Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) Bylaws

Transcription

1 Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) Bylaws Article I. Name of the Corporation The name of the corporation shall be Islamic Community of Northwest, hereafter referred to as ICON, center and << name of the>> masjid. Article II. Governing Law The corporation was incorporated in the State of Washington on Month Date, 2017 pursuant to the Chapter RCW, Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act. Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 1

2 1. Date of Adoption The Bylaws are being adopted starting on Mar 5, Board of Directors at Time of Adoption of Bylaws The Board of Directors at the time of adoption of the Bylaws are Initial directors specified in the Articles of Incorporation 3. Principal Office in King County, Washington The principal office to transact business for ICON is located in King County, Washington. The registered office of ICON, required by the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act to be maintained in the State of Washington, may be, but need not be the same as its principal office in the State of Washington. The Board of Directors may change the address of the registered office, from time to time, in the manner provided in the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act. 4. Vision and Pillars 4.1 Vision To build a model American community preserving Islamic values, nurturing goodness for the society, catering to the needs of Muslims regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity and social status; all in the way of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to please Allah (SWT). 4.2 Pillars This vision has three facets i.e. providing services to Muslim Community, giving back to society at large and building next generation leaders from our youth. ICON will realize this vision by a. Providing religious, social and educational services to enable the Muslim community to fulfill its responsibilities towards Allah and human beings. b. Empowering Muslim Community to contribute towards an inclusive and peaceful society partnering with organizations across religious and social boundaries. c. Fostering life long relationship of next generation of Muslim Community with the religion of Islam, community and society 5. Purpose The purposes of the organization are to carry out communal, religious, charitable and educational activities in conformity with the religion of Islam as defined by the Holy Quran and accepted Sunni school of thoughts; to do each and everything necessary, suitable, or proper for the accomplishment of these objectives, including, but not limited to the following: To establish Community Center that encompasses mosque, educational & social services, family activities and other services defined in organization vision. To teach, and to disseminate the Islamic faith among Muslims and non-muslims. To strengthen fraternal bonds and brotherly relationships among Muslims. To conduct religious services and prayers. To revitalize cooperative endeavors with other organizations. To promote friendly relations and understanding between Muslims and followers of other faiths. To engage young generation in constructive activities in an Islamic environment To engage and promote women s programs Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 2

3 The organization shall strive to procure in its affairs and activities, the participation and representation of Muslims of all races, gender, national origin, linguistic or ethnic backgrounds, and Islamic schools of Jurisprudence, without giving preference to any group. The activities of this organization shall be governed by the teachings of the Qur an and the Sunnah. The principle of Shura shall be the governing principle in arriving at decisions. 5.1 Principles of ICON The principles of ICON are as follows: a) ICON will strive to create an open and welcoming environment for the entire family including children as well as single adults in its facilities and activities b) ICON will endeavor to curb hate, hostility and animosity within its jurisdiction c) ICON will respect diversity and be inclusive of all the schools of Islamic Jurisprudence d) ICON will ensure that everyone, regardless of their level of Iman (faith) and practice of Islam, feels welcome and given the opportunity to grow spiritually and enhance the practice of Islam in their daily lives e) ICON will support a range of activities beyond religious affairs within the bounds of Sharia and the laws that govern a 501 C (3) non-profit organization. Such activities include lectures and forums, social gatherings, picnics, field trips and educational classes on a variety of skills (as approved by the ICON Board of Directors) f) ICON will ensure that women can lead and participate in all its activities within the constraints of the Sharia. This includes the opportunities for women to: Address gatherings Choose to run for positions within the Board of Directors subject to rules governing the positions Community meetings, gatherings and lectures g. Where taken as whole, the Khutbahs (Friday sermons, Eid sermons) must be uplifting and inspire positive action. As a rule, Khutbahs must appeal to our youth, women and men; be relevant to practical daily life. The khutbahs will start and end on time. 6. Membership Qualifications To become a member of ICON, an individual: a) Must be a Muslim b) Must reside in the State of Washington c) Must agree to abide by the Principles of ICON 6.1 Voting Member An ICON member becomes eligible to vote if he/she meets the following conditions: a) Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older b) Completes a registration form c) Pays the membership dues set by the Board of Directors d) Only voting members shall have voting rights e) Each voting member shall be entitled to only one vote f) A member, whose dues are in arrears, loses the right to vote or run for election to Board of Directors as long as he/she is in such arrears g) The membership has been active for at least 180 days (6 months) continuously without any terminations in between Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 3

