Articles of Incorporation

Gibe-Gogeb Welfare Association

Or Jimma Alumni Association

I.  The undersigned natural person, __________________________________________

    Whose address is ______________________________________________________

    Being at least 18 years of age, does hereby form an Association under the law of the        

    state of ________________. He/she shall be the resident agent of the Association.

II. Definition

1        The Association means the Gibe- Gogeb Welfare or Jimma Alumni Association.

2        Jimma is a province in the State of Oromia in the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

3        Gibe and Gogeb are rivers in Jimma area surrounding several regions.

4        Alumni are graduates from any of the schools and colleges or institutions existing in Jimma and the surrounding regions.

III. Name

The name of the Association is Gibe-Gogeb (Welfare) (Development) Association or Jimma Alumni Association, here in after referred to as the Association.

IV. Address

a)      The address of the Association shall be_________________________________

b)      The Association shall have branch offices as the Board of Directors decide

V. Purposes or Objectives

     The purpose for which the Association is organized are exclusively charitable, humanitarian, educational, scientific and cultural within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now enacted or hereafter amended, including for such purpose, the making of distribution to organization that also qualify as Section 501 (c)(3) exempt organization. To this end, the Association shall be a non-profit, non-political, humanitarian membership organization.

Specifically the Association shall have the following objectives:

A.     1) to bring together the children of (the Gibe – Gogeb regions) or (Jimma

and surrounding regions) living in America or abroad, and to nourish the love and family spirit that always existed among them and that has always been their identifying characteristic and that, God willing, shall remain so in this

                   world and in the life after.

       2) To this end, the Association shall organize a grand reunion of its members

       at least once a year.

       3) To this end, it shall also organize smaller meetings throughout the year in

       various cities or countries of the world. 

B.     To provide assistance to its members so that they and their loved ones get quality education, proper health care, clean water and adequate accommodation or housing.

C.     To provide humanitarian assistance for survival, health and resettlement of refugees, displaced persons, and those at risk, and help themselves achieve productive lives of dignity and purpose.

D.     To send material assistance to the schools and University in Jimma (Gibe –Gogeb) area in the form of books, computers, stationeries, sports equipments, uniforms, and clinical accessories.

E.      To organize community service and, or humanitarian assistance in the Jimma (Gibe-Gogeb) area so that people will participate in educational, social and economic development such as:  

1)      Building of schools, clinics, roads, libraries, dams, and self-help programs

2)      The supply of electric power, clean drinking water.

3)      The modernization of the agriculture such as the proper utilization and supply of fertilizers, soil conservation practices, use of improved crop varieties, animal husbandry, dairy farming and poultry.

F.      To conduct research towards the excellence of coffee beans and coffee cultivation (the main product of the region).

G.     To advocate and work towards the conservation of forestry which is home for many of the wildlife and biodiversity that lives with it (which is the essential beauty of the region).

H.     To teach elementary health care such as mid-wives, proper balanced nourishment, hygiene or sanitation, and protect against venereal disease, HIV/AIDS, Malaria etc.

I.        To encourage studies in the field of history, cultural heritage, and social values.

J.       To maintain historical sites of the region such as palaces, cemeteries, and antiques and establish museums.

VI. Membership

      Membership is open to any person born or brought up in Jimma or Gibe – Gogeb areas or any alumni of the schools of the region who is willing and ready to support the objectives of the Association and to abide by its rules and regulations.

VII. Funds and Capital

A.     All funds, whether income or principal, and whether acquired as a gift or obtained as a contribution or otherwise, shall be devoted to the above purpose.

B.     The Association, however, has no authority to issue capital stock.

VIII. Duration

         The period of the duration of the Association is perpetual.

IX. Directors

      The number of the directors of the Association shall be three, which numbers may be increased or decreased pursuant to the by-laws of the Association.

       The names of the directors who shall act until the first meeting or until their successors are duly chosen and qualified are:

            1)

            2)

            3)

X. Auditing

     Mr. _______________________ shall act as an auditor until the first meeting or until a successor is duly chosen and qualified.

XI. Restricting Conditions

       At all time the following shall operate as condition restricting the operations and activities of the Association.

A.     No part of the net earning of the Association shall inure to any members of the Association  not qualifying as exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as now enacted or hereafter amended, nor to any director or officer of the Association nor to any other private persons, excepting solely such reasonable compensation that the Association shall pay for services actually rendered to the Association or allowed by the Association as a reasonable compensation allowance for authorized expenditures incurred on behalf of the Association.

B.     No substantial part of activities of the Association shall constitute the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, or any initiative or referendum before the public, and the Association shall not participate or intervene (including by publication or distribution of statements), in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

C.     Notwithstanding any other provision of there articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by the Association exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now enacted or hereafter amended.

D.     The Association shall not lend any of its assets to any officer or director of this Association, or guarantee to any person the payment of a loan by an officer or director of the Association.

E.      No member, officer or director of this Association shall be personally liable for the debts or obligation of this Association of any nature whatsoever, nor shall any of the property of the members, officers or directors be subject to the payment of the debt or obligation of the Association.

XII. Dissolution           

Upon the time of dissolution of the Association assets shall be distributed by the board of directors, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all debts obligation, liabilities, cost and expenses of the Association for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government for public purposes. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by court of competent jurisdiction of the country in which the principal office of the Association is then located.

XII. By-laws

The Association shall have by-laws or rules and regulations encompassing such matters as:

●  The organs of the Association (General Assembly, Executive committee etc.)

    ● Officers and their duties

    ● Meetings (Ordinary and Extra Ordinary)

    ● Code of Ethics

    ● Finance (Fiscal Year), and

    ● Other relevant items

XIII. Miscellaneous

A.     Amendments

The Articles of the Association shall be amended by the Board of Directors upon approval by the General Assembly.

B.     Ratification of Documents

All documents of the Association such as the by-laws or constitution or Articles of Memorandum of Association will come to effect upon approval by the Board of Directors and ratification by the General Assembly.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed these articles and acknowledge the same to be my act