as amended in October 2011
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Preamble
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We, practitioners of Anthropology in the Philippines, in order to establish an organization that shall embody our ideals, promote closer working relationships among ourselves, enhance professional growth and help in the understanding and crafting of solutions to problems of our fellow Filipinos, do promulgate this Constitution and Bylaws.
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Article I
Section 1. Name. The name of the Association shall be Ugnayang Pang-AghamTao, Inc. (UGAT),also known as the Anthropological Association of the Philippines.
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Article II
Section 1. Objectives of the Organization and Code of Ethics. The following shall be the objectives of the organization:
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a. promote, develop, and disseminate anthropological knowledge;
b. promote, deepen the knowledge, understanding and participation of and among ethnolinguistic groups in working towards a multicultural national consciousness and development;
c. promote and forge linkages among anthropologists and others doing related work within the country and other parts of the world; and,
d. uphold professional ethics as stated in the Constitution.
Section 2. The following shall be the Code of Ethics of the Organization:
a. An anthropologist must be scientifically informed and relevant to national and community goals; sincere to any host community and obliged to explain to them the objectives and implications of any research; to listen to criticism by the host community of the research he/she has conducted; and eventually to provide them copies of the finished work(s), with one copy ideally in their language.
b. Anthropologists doing research have the obligation to make available the results of their research to the host community, the scientific community, and the society at large.
c. Anthropologists have the right and the obligation to criticize unethical practices of fellow anthropologists and other individuals and institutions.
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Article III
Section 1. Categories of Membership. UGAT shall be composed of the following:
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a. Regular Members
(i) those who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts or Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology;
(ii) those who are deemed acceptable by the Committee on Membership by reason of some special contribution to anthropology, anthropological research or the promotion of anthropological activities; and,
b. Lifetime Members. These are members who paid equivalent of ten years membership fee prior to 2010.
c. Institutional Members. These are organizations and/or institutions that take an interest in and contribute to the attainment of the goals of UGAT and are deemed acceptable by the Committee on Membership.
Section 2. Application for Membership.
a. Regular Membership. Any person eligible for and desiring admission to membership shall file a written application with the Committee on Membership.
b. Institutional Membership. Any organization and/or institution eligible for and desiring admission to membership shall file a written application with the Committee on Membership.
Section 3. Publication of Membership. The roster of UGAT members will be published in the UGAT website and updated after the annual general assembly.
Section 4. Dues. The annual fee for regular members and institutional members shall be determined by the UGAT Board. Payment of membership fee entitles the member to a copy of the current issue of the AghamTao journal. Members can also avail of other UGAT publications at a discounted price.
Section 5. Tenure. Membership is valid for one year upon payment of the annual membership fee.
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Article IV
Section 1. Duties of Members. The principal duties of members are the following:
a. contribute to the attainment of the goals of UGAT;
b. attend annual meetings/conferences;
c. pay the annual dues;
d. elect the members of the Board of Directors;
e. abide by the Code of Ethics; and,
f. perform other duties as the General Assembly may decide for implementation.
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Article V
Section 1. Board of Directors. The corporate powers of UGAT shall be exercised, its business conducted, and its property controlled by a board of seventeen (17) directors which shall consist of fifteen (15) elected members and one (2) ex officio members who are the Executive Director and the AghamTao Editor. The fifteen (15) elected members shall be elected by the regular members during the General Assembly ; provided, that they shall so classify themselves such that the term of office of one-third (1/3) of their numbers shall expire every year; and subsequent elections of directors comprising one-third (1/3) of the board shall be held annually and directors so elected shall have a term of three (3) years; provided further, that directors thereafter elected to fill vacancies occurring before the expiration of a particular term shall hold office only for the unexpired period in accordance with Section 6 of this article. Provided finally, that no person shall be elected as director unless she/he is a member of the corporation.
Section 2. Election of Officers of the Board. Immediately after their election, the new directors shall meet as a board to elect from among themselves the officers of UGAT, namely: a president, three vice-presidents (one for each island group), a secretary, and a treasurer. The officers of the Board shall serve a term of one year.
All Directors are subject only to a subsequent second term. S/he may seek reelection only after the lapse of one year.
Section 3. Ex officio Members.
a. Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board for a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to reappointment for subsequent terms. S/he shall perform the duties prescribed by the Board.
b. AghamTao Editor. The AghamTao Editor shall be appointed by the Board for a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to reappointment for subsequent terms. S/he shall be responsible for the regular publication of the AghamTao.
Section 4. Board Meetings. The Board shall meet at least twice a year to transact corporate business. Special meetings may be called, upon the request of a majority of the members of the Board.
Section 5. Quorum. A simple majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum of the Board of any meeting; an affirmative vote of at least a simple majority of such quorum shall be necessary to pass any resolution or authorize any corporate act.
Section 6. Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board occurring during an unexpired term, caused by death, resignation, removal from office or inability to act may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the said Board until the succeeding election, provided, however, that in the case of the Presidency, a Vice-President (selected during the first Board meeting after the annual general assembly) shall assume the office of interim President until the Secretary has called a meeting for the purpose of electing a new President. .
