Governing Documents

Constitution

The Constitution of AGOMONI St Louis Corporation.

INTRODUCTION

We, residents of the Greater St Louis area with roots in the Indian subcontinent, have come together to celebrate common traditional festive occasions and to promote friendship, goodwill, and cooperation among ourselves and with other members of the community. We have decided to form a non-profit organization and adopt the rules, principles, and objectives outlined in this constitution.

AGOMONI STL will adhere to the following provisions:

A. Purpose: AGOMONI STL is organized exclusively for social, cultural, and philanthropic purposes. This includes making distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of future federal tax codes.

B. Earnings: No part of the net earnings of AGOMONI STL shall benefit or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private individuals. However, AGOMONI STL may compensate individuals for services rendered and make payments and distributions to fulfill the purposes outlined in this constitution. AGOMONI STL will not devote a substantial part of its activities to lobbying or attempting to influence legislation. Additionally, AGOMONI STL will not participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Furthermore, AGOMONI STL shall not engage in activities that are not permitted for an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any corresponding section of future federal tax codes, nor for organizations whose contributions are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code or any future equivalent.

C. Dissolution: Upon the dissolution of AGOMONI STL, its assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or to the federal government, or to a state or local government for public purposes. If any assets remain undisposed of, they will be distributed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county where AGOMONI STL's principal office is located, exclusively for purposes that align with this mission, or to organizations dedicated to similar exempt purposes as determined by the Court.

Annexure I: The Assets will be disclosed only upon request.

Article 1: Name

This organization shall be known as AGOMONI St Louis Corporation (AGOMONI STL).

Article 2: Office

The organization's office shall be in St Charles, Missouri, or such other location as determined by the Board of Directors.

Article 3: Board of Directors

Section 1. Authority: The Board of Directors shall govern the organization's affairs and have the final authority to make decisions on any matters related to the Organization.

Section 2. Number: The Board shall consist of no fewer than four (4) and no more than nine (9) directors.

Section 3. Terms: Directors are the founding members and will serve on the Board until they retire or pass the baton to someone else. The director can only be removed by a two-thirds majority of the General Body.

Section 4. Duties: The Board shall provide strategic direction, participate actively in fundraising, approve budgets, ensure effective organizational planning, risk management, and legal compliance, and oversee audit activities.

Section 5. Meetings: The Board shall meet at least quarterly.

Section 6. Quorum: A simple majority of directors shall constitute a quorum.

Article 4: Membership

Membership in the organization will adhere to the following rules and regulations:

Section 1. There will be provision of Life Membership, Term Membership, Annual Membership, and Student Membership.

Section 2. Validity: Life membership (10 years), Term Membership (3/5 years), Annual Membership (Yearly), and Student (must show a valid student ID) Membership (Yearly).

Section 3. Membership will be void if a member fails to attend at least one AGOMONI STL-sponsored event or meeting within a three-year period. Current CC members may consider exceptions to this rule.

Section 4. Members will enjoy all benefits and privileges associated with Annual Membership.

Section 5. Life Members of AGOMONI STL will retain their benefits and privileges; however, their membership will also be voided if they fail to attend at least one AGOMONI STL-sponsored event or meeting within three years. Any exceptions to this, including full repayment of the original membership fee, may be evaluated by current CC members.

Agomoni-STL membership provides cultural enrichment and meaningful community engagement for individuals and families. Members enjoy access to cultural programs, festive celebrations, picnics, and volunteer activities that strengthen connections across the Greater St Louis area. With annual, senior, student, and term/life options, membership extends benefits to the entire household and includes discounted event rates.

Key membership benefits include:

  • Cultural Engagement: Access to various cultural programs and festive celebrations hosted throughout the year, as determined by the Agomoni-STL Coordinating Committee.
  • Community Activities: Participation in community events such as picnics and social gatherings.
  • Volunteer Opportunities: Chances to engage in volunteer services and support the community.
  • Family Coverage: Membership covers the individual applicant as well as dependent members of their family or household.
  • Networking: Opportunities to connect with the Bengali community in the greater St Louis area.
  • Communications: Receipt of email updates about community events.

Membership options include Annual Member, Senior Member, Student Member, or Term/Life Member, with dues fixed by the General Body.

