IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL

 

Zainabia Community Center is a Shia Ithna Ashari (Ja’fari) community thriving on the etiquettes of The Prophet Muhammad and his Holy Progeny.  The Zainabia has a passion for righteousness, consciousness and respect towards the community.  We pledge our values to Allah with peace and blessings.

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Restated By - Laws of MOMIN, Inc.

PREAMBLE

The Members of Momin, Inc (''The Community Center" or "Zainabia"), for themselves and associates, members and successors in said 'Zainabia, being desirous of becoming a corporate body under the Corporation Laws of the State of Indiana, with a view to creating a not-for-profit corporation through which charitable, religious, educational, scientific, and literary and cultural activities may be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of The Community Center.

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Article I. Name and Character

i) The name of this corporation is MOMIN, Inc.

The Momin, Inc. is a non-profit social, religious, educational and charitable organization registered in the state of Indiana.

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Article II. Objective and Purposes

The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to unite the families of Shia Ithna Ashari Muslims' belief and to provide religious, educational, literary, charitable, cultural and social services. These services will also be available to individuals or other corporations subject to the approval by the Board of Directors.

Method of disseminating the religious knowledge shall be, but not limited to.

a) Quranic Studies

b) Religious Educational School

c) Majalis

d) Celebrations (Jashans) and Aamaal

The corporation will not indulge in or promote or support or encourage any activity which is in conflict or is inconsistent with this By-Law.

The corporation shall purchase, receive or lease or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use and maintain real estate in the name of the corporation to facilitate the carrying out of activities to achieve the purposes of the corporation or shall be donated to it.

The corporation will have and exercise all powers necessary or appropriate to affect any or all the purposes for which the corporation is formed.

The corporation shall make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific or education purposes.

The corporation shall generate funds by soliciting and accepting donations, charging a membership fee, charging a nominal fee for performance of Islamic teaching for interested individuals and such other Islamic means to meet the expenses of carrying out all activities for achieving the objective as set forth in this article.

The corporation is a non - political and will not be involved in any political issues.

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Article III. Offices

The principal office of the corporation in the State of Indiana will be located in the City of Indianapolis, County of Marion. The corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Indiana as the Board of Directors may determine or as the affairs of the corporation may require from time to time.

The corporation will have and continuously maintain a registered office, and a registered agent whose office is identical with the registered office. The registered office may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

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Article IV. Membership

Section (I): Voting Member: Shia Ithna Ashari Muslim of any origin residing in the United States of America above the age of 18 who agrees to obey and uphold the principles and purposes of this Zainabia and to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Community Center and who has paid the membership dues of the organization.

Any person as stated above must apply for membership on the prescribed membership form along with membership dues. No membership application shall be considered unless it contains recommendation of an existing member in good standing. The Executive Council shall review the membership application for completeness and to ensure that all requirements of the Constitution and Bylaws (once made) relating to membership have been met. The decision of the Membership Committee to accept or reject the membership application shall be final. In the event the application is rejected, membership dues accompanying the application shall be refunded to the applicant.

Section (2): Honorary Members: The Board of Directors may recommend to the general body to confer Honorary Membership to any individual who has served the cause of the organization.

Section (3): Membership Dues: Membership dues shall be fixed by The Board of Directors and revised from time to time, subject to approval of the General Body of members in good standing. Dues are payable in monthly installments or annually. Membership due payment shall be prerequisite for voting member status. The current annual fees for family membership is $360.00 and for an Individual or single membership is $180.00.

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Article V: The Structure of the Organization

Section (1): The General Body: All voting members constitute the general body. Two third (2/3) of general body shall constitute quorum for all decision made by the general body. The Executive Council shall call at least two (2) general meetings during its term in office. The powers of the General Body shall include:

i)             It will be the supreme authority to whom the executive council and other standby committees are accountable.

ii)            It will elect officers of Organization by simple majority.

iii)           It may remove an elected officer by 2/3 majority with a special 2/3 general body quorum.

iv)           The general body may approve amendments of the organization's Constitution and or bylaws.

 

Section (2): The Executive Council: The general body will elect every third year from among the Board of Directors the following members of the Executive Council and such other officers may in accordance with the provision of this Article:

i)             The President

ii)            The Secretary

iii)           Treasurer

Major decisions of the Executive Council will require majority vote of the general body. Vacancies within the Executive Council shall be filled by the appointment by the Board of Directors for the remaining term of the position.

Section (3): The Board of Directors: The general body will elect Directors to serve the organization as Board of Directors for a period of three (3) years. There will be seven (7) members (including Executive Council) who will serve as the Board of Directors. The duties of the Board of Directors shall include:

i)             To interpret, safeguard and implement the bylaws of the Organization.

ii)            To hear any complaint against a member or the Executive Council.

iii)          To terminate membership on the grounds provided by and in accordance with a procedure adopted by the Board.

iv)           To call a general body meeting of the Organization at its discretion or upon a written request often percent (10%) of the voting members of the Organization.

v)            Make long range policies and plans for the Organization.

