MWANZA PRESS CLUB
MAKONGORO ROAD, CCM BUILDING, 4th FLOOR ROOM NO 86&87
P.O. BOX 2516
TEL 028 2500829/0741 467887
E-mail: mpcmwanza@hotmail.com
MWANZA
PREAMBLE
Whereas we Mwanza media practitioners believe that our cardinal duty is to serve the truth, guided by the principle of the public's right to information, and:
Whereas we believe that we have a duty and responsibility to ensure, enhance and defend freedom of the media, and;
Whereas in so doing we have to be guided strictly by professional principles of accuracy, objective, honesty,
NOW THEREFORE, we Mwanza media practitioners, do hereby form Mwanza Press Club which is a non-governmental, independent and voluntary organization.
1.0 NAME: Mwanza Press Club
2.0 REGISTERED OFFICE:
The registered office Mwanza Press Club will
be within Mwanza City3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
3.1 To enhance efficiency in information communication, for the benefit of the members and the public in general.
3.2 To afford members the means of social interaction.
3.3 To raise professional standards in the field of journalism in organizing training opportunities amongst its members.
3.4 To improve the quality of news collection and dissemination (amongst Tanzania journalists).
3.5 To facilitate cooperation among journalists, news sources and professional organizations.
3.6 To facilitate sharing of available resources amongst its members
3.7 To protect its members from unjustified hindrance of their normal journalistic conduct.4.0 MEMBERSHIP:
Membership of the club is open to individual journalists and mass communicators working in Mwanza region, or those making regular visits to Mwanza. There shall be two categories of members.4.1 FULL MEMBERS:
There are people whose livelihoods depend on journalistic activities involving writing for the mass media, such as radio, television, newspapers, journals or any other regular, or specialized publication locally or internationally.4.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:
These are individuals whose activities are related to journalism. Non-citizen journalists fall under this category. Associates members will have no voting powers.4.2.0 MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS:
A member of the Club shall:
4.2.1 Be a sane person with sound mind
4.2.2 Not have criminal records
4.2.3 Be over 18 years old
4.2.4 Have practiced journalism for a year or above
4.2.5 Be a person living in Mwanza region4.3.0 ADMITTANCE:
For a person to become a member he/she shall:
4.3.1 Apply in writing
4.3.2 Fulfill section 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5 the constitution
4.3.3 Fulfill form No. A for full membership and form B for associate membership.4.4.0 MEMBERSHIP OBLIGATION:
A member of the club:
4.4.1 Shall attend all clubs meetings as the constitution stipulates.
4.4.2 Shall pay club's fees and subscriptions
4.4.3 Shall be faithful, loyal and dutiful to the club's leaders and members
4.4.4 Shall participate fully and actively in assisting the club's leaders to attain its objectives.4.5.0 MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS:
A member shall have the following rights:
4.5.1 To freely express his/her opinions
4.5.2 To elect or to be elected in club's elections.
4.5.3 To be protected and defended by the club in the normal journalistic course.4.6.0 MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION:
A member shall loose membership if:
4.6.1 He/she dies
4.6.2 He/she resigns
4.6.3 He/she becomes mentally disturbed
4.6.4 He/she behaves contrary to journalistic code of ethics
4.6.5 He/she does not pay yearly subscription as the constitution stipulates4.7.0 MEMBERSHIP RE-ADMITTANCE:
A member may be readmitted into the club if the Executive Committee will be convinced that he/she has reformed his/her characters.5.0 CLUB LEADERSHIP:
The leadership of the club shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee consisting of:-
5.1.1 The Chairperson
5.1.2 The Vice Chairperson
5.1.3 The Executive Secretary
5.1.4 Deputy Executive Secretary
5.1.5 Treasurer
5.1.6 Deputy Treasurer
5.1.7 Head of 4 departments and six other members5.2.0 DEPARTMENT:
There are 4 departments that will be led by Heads of departments. Each department will have six members. Heads of department will be ex officio members of the Executive Committee. Those departments are:5.2.1 Activism, Advocacy and Lobbying department:
Which will be dealing with advocating and campaigning for freedom of media, better pay and good working environment for journalists.5.2.2 Training, Media, Ethics and Documentation department:
Which will be dealing with initiating and planning training to journalists promoting media ethics, arbitration and adjudication of public's complaints against the media and vice versa. On the process of arbitration and adjudication the department:
a) Shall receive complaints from the public regarding the misconduct of the club's members
b) Shall conduct investigations regarding members and leaders misbehaviour and violations of the club's constitution.
c) Shall forward its resolutions to the Executive Committee if the case in question involves a member of the club.
