Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
OF
VIRGINIA BUDDHIST VIHARA & CULTURAL CENTER
(VBVCC)
ARTICLE (11}:NAME
The name of this corporation shall be VIRGINIA BUDDHIST VIHARA & CULTURAL
CENTER. (Hereinafter the “VBVCC”)
ARTICLE (111):OFFICE
The “VBVCC” shall have and continuously maintain registered offices in the State or
Commonwealth of Virginia, and may have such other offices within or without the State
of Virginia as the Executive Board may from time to time determine.
The Objectives of the “VBVCC” shall be to support and promote activities connected
with Buddhism: to organize and unite the Buddhist followers for religious worship and
charitable activities; to advance and support the Buddhist doctrine, to organize, plan,
promote, finance, lease, operate, purchase, maintain, erect and contract the temple for the
Buddhist religious activities and fellowship of the Buddhist followers; to promote and /or
assist in cultural, educational, scientific activities and some public affairs in the
community as may be deemed applicable by the Abbot in consultation with the Board of
Directors. The corporation shall be organized within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of
the Internal Revenue Code, of 1986, as amended or corresponding section of any future
federal tax code.
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ARTICLE (V1):ABBOT OF THE TEMPLE
The abbot of the temple shall be a fully ordained Theravada Buddhist monk and he
shall be the President of the Corporation and serves as the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the latter two positions thereby shall be part of the office of Abbot. He shall
administrate, direct and organize the overall function and affairs of the VBVCC. He
shall preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall have the power to
select, substitute, remove and appoint the vice-president, board of directors and other
officers of the Corporation. He shall have the power to veto any decision taken by the
corporation, if he thinks in accordance with the noble teachings of Buddha, that such
decision is detrimental to the wellbeing of the corporation and/ or against the general
Buddhist ethics. A non-elect, spiritual position, the Abbot of the temple can only be
filled, when it falls vacant by death or resignation of the current Abbot. If the Abbot
finds it necessary, he shall appoint a Deputy Abbot in order to assist him. The Abbot
shall carry out his duty from anywhere. The Abbot shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation. The Abbot shall monitor the function of the Board of
Directors and the general membership. The Abbot shall appoint the Deputy Abbot or
any director of the Corporation as competent authority to govern, monitor, and/or to
preside over any meeting or event and/or in the absence of the Abbot himself.
Section 1: The officers of the corporation shall be the Abbot who is also as the President
and CEO of the Corporation and as Chairman of the Board of Directors
himself officially being a director in his official capacity as Abbot/President;
Vice-President; Secretary; Treasurer; Assistant Secretary; two more Directors
who shall be fully ordained Buddhist monks or nuns or laypersons of the
caliber determined by the Abbot.
Section 2: The office of president shall be an integral part of the office of Abbot, and shall
therefore be held by the Abbot.
Section 3: The office of Vice-president shall be held by the Deputy Abbot and
shall be
considered vacant upon the position of Deputy Abbot being terminated by the
Abbot/President or upon the Deputy Abbot resigning from his either post,
whichever occurs first. The Deputy Abbot shall sit on the Board of Directors.
In the absence of the Abbot, the Deputy Abbot shall act as Abbot and execute
the duties of Abbot, Chief Executive Officer and of Chairman of the Board of
Directors. The office of vice president shall be an integral part of the office of
Deputy Abbot, and shall therefore be held by the Deputy Abbot.
Section 4: The secretary shall be a Buddhist monk or any active member appointed by the
Abbot/President/CEO, and will serve a term of two years.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall be any Buddhist monk or any active member appointed by
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the Abbot/President/CEO, and will serve a term of two years.
Section6: The assistant secretary shall be any Buddhist monk or any active member
appointed by the Abbot/President/CEO, and will serve a term of two years.
Section7: The Board of Directors shall be comprised of five members, viz. the Abbot,
Deputy Abbot and three more fully ordained Buddhist monks or nuns or any
lay member appointed by the Abbot/President and will serve as long as they wish,
unless the positions fall vacant due to death or resignation or removal by the
Abbot.
Section8: All the positions shall be re-appointed in Annual General Meeting or Special
General Meeting, upon their falling vacant.
Section 1: The Abbot of the temple as the President of the corporation and as the
Chairman of the Executive Board, shall actively have the power to; direct,
manage and organize the religious affairs, to provide alms food, robes, health care
and permit members to live and act within the Buddhist disciplinary rules. He
shall have the power to sign checks, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other
document. He shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the
corporation. He shall have the power to disburse money not to exceed $ 1,500.00
each occasion and not to exceed $ 4,000.00 for a month, unless countersigned
with any person of the vice-president, secretary, treasurer and assistant secretary
of the corporation. He shall have power to select, appoint, remove and substitute
to the vice-president, secretary, treasurer, assistant secretary, and directors of the
corporation at any appropriate time with or without cause. He shall have the
power to authorize any individual to act in his stead and with his authority to
perform any and all acts relating to the Abbot duties and responsibilities relating
to the temple, such authority shall be valid only will made in writing by the
Abbot/President. The Abbot/President will be the custodian of corporate records
and the seal of the corporation, and affixing the seal to immigration sponsorship
documents and signing them. The Abbot shall decide the number of the resident
monks and/or nuns for the corporation.