4 6.2 Term of Membership a) The term of membership is one year and must be renewed at the end of the b) term to remain current c) Membership is automatically terminated for failure to renew within 2 months of the date when the membership period for that individual ends d) An exception to this can be made only by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors 6.3 Membership Withdrawals Withdrawal from membership is voluntary. 6.4 Membership Dismissals A member can be dismissed by 2/3rd vote of the Board of Directors for one or more of the following reasons: a) Failure to continue to meet the qualifications listed in Section 6.1 b) Failure to comply in a material way with the rules and regulations of ICON c) For acting in a way detrimental to ICON 6.5 Membership Dues a) Annual membership dues shall be determined and can be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors b) Inability to pay membership dues shall not constitute a reason for refusing a member s application c) Members can request a waiver of the membership dues only on grounds of financial hardship 6.6 Establishment, Renewal and Termination of Membership The following are the rules regarding establishment, renewal and termination of membership: a) Membership is collected for a calendar year b) Membership will start in Jan for the calendar year and will be valid for the whole year c) Any membership paid any month thereafter is eligible to be pro-rated for that year d) In the following year, if the membership is not renewed before end of February, it will be considered as terminated e) Once terminated, if a new membership is re-established then the number of days of membership will be counted only from the day the new membership is established 7. General Assembly 7.1 Who makes up the General Assembly The General Assembly shall consist of all members of ICON. Non-members can attend the General Assembly meetings but do not have the right to vote. The General Assembly shall be the supreme body of ICON. 7.2 General Powers and Responsibilities ICON shall be managed by the Board of Directors elected by the General Assembly in accordance with the Bylaws. Responsibilities of the General Assembly members shall be: a) To safeguard ICON (including its principles and its assets) b) Hold the Board of Directors accountable for their actions Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 4

5 7.3 Quarterly Meeting The quarterly meeting of the General Assembly shall be held every 3 months. The purpose of the quarterly meeting shall be to provide updates and gather feedback from the community on inflight and upcoming projects. 7.4 Special Meeting a) A special meeting of the General Assembly may be called by the President of the Board or by twothirds (2/3rd) vote of the Board of Directors b) Special meetings may also be called by a written petition signed by 25% of the voting members c) The General Secretary must verify the signed petition requesting special meeting within two weeks of submission d) A petition can be declined only for not meeting the required number of signatures, in which case the outcome and reason will be publicly pronounced 7.5 Notice of Meeting The following describes the procedures for notices to be sent regarding meetings: Written or printed notice stating the place and time of any meeting of the General Assembly shall be delivered, either personally, , or by mail to each voting member, not less than ten (10) days, or more than thirty (30) days before the date of such meeting by or at the direction of the President, the Vice- President or the Secretary a) A minimum of ten (10) days notice shall be required for Annual Meeting. The purpose and agenda of the meeting shall be stated in the notice b) If mailed the notice of the meeting shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the member at his/her address as it appears in the records of ICON c) The notice of the meeting shall also be deemed delivered when the is sent to the ICON mailing list and posted on the ICON website 7.6 Quorum Listed below are the rules and procedures for obtaining and determining Quorum of the General Assembly: a) The General Assembly holding more than 50% of the voting members shall constitute a quorum b) If such quorum is not present within 20-minutes (60) of specified time, the meeting will be adjourned c) The Board should then convene the meeting no less than 24 hours but within two weeks (14 days) d) The required quorum for such a meeting is 25% of the voting members e) If no quorum is present at this meeting, a subsequent meeting must be called no less than 24 hours but within one week (7 days) f) At such a meeting, quorum is considered to exist regardless of number of voting members present at the meeting g) In such a meeting, the Board can only transact business that must have been transacted at the original meeting 7.7 Vote by Proxy If any voting member is unable to vote in person, a vote by proxy (where the proxy attends in person) will be accepted with written notification of the member authorizing (in a signed and dated document) the proxy to vote on their behalf. Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 5

