• Bor Community is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to establish a community-based outreach that will aid and give direction to displaced members of the Bor community, known as the “Bor-Brothers and Sisters,” currently residing in the United States of America. The intended purpose of this community based network is to provide a structured means whereby the community can be successfully integrated into the wider American society. Bor Community is part of a charity that was formed in December 2002, by 32 Members of Bor-Brothers in Chicago, IL, and became active in January, 01 2003.

• A primary Bor Community aim is to establish rescue assistance and other help for community members whose lives have been destroyed in a long-term civil war in South Sudan. Bor-Brothers and Sisters are willing to work to recover loses of community and make it better. This charity is also based on individual support to promote the development in the communities where the chronic war started in 1983. The aim and function of this coalition is to lead the community in creating a stronger sense of unity, and building the confidence required to form a future by them-selves. The association has formed in a concerted effort to provide for the needs of this Southern Sudanese community and to rescue for generations the opportunities for future life. We stand in a unified belief that our Bor Brothers and Sisters should have the chance to pursue their dreams, and achieve honest goals in establishing a better station in life. We stand committed to assuring that their future truly is in their own hands, and with their allies. 

• This charity organization is for the members who agree to work together in achieving what they want to accomplish in their future lives. Membership in this organization is not intended for the community in general, rather, it is started specifically for members of Southern Sudanese community who have willingly committed to importance of having a good foundation for future generations. The aim is to build a platform for greater success in life for any individual who needs or desires the success upon which we base the values of this organization.

• These rules, polices, and regulations are designed under the auspice that every member from Bor community in IL, and globally, should obey and view them as the official and formal by-laws of this organization. The Members of Bor community and Board of Trustees will select the qualified individuals who will lead them by an official and transparent election process, and will henceforth serve for a term limit of two years.

• A Presidential staff of five members will be appointed by a consensus of the outgoing Presidential staff, barring any instance where former staff agrees to continue in their capacity and are confirmed by the Board of Trustees, in which case that seat shall not be vacated, and both continuing and newly appointed members shall serve for a term of two years. Board of Trustees will call an assembly to elect a new President of the organization during the same month as the other appointments are being made, and this is to occur in the month of January, and on a bi-annual basis. President and staff members are eligible for reelection for additional term(s) if anyone of them is reappointed by eligible members of community, and agrees to term requirements of the respective position

• The President, in order to be elected for the position to lead Bor association, must have paid a minimum of 100% of his/her contribution in the association. He/she must have good records on file that would corroborate this requirement has been met.

• The person must be a member of this association for at least two years to qualify for positions of President or Secretary in this association.

• Both President and Secretary should at least have some demonstrable skill in areas of leadership, and be able to produce such evidence to the membership before being elected to serve in these respective capacities, even if they would be otherwise approved.

• Persons must provide proof of prior service in this community for at least two years on the executive committee, or in community service elsewhere for the same duration, before he/she is considered eligible to be appointed to serve in this organization.

• Person must at least speak two languages, namely Dinka, and English (it is essential that you speak and write well in one of the two languages). Demonstration of such abilities will be required before any individual will be considered eligible to hold a leadership position within this organization.
• Persons should be of good moral character, and experienced in dealing directly with people in the community.

• The Board of Trustees shall be charged with maintaining leadership of the organization in the case of any situation that would bar the acting President from fulfilling his/her duties of their post, until such time as a new President can be appointed, in which case the newly appointed person will only serve though the remainder of the term of the President they have been appointed to replace, at which time said person shall be eligible to continue in the position only if all other requirements have been met.

• The goal of the Board of Trustees is to monitor and follow the guides, rules, and regulations of the community, in the undertaking of the stated mission and founding purpose of this association.

• The Board of Trustees will serve for a term of 4 years.

• The Board of Trustees should contain one chairman among those five members, who is to be appointed by the currently presiding President of the organization.

• Board of Trustee members must serve or exceed 4 years of service, and the current President can elect new members as necessary in order to fill the Board until the next January appointment cycle, at which time serving members are eligible to continue in their positions providing that they are duly appointed, and have met all other requirements as stated in this document.

• Additional qualifications necessary to be considered as a leadership candidate for Bor Community are that the person should have demonstrable computer skills and at least a basic functional writing ability, so as to facilitate their ability to communicate with the other members in the community.

• All members of Bor Community will be subject to the paying of a monthly dues fee, and all dues paying members will be expected to contribute the same amount of money, the amount of which is to be determined by the Board Members. In order for the dues amount to be increased, it must be voting on by a majority of the dues paying membership. Proposed increase in dues amount must be determined prior to this vote, and all current members must be duly notified at least one month (30 days) prior to any vote to increase dues amount. This dues paying policy will apply to all members of Bor Community, without regard to inception date of their membership.

• Families, in regard to financial obligation, shall be considered as one person, and family contribution requirements will be equal to the dues amount of a single person membership. A Family will be considered to be any married couple and any children under 21 years of age. Anyone over the age of 21 shall be expected to stand on his/her own, and will be required to pay the full dues amount for a single member. 

• Dues payment can, and must, be arranged according to members’ choice of two payment plan agreements: Either 60.00 dollars each in every 6 month period, or one yearly payment of 120.00 dollars, to be paid at the beginning of each new calendar year.

• No Person, regardless of standing or position in Bor Community, is permitted to borrow money from the association account, to use any Bor Community funds for purposes other than official business of this organization.

• As it serves to directly represent the aims and goals of Bor Community, in severe circumstances, a person can be offered financial assistance in order to overcome required obstacles in effort to become stabilized within the community. In these cases, the decision must both be approved by majority of the Board, and then by a majority vote among current membership.

• If the event that Bor Community chooses to invite an important visitor to speak or otherwise present to the community, this will be paid for through membership contributions outside of membership dues or existing Bor Community account funds. In such an event, the current president must call a meeting, and contribution to any such event must be approved by at least two-thirds of the Board, and two-thirds vote by the membership. When such a measure is approved, each every member will expected to contribute, and all will be asked to join in reaching these types of short term financial goals.

• Payment polices, if a member has failed to contribute their appropriate dues amount, and the arrears are in excess of one year, the member will be charged a late fee of 20.00 per year that they are in arrears.  These polices, rules and regulations will be become active on the day these regulations, polices, and rules are approved by Board and current leaders.

• In extreme circumstances of hardship, for example; if a member is sick or schooling without work, they must enter into agreement with current leadership to set time frame in which the member will be able to pay the organization the monies owed to it.

• Furthermore, those who are really sick, such as to involve disabling circumstances are understood to be unable to meet the dues paying requirements of Bor Community. These individuals will retain the right to join the meeting, and to make any creative contribution or suggestions in the meetings of the community, which may help to improve the association.

• In the event that financial exception has been made due to non-ability to pay, and the member’s condition or personal situation improves to the point that they are again able to meet these financial obligations, they must contribute in accordance to normal membership rules as stated in these by-laws.

• If a member willfully leaves the association and later returns, the member will be subject to a re-introduction fee of 10.00 per each six months of absence from the community, rounding up, and an additional late fee of 20.00 per year of absence, not to exceed 200.00 in total regardless of duration spent away from the organization.

• In regards to fund raising money, if the community members decide to raise money anywhere in the name of Bor Community, all monies are to be considered exclusively for Bor Community use, and any other use or allocation of these funds is strictly prohibited.

General Principles, rules, regulations, and policies

• As a member of Bor Community, you are subject to various rules, principles, and policies that typically apply to every member in this community. These rules and policies are intended to ensure that the functions of Bor Community are conducted with fairness, honesty and integrity. This, in part, is what it means to follow the principles of community management.

• All Bor Members and elected officials are expected to work on behalf of community in a manner that always complies with rules, regulations and policies. By doing so, and by always acting with honesty and integrity, the community will establish strong values to guide their actions, while building credibility of Bor Community within the greater communities in which we operate.

• The positive actions and conduct of Bor Community members and current leadership are essential to maintaining the public’s trust in this community in general, especially where public awareness of Bor Community has yet to be established. Therefore, in addition to acting with honesty and integrity, Bor community must keep money in the most productive and efficient way possible and only in concordance with community by-laws and regulations stated herein.

• The acting President and Board Members must avoid placing their personal or financial interests in conflict with those of the community. Furthermore, it is their obligation to report any violation of rules, polices and regulations that they become aware of as a consequence of their official duties to the community.

• This organization of this community must not share their interests with other parties without knowledge and agreement of Board Members, current President, and community in general. This is an essential measure to assure against diminishment of effectiveness of Bor Community due to not being concentrated in its efforts.

• In Bor Community, all female members of the community will have an equal right to be nominated into the association’s leadership and participate in community for any meeting in the same capacity as any other member in good standing, without regard to age or gender.

• Any member in this association retains the right to leave the community at their personal discretion, however, if you decide to leave or withdraw from Bor Community Association, you will be held to financial rules regarding the return to Bor Community as a standing member. Additionally, the leadership formally requests that any member decided on leaving the community produce an appropriate reason why you want to leave or withdraw so as to aid the community in dealing with any internal problems that may need to be addressed.

• There is no any force to join and there no any force to stay if any member needs to leave without details. The aim of this association, to build the foundation of the future of Bor generations for their lives, will be greatly benefited from the full honesty and disclosure of your motives for separation from Bor Community, and is thusly encouraged.

• In the event that this community is decided as a whole to dissolve operation of this association for good, then all members will be eligible to receive refund of their current-year contribution, and in a timely manner. As long as this association is active, no refund of contributions will be made, even if current year has not concluded.

• In the event of insurmountable disagreement between members, the conflict should be brought before a leadership panel consisting of President, Secretary, and Board Members to be reviewed and dealt with in an appropriate manner that is most amicable to both or all parties involved in the dispute. There is no place for any kind of disrespect to anyone in this community, and members will be expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and mature manner in order that this organization may reach its goals of strengthening the lives of all Bor Brothers and Sisters.

• The information contained in these by-laws is intended to clarify official policies and procedures of Bor Community. In making members aware of certain rules, policies, and regulations, it serves to solidify our sense of values as a community, and to clarify our goals as an effective coalition of Bor Community members. These by-laws, while attempting to be comprehensive of primary rules and requirements necessary for proactive function of Bor Community, are by no mean to be considered an all-encompassing summary of every facet of behavior and/or operational procedures which may come to question during normal function of this organization. Therefore, should you ever have a question about the functions or processes of Bor Community as it applies to yourself or others, you are encourage to inquire to leadership of Bor Community and your questions or concerns will be brought for discussion at the next official meeting. This is a document conceived and created in effort to help assure normal life in the community, and fulfill a higher level of success in achieving our goals as an organized community.

                                                          The Bor-By-Laws  end on Friday, May 21, 2010

                                             Solution for today and vision for tomorrow

Bor Community Association