Articles of Association / Bylaws

第一條　名稱 

本會定名為「大佛雷斯諾區台灣商會」（Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce – Greater Fresno Area，簡稱 TCCGFA），依據美國加州非營利法人法（California Nonprofit Corporation Law）成立，並申請符合美國聯邦稅法第 501(c)(6) 條之非營利商業組織資格。 

Article 1 – Name 

This organization shall be known as the “Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce – Greater Fresno Area” (TCCGFA), organized under the California Nonprofit Corporation Law and operating as a federal tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

第二條　宗旨 

本會宗旨如下： 

1. 促進佛雷斯諾地區及周邊城市台灣與台灣相關社群之交流與合作。 

2. 推動台灣與美國之間之經濟、文化、教育、科技與產業交流。 

3. 支持台灣及台灣相關企業、專業人士、創業者與青年人才之發展。 

4. 建立跨世代、跨領域與跨區域之合作平台。 

5. 提升台灣社群於美國主流社會之能見度與影響力。 

Article 2 – Objectives 

The objectives of the Chamber are: 

1. To promote collaboration and networking among Taiwanese and Taiwan-connected communities throughout the Greater Fresno Area and surrounding cities. 

2. To advance economic, cultural, educational, technological, and industry exchanges between Taiwan and the United States. 

3. To support Taiwanese and Taiwan-connected businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders. 

4. To establish cross-generational, cross-disciplinary, and cross-regional collaboration platforms. 

5. To enhance the visibility and influence of the Taiwanese community within mainstream American society. 

第三條　會址 

本會會址設於美國加州佛雷斯諾地區，由理事會決議之。 

Article 3 – Office Location 

The principal office of the Chamber shall be located within the Greater Fresno Area of California, with the exact location determined by the Board of Directors. 

第四條　會員資格與權利義務 

會員資格以來自台灣，認同台灣之大佛雷斯諾地區之工商業者或專業人士為限。夫妻得同為會員。 

本會會員分為： 

1. 一般會員  

2. 企業會員 

3. 青年會員（如適用） 

各類會員均應繳納由理事會訂定之會費。 

會員享有本章程規定之權利與義務，包括： 

• 參與本會活動 

• 出席會員大會 

• 享有選舉與被選舉權（依會員類別規定） 

• 遵守本會章程及理事會決議 

會員若有損害本會聲譽或違反章程之行為，理事會得決議警告、停權或除名。 

未繳納年度會費者，視同自動退會。 

Article 4 – Membership Rights and Obligations 

Membership eligibility is limited to businesspeople or professionals from Taiwan, or those who identify with Taiwan, within the Greater Fresno area. Spouses may both hold membership. 

Membership categories shall include: 

1. General Members  

2. Corporate Members 

3. Young Professional Members (if applicable) 

All members shall pay dues as determined by the Board of Directors. 

Members shall have the rights and responsibilities established under these bylaws, including participation in Chamber activities, attendance at general meetings, voting eligibility where applicable, and compliance with Chamber rules and resolutions. 

Members whose conduct damages the reputation or interests of the Chamber may be disciplined, suspended, or removed by resolution of the Board. 

Members who fail to pay annual dues shall be considered withdrawn from membership. 

第五條　會員大會 

會員大會為本會最高權力機構。 

Article 5 – General Assembly 

The General Assembly shall be the highest governing authority of the Chamber. 

第六條　會員大會種類 

會員大會分為： 

1. 年會 

2. 臨時會員大會 

年會每年召開一次；臨時會員大會由理事會視需要召開或二分之一以上會員連署提出召開之。 

Article 6 – Types of Meetings 

The Chamber shall hold: 

1. Annual General Meetings 

2. Special Meetings 

The Annual Meeting shall be held once per year. Special meetings may be convened by resolution of the Board Or convened upon a joint petition/request signed by more than one-half of the members. 

第七條　開會通知與決議 

• 會員大會應於十五日前通知全體會員。 

• 會員至少需有 1/2 出席參加，始能開議。 

• 決議須經出席會員過半數同意通過。 

Article 7 – Notice and Voting 

• Notice of General Meetings shall be provided at least fifteen (15) days in advance. 

• At least one-half of the members must be present/attending in order to convene the meeting. 

• Resolutions shall pass with approval by a majority of members present. 

第八條　主席 

會員大會由會長主持；會長缺席時，由副會長代理；副會長亦缺席時，由理事會推派代理主席。 

Article 8 – Chairperson of Meetings 

The President shall chair the General Assembly. In the absence of the President, a Vice President shall serve as acting chair. If neither is available, the Board shall appoint a temporary chairperson. 

第九條　理事會組成 

本會設理事會，由會員選出理事組成，理事名額最多十一名。 

理事會應互選： 

• 會長一名 

• 副會長若干名 

Article 9 – Board Composition 

The Chamber shall have a Board of Directors consisting of up to twenty-one (11) directors elected by eligible members. 

The Board shall elect: 

• One President 

• One or more Vice Presidents 

第十條　理事選舉 

理事選舉採無記名投票方式辦理。 

理事選舉每年舉行一次。 

Article 10 – Election of Directors 

Directors shall be elected by secret ballot. 

Director elections shall be conducted annually. 