Section 7. Removal of Board Members. Any director of the corporation may be removed from office by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members entitled to vote; provided, that such removal shall take place either at a regular meeting of the corporation or at a special meeting called for the purpose, and in either case, after previous notice to the members of the intention to propose such removal at the meeting. A special meeting of the members of the corporation for the purpose of removal of directors, or any of them, must be called by the Secretary on order of the President or on written demand of the majority of the members entitled to vote. Should the Secretary fail or refuse to give notice, or if there is no Secretary, the call for the meeting may be addressed directly to the members by any member signing the demand. Notice of time and place of such meeting, as well as the intention to propose such removal must be given by publication or written notice as prescribed by the vacancy resulting from removal pursuant to this section may be filled by election at the same meeting without further notice, or at any regular or at any special meeting called for the purpose after giving notice as prescribed by corporation code and the UGAT Constitution and Bylaws.
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Article VI
Section 1. The Executive Committee
A. The Executive Committee shall be composed of eleven (11) members of the organization, six (6) of whom shall be heads of the standing committees two (2) non-board members to be appointed by the Board, the Executive Director, the Secretary, and the President as Chair. Said Committee may act, by majority vote of all of its members, on such specific matters within the competence of the Board as delegated to it by a majority vote of the Board, except with respect to:
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a. approval of any action for which members’ approval is also required;
b. the filling of vacancies in the Board;
c. the amendment or repeal of Bylaws or the adoption of new Bylaws; and,
d. the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by its expressed terms cannot be repealed.
B. The following are the authorized powers of the Executive Committee and acts and incidents pursuant to and in the exercise thereof shall be considered within its competence:
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a. it shall manage and supervise the day to day business of the organization, which includes the organization of the annual conference, logistics required for the publication of AghamTao, and other public engagements decided upon by the Board; and,
b. pursuant to paragraph A of this section, to meet regularly to transact corporate business within its designated authority; provided that a special meeting may be called upon the written request of any of the members given at least one week prior to the said meeting.
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C. Tenure and Vacancies. Membership to the Executive Committee shall be one year; provided, however, that removal from the Executive Committee shall not mean or in no way to be interpreted as a removal from his office until successors are duly elected and qualified. Removal of Board members shall be done in accordance with Section 7 of Article V of the Constitution as amended.
Section 2. President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of UGAT. In addition to such duties as may be delegated to him by the Board of Directors, s/he shall preside at all meetings of the association and call to order all meetings of the executive committee. S/he shall have general supervision of the business affairs and property of the association, and over its several officers and employees. S/he shall execute all resolutions of the Board. The President shall submit to the Board as soon as possible after the close of each calendar year and to the members of UGAT at the annual meeting a complete report of the operations of the association for the preceding year, and the state of its affairs, and shall report to the Board all matters within his/her knowledge that may affect the integrity of the systems and procedures of the organization.
Section 3. Vice-Presidents. Vice-Presidents shall initiate and manage linkages within their respective island group and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Vice-President selected by the Board to succeed the President shall automatically assume the duties and title of President in the event of the latter’s resignation, incapacity, or a continuous absence of six (6) months from the country.
Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall take and keep minutes of all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and of all committees, in a book kept for that purpose, and shall furnish a copy of all such minutes to the Board, and when authorized by the Board of Directors. S/he shall receive all application for membership and serve as the custodian of all documents related to UGAT.
Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds, securities, receipts, and disbursements of UGAT. S/he shall deposit or cause to be deposited all money and valuable effects of UGAT in such banks or trust companies as the Board of Directors may designate. S/he shall render to the President or to the Board of Directors, whenever required, an account of the financial condition of UGAT and all transactions made by him/her as treasurer and countersigned by the President and Executive Officers of the Board as designated by the Board.
Article VII
Section 1. Standing Committees. The following are the committees of UGAT, the members of which shall be appointed by the Board of Directors:
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Membership Committee;
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Ethics Committee;
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Finance Committee;
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Publications Committee;
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Public Relations Committee
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Special Projects Committee
Section 2. The Board may organize other committees as it may deem proper and necessary.
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Bylaws
Article I
Meetings of the Association
Section 1. Annual Meeting and Conference. The annual meeting and conference shall be held on the fourth week of October unless the Board of Directors deems it desirable to designate another date. All other meetings shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special Meetings. The Board of Directors shall have the right to call a special meeting at anytime. Special meetings shall also be called upon written request of at least twenty regular members stating the specific business to be brought before such special meeting.
Notice of all meetings, together with a statement of the purpose of such meetings, shall be delivered to each member at least five (5) days prior to the meetings, or mailed to them at least two (2) weeks prior thereto, provided however, that said notice may be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, published in Manila at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Quorum. A simple majority of all regular members of UGAT shall represent a quorum for all meetings of the association, unless otherwise provided by law, provided that notice of meeting shall have been mailed to all regular members at least two (2) weeks before the set date for the meeting.
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Article II
Voting Power and Election
Section 1. At all corporate meetings, each regular member shall be entitled to vote in person.
Section 2. The election shall be by secret ballot. No voting by proxy shall be allowed.
Section 3. Nominees to the Board of Directors should be present during the election.
Section 4. The election of the Board of Directors shall take place during the Annual General Assembly to be supervised by the Election Committee created by the Board prior to the General Assembly.
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Article III
Amendments
Section 1. Methods of Amending. These Bylaws may be amended, or repealed, or new
Bylaws adopted in any of the following way, to wit:
a. by a vote of the majority of all members present at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called for the purpose; and,
b. by the Board of Directors when delegated thereto by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all members present at the meeting.
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