6 8. Board of Directors 8.1 Charter of the Board a) Subject to the Provisions of these Bylaws, the affairs of ICON shall be managed by the Board of Directors, which shall be called the Board hereafter, and will be accountable to the General Assembly b) The Board shall ensure all resources of ICON and distributions made by ICON are only used to further the religious, charitable, educational, outreach and social purpose of ICON c) The Board shall have the power to lease any real-estate as the primary property for ICON without specific vote of the General Assembly authorizing such action, so long as the term of the lease is less than or equal to 3 years and annual value of the lease is less than or equal to $60, d) The Board shall obtain approval of the General Assembly for i. acquiring real-estate to expand ICON operations ii. any investment or non-real-estate expenditure in the excess of $25, Responsibilities of the Board The responsibilities of the Board shall be as follows: a) Safeguarding the spirit and intent of the Bylaws and ensuring the Principles of ICON as outlined in Section above are followed b) Empower and encourage subject matter experts and passionate members to lead c) Providing policy guidelines and managing the programs and activities d) Approving budget e) Long term planning f) Ensuring permanency and continuity in operation and programs g) Ensuring the financial stability of ICON h) Selecting, hiring and managing employees of ICON i) Selecting, hiring and terminating Imam requires 2/3 rd GA approval j) Provide a respectful and inclusive environment for different points of view to be expressed and heard 8.3 Structure of the Executive Board The Board of Directors shall consist of following members to support the following positions: a) President b) Vice-President c) General Secretary d) Treasurer e) Director of Activities f) Director of Facilities g) Director of Women s Affairs h) Director of Youth Programs i) Director of Outreach Programs 8.4 Board of Director Qualifications Qualifications of the Board Member shall include: a) Be a voting member of ICON for at least one year (In the event that an otherwise qualified person is needed to fill a vacancy but has been a member of ICON for less than a year, a motion can be brought to the General Assembly to lower the requirement to 180 days for that specific person which the General Assembly can approve the motion with more than 50% of votes) b) Be an adult, practicing Muslim known for their Islamic manners and morals in the community Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 6

7 c) Cannot be a board member of another organization with conflict of interest d) Abstains from Kaba er e) Be an active member of ICON as a participant, volunteer or leader in any of the activities of ICON f) Be committed to supporting ICON g) Good to have good people management skills h) Good to have good organizational skills i) Good have good communication skills necessary to conduct the affairs of j) ICON including verbal and written skills (including electronic communication such as ). k) Position-specific qualifications or limitations: (i) President and Vice-President: Women may not hold the position of President and Vice President (ii) (iii) Director of Women s Affairs: Only a woman may occupy this position Treasurer: Any person seeking to become a Treasurer must have prior educational or professional work experience to support the task of preparing financial statements 8.5 Term of the Board a) The term of the Board of Directors is two years. b) Four members of the Board President, Vice President, Treasure and General Secretary) are elected during even years. The remaining five members are elected during odd years c) A board member can serve no more than two consecutive terms, after which, they become ineligible to stay on the Board for a minimum of one term (two years) before becoming eligible again. Boot strap process: d) First Elections to be held in 2017 a. 5 board members i.e. President, Vice President, Treasure, General Secretary and Director of Activities will be elected from Transition team b. Remaining 4 positions will be elected from GA e) Second election in 2019 a. Being odd year, 5 positions will be open for elections i.e. five board position filled in by transition team b. Other four positions will not be open for elections this year; they will get an extra year in their first term f) After 2019, elections will be held every year a. In 2020, being even year, 4 positions will be open for elections 8.6 Regular Meetings The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, to approve programs, plans, budget and other business that may come before the committee. 8.7 Resignations a) The Board has the right in a regular meeting to accept the resignation of any of its members b) Any Board member who fails to attend three consecutive Board meetings without a legitimate reason given in writing (including ) and accepted by the Board will be considered as having resigned from his/her position c) Any Board member who has relocated (residence or work) outside the geographic area supported by ICON will be advised to resign and required to do so within 30 days of such relocation 8.8 Removal A Board member can be dismissed for the following reasons: Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 7

