year.  The dues generated will be placed in an interest bearing account and up to $500.00 can be used for organizing the annual meeting in Beirut, Lebanon with the intent of having $1,000.00 available for distribution to eligible private and public sectors organizations in Lebanon based on USAID clearance and recommendations in order to protect US citizen’s good will. The payment must be made in order to participate in the Annual Meeting and to have voting rights and privileges. Advisory board member’s dues will be $2,000 a year.  

D. Attendance at meetings. All members are encouraged to attend regular meetings but is not a requirement of membership. 

E. Every year a corporate leader will be named to be recognized at our annual meeting in Beirut. He will be seated along the President and the highest level officials representing the Lebanese and the United States governments in the opening ceremony. His contribution to LARP will be a minimum of $10,000.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers.

The elected officers of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership shall be a President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary-General and Treasurer.

Section 2. Duties of Officers.

A. President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership and shall: serve as President of the Executive Committee; have the power to appoint special committees; be responsible for maintaining good public relations with the Lebanese American community as well as the Lebanese business community; be responsible for maintaining effective liaison with elected and appointed officials of both nations and the LARP; serve as ex-officio member of all sub-committees (except the nominating committee); and organize the Annual and Mid-Spring Meetings.   

B. 1st Vice-President. The 1st Vice-President shall assist the President in all duties and, in the absence of the President, act as Chair for regular meetings and at Executive Committee meetings. Also, the 1st Vice-President will assume the duties of President in the event of resignation, disability, or death of the President.

C. 2nd Vice-President.  The 2nd Vice-President shall assist the President and 1st Vice-President in all duties and serve in the absence of the President and 1st Vice-President and act as Chair for regular meetings. 

D. Secretary-General. The Secretary-General is responsible for keeping, publishing and maintaining all official meeting minutes, rosters and meeting notices, and performing other duties as requested by the Chair.  Reports will be presented before the Annual and Mid-Spring Meeting for approval.  Minutes of all meetings will be provided immediately after for revision and approval.

E. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of dues, and for receipt and deposit of financial contributions and income into accounts at such banks and financial institutions, as the Executive Committee shall direct. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of monies received and expended and shall make a financial report at the Annual and Mid-Spring Meetings. At the end of the fiscal year, the Treasurer shall insure that the records comply with current state and federal laws.

F. Appointed Officers. Appointed officers shall have such duties as the Executive Committee shall direct in writing.

Section 3. Election and Appointment of Officers.

A.  Elected Officers. The President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer shall be the Elected Officers, and shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting in odd-numbered years. They shall take office following the adjournment of the meeting at which they are elected.  Elected officers shall serve a term of two years or until their successors are elected. A majority vote shall elect.

B.  Appointed Officers. Appointed officers may be appointed at any time by the Executive Committee and shall take office immediately upon notification of appointment. The term of office for appointed officers shall be determined by the Executive Committee, but in no case shall the term exceed that of other officers.

Section 4. Vacancies in Office.

Except for the President, vacancies in office shall be filled by appointment from the Executive Committee for the remainder of the respective term.

Section 5. Advisory Board.

The Executive Committee shall name 25 prominent Americans and Lebanese Americans to serve at an advisory board for a two-year term not renewable. Their job is to speak on behalf of LARP at conferences, meet with officials around the world to enhance LARP’s stature, presence and promote and support LARP goals and objectives in the public square.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Meetings.

The Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership shall meet every other year in Beirut, Lebanon at a time determined by the Executive Committee.  Hotel location to be determined based upon the current needs of the LARP and to be named by the President and notice given at least four months before the meeting.  The Annual Meeting in odd numbered years will be the organizational meeting for the purpose of electing officers, appointment of officers, receiving reports from officers, the board and committees, and for any other business which shall properly come before the meeting.  In addition, meetings with Lebanese elected officials, USAID-Lebanon staff, the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce and other influential leaders will be scheduled.  Notice of the Organizational meeting shall be sent to the members at least 120 days prior to the date of the meeting. The Annual Meeting in odd numbered years shall be the meeting at which officers are elected.

Section 2. Mid-Spring Meetings.

The Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership shall meet once a year in Washington, DC.  The Mid-Spring Meeting in March will be an official meeting of the Executive Committee and interested members for the purpose of receiving reports from officers, the board and committees, and for any other business that shall properly come before the meeting. In addition, meetings with American elected officials, USAID representatives and other influential leaders will be scheduled.  Notice of the Mid-Spring Meeting shall be sent to the members at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 3. Special Meetings.

The President or 3 members of the Executive Committee may call special meetings of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership, provided that notice of such meetings shall be postmarked or emailed to members at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. Notice shall include the specific business to be conducted at the meeting.

Section 4. Quorum.

A. Membership meetings. The quorum for Annual Meetings shall be 50 percent of the total membership, provided at least 3 members of the Executive Committee are present. The quorum for the Mid-Spring meeting shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.

B. Executive Committee meetings.  The President will call Executive Committee meetings when necessary.  Special meetings of the Executive Committee can be called by at least 3 members of the Executive Committee.  

ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  Composition and Duration of Terms. 

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Elected Officers of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership, who shall be elected for two-year terms in odd-numbered years at the Annual Meeting of the Membership.  The Executive Committee shall serve as the board of directors of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a board of directors under law.

Section 2.  Responsibilities. 

Responsibilities of the Executive Board will be to conduct the business of the committee as necessary.  

Section 3.  Presiding Officer. 

The presiding officer will be the President, followed by the 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents.

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

The standing committees shall be: Constitution & Bylaws, Ways & Means, Membership, Publications, and Convention.

Section 2. Standing Committee Duties.

A. Constitution & Bylaws.  This committee should monitor and maintain the Constitution and Bylaws of the committee. 

B. Ways & Means.  This committee should prepare and propose a budget for operation of the organization.  It should also be responsible for fundraising events.  The Treasurer will be a member of this committee. 

C. Membership.   This committee will retain existing members and recruit new individual and corporate memberships to the LARP.  The 2nd Vice President will be a member of this Committee. 

D. Publications.  This committee will be responsible for press releases, newsletters and websites.  The Secretary-General will be a member of this committee.

E.  Convention.  This committee will be responsible to organize the Annual and Mid-Spring Meetings, and provide guidance and direction to the theme of the Meetings.  The 1st Vice President will be a member of this Committee.

Section 3. Special Committees.

The President or a minimum of 3 members of the Executive Committee may appoint Special Committees.  Changes to Special Committees shall be in writing.

Section 4. Nominating Committee.

The nominating committee shall consist of 3 members elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting of even-numbered years.  A plurality of voting members shall elect the Committee. The Nominating Committee shall choose its own President. The committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each office to be filled and report to the Mid-Spring Meeting prior to the Annual Meeting of odd-numbered years.

Section 5. Awards Committee.

The Chairman of the awards Committee is named by the President and approved by the Executive Committee like other committee chairmen. In coordination with the Executive Committee he will choose three nominees for the Awards. The Awards Committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each of the three awards to be presented annually at either the Annual Meeting in Beirut or the Mid-Spring Meeting in Washington DC. (Section 2 - F).

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the individual recognized by LARP for his efforts to promote international understanding, economic prosperity and democracy in Lebanon.  The Corporate Leader Award will be presented to the LARP delegate who has been selected that year to lead the LARP delegation to Lebanon.  The Service Award will be presented to the businessman or organization recognized by LARP for best providing investment support to the causes of Lebanon.

ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership shall use Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th Edition as a guideline for governing process. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules shall also be a guideline to govern the Partnership’s procedures in all cases to which they are applicable and to which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Partnership may adopt.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments.

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any Annual or Special Meeting, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the membership at least 60 days prior to the meeting. The notice shall include the complete text of the proposed amendment.

Section 2. Effective Date of Amendments.

Amendments to these bylaws shall take effect at the adjournment of the meeting at which they are adopted unless otherwise provided.

ARTICLE XI: POSITIVE DEPORTMENT

All comments about other members and or their ideas will be of a constructive and encouraging nature.  There will be no disparaging comments, remarks or asides about the performance of any officer’s duties or volunteer’s activities. 

The Chair may excuse any member or person in attendance that violates this amendment from the meeting. 

The Chair or a majority vote of the Membership may prohibit any member or person who violates this amendment in a chronic manner from a subsequent meeting.