Any individual who agrees with the rules, bylaws, principles, and objectives of the Association may become an Annual Member, Student Member, or a Term/Life Member upon payment of appropriate dues. The membership dues for each year are fixed by the General Body. Dependent members of the family or household of an Annual Member, Student Member, or Term/Life Member are included in the membership of the Association.

Dependent members will include the following:

  • Parents aged 65 years or older residing in the same household
  • Children under 18 years of age residing with the member

Only members aged 18 years or older are eligible to vote in organizational elections.

Annual membership is valid from 01 April to 31 March.

Each Fiscal Year of the Association begins on the first day of April and ends on the last day of March of the next year.

RETURN & REFUND POLICY: Membership payments are non-refundable.

Article 5: Officers and Organizational Structure

The Organization will be composed of the following components:

Section 1. General Body: This is the supreme body of the organization, consisting of the Board of Directors. If a Board of Directors wants to withdraw from the Organization, they may nominate another member; however, the final call to add someone to the Board of Directors will always lie in the hands of the other Board of Directors and needs to be approved by at least a two-thirds majority. Section 2. Coordinating Committee (CC): The CC will be elected by the Board of Directors until the organization's membership reaches 50 or more members, at which point elections will be held to select it. It will be accountable to the General Body and will comprise seven members elected every three years at a General Body Meeting through a majority vote. The General Body will ensure the transparency and accountability of the CC’s activities in accordance with the AGOMONI STL Constitution. The General Body of the Organization will have the power to appoint a Coordinating Committee member if someone is absent for a period during their three-year term.

Section 3. Term of Office: The term of office for the CC will last for three fiscal years. The CC will include the following positions:

i. President

ii. Secretary

iii. Treasurer

iv. Four Functional Committee Coordinators, namely:

a. Festival and Decoration

b. Food and Facility

c. Cultural

d. Publication and Fundraising/Collection

All other registered members will be given the opportunity to serve as Executive Committee members selected by the President of the Coordinating Committee for a particular event, and they will work under the Functional Committee Coordinators in each division.

Section 4. Major Responsibilities and Eligibility Requirements:

1. President: This position requires a bona fide member of AGOMONI STL who is at least 21 years old, has been a member for a minimum of three consecutive years, and has served at least once on the AGOMONI CC. This will be relaxed for the first 4 years of the organization's formation in 2026. The President will provide leadership and direction and maintain discipline within the CC. Discussions among CC members will occur under the President’s guidance or, in the President’s absence, under the Secretary's oversight. The President will also manage the facility and may choose to form a subcommittee for this purpose. Additionally, the President will be designated to handle matters related to the State of Missouri grants.

2. Secretary: To be eligible for this role, a candidate must be a bona fide member of AGOMONI STL over the age of 21 and have been a member for at least three years, except for the first three years of the organization's formation in the year 2026. The Secretary will take suggestions from members, schedule CC meetings, act as a liaison for members of the Functional Committee, and plan, support, and organize AGOMONI STL's functions. Responsibilities also include drafting and maintaining all meeting minutes, records, memos, announcements, and other important documents in their office files. These records may be presented to the General Body for approval when necessary. The Secretary will communicate final decisions, announcements, or plans to CC members through approved publications and will be responsible for event decorations as needed, with the option to form a subcommittee for this purpose

3. Treasurer: To be eligible for the post of Treasurer, a bona fide member of AGOMONI STL must be over 21 years of age and have been a member for at least three years, except for the first three years of the organization's formation in the year 2026. The Treasurer will be responsible for maintaining the financial accounts, including income and expenses; providing guidance to the board on annual budget planning; allocating the budget for each event; and filing income tax returns with the IRS. They will have the authority to sign payment checks, as determined by the Coordinating Committee (CC) and approved by the President. A dual signature is required on checks if the amount is above $1000. The dual signature authority will be with the Treasurer and the President. In the absence of one, the Secretary will have the authority to sign along with either the Treasurer or the President to sign the check as necessary. In the absence of the Treasurer, the President will have the authority to sign for any check payments. In the absence of both the Treasurer and the President, the Secretary will have the authority to sign checks for clearance. The Organization's Annual Financial Budget will be determined by the General Body. Any approval of amounts above the allocated budget must pass through the President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Additionally, the Treasurer will support the auditor during the end-of-year audit and coordinate with them on all required documents. They will also draft the final Income-Expense Report for approval by the General Members at the next General Body Meeting.