Section 3: The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meeting of the corporation, the
Executive Board, annual general meetings and semi-annual meetings and special
general meetings. He/She shall be responsible for sending notices, agenda of
meetings, and minutes of previous meeting to members. He/She will file all
necessary reports and documents to the temple’s attorney, to all appropriate State
and federal agencies. He/She shall perform all duties assigned to him/her by the
President or the Executive Board.
Section 4: The treasurer shall be in charge and custody of all funds and securities of the
corporation, receive donations and give copies of triplicate receipts for the
donation to the corporation, deposit all such funds under the name VIRGINIA
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BUDDHIST VIHARA & CULTURAL CENTER or simply VBVCC in the Banks,
trust companies and other depositories designed by the Abbot/President and/or
Board of Directors within 15 working days, report and post monthly income and
expenses including bank statements and status reports of the corporation, and in
general all the duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties
assigned to him/her by the President and/or by the Board of Directors.
Section 5: The assistant secretary shall perform all duties of the secretary in his/her
absence or in the event that he/she is unable to perform them.
Section 6: The board of directors shall oversee that the operation of the corporation is in
accordance with the charter and complies with bylaws of the corporation and the
Internal Revenue Code. They will arrange for an independent certified public
accountant to audit the account of the temple annually, monitor religious activity
committees and event committees appointed by the Abbot or in his absence by the
Deputy Abbot on prior advice obtained from the Abbot.
Section 1: The Abbot/President, Deputy Abbot/ and five more fully ordained Buddhist
monks or nuns or laypersons shall constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 3: The Board of Directors shall be the body that has the ultimate authority and
responsibilities of the entire business of the Corporation.
Section 4: The Board of Directors shall hold a meeting at the temple in person or
anywhere else by means of telecommunication on a regular and continual basis as
determined by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, as necessary.
ARTICLE X: COMMITEES
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Section 2: A Planning and Maintenance Committee shall be comprised of at least three
members appointed by the Chairman of the Executive Board or in his absence by
the Deputy Abbot upon advice obtained from the former. One of the appointees
shall be the Chairperson of the committee. This committee shall be responsible for
overseeing maintenance, repair, removal, improvement, and reconstruction of the
temple. The committee shall make short-term and long range plans for the
maintenance and reconstruction of the temple including any projected
expenditures. They shall arrange for competitive biding of any contract related to
maintenance, reconstruction and purchasing for at least two reputable companies.
As determined by the Executive Board and shall repot their recommendations to
the Chairman of the Board. The period of duration of the committee shall by
perpetual. The President and/or Vice President shall monitor and advice the
committee.
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ARTICLE X1: MEETINGS
Section 1: The annual general meeting of the corporation shall be held during the month
of February.
Section 2: The semi-annual meeting of the corporation shall be held on Vesak Festival.
Section 3: A written notice of time and agenda of annual and semi-annual meeting shall
be sent to all members at least two weeks but not more then four weeks prior to
the meeting.
Section 4: The place of the meeting shall be at the VBVCC. In the event of that the
meeting cannot be held at the VBVCC, due to natural cause or physical
restrictions the specific place meetings of Board of Directors shall be determined
and the change announced to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
The meetings shall also be held by means of telecommunication.
Section 5: A special general meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors and shall be called upon by written request. The purpose of the meeting
shall be stated in the notice. Unless an emergency exists at least two weeks notice
shall be given for any special meeting.
Section 6: 30% active members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7: Any active member who is at least 18 years of age shall have right to vote.
Section 1: Any or all officers and directors may be removed by the power of the duties of
Abbot/President set forth in article V111.
The rules contained in the constitution shall govern the corporation in all cases to
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which they are applicable and where they are not in contradiction with these Bylaws or
any other special rules this corporation may adopt from time to time in a special meeting
of the Board of Directors chaired by the Abbot.
The seal, which depicts a Buddhist symbol and the name of the corporation,
shall be the legal and binding seal of the Virginia Buddhist Vihara & Cultural
Center.
The Constitution and the Bylaws of the VBVCC may be altered, amended, or
repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted at any appropriate time, or at the annual or the
semi-annual meeting of the temple, or as special meeting by the majority of the members
of the Board of Directors chaired by the Chairman. The constitution in its entirety, any
clause in the constitution and any Bylaw become law upon signatures being placed by all
the current members of the Board of Directors.
If at any time, the Executive Board shall determine that the objective of the corporation
cannot be carried out, and the corporation is dissolved and liquidated, all the remaining
assets (after the satisfaction of all debt and liabilities) shall be distributed for one or more
exempt purpose within the meaning of section 501 (c ) ( 3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Or corporation section of any future federal tax code or shall be distributed to the federal
government, or to the state or local government for public purpose, or shall be donated
for the benefit and use of the International Buddhist Center, bearer of Employer
Identification Number 52-2002360, currently located at 2600 Elmont Street,
Wheaton, MD 20902-2760. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of the
court of common please of the country in the principal office of the corporation then
located, exclusively for such purposes, or to such organization, or organizations, as said
court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
Date__________________________ At ______________________________
__________________________
Reverend Vijitha Thero Embilipitiye Director/Deputy Abbot/Vice President
____________________________ Director
Reverend Uparatana Katugastota
_______________________________ Director
Reverend Heenbunne Kondanna
_______________________________ Director
Reverend Upananda Thero Dedunupitiye
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_______________________________ Director
Reverend Sirirathana Thero Kobygane
_______________________________ Director
Mr. Palitha Kalawane