8 a) A Board member who does not conduct himself or herself with respectful Islamic etiquettes can be removed from the Board by unanimous vote of the other members of the Board after one priorwarning has been served to the member b) A board member who misses 3 consecutive board meetings without prior board approval. Missing 3 consecutive board meetings without approval shall be ground for disqualification from the position. c) The General Assembly also has the power to remove any office holder for gross misconduct or deliberate violation of ICON s By-laws, or whenever the best interest of ICON warrants it. A two-thirds (2/3rd) majority vote of the General Assembly, where quorum is present, shall be required to adopt a No Confidence Motion to remove any Board member d) A Board member who commits any of the activities below is subject to automatic disqualification and removal from the Board I. Engages in illegal activity that leads to that member being indicted or convicted of a felony, as defined by Washington state law or federal law, as the case may be II. Engages in illegal activity that leads to that member being convicted of a gross misdemeanor, as defined by Washington State law or federal law, as the case may be III. Commits a criminal act that reflects adversely on the person's honesty or trustworthiness IV. Engages in conduct involving material dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation 8.9 Vacancies a) Vacancies on the Board for any reason may be filled by simple majority (51%) vote of the General Assembly. Partial term will count towards board member term limit. b) In case of more than four (4) vacancies on the Board within a two-week period, the Board should be considered dissolved, and the General Assembly should be called within 30 days for an emergency meeting to elect a new Board c) If the President of the Board resigns, the Vice President shall assume the responsibility of the resident d) In the event the position of President is vacated during the first year of his term, a new President shall be elected for a one-year term at the next annual general assembly meeting 8.10 Quorum and Manner of Acting a) Board or designee quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Board, which should include the President of the Board or his designee or the Vice President Without the President or his designee or the Vice President, any meeting of the Board shall not be considered official b) All decisions of the Board shall be carried by a simple majority vote, except for the cases otherwise stated in these Bylaws 8.11 Functioning Committees a) The Board has the power of forming special committees for certain tasks, such as fundraising and planning b) The Board members can also form sub-committees to help them in their tasks after getting the approval of the Board of Directors 8.12 Management of ICON All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of ICON shall be managed under the direction of, the officers of Board of Directors except otherwise provided by law or the Articles of Incorporation. Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 8

9 8.13 Action without a Meeting Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the directors. Use of for this purpose is considered acceptable. Such consent shall have the same effect as a vote of the Board. 9. Responsibilities of Board of Directors 9.1 President The President of the Board shall: a) The President of the Board shall be the principal Board Officer, the spokesperson and representative of [ICON] b) Preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly c) Direct and coordinate all the activities of ICON d) Sign, with the treasurer or any other officer of ICON who is authorized by the Board, any deeds, contracts and ICON checks e) Present the annual report to the General Assembly f) Sign contracts, or other instruments on behalf of ICON, except where required by law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of ICON g) The President or his designated appointee is the spokesman for ICON to other Muslim communities and community organizations h) The President is not authorized to make any unilateral decision on behalf of ICON without the approval of the Board i) Direct, coordinate and ensure that the Responsibilities of the Board as defined in Section 8.02 are executed j) Elected by general assembly during election process 9.2 Vice President The Vice President shall: a) Assume the functions of the President of the Board during his absence, in the event of resignation or inability of the President of the Board or when requested by the President of the Board b) Assume responsibility for all publications unless explicitly specified elsewhere c) Appoint special and standing committees for various functions with the consensus of the Board d) Responsible for maintaining the ICON website e) Responsible for organizing the General Assembly meeting f) Assists the President to ensure all activities and operations are carried out per the bylaws and vision of the organization. 9.3 General Secretary The General Secretary shall: a) Ensure and assists the board in maintaining transparency in all works and matters of the organization b) Handle and keep records of all official correspondence of ICON, unless explicitly specified elsewhere c) Take minutes of all meetings of the Board and the General Assembly d) Publish the minutes of the meeting in the Notice Board or through other means approved by the Board, in a timely fashion e) Coordinate, distribute information regarding membership and activities of ICON Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 9