d) Shall forward its resolution to the Genera Meeting if the case in question involves a leader of the club.5.2.3 Gender, Social Services and the Environment department:
Will be dealing with matters relating to women, men and children, health, education, politics, journalists welfare, sports and entertainment issues fall under the jurisdiction of this department.5.2.4 Support and Management Department:
Will be dealing with:
a) Office administration
b) Utilization and management of clubs assets/services
c) Establishment of office procedures and financial regulations.5.3.0 LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:
5.3.1 Chairperson:
5.3.2 Shall chair and supervise all meetings as prescribed in the constitution
5.3.3 Shall supervise implementation of resolutions made in all meetings
5.3.4 Shall be the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Club5.4.0 VICE CHAIRPERSON:
5.4.1 Shall assist the Chairperson in all above duties5.5.0 EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:
5.5.1 Convene club's meetings
5.5.2 Shall be the Chief implementer of the club's resolutions
5.5.3 Shall be the recording secretary of all members meetings and the Executive Committee meetings
5.5.4 Shall authorize payments not more than 500,000/=
5.5.5 Shall perform any other duties as prescribed in this constitution.5.6.0. DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:
5.6.1 Shall assist the Executive Secretary in all above duties.5.6.2 Treasurer:
5.6.3 Shall receive and safe keep all funds of the club
5.6.4 Shall keep all accounts records properly and submit for auditing annually
5.6.5 Shall disburse funds as authorized
5.6.6 Shall prepare a financial summary every six months.5.7.0. DEPUTY TREASURER:
5.7.1 Shall assist the treasure in all above duties.5.8.0 LEADERSHIP CODE OF ETHICS:
Any club leader must be a person of upright character and an example to his subordinates
5.8.1 Shall not entertain rumour mongering
5.8.2 Shall not disrepute the club by his/her deeds
5.8.3 Shall use his/her position for personal gains
5.8.4 Shall not divulge club's funds and mismanage club's properties5.8.0. BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
5.9.1 There shall be a Board of Trustees comprised of six people with gender balance to be elected by the Annual General meeting after every 3 years. The trustees shall be the custodian of this constitution, assets and liabilities of the club.6.0 MEETINGS:
6.1.0 There shall be:
6.1.1 Annual General Meeting
6.1.2 Executive Committee Meeting
6.1.3 Department Meeting6.2.0 A GENERAL MEETING:
6.2.1 Shall be held twice a year or when the need arises, and the quorum shall be more than half of full members.
6.2.2 Shall be supreme policy making body of the club
6.2.3 Shall elect trustees of the club
6.2.4 Shall form special committee of various purposes
6.2.5 Shall elect members of the executive committee and other sub committees and head of departments
6.2.6 Shall endorse the budget of the club
6.2.7 Shall receive implementation reports for the proceeding period
6.2.8 Shall expel any club leader after proving he/she has violated the club's constitution.6.3 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING:
6.3.1 Shall be held quarterly or more often as the need arises
6.3.2 Shall endorse membership applications
6.3.3 Shall by a vote of half of the members authorized club's payment above Tshs. 500,000/=
6.3.4 Shall purpose and present development projects of Club's members
6.3.5 Shall ensure and enforce discipline and good conduct of Club members
6.3.6 Shall work out implementation strategies in General Meeting's resolutions
6.3.7 Shall review implementation of Club activities
6.3.8 Shall confirm resolutions made by the Ethics Committee regarding members indiscipline behaviour
6.3.9 Shall from time to time make, alter and revoke bylaws for the internal management of the club. All such bylaws revoked shall be binding on all members of the club.
6.3.10 Shall elect members of the 4 departments and Editorial Boards of TAA Newspaper and Mazingira Newsletter.7.0 CLUB'S ELECTIONS:
All members of the Executive Committee and Head of Departments shall be elected after every three years by a secret ballot at Annual General Meeting by a simple majority but shall be entitled for re-election.8.0 SOURCE OF INCOME:
8.1 FEES:
Every member shall pay an entry fee of Tshs. 10,000/= for full members and Tshs. 6,000/= for associate members. Annual subscription per year for all types of membership is Tshs. 6,000/= until entry and subscription fees are paid, no member shall be entitled to any privilege of the club. Annual subscription fee shall be paid at or before the end of January.
8.2 Donations
8.3 Fundraising activities and economic ventures
8.4 Commissions
8.5 Any other lawful means.9.0 DISSOLUTION OF MWANZA PRESS CLUB (MPC):
9.1 MPC shall be dissolved except by a resolution passed by the Annual General Meeting by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
9.2 In the event of such a vote, the trustees of MPC will manage the assets and liabilities of the club.10.0 CLUB ACCOUNTS:
10.1 All funds of the club shall be deposited in an account at a recognized bank
10.2 There shall be two signatories for any financial transaction
The club shall appoint three signatories, one of whom must be the secretary.
10.3 Accounts of the club shall be audited annually by the certified auditors
10.4 Funds of the club shall be used for the development of the club only.11.0 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION:
11.1 Notice of the Annual General Meeting, and of business to be transacted there at, shall be posted on the notice board of the club two weeks before the holding of the meeting.11.2 At the Annual General Meeting any member may propose a new rule or bylaw, or alteration or repeal of any existing rule.
11.3 The Club shall be opened at such hours, as may from time to time be fixed by the Executive Committee, and posted in the premises.
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