4. Functional Committee Coordinators: There are four Coordinators: (a) Event, (b) Food, (c) Cultural, and (d) Publication and Fundraising/Collection. Each Coordinator must be a bonafide member of AGOMONI STL and at least 21 years old. The Functional Committee Coordinators will assist the Secretary/President of the CC in planning, organizing, and carrying out their responsibilities, and will keep the Secretary informed of their activities. They will report their progress or updates to the Secretary for inclusion in reports to the General Body.

5. Functional Committee Coordinators will be helped by Executive Committee members (all registered members of the Organization) appointed with the approval of the President of the Coordinating Committee to form their own groups within their respective fields of operation for the term/event. The members of these groups must be adult bona fide members of AGOMONI STL but cannot be members of the CC. Exceptions can be made for any special or major events.

6. Regarding policy matters and the content on the AGOMONI STL website, only the General Body is authorized to communicate with AGOMONI STL members and external parties. The CC will select a web admin to perform tasks in line with CC guidelines under the direct supervision of the President. The web admin's duties include updating and maintaining the website.

7. Term Limits: No CC member may serve on the same post for more than three consecutive years. After a one-year break, they may be re-elected as CC members.

8. AGOMONI STL will sponsor a variety of cultural programs throughout the year, including picnics, festive celebrations, social and cultural events, and volunteer services, as determined by the Coordinating Committee (CC) and the General Body. To encourage greater participation in AGOMONI STL, email communication regarding these programs should be sent to all community members, regardless of their membership status.

  • No member is permitted to use the name AGOMONI STL for personal purposes. The group email list for AGOMONI STL is to be used only by the current Secretary, with the approval of the President and/or the General Body.

10. A simple majority vote must settle any unresolved conflicts or issues within the CC during a CC meeting. Any outstanding issues should be presented at the General Body meeting for a final resolution, and the Board of Directors will make the final decision on any dispute.

Article 6: Election

A. On Election Day, the General Body will select three (3) members for the Nominating Committee. Only the names of adult AGOMONI STL members present may be proposed. If more than three names are submitted, a secret ballot election will be held. The newly elected Nominating Committee members will also choose the President on the same day.

B. The Nominating Committee will serve a three-year term that aligns with the current CC (Coordinating Committee). They are responsible for nominating candidates, excluding themselves, for the next CC and for filling any interim vacancies in the existing CC. At least 45 days before General Election Day, the Nominating Committee must submit to the current CC at least one candidate for each of the seven positions for the upcoming year.

C. In addition to the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee, any member of the General Body can nominate others for any of the seven CC positions. These nominations require the candidates’ consent and must be seconded by another AGOMONI STL member. All nominations must be submitted to the President of the CC at least 30 days before the General Election Day.

D. The CC election will occur on the second or third weekend of April every 3 years.

  • All members, except for life members, who have paid their dues by January 31st of the fiscal year, will be eligible to vote in the CC election.
  • A list (ballot) of candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee and General Body members for each of the seven categories of the CC will be given to eligible General Body members for voting. Ballots from members who vote for more than one candidate in a single category will be automatically invalidated.
  • Members are allowed to cast their votes only through absentee ballots sent by U.S. Mail. These ballots must be received at the AGOMONI STL P.O. Box at least 48 hours before Election Day. The AGOMONI STL P.O. Box will be established at least three months before the first election of AGOMONI STL, and this will be communicated to all its members. Absentee ballots will be opened in the presence of the election officer on Election Day. If a member cannot attend on Election Day, they may request an absentee ballot from the CC no later than 15 days before the election.
  • Three Election Officers, appointed by the CC, will oversee the elections. The decisions made by the Election Officers are final and binding. Vote counting will be conducted openly and exclusively by the Election Officers.
  • Campaigning from the floor for nominations during the election is not permitted.
  • Elections for the formation of the Coordinating Committee (CC) each term will only take place when the Organization has 50 or more registered members. If the membership doesn’t reach 50, the coordinating committee will be formed each term by the General Body.