第十一條　任期 

理事任期為一年，得連選連任。 

會長任期一年，得連任一次。 

副會長任期與會長相同。 

Article 11 – Terms of Office 

Directors shall serve one-year terms and may be re-elected. 

The President shall serve a one-year term and may be re-elected once consecutively. 

Vice Presidents shall serve the same term as the President. 

第十二條　理事會職權 

理事會負責： 

• 本會整體發展與治理 

• 財務監督 

• 委員會設立 

• 活動與計畫推動 

• 會員資格審核 

• 行政主管任命 

Article 12 – Powers of the Board 

The Board shall oversee: 

• Strategic governance and development 

• Financial oversight 

• Establishment of committees 

• Programs and events 

• Membership approvals 

• Appointment of administrative officers 

第十三條　理事會會議 

理事會至少每四 個月召開一次。 

會議須有過半數理事出席始得開會，決議須經出席理事過半數同意。 

Article 13 – Board Meetings 

The Board shall meet at least once every four months. 

A majority of directors shall constitute a quorum. Resolutions shall pass by majority vote of directors present. 

第十四條　理事資格終止 

理事如有下列情形之一者，應即解任： 

1. 喪失會員資格 

2. 書面辭職並經理事會同意 

3. 未履行理事職責且經理事會決議解除職務 

Article 14 – Removal of Directors 

A director shall be removed from office under any of the following circumstances: 

1. Loss of membership status 

2. Submission of written resignation accepted by the Board 

3. Failure to fulfill director responsibilities as determined by Board resolution 

第十五條　行政團隊 

本會行政團隊包括： 

• 會長 

• 副會長 

• 秘書長 

• 財務長 

• 其他經理事會同意之職務 

Article 15 – Officers 

The administrative officers of the Chamber may include: 

• President 

• Vice President(s) 

• Secretary General 

• Treasurer 

• Other positions approved by the Board 

第十六條　會長、副會長  

• 會長及副會長應由理事互選產生。  

• 本會設會長一人、副會長二人。 

• 會長任期一年，連選得連任一次；副會長任期一年，連選得連任。  

• 會長對外代表本會，對內綜理會務，並為理事會之當然主席。  

• 會長負責召開會員大會及理事會會議，並擔任主席。   

• 會長如代表本會對外發表有關政治性之談話或聲明，須得到理事會之同意。  

• 副會長負責襄助會長處理會務；會長缺席時，由副會長代理之。 

Article 16 – Duties of the President 

• The President and Vice President shall be elected by the Board of Directors.  

• The organization shall establish one President and one Vice President. 

• The President shall serve a one-year term and may be re-elected once. The Vice President shall serve a two-year term and may be re-elected.  

• The President shall represent the organization externally and oversee internal affairs, and shall also serve as the ex officio chairperson of the Board of Directors.  

• The President is responsible for convening the General Membership Meetings and Board of Directors meetings, and shall serve as chairperson. 

• When the President makes public statements or declarations on behalf of the organization regarding political matters, approval from the Board of Directors is required.  

• The Vice President shall assist the President in handling organizational affairs. If the President is absent, the Vice President shall act on the President’s behalf. 

第十七條　秘書長、財務長   

• 本會設秘書長一人、財務長一人，襄助會長處理例行會務，對會長負責。其人選由會長提名，經理事會追任之，其任期與會長同。   

• 秘書長及財務長得出席理事會，接受理事會提問有關本會會務之執行情形。   

Article 17 – Secretary General and Treasurer 

• The organization shall establish one Secretary General and one Treasurer to assist the President in handling and carrying out organizational affairs and to be responsible to the President. These positions shall be nominated by the President and appointed by the Board of Directors. Their terms shall coincide with that of the President.  

• The Secretary General and Treasurer may attend Board meetings and shall accept inquiries from the Board regarding the execution of organizational affairs.  

第十八條　顧問委員會 

本會得設顧問委員會，成員由會長提名經理事會認可，名額 5 位，任期 1 年 。 

顧問委員會主要職責包括： 

• 協助商會發展 

• 提供策略建議 

• 協助重大事項協調 

• 促進會務永續發展 

Article 18 – Advisory Committee 

The Chamber may establish an Advisory Committee. Members shall be nominated by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. The committee shall consist of up to five (5) members, each serving a one-year term. 

The Advisory Committee shall provide strategic guidance, support organizational continuity, and assist in major initiatives and dispute mediation. 

第十九條　專業委員會 

理事會得依需要成立各類專業委員會。 

Article 19 – Committees 

The Board may establish committees as necessary to support the mission and operations of the Chamber. 

第二十條　青年專業部 

本會得設青年專業部（Young Professionals Division），推動青年領導、職涯發展與跨世代交流。 

Article 20 – Young Professionals Division 

The Chamber may establish a Young Professionals Division to promote youth leadership, professional development, and intergenerational engagement. 

第二十一條　章程修訂 

本章程之修訂須經理事會三分之二同意，並提交會員大會通過後生效。 

Article 21 – Amendments 

Amendments to these bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors and ratified by the General Assembly. 

第二十二條 

本章程經會員大會通過後施行，修正時亦同。 

Article 22 

These bylaws shall become effective upon approval by the General Assembly. The same shall apply to future amendments.