ARTICLE I

NAME

This religious corporation shall be named HINDU SAMAJ, hereinafter called "SAMAJ".

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Samaj are as follows:

1. To foster, in the broadest manner, Hinduism and its philosophy.

2. To promote unity and effectiveness of effort among all concerned.

3. To increase contribution of Hinduism to human welfare

4. To arrange special programs for children of members of the Samaj to inculcate in them the spirit of Hinduism.

To these ends, the Samaj proposes to conduct meetings, celebrate festivals, organize visits to holy shrines and places of inspiration, perform and help perform religious education, and make available the facilities to the residents of the Mid-Hudson area for the purpose of religious practices and cultural events.

ARTICLE III

MEMEBERSHIP

1. Membership is open to all persons interested in the advancement of Hinduism.

2. All members have same rights and privileges, including voting, holding office and serving on the Board of Trustees (sometimes hereafter referred to as the "Trustees") and other committees of the Samaj.

3. The members as a whole shall hereinafter be referred to herein as the "General Body".

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERS

Family membership includes husband, wife, children under the age of eighteen years and parents living with them permanently and registered with Hindu Samaj.

Any member above the age of eighteen who agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Samaj can become a member by paying the appropriate dues.

1. The annual membership (it will be rolling twelve months) dues shall be $100.00 per family, $50.00 for single person and $25.00 for students

2. These dues are not refundable under any circumstances.

3. The annual membership dues may be periodically adjusted by the Trustees, but may not be increased by more than $100.00 without the approval of the General Body.

4. The Samaj General Body includes all Life Members and Annual Members.

ARTICLE V

LIFE MEMBERS

1. Anyone can become a Life Member of the Samaj by making a one time payment of dues in the amount of $1,000.00

2. These dues are not refundable under any circumstances

ARTICLE VI

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

The Trustees may confer Honorary membership on any person.

An Honorary member has all the privileges of a member except voting rights

ARTICLE VII

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1. The board of Trustees shall consist of thirteen (13) members; each elected by the General Body for a three-year term. The term of at least one-third of the board members shall expire with the General Body meeting in April. All trustees must remain members in good standing during their tenure in office. A board member can be removed from the board if he/she misses three consecutive meetings without a justifiable reason.

2. The Trustees shall have custody and control over all the property of the Samaj.

3. The Trustees shall serve until the expiration of their terms or until their successors have been chosen and installed.

4. The Trustees shall hold a meeting within two weeks after the annual meeting for the election of the officers.

5. The presence of a majority of Trustees shall constitute a quorum and all the decisions pertaining to the Samaj shall only be with the concurrence of a majority of total number of Trustees.

6. To the extent permitted by law, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Trustees, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Trustees consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action to be taken. The resolution and consent thereto by the members of the Board of Trustees shall be filed with the minutes of the last proceedings of the Board of Trustees.

7. Any one or more members of the Board of Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

ARTCILE VIII

OFFICERS

1. There shall be four officers of the Board of Trustees: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

2. All the four officers must be Trustees and shall be elected by the members of the Board of Trustees to a one-year term. An officer may be removed by a simple majority vote of the Trustees.

3. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Samaj, responsible to the General Body, and shall perform all duties required by the By Laws, or if not specified, by the resolutions passed by the General Body.

4. Officers shall serve until their successors are chosen and installed.

5. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the execution of his duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the responsibilities of and perform the duties of the President.

6. The Secretary shall perform the duties usual to the office of an organizational secretary and those required by the Samaj By Laws and by actions of the Board of Trustees.

7. The Treasurer shall perform the duties usual to the office of an organization treasurer and those required by the Samaj By Laws and by the actions of the Board of Trustees. He must also present the budget for the coming year for the approval of the General Body.

ARTICLE IX

ELECTION OF THE OFFICERS

1. Nominations for officers of the Board of Trustees shall be accepted by the out-going President, but only if proposed by two members of the Board of Trustees and accepted by the candidate.

2. Tellers appointed by the Board of Trustees shall count the ballots and they shall announce the results at the same meeting. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes for the office of the Board of Trustees shall be declared elected. Only in the event of a tie shall the officer presiding at the meeting have a vote, otherwise he/she shall abstain from voting.