Article 7: Meetings and Business

  • The President of the Coordination Committee (CC) will schedule all meetings. The Secretary of the CC will be responsible for coordinating the CC's activities. Any written suggestions from General Members will be discussed during CC meetings. The final decision on these suggestions will be communicated to the members who submitted them. At the CC's discretion, certain suggestions may be presented to the General Body for approval or rejection.

B. The CC will hold a General Body meeting at least twice a year, excluding Election Day. One meeting will take place in May or on another suitable date set by the CC to plan activities for the upcoming fiscal year. During this meeting, the outgoing Treasurer will present the year-end financial reports and the audit report for approval. The new Treasurer will then propose the budget for the current fiscal year, which must be approved by a majority of the General Body members. Additionally, a General Body meeting will be held at least three months before Durga Puja, with a primary focus on preparations for the year's most important festival. This key meeting aims to encourage active participation and constructive input from general members. The General Body may also suggest additional members for the Functional Committee for this event.

  • The agenda for the General Body meeting will be suggested by the Coord Committee (CC). Input from general members for the agenda will be considered if submitted at least five days before the meeting; however, inclusion is at the CC's discretion. The agenda must include a "Miscellaneous" item related to AGOMONI STL. The minutes of the meeting will be recorded by the Secretary and approved by the President of the CC for ratification at the next General Body meeting. The minutes will become the property of the organization.

D. Twenty percent of the total membership can request the CC to call a General Body meeting at any time to discuss important issues concerning the organization. The meeting will be scheduled within six weeks after receipt of the notice.

E. For a General Body meeting, a quorum will be twenty percent of the total membership.

F. A simple majority vote of the members present at the meeting will decide on the issues and resolutions. Notice about the General Body meeting must be sent out at least one month before the meeting date to ensure maximum participation. In exceptional cases, a special General Body meeting may be convened by the President of the CC to seek input from members.

Article 8: Fiscal Year

The organization's fiscal year will run from April 1st to March 31st of the following year.

Article 9: Registration

i) The organization is registered as a nonprofit in the State of Missouri.

ii) Donations or contributions to AGOMONI STL CORPORATION are tax-exempt.

iii) Any purchases made for the use of AGOMONI STL CORPORATION are exempt from sales tax.

Article 10: Finances

A. The CC will designate the custodians responsible for the money and property belonging to the Organization. The outgoing CC will prepare a comprehensive inventory of all properties and must hand it over to the Treasurer of the newly elected CC on or before March 31st of that year, on which their term ends. All funds will be deposited in a bank for safekeeping. The CC will act as the Trustee of the Organization with respect to the funds and property. A year-end audit of AGOMONI STL's annual accounts is required.

B. In addition to regular events, the CC is authorized to spend a total of $500 on other expenses for the current fiscal year without requiring approval from the General Body.

C. Any surplus funds should be deposited into a Certificate of Deposit (CD) account/ or in a High-yield Savings Account at the bank. These funds will be used only for necessary purchases, such as new idols (Pratima), sound systems, or other items, with the approval of the General Body.

D. The Treasurer will submit an unaudited financial report for the current fiscal year by February 28th, which will detail the income and expenses of the fiscal year. All bank statements, CD documents, checkbooks, and other financial records must be handed over to the newly elected Treasurer of the next fiscal year CC by March 31st of each term.

Article 11: Conflicts of Interest

All directors and officers shall disclose any conflicts of interest. A formal conflict-of-interest policy should be maintained.

Article 12: Indemnification

The Organization shall fully indemnify its Directors and Officers as permitted by Missouri Law.

Article 13: Amendments

The General Body may initiate an amendment to the constitution by electing an Amendment Committee. This committee shall submit the proposed amendments to the President of the CC by the assigned date. The CC will then present the proposed amendments to the General Body one month before the meeting for consideration. All or part of the proposed amendments must be approved by at least 75% of the members present at the General Body meeting. All approved changes shall be incorporated into the constitution.

ADOPTION:

We, the members of AGOMONI STL, committed to preserving Bengali culture and the values encapsulated in this Constitution, unanimously adopted this Constitution on March 20, 2026. In witness whereof, the members of the General Body have signed below.

A copy of the current version of the constitution shall be mailed to the following agencies:

1) Internal Revenue Service

2) Secretary of State, Missouri State Government

3) Department of Finance, Missouri State Government

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