The affairs of the corporation will be managed by its Board of Directors. A regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors will be held without other notice than this bylaw, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of members.

Majority of the Board of Directors will constitute a quorum for the transaction or business at any meeting of the Board; but if less than the majority of Directors are present at the said meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Directors as such will not receive any stated salaries for their services.

The act of a majority of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these bylaws.

The Board of Directors may assess additional charges and fees subject to approval of the General Body of members in good standing, for specific purposes, such as a building or maintenance fund.

The Board of Directors, as it deems fit, may prescribe or approve charges or fees for special purposes, events or activities such as dinners, lectures, classes, etc.

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Article VI: Duties of the Executive Council

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Section (I): The President:

i)             The president shall preside over all meetings of the Organization.

ii)            The president shall be the spokesperson and representative of the organization in matters of press and public relations.

iii)           The president shall call a meeting of the Executive Council as and when necessary.

iv)           The president may call general body meeting of the organization.

Section (2): The Secretary/Treasurer:

i)             The Secretary will assist the President of the Organization when required to do so by the President.

ii)            The Secretary will be responsible for the maintenance of the records of the organization.

iii)           The Secretary will record the minutes of the meetings.

iv)           The Secretary will handle all financial matters and keep all the records of income and expenditure.

v)            The Secretary will present to the Executive Council an annual financial statement and submit it to an auditor appointed by the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE Vll: The Election Process:

This election process is applicable for both the Board of Directors and the Executive Council,

The Board of Directors will give at least 30-day notice to the general body before elections are conducted. All nominations shall be received within 10 days from the date of notice.

i)             The election will be held in October.

ii)            The Board of Directors shall appoint a three-member election committee from amongst the members of the Organization.

iii)           TI1e members of the election committee will not be eligible to vote and will not nominate themselves to any Board of Directors or the executive council positions.

iv)           The Election Committee shall formulate the election procedure. The decision of the election committee shall be final and binding.

v)            A voting member who has paid his/her annual membership dues thirty (30) days prior to annual election is eligible to vote.

vi)           Only voting members of the Organization may be elected to hold an organization office.

vii)         The voting will be a secret ballot, and all election results determined by simple majority. Absentee voting must be mailed and received by the Election committee in Advance of the election date.

viii)        In the event of a tie, the decision of the Election Committee shall be final.

ix)           TI1e newly selected Executive Council and or the Board of Directors will take charge of their offices on November 1. The Organization's records will be transferred within four (4) weeks of the installation of the new Executive Council and or the Board of Directors.

Any officer nominated or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, hut such removal will he without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so removed.

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Article VIII. Books and Records

The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its Board of Directors meetings.

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Article IX. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of October and end on the last day of September in each year.

Article X. Dissolution

The duration of the corporation is perpetual. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the corporation will be donated to another Shia Ithna Ashari Non-Profit Corporation which is exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code Sec 50l(c)(3) or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. In case of dissolution ninety percent (90%) vote of the General Body should approve.

Article XI. Amendments to Bylaws

The Board of Directors at its initiative or upon the written request of twenty five percent (25%) of the general body may recommend an amendment to the bylaws and or adopt new bylaws. The proposed amendment or adoption of the new bylaws shall be adopted by a

special 2/3 quorum of the general body with 2/3 majority vote. At least two days written notice shall be given of intention to alter, amend or repeal or to adopt new bylaws at such meeting.

If at least thirty days written notice is given of intention to alter, amend or repeal or to adopt new bylaws at such meeting, these bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and

new bylaws approved by the members and may be adopted by majority of the Board of Directors present at any regular meeting or at any special meeting.

Note:

1 "Zainabia" is a Community Center for gathering. In this constitution it refers to the Community Center.

2 The term family or household Includes husband, wife and their dependent children (under the age of 18 years), or a single spouse and their dependent children (under the age of 18 years} or a single Individual of at least 18 years of age.

3 Shia lthna Ashari Muslim refers to the branch of Shia School of Thought that believes in the divinely appointed twelve Holy infallible Imams after Prophet Muhammad (S.A), The believers of the twelve Holy infallible Imams who follow the Fiqh-e-Jafaria, the jurisprudence of Islam are also known as Shia lthna Ashari.

 

Signed on January 09, 2006

1. Ayed Ali Jawad

2. Mir A. Zaheer

3. Mohsen Erfanfar

4. Mohammad Al Hassani

5. Jasim Alawadi

6. Zaheer Rizvi