Yonan Hozaya Centre for Research and Future Studies

Rules of Procedure

The reasons compelling for the establishment of the centre

The idea for the creation of such a centre came during the second gathering of friends in 2013 which was attended by a number of friends who worked in the cultural and patriotic fields in Iraq since 1970s. During their gathering, the group of friends discussed a number of issues including the political and intellectual frustration of our Chaldean, Assyrian and Syriac people and gave their reasons for that. Hence, the participants saw that there is a need for a research studies institution that focuses its attention on finding the best ways to build a prosperous future for this people in the Middle East and in the diaspora and to preserve it from meltdown and loss. The participants agreed to form a committee that would adequately study and present an integrated project and this led to the establishment of the Centre.

Why naming it Yonan Hozaya Centre?

After the departure of scholar Yonan Hozaya, the founding body of the Centre decided to name the Centre in his name due to his role as one of the members of the founding body of the Centre, and being one of those who participated in the discussion of the idea and the drafting of the law of procedure of the Centre. He sacrificed much of his time for the culture and heritage of our nation. And he had started his long journey and patriotic and cultural activities since the seventies of the last century until his departure. He gave all his time, efforts and the juice of his thought to serve the culture, language and heritage of our Suraya people (Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian). Therefore, the founding body decided to name the Centre after his name, in appreciation of his great efforts in trying to build a bright future for the generations to come.

Article 1

The name of the Centre, its definition and its headquarters

YONAN HOZAYA CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND FUTURE STUDIES

It is an independent think-tank body which includes in its membership compatriots in the homeland and abroad who have experience in different fields of knowledge and in national affairs, who care about the future of our Suraya people (Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian) and work in the Centre voluntarily.

Headquarter of the Centre:

Melbourne, Australia

Article 2

The nature of the Centre

The Centre is a non-profit, independent and democratic think-tank body

Article 3

The objectives of the Centre and the means to achieve them.

Working on assessing political and social studies and research on what is happening in the areas inhabited by our Suryaya people (Chaldean, Syrian and Assyrian).
The translation and publication of scientific, political and cultural works, research and studies from different languages into a language that our people can understand.
Publishing research works, studies and reports prepared by experts and members of the Centre’s activities in the audio-visual and printed media.
Holding intellectual and political seminars and various media activities.
Honouring the thinkers and innovators who have provided great services to our people.
Working on collecting and preserving data and statistics on important issues related to our people in the world.
Preparing research and studies in order to preserve, publish, develop and modernise the Syriac language.
Collecting the folklore of our people.
Cooperating with international institutes and universities on issues of the Centre’s interests, and holding seminars and conferences by the Centre in which there are participants from specialists and experts from institutes and universities that are concerned with the issues and heritage of our people.

Article 4

Membership conditions

To accept membership in the Centre the following conditions must be met:

The applicant has to have completed the age of twenty.
They have to accept and adhere to the rules of procedure of the Centre.
The new member has to have the ability to conduct studies and research in one of the fields of interest to the Centre.
The approval of the board of directors on the member’s request includes their interest in the Centre’s objectives and their desire to work on developing it and he/she has to be recommended by two members of the Centre.
They must pay the annual subscription fee decided by the Centre’s general assembly.

Article 5

The duties and rights of the member

Work on the success of Centre’s workflow and achieve its goals.
Discuss the Centre’s work plans and strategy and hold the board of directors accountable through the general conference.
The right to be nominated and nominate in the Centre’s bodies formed under this system, or which the executive office agrees to establish in the future.

Article 6

Loss of membership

In the event of resignation
When losing one the membership conditions
When carrying out actions and activities that harm the Centre, and after conducting a general investigation into the matter
In the event of the death of the member

Article 7

General assemble:

First: The general assembly consists of all the Centre members and they are invited to attend the meeting by the executive office.

Second: The regular meeting is held every three years and the legal quorum is achieved in the presence of more than half of the members registered in the Centre.

Third: If the quorum is not reached in the first meeting, the executive office shall send another invitation to the meeting after 15 days of the first meeting, and the meeting will be held in the event that more than the number of members of the board of directors to be elected are present.

Fourth: Decisions of the commission are made by a simple majority (half+1).

Fifth: The general assembly has the right to call for an extraordinary meeting at the request of more than half of the members of the general assembly.

Sixth: The general assembly has the authority to dissolve the board of directors in extraordinary meetings if necessary and with the approval of a simple majority (half +1) of attendance after completing the quorum.

Seventh: The general assembly shall, in its periodic meeting, carry out the following:

Discussing the proposed amendments by the board of directors to the rules of procedures with the approval of two-thirds of the attendees.
Discussing the general report, discussing and evaluating the various work activities of the Centre in the previous session, and discussing the financial report submitted by the executive office,
Approving the budget, annual plan, and working paper for the next session.
The board of directors is elected by secret ballot and candidacy is done individually.

Article 8

The board of directors of the Centre

The Centre’s board of directors is chosen from members elected by the general assembly in its regular meeting every three years or in exceptional meetings,
This council consists of (17) members from the Centre’s members who are all over the world, including heads of offices elected by the members of their offices.
The Centre’s board of directors will hold its meeting chaired by the oldest member in age.
The Centre’s board of directors shall elect the president and members of the executive office and heads and branches from among its members.
The board of directors monitors the work of the executive office and its affiliated bodies, and calls for a meeting of the general assembly in case of necessity, with the approval of a simple majority.
The quorum is completed by a simple majority (half+1).
In choosing the president, it must be taken into account that his/her qualifications match the tasks entrusted to him/her and he or she herself shall be the head of the executive office,
The board of directors has the right to seek the assistance of legal experts and delegate them to act on behalf of the Centre when confronted with any legal or financial challenges.
Develops business strategy work for the next year.

10-Its meetings are held quarterly and when necessary.

The terms of reference and duties of the chairman of the board of directors

He/she chairs the council’s meetings, and in his absence, his deputy, or the secretary shall represent him.
Together with the council members, he/she shall follow up all the tasks of the council.
He/she demand the executive office of the annual administrative and financial reports and