10 f) Maintain up-to-date membership roster g) Filing and maintaining legal requirements such as organizational licenses and reports 9.4 Treasurer The Treasurer shall: a) Receive all dues, contributions, donations on behalf of ICON b) Annually audits or must have date financial documents necessary in case audit is performed c) Present financial reports at the Board and the General Assembly meetings d) Ensure the Board has an opportunity to review the monthly financial statement before it gets published e) Publish the monthly financial statement on the notice Board or through other means approved by the Board, in a timely fashion f) Be responsible for the banking activities, day-to-day expenses of ICON, and be the cosigner with the President of the Board on its bank accounts g) Collect donations from donation boxes and provide receipt of donations promptly h) Ensure all financial records of ICON are accessible at any time to other members of the Board 9.5 Director of Activities The director shall: a) Manage and execute all the social and religious activities of ICON, not limited to picnics, Eid celebrations, lectures, Ramadan Iftar program, etc. in accordance with ICON vision and mission. b) Defines religious policies including moon-sighting in consultation with Imam and Board of Directors c) Initiate and maintain programs to help the new-comers to the community d) Introduce programs that help in strengthening the brotherhood and diversity in the organization and community at large e) Oversee the planning and execution of programs for education activities such as children s Islamic classes f) Be in charge, with the help of the treasurer, in collecting and distributing Zakat and other charity funds g) Coordinate Islamic activities within & outside the Muslim community 9.6 Director of Facility The director shall: a) Maintain the facility and be responsible for its up-keep b) Manage the rental of the facility to the community c) Present annual plans and budgets needed for maintenance, expansion and remodeling of the assets of ICON to the Board for approval 9.7 Director of Women s Affairs This position is reserved for a woman. The director shall: a) Act as a liaison between the Board and the female members b) Oversee Women's Committee and drive women s participation in the Masjid activities c) Create programs tailored to the needs of the Sisters in the community d) Address the needs, opinions, and concerns of the women in the community e) Performing any other responsibility related to the affairs of women as delegated by the President 9.8 Director of Youth Programs The Youth Secretary shall Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 10

11 a) Plan and manage youth social, religious, educational and fun activities & programs in accordance with Islamic principles b) Work towards engaging and nurturing Muslim youth in healthy and constructive activities in an Islamic environment. c) Plan and organize career development activities collaborating with other organizations d) Lead and participate activities at city, state and national level to promote Muslims and Islam 9.9 Director of Outreach Programs The outreach Secretary shall work towards dawah and outreach programs to help build a positive image of the center, Muslim community and Islam in the broader society. 10. Election of Board of Directors a) The election of the Board of Directors will be conducted by an election committee b) The election shall be conducted during a meeting specified by the election committee and the results shall be announced during the meeting c) In the event a quorum is not present at the election meeting, the Election Committee shall seal any ballots obtained until subsequent meetings called to attain the quorum d) The General Assembly shall directly elect the various Board member positions 11. Board of Trustees 11.1 Purpose The purposes of creating a Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as BoT) are as follows: a) Preserve the overall vision of the Organization of building a model community. b) Protect the assets of the organization Responsibilities of Board of Trustees g) The BoT holds veto power on any action involving the sales, leasing of the facility (other than short team leasing for events) must be done with the approval of the Board of Trustees. h) BoT is an influential position to keep board of directors honest in following the vision and principals of the organization set in words, precedence and spirits. i) BoT should aim to inspire organization and community on long term strategy and thinking operating as a Think Tank Formation of Board of Trustees a) The Board of Trustees shall consist of 4 members. b) Members are elected by the General Assembly for a 4-year term. c) Every two years, two members of the BoT will be elected. d) The BoT members, will serve no more than two consecutive terms regardless of whether they competed their term. Such a member must stay out of the BoT for at least one term (4-years) before rejoining the BoT. e) All decisions of BoT require approval of a simple majority of the Trustees. f) The BoT will choose among themselves a Chairman and Secretary. The BoT members, including the Chairman and the Secretary are not the officers of the Organization. g) The Chairman shall preside over the BoT meetings. He is also the spokesman of the BoT activities. h) The BoT Secretary shall maintain record of minutes of every meeting and of all correspondence pertaining to the BoT activities. Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 11

12 i) The BoT will meet at a minimum on a quarterly basis. j) The BoT will meet with Directors at least once every six months. Boot strap process k) First Elections to be held in board members i.e. Chairman, General Secretary will be elected from Transition team 2. Remaining 2 positions will be elected from GA l) Second election in Two members of BoT, General Secretary and another BoT member (other than Chairman) positions will be open for elections. This term will be shorter. 2. Other 2 positions (Chairman and another BoT) will not be open for elections this year m) After 2019, BoT elections will be held every two years. BoT members reaching end of terms will be open for elections Board of Trustee Qualifications Qualifications of Board of Trustee shall include the following: a) Must be a voting member of the organization for at least 2 years. b) Have sound Islamic beliefs and practices c) Abstain from kabair (major Islamic violations) d) Be a regular attendee to the Masjid and an active participant as a volunteer or a leader of activities of the Organization. e) Be regular attendee to the Masjid and regular participant in Masjid activities f) Be committed to supporting the Organization They must meet one of the criteria below except at boot strap: a) Must have served as a member of board of directors. Current board of director can only join if there term is ending by upcoming elections. b) Must have served in at least one subcommittee under a Board member for a period of at least 1 year and have made significant contribution through such service. There must be documented proof of contribution and participation Resignations and Dismissals a) A BoT member can be immediately removed from the BoT by a unanimous vote of other BoT members. b) The General Assembly also has the power to remove a member of the BoT for gross misconduct or deliberate violation of the Organization Bylaws, or whenever the best interest of the Organization warrants it. A two-thirds (2/3rd) majority vote of the General Assembly, where quorum is present, shall be required to adopt a No Confidence Motion to remove a BoT member. c) If a BoT member resigns, or is removed or leaves the area prior to the expiration of his term, vacancy will be filled by elections if next elections are more than 6 months away Election Committee a) The Board of Directors shall appoint an Election committee consisting of a chairman and two other members to conduct the elections b) All three members of the Elections Committee must be voting members of ICON and cannot be members of the Board of Directors or BoT Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 12

13 c) The nominations for the election must reach the Elections Committee two weeks before the specified time for the election d) The nominators as well as the one who seconds the nominations shall be member of ICON e) The nominee must meet the qualifications of the position f) The Elections Committee members shall not campaign in favor of or against any candidate; however, they shall have the right to vote as members of ICON g) The elections will be conducted according to the rules laid down in the Bylaws h) All nominees shall provide a brief description of their experience and plan for the serving the GA i) All nominees shall agree and sign the contract as written in Appendix A when accepting the nomination j) A paid employee of ICON including the religious Lead/Imam shall not campaign in favor of or against any candidate or By-Laws amendment being purposed; however, they shall have the right to vote as members of ICON 12. Compensation 12.1 Voting and Documenting Arrangements a) All compensation paid for by ICON must have majority vote of the Board of Directors b) All compensation arrangement voting will adhere to the conditions specified in Conflict of Interest Policy c) All compensation terms, date of approval and arrangements will be documented prior to any compensation being issues d) ICON will publish job descriptions for hiring individuals for any full-time positions 13. Other Administrative Procedures 13.1 Bringing Charges and Arbitration a) Bringing Charges against ICON Board of Directors or Employees of ICON (i) Any member of ICON may bring charges of misconduct, misdemeanor, misappropriation of funds, fraud, corruption, or cover-up of such offenses against any Board of Director, ex-board member who served within the previous one year, or employee of ICON (ii) Such charges shall be given in writing to the President of ICON (iii) Administrative proceedings shall not be invoked more than once within any twelve-month period by an individual member b) Formation of an Arbitration Panel to address any charges brought against Board of Directors or Employees of ICON within two weeks of receipt of the written charges, the Board shall form an Arbitration Panel to hear the charges (i) The Arbitration Panel shall consist of five members, two selected by the accuser(s), two selected by the accused, and one chairperson selected by the Board of Directors (ii) If the accused is a member of the Board of Directors, that person will not be included in the Board of Directors selection of the panel member (iii) Neither the accused or accuser shall be on the panel (iv) Each panel member shall have been a voting member for at least one year (v) Upon formation of the panel, all parties (this includes the accuser, the accused and all members of the panel) must agree in writing that the findings of this panel shall constitute binding arbitration (vi) Both the accuser and accused must agree to accept and abide by the decision of the panel c) Responsibilities of the Arbitration Panel (i) The panel shall be considered a panel of judges rather than advocates for either party Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 13

14 (ii) The chairperson of the panel shall fix the time for the first session of the panel within a week after the formation of the panel and shall notify, in writing, the panelists at least three days before the scheduled session (iii) Decisions shall be made by a simple majority of the panel (iv) Decisions shall be reached within a month after formation of the panel (v) The panel shall hear the charge(s) as well as witnesses from both sides, examine all evidences, pass a verdict of "Guilty" or "Not Guilty", and determine punitive and/or corrective measures (vi) The panel shall report its findings to the Board of Directors which is obliged to enforce the decision of the panel (vii) If the panel finds clear evidence of criminal violation according to State and/or Federal laws, it may recommend to the General Body to consider legal suit against the person(s) accused 14. Amendments 14.1 Amending the Bylaws a) Any amendment to the Bylaws can only be done at the time of elections or a special meeting duly called for this purpose b) The notice for such a meeting shall be mailed, or ed to the voting members at least 10 days before the proposed meeting c) The notice shall describe the amendments to be made to the Bylaws d) A two-third (2/3rd) vote of the General Assembly shall be required to amend the Bylaws 15. Rules of Order a) The meetings of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors shall be conducted in observance of the Islamic etiquettes, and all debates shall be carried out in an atmosphere of Islamic brotherhood. 16. Dissolution 17. Deposits of Funds 17.1 Deposit of ICON Funds a) All ICON funds shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of ICON in one or more banks, trust companies or other depositories the Board of Directors may from time to time designate, upon such terms and conditions as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors 17.2 Special Accounts a) The Board of Directors may, as it may deem necessary, authorize the opening and keeping with such depository as it may designate, of general and special bank accounts and may make such special rules and regulations with respect thereto, consistent with the provisions of the Bylaws 17.3 Dissolution Process a) A decision to dissolve ICON can only be reached after the Board of directors approve by two-third (2/3rd) majority vote and then brought to General Body meeting held for that purpose and requires approval by at least four fifths (4/5th) of the members of ICON Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 14

15 17.4 Handling Dissolution b) In the event of dissolution of ICON, all assets which are left after meeting all liabilities shall be transferred as stated Articles of Incorporation and any amendment thereof. 18. Review and Approval of Bylaws These Bylaws as documented have been reviewed and approved as signed by the specific Board of Directors listed below: Reviewed By: General Secretary Treasurer Approved By: President Vice President Appendix 19. Acceptance of Nomination The following is the letter that is to be signed by those who are running for Board of Directors before they can run in the elections. Acceptance of Nomination as a Board of Director of The Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) By accepting the nomination, I affirm as Allah (swt) is my witness to serve the community for the sake of Allah (swt) and adhering to the principles of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions. a) I also affirm that I will uphold and champion the vision of ICON, which is guided by the Qur an and Sunnah. b) I agree to uphold the Bylaws of ICON c) I agree to the Principles of ICON (Section 5.02) and will adhere to those principles if d) I am elected to the Board of Directors. e) I have read and agree to abide by the Conflict of Interest Policy of ICON f) I, the undersigned, affirm that I subscribe and am committed to the foregoing. g) Additionally, I affirm that I am not a Board member or in any other official capacity in any institution (religious or otherwise) whose charter, spirit or publicly stated positions are counter to (or are explicitly critical of) the charter, vision and practices of the. Signed: Date: Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 15

16 Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 16

17 20. Imam Role and Responsibilities Provide religious guidance, practices, and leadership to the ICON Muslim community according to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him); establish and promote educational and extracurricular programs for adults and youth; lead the establishment of a unified Muslim community welcoming to all Muslims from different backgrounds and cultures; engage with the larger community to promote friendship and understanding between Muslims and non-muslims in the community. The Imam reports to the Board of Directors through the Director of Activities. Required Qualifications: A degree in Islamic Studies or related field from an accredited educational institution. Memorize the entire Quran. Fluency in English and Arabic (Spoken and written). Comprehensive knowledge of Islamic Shariah. Experience as an Imam. Ability to interact with and relate to youth. Ability to work with people of different cultures and backgrounds. Ability to teach. Demonstrated experience in conflict prevention and resolution. Demonstrated experience in Islamic family and youth counseling. Has a dynamic personality and is a motivational speaker. Experience in speaking with Non-Muslims about Islam. Essential Responsibilities: The Imam is expected to: Give the Khutbah and lead prayer for Jumu ah and Eid Prayers. Provide funeral services and guidance. Conduct matrimonial services. Offer Islamic family and youth counseling and guidance as needed. Provide Hadith studies, Seerah and Fiqh lessons, and other Islamic topics to increase knowledge and provide for spiritual growth of community members Participate in the community activities that further good interfaith and public relations for Islam and Muslims. Develop and implement educational and extracurricular programs for the youth. Work with Board of Directors on annual fundraising programs for the community as needed. Plan Imam s activities and provide to the Board of Directors through the Activities Secretary. Provide consultation to the Board of Directors on religious matters, community issues, and Mosque activities as requested. General Responsibilities: Work approximately 40 hours per week. Maintain regular and convenient office hours at the Mosque for community members to seek religious counsel and guidance. Interact with all persons and organizations, Muslim and Non-Muslim, in a manner that reflects positively on the Mosque. Continually strive and conduct oneself in ways that foster unity and a sense of inclusion among all community members, and promote broad participation in Islamic and community activities. Lead by example to prevent discrimination on any basis including but not limited to school of thought, gender, race, nationality, ethnic origin, citizenship, political affiliation, or economic status. Conduct oneself in a manner that is respectful of the history and diversity of the Muslim community Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 17

18 21. Glossary of Terms Prophet Muhammad (saw) is an abbreviation for the Arabic words to "Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam" which translate to "Peace be Upon Him to mention a blessing every time the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned. Muslim A Muslim is a person who believes in the following collectively: 1. Allah (swt) - the one true God 2. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last and final prophet and messenger of Allah (swt) 3. The Qur an 4. The Angels 5. The Hereafter 6. The Destiny (Qadr) Qur an The Qur an is the holy book of Islam and is represents the actual word of God as sent through his messenger Muhammad. Reading, recitation and study of the Quran is by itself considered as sincere and powerful form of worship. Hadith and Sunnah The sayings and actions of God s messenger Muhammad have been captured and documented in books called the hadith. The adaptation, following and learning of the Hadith is also considered a form of worship. Shura consultation of the community. ICON shall practice Shura in all its matters in the broadest forum possible. The decisions of ICON, become binding on all members after proper Shura action is taken, regardless of their position on the particular issue. Dawah The act and effort of spreading Islam through knowledge, action, example and education. Masjid or Mosque Dedicated place of worship where daily congregational prayers may be held Sharia law based upon the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and classical fiqh derived from consensus (ijma) and analogy (qiyas). Imam Religious leader who leads congregational prayers. Iman Faith Zakat one of the 5 obligatory principles of Islam requiring all Muslims with the capabilities to donate annually 2.5% of their wealth to help other Muslims in need. Zakat can only be distributed to specific types or categories of needy Muslims (the categories are mentioned in the Holy Book of Islam the Quran). Ramadan The 10th month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims observe daily fasting. Iftar the evening meal when Muslims break their fast (for example during the Islamic month of Ramadan). Eid Eid ul-fitr often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal. Eid al-adha, "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is a holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Allah (swt) (swt) is an abbreviation for the Arabic word Subhana Wa Ta alah meaning mighty and sublime be He and is mentioned every time the word Allah (swt) is mentioned. Allah (swt) is the standard Arabic word for God. While the term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God, it is used by Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, in reference to "God". Islamic Community of Northwest (ICON) 18