Telugu Cultural Association, Austin (TCA) is incorporated in the State of Texas on April 10 1998.
PREAMBLE
Whereas over the years the number of Indo-Americans of Telugu Origin in Austin, Texas and surrounding areas has been growing; and whereas interest in maintaining Telugu tradition is significant among the Indo-Americans of Telugu origin; and whereas it is deemed desirable to form an association with a view to serving their common interests; such an association is formed herewith by such persons.
Article I - Name
Section 1
The name of the association shall be Telugu Cultural Association, Austin, Texas; hereafter referred to as the Association.
Article II - Objectives
Section 1
The Association shall be a non-profit organization and shall remain so during its lifetime.
Section 2
The Association shall organize educational, charitable, literary, cultural and other activities for the common good of the membership.
Section 3
The Association shall initiate, sponsor and support activities that help members and their children develop an awareness and an understanding of the Telugu language, Telugu history, and Telugu culture.
Section 4
The Association will promote friendship, fellowship, and mutual understanding among the members, between the members and the community at large.
Section 5
The Association shall coordinate its activities with other similar organizations with similar objectives in the United States and abroad.
Section 6
The Association may raise, solicit, collect and disburse funds, charities, and donations for cultural, educational, and humanitarian purposes either directly or in cooperation with other registered non-profit organizations in the United States and abroad.
Section 7
No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 2 hereof. The Association shall carry on all such lawful activities which a non-profit organization, organized for educational, charitable, religious, literary, and cultural purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue Code of 1954 may be empowered. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be for carrying on propaganda, lobbying, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are tax deductible under section 1 70(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code.
Section 8
Upon the dissolution of the Association, its assets shall be distributed for one or more tax exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal Government or to a state or local Government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Please of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
Section 9
The period of its duration is perpetual.
Article III - Membership
Section 1
The membership shall be open to all people of Indian origin, their relatives, and those who have an interest in the Telugu culture and traditions, and who shall abide by the rules and regulations laid down in these articles of incorporation, or amendments thereof, and who shall abide by the Bylaws of the Association, and the procedures and practices of the Association, or amendments thereof from time to time.
Section 2
The qualifications of the members of the Association and a determination of the different classes of membership shall be established and set forth in the Bylaws of the Association, and the membership shall not be transferable.
Section 3
The Association membership is voluntary and no member shall have the right to sue the Association or the Association officers in the court of law.
Section 4
No member shall speak politically or take a political stand on behalf of the Association.
Article IV - Government
Section 1
There shall be a governing body for the management of the offices of the Association, which shall include at least an elected Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer and four executive committee members.
Section 2
The composition of the governing body, the election of the officers, their duties, and designations not specified in Section 1 and related subjects shall be defined by Bylaws.
Article V - Amendments
Section 1
This constitution can be amended by the Association members (in good standing) present at a meeting or by postal ballot.
Section 2
The membership must be given a notice of at least three weeks for the meeting along with the proposed amendments.
Section 3
A simple majority of those Voting shall be required to pass the amendments, which shall become effective immediately.
Article VI - Bylaws
Section 1
The Association shall enact Bylaws on all subjects specified by the constitution and all matters that may be required or appropriate for the efficient functioning of the Association.
Section 2
The Bylaws may be enabled or amended at any meeting of the Association membership or by postal ballot.
Section 3
A two-third majority of the members present and/or voting shall be required to enact or amend the bylaws.
Article VII - Dissolution
Section 1
In the event of unforeseen situations where dissolution of the Association becomes imminent, or on the request of four-fifths of membership should it be decided to dissolve the Association, all the funds at hand after paying all outstanding bills be donated to some other tax exempt organization(s) as stated in Article 2 (Section 8) of this Articles of Incorporation.
Section 2
The organization to which the funds will be donated in the event of imminent dissolution of the Association will be decided by the four-fifths majority of the general body of membership.
Article VIII - Address
The street address of the initial registered office of the corporation is 12412 Copperfield Drive, Austin Texas 78753-7064 and the name of the corporation's initial registered agent at this address is Mr. Rayudu Vrudhula.
Article IX - Directors
The number of Directors constituting the initial board of directors of the corporation is 3 (three) and the names and addresses of the persons who are to server as the initial directors are:
Rayudu Vrudhula, 12412 Copperfield Drive, Austin, Texas 78753-7064
Bhaskar Kompella, 3505 South Lamar Blvd. #1056, Austin, Texas 78704
Vasu Neerukonda, 14100 Thermal Drive #1808, Austin, Texas 78728
Article X - Incorporator
The name and address of the incorporator is Rayudu Vrudhula, 12412 Copperfield Drive, Austin, Texas 78753-7064.
In witness whereof, I have executed these Articles of Incorporation on this 10th day of April, 1998. signed Rayudu Vrudhula
State of Texas, County of Travis.
I, the undersigned, a Notary Public for the State of Texas, do hereby certify that on this the 10th day of April, 1998, personally appeared before me Rayudu Vrudhula, who being by me duly sworn, declared that he is the incorporator who signed the foregoing document as incorporator, and the statements contained in it are true.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of April, 1998.
seal-stamp and signature of Laura Wiley, Notary Public in and for the State of Texas.
