National Indo-American
Association for Senior Citizens Inc. (NIAASC)
Mailing address: 7 Roberta
Avenue, Farmingville, NY 11738 E-mail:
niaasc@aol.com Web site: www.niaasc.org
PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR
ESTABLISHING CHAPTERS
MISSION AND OBJECTIVES of NIAASC
Mission
of the National Indo-American Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC) is to
serve as the leading national information, referral and advocacy organization
committed to the well-being and quality of life of Indo-Americans in their
senior years. The objectives include: creating awareness of Indo-American
senior issues and needs; providing information on issues and services; advocacy
at the local, state and national levels on seniors' issues; forging
collaborations with public and private service providers; providing advisory
support to Indian community, business and professional groups in developing
senior programs and services; educating the public through workshops,
conferences and seminars to address senior issues; and working with Indian and
other groups to collect and store information regarding senior issues and
problems.
ELIGIBILITY
TO BECOME NIAASC CHAPTER
Any
organization or group that subscribes to the mission and objectives of NIAASC
and finds them compatible with their mission and objectives can become a
chapter of NIAASC if it meets the following conditions:
- Has at
least 20 members actively involved in its activities related to seniors;
- Has
developed formal Constitution and Bylaws, or Procedures of Operation;
- Has an
elected Board or Advisory Council (names are generic);
- Has
been in operation at least for one year.
The
Organization should be a not for profit entity. It may or may not be
incorporated. The group could also be a committee of an established not for profit
501C3 organization with the main focus on seniors of Indian origin. In such a
situation the parent entity would be the chapter of NIAASC and the subsidiary
group will be recognized by NIAASC for its involvement with seniors. In certain
situations NIAASC will help an informal group to initiate a chapter from
inception, if there are at least five individuals interested in a cohesive way
to form a chapter.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF NIAASC
AND ITS CHAPTER:
NIAASC
will discharge its responsibilities within the framework of its constitution
and bylaws. The chapter will follow the same process. NIAASC can help the
chapter in the following manner and the chapter will reciprocate, wherever
applicable:
-
Exchange information in a manner conducive to a positive understanding and
growth;
- NIAASC will assist the
chapter in its initiation efforts, if needed. It will also provide assistance
in developing constitution & bylaws or procedures of operation;
- NIAASC will refer all
inquiries received through its toll free telephone or correspondence to
the chapter if the geographic area of
the caller falls within the chapter operation. It will also assist the chapter in addressing concerns of callers
by identifying resources in that region;
- The chapter will maintain
a roster of its members, and will transmit any appropriate news from NIAASC to
them;
- NIAASC will have a column
in its newsletter for ‘news from chapters’ and expects the chapter, if it
publishes a newsletter, to have a similar column for ‘news from NIAASC'
- The chapter will identify
its NIAASC membership by displaying the NIAASC logo, a proper notation ‘member
of NIAASC’ or printing on its letterhead ‘chapter of NIAASC.’
-
The chapter and NIAASC will have complete independence in their operations.
Each will be exempt from any kind of liability likely to arise from
any published information or activity undertaken. NIAASC and/or its Board
members will not have any liability because of the action of chapter, including
an activity undertaken by the chapter in collaboration with NIAASC.
Same exemption will apply to the chapter;
- NIAASC
can act as an administrative or fiscal management agent for a fee to be
negotiated between the two parties through a memorandum of
understanding;
-
Any grant or funding allocated to the chapter by a private or public entity can
be channeled through NIAASC for a 15%
administrative or fiscal fee. A request for funding by the chapter will reflect
this arrangement to seek administrative fee from the funding
agency.
-
The geographic boundaries for a chapter will be determined case by case, but
underlying principle will be not to have
another chapter within 50 miles of radius of an existing chapter.
CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP FEES:
NIAASC
has adopted a fee structure for its membership from individuals and
organizations in its bylaws. It is assumed that a chapter will also have a fee
structure for its membership in its bylaws or procedures of operation. If the
chapter is not an incorporated body it can enroll members for NIAASC (minimum
5-year membership – currently $40.00). Of the membership dues so collected by NIAASC,
25% will be allocated for the benefit of the chapter. If the chapter is an
incorporated not for profit entity, it may not enroll members for NIAASC.
Each
chapter will have a voting representative on the General Body of NIAASC, whose
selection will be determined by the chapter. The number of representatives on
the NIAASC General Body will be determined according to the formula stipulated
herewith:
If the chapter has 50 or fewer members in good
standing, it will have one vote in the General body;
If its membership is 51 but less than 150 it will
have two votes;
If the membership is 151 but less
than 300, it will have three votes; and
If the membership exceeds 300 it
will have four voting representatives.
Each
chapter will certify its membership and submit the certification to NIAASC
along with the name(s) of voting representative(s)
In
order to maintain an ongoing communication between NIAASC and the chapter the
chapter will be obligated to pay $20.00 per voting representative per year. The
annual dues will range from $20.00 to $80.00 depending on the chapter
membership.
PROCESS OF CHAPTER
ACCEPTANCE BY NIAASC:
An
entity could request a membership application from NIAASC and submit it with
appropriate enclosures to NIAASC. The enclosures will be: Copy of the
Constitution and Bylaws, Officers of the Organization, Membership in Good
Standing, its affirmation to the NIAASC mission and objectives, and its membership
certification. If a chapter is being initiated in collaboration with NIAASC,
then the information required will already be available with NIAASC. Enrollment
of chapter, if approved by the Board of Directors of NIAASC, will be effective
following January 1 and will be good for a calendar year.
After
receiving the complete application the NIAASC Board will review it and seek any
additional information if so necessitated. The application will be submitted in
triplicate but there will be only one set of enclosures. Approval process may
take 3-6 months. It will be therefore advisable to submit the application in
early summer.
=================================================================================
APPLICATION FORM FOLLOWS
NATIONAL INDO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS INC. (NIAASC)