3. The newly elected President shall assume office after the results of the election are announced. All records, capital assets and funds in possession of the out-going officers shall be passed on to the new President within two weeks.

ARTICLE X

SUBCOMMITTEES

1. The Broad of Trustees may appoint subcommittees for the furtherance of the purpose of the Samaj.

2. Any subcommittee of the Samaj may be dissolved at the discretion of the Board of Trustees

ARTICLE XI

MEETINGS

1. The annual meeting of the Samaj shall be held in April of each year. At this meeting the Board of Trustees shall present a report of its activities during the past year, including financial transactions.

2. The General body should be given at least six (6) weeks notice of the Annual Meeting. Above notice shall be deemed complete when deposited with the United States Postal Service and posted at the regular place of worship of the Samaj.

3. The President, at his/her discretion, may call a meeting of the General Body to discuss issues of vital interest to the Samaj.

4. The President must call a meeting of the General Body within four (4) weeks of the receipt of a written request to do so by thirty (30%) percent of the members. The purpose of such a meeting must be explained to the President, who in turn must convey it to the General Body within two weeks.

5. In case of a vacancy arising for the post of the President, the Secretary of the Samaj must call a meeting of the Trustees within two weeks to fill the vacancy.

6. To conduct the business of the general body meeting of the Hindu Samaj, the presence of a quorum is necessary. The quorum is defined as 20% of the membership of the Hindu Samaj in good standing OR 50 members whichever is lower in number.

7. A majority vote of the quorum shall control, except in the case of amendment of the By Laws, when a two third (2/3) vote shall be required and in such other case where a greater than majority vote may be specifically required.

8. Proxy votes will not be recognized

ARTICLE XII

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

1. The funds collected by the Treasurer shall be spent by the Trustees to further the objectives of the Samaj.

2. The board can select annually one qualified person from the membership or an independent professional to examine the accounts of the Samaj. The report will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the General Body and will be made available to General Body to review.

ARTICLE XIII

FUND OBJECTIVES:
1. To establish a Center which includes place of worship for the Samaj in Dutchess County.

2. To arrange religious seminars and functions of great significance in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Samaj.

3. To sponsor scholarships to an educational institute in the USA or abroad.

4. To donate for worthy charitable causes such as relief funds for earthquakes, floods, or famine victims in the USA or abroad.

5. To perform or to aid in the performance of Hindu rites and rituals.

6. To promote Indian culture.

ARTICLE XIV

SEVERANCE OF MEMBERSHIP

1. A member may resign by submitting a resignation in writing to the Board of Trustees. A member may resume his membership upon payment of current dues.

2. If the dues of any member remain unpaid by the due date, his name shall be removed from the membership roll.

3. Any member whose conduct is prejudicial to the good of the Samaj may be dropped from the membership roll and/or as a Trustee by a thirty percent vote of the total membership, and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Trustees after the member has been notified at least twenty (20) days in advance of the meeting, as to the charges against him/her, and has been given the opportunity to answer the charges in person or in writing.

ARTICLE XV

RULES OF ORDER

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the parliamentary procedure of all meetings of the Samaj.

ARTICLE XVI

ELECTION PROCESS:

1. Any member who is eighteen or above and has paid the annual membership by March 1 of that year, or is a life member can vote.

2. Family membership is defined as husband, wife and any parents living with them permanently and registered with Hindu Samaj.

3. All requests to contest the election must be submitted in writing to the President or the Secretary of the board by March 1 and no request will be honored if received after that.

AMENDMENTS

1995

The number of the Board of Trustees of the Samaj is increased from eleven (11) to thirteen (13).

1997

1. The General Body forms an Advisory committee of five (5) members. Any capital spending approved by the Board of Trustees will have to be approved by this committee until the loan is paid off. The members of this Committee are:

A. Mr. Rohidas Amin
B. Dr. Sunil Khurana
C. Mrs. Usha Mittal
D. Dr. Ras Sheth
E. Dr. Durga Soma

2. Any member who wants to contest the election for the Board of Trustees of the Samaj has to submit a request in writing to the President or the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Samaj.

3. Annual membership for the Samaj is increased from twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to fifty dollars ($50.00).

4. During the Annual General Body meeting only those members are eligible to vote who ......

1998

Annual membership for the Samaj is increased from fifty dollars ($50.00) to one hundred dollars ($100.00).