The American Community Association ( AMCOM) is a non profit association with the following purposes:

       (A)       To conduct activities primarily for the benefit and welfare of the employees of the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the benefit and welfare of the families of such employees, and for the benefit and welfare of such other persons as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors of the association, which may include but may not be limited to the operation of food services, recreation facilities, employee services, and administration of any funds acquired by the association for the common benefit of such employees, families, and other persons;

       (B)       To acquire by purchase, devise, bequest, or otherwise any and all property, real, personal, or fixed, tangible or intangible, wherever situated, necessary or useful for the operations of the association; to hold, own, maintain, sell, assign, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the same; and to exercise all other rights and powers of ownership therein;

       (C)       To solicit, receive, and expend money and other property with which to defray the expenses of the association in carrying on its activities and to issue therefore suitable receipts or acknowledgments; to borrow money of any person, firm, or corporation for any of the objectives or purposes of the association; to issue notes or obligations; to secure the same by mortgage, pledge, or any other lawful means; and to enter into and carry out agreements and contracts of every kind and description;

       (D)       To do all and everything necessary, suitable, and proper directly or indirectly for the accomplishment of any of the purposes or powers heretofore set forth, either alone or associated with other corporations, associations, firms, or individuals, and to do any other act or acts, thing or things, incidental or pertaining to, or growing out of, or connected with part or parts thereof, provided the same be consistent with the applicable law, established foreign policy of the United States and administrative regulations issued by the Department of State;

       (E)       To support and assist as appropriate the activities of the American Embassy  that contribute toward the furthering of understanding or improvement of relations between the U.S. Government and the people of Ethiopia;

       (F)       In general, to do any and all things and to exercise any and all powers, which may now or hereafter is lawful for the association to do or exercise.

Board of Directors

The management of the association shall be vested in a Board of Directors of Full members, elected by the membership at membership meetings.  The majority of the voting Board of Directors must be direct-hire, U.S. citizen, U.S. Government employees.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of seven (7) members.   Directors shall be elected for one-year terms, except appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired portion of the term of the Director to be replaced.   Thereafter, all appointed Directors must stand for re-election at the first membership meeting or election following their appointment if they wish to remain on the board.

The Board of Directors shall also include one member appointed by the Bilateral Ambassador to act as his/her designee on the Board, the Community Liaison Office Coordinator, as well as the association General Manager and any association operation managers.  The Bilateral Ambassador's designee, Community Liaison Office Coordinator (CLO), and Association Managers shall not have the right to vote at Board Meetings.

The Officers of the association shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected by the Board of Directors as nominated from the pool of elected Board members.  Officers shall be elected for a term of twelve months, except that in filling vacancies the term shall be for the unexpired term of the officer being replaced.

Vacancies on the Board of Directors due to the departure of a Director shall be filled by a person or persons appointed at the discretion of the remaining Board members.  All appointed Directors must stand for re-election at the first membership meeting following their appointment if they wish to remain on the Board.  

Duties of Officers

(A)  The Chairperson, as chief officer of the association, is responsible to the Board of Directors, which represents the membership, for the proper conduct of all association activities not specifically delegated to other officers.  The duties of the Chairperson shall include:  presiding at all meetings of the membership, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee; appointing all standing and special committees, subject to approval of the Board of Directors; maintaining close cooperation and compliance with official policies; supervising performance of manager(s) engaged to direct association activities; and continuous review of policies, rules, and regulations and performance of operations to ensure propriety, adequacy and effectiveness of operations.

(B)  The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in the performance of his/her duties, and in the event of absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, is empowered to perform all duties and exercise all authority vested in the Chairperson.

(C)  The Secretary shall be the official custodian of all current and archival records of the association, except current year financial records; prepare and maintain official minutes of all meetings of membership, Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee; maintain a file of the minutes of all standing and special committees; prepare and maintain accurate membership rolls; issue and validate all membership cards; attest and affix the association seal to legal or other documents as required; issue notices of meetings; and perform such other duties  as the Board of Directors may delegate.

(D)  The Treasurer, as chief financial officer of the association, is responsible to the Board  of Directors for all matters pertaining to or affecting the financial condition of the association.  The duties of the Treasurer shall include maintenance or oversight of all accounting, bank, cost, stock, inventory, and other related records affecting financial matters, except such records as the Board of Directors may designate an accountant to maintain; custody or control of all funds; examination and approval of all disbursement of funds; establishment and maintenance of banking arrangements; promulgation of a Board-approved spending limit for the manager, execution of credit and other financial policies; and performance of such other duties the Board of Directors may delegate.

AMCOM & EMBASSY LICENCE AGREEMENT