(b) Advisory Group
(i) Responsibility: The Advisory Group (hereafter referred to as the “Group”) shall serve as a resource base for unique knowledge and skills to the Board of Directors, providing pertinent recommendations to the overall policy and direction of Maendeleo. The Group shall have no formal authority to govern Maendeleo or issue directives to be followed by the Board. The Group shall have no voting rights.
(ii) Composition: The Group shall have up to five, but no fewer than two members.
(iii) Compensation: Group members shall receive no compensation for their services to Maendeleo. Group members will be reimbursed only for pre-approved expenses.
(iv) Terms: All members of the Group shall serve five-year terms, and are eligible for re-election for one additional term.
(v) Special meetings: Special meetings of the group shall be called upon the request of the Chair of the Board. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the secretary to each Group member at least four weeks in advance of a meeting.
(vi) Resignation and Removal by Cause:
a) Resignation – Resignation from the Group at any time is voluntary and the desire for such must be communicated in writing to the Secretary in order to take effect.
b) Removal by Cause – An Advisory Group member shall be suspended or terminated from service to Maendeleo due to excess absences or lack or participation in the affairs of Maendeleo. A Group member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the Boar of Directors.
(c) Committees
(i) Committee formation: The Board may create committees or working groups as needed, such as fundraising, marketing, and public relations.
(ii) Finance Committee: The Board will appoint the Chair of the Finance committee. The Finance committee will be a standing committee and will be responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, fundraising plans, and the annual budget with Board members. The Board must approve the budget and all expenditures must be within budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the Board. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Board showing income, expenditures, and pending income. Then financial records of the organization are public and shall be made available to the entire Maendeleo community.