About Us

Constitution

Constitution of
The Museum Volunteers of the Philippines
Adopted May 23, 2008

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Filipinas Heritage Library

Name
The organization shall be known as The Museum Volunteers of the Philippines - M.V.P.
Nature
1. The organization shall be non-profit, non-stock, non-sectarian, non-political and non-partisan.
2. The principal office of the organization shall be located in Metro Manila in the Philippines.
Aims
The organization aims to:
1. Promote the study of the history and culture of the Philippines in particular, and of Asia and other regions of the world.
2. Promote voluntary assistance in local Museums.
3. Promote friendship and understanding between the numerous nationalities represented in the membership.
Means of achieving aims
The organization shall achieve these aims by, but not limited to:
1. Holding Annual General Meetings for members and others.
2. Inviting speakers.
3. Canvassing for volunteers to assist in local museums.
4. Organizing study groups.
5. Presenting public lectures.
6. Arranging educational tours in the Philippines and internationally.
7. Conducting an educational course each year.
8. Providing members with a Newsletter.
9. Providing at least one social function annually at which members may meet and also meet staff of local museums.
10. Holding any other activities consistent with the aims of the organization prescribed in Article 3.
Membership
1. Membership shall be of three categories.
2. (a) Resident Members are Members who reside in the Philippines.
  (b) Overseas Members are Members who reside overseas.
  (c) Honorary Members are appointed solely at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
3. Membership other than Honorary Membership shall be effective upon payment of dues.
4. Membership means that the annual dues have been paid by a member. Spouses, partners and children of the member are entitled to become members in their own right upon payment of the annual dues.
5. Annual dues may be changed only with the approval of the Annual General Meeting.
Privileges of membership
1. All resident members shall be eligible to vote and to stand for election to the Steering Committee.
2. All members shall be eligible for voluntary work in a Museum provided this is acceptable to Museum staff and the appropriate M.V.P. Liaison Officer.
3. All members shall be eligible to join the Study Groups.
4. All resident members shall be eligible to use the M.V.P. Library
5. All members shall be eligible to receive the Newsletter.
Management
1. The general management of the organization shall be by a Steering Committee consisting of the following officers:
  President
  Vice-President
  Secretary
  Treasurer
  Archivist
  Education Committee Director
  February Lecture Series Coordinator
  Liaison Officers for as many individual or group of museums and cultural organizations as the Steering Committee deems appropriate from time to time
  Membership Coordinator
  Monthly Lecture Series Coordinator
  M.V.P. After Eight Coordinator
  Newsletter Editor
  Study Group Coordinator
  Tour Coordinator
  Librarian
  Newsletter Distribution Coordinator
  Publicity Officer
  Vendor Coordinators
  Weaving Sales Coordinator
  Other officers co-opted or removed as the Steering Committee deems appropriate from time to time.
2. Liaison Officers shall be responsible for multiple museums and/or cultural organizations, where feasible, as the Steering Committee determines.
3. MVP Members and Steering Committee Members are not permitted to receive commission or profit financially from their volunteer work with MVP.
Meetings
1. Steering Committee Meetings shall be held at least quarterly.
2. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of May each year at a place in the Philippines designated by the Steering Committee and only resident members shall be entitled to vote at that Annual General Meeting.
3. Special Meetings of the members may be called as the need arises by either
  (a) the President, or
  (b) the Steering Committee at its own instance, or
  (c) at the written request of the majority of members to the Secretary.
Notices of Meetings
1. Notices of the time, date and place of Annual General and Special Meetings shall be given in writing, including electronically, to all members by the Secretary.
2. The notice for every Special Meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be considered at that meeting, except with the consent of all the members present thereat.
3. All such notices of Annual General and Special Meetings shall be delivered to members at least two (2) weeks before the dates scheduled for such meetings.
Election of Steering Committee
1. The Steering Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and each member shall hold office until the Annual General Meeting of the following year.
2. Any interim vacancies on the Steering Committee shall be filled until the next Annual General Meeting at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
3. No member of the Steering Committee shall hold more than one office concurrently with the exception of Liaison Officers.
4. No member shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive years except at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
Responsibilities of the Steering Committee
1. Members of the Steering Committee are required to comply with the By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and Guidelines that may be promulgated by the organization from time to time.
2. Members of the Steering Committee are required to attend all meetings of that Committee.
3. Members of the Steering Committee who fail to attend three (3) meetings each year, without giving due reason to the President or the Secretary, are automatically deemed to cease being members of the Steering Committee and such offices shall be deemed vacant.
4. The Steering Committee shall appoint from within its number the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer and at least one other member of the Steering Committee to be the duly authorized signatories to the organization’s bank account.
5. Any checks issued by the organization shall require the signature of at least two of the duly authorized signatories.
6. The Treasurer shall present a monthly financial report for each calendar month at every Steering Committee meeting.
7. The Treasurer shall present to the Annual General Meeting an audited financial report for the immediately preceding financial year.
8. The Membership Coordinator shall present to all meetings of the Steering Committee a monthly statement of membership gains and losses in all categories of membership for the immediately preceding calendar month.
9. The Educational Committee Director shall present to all meetings of the Steering Committee a monthly financial report relating to those calendar months during which the Education Committee course has been conducted.
Financial year
The organization’s financial year shall begin on the first (1st) day of April and terminate on thirty first (31st) day of March the following year.
Quorum
1. At any Steering Committee meeting the quorum shall consist of one half of the total number of the Committee.
2. At all other meetings the quorum shall consist of those members present.
3. If a quorum is not present, the Steering Committee may call an extra-ordinary meeting at a time and place at its discretion at which a two-thirds majority of those present is required to approve any amendment.
Voting
1. Resolutions at all meetings of the organization shall be decided by a simple majority vote.
Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution shall be proposed to the Steering Committee, publicized in a newsletter and distributed by the Secretary to members at least two (2) weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal for adoption is to be made.
Dissolution
1. The organization may be dissolved at any time by decision taken at a General Meeting.
2. No part of any net surplus of the organization will inure to the benefit of any of the members or officers of the organization upon its dissolution.
3. Any surplus generated by the organization as a result of its lawful operations shall be used for the furtherance of the purposes of the organization as set out in Article 3.
4. Any surplus generated by the organization as a result of its lawful operations shall be used for the furtherance of the purposes of the organization as set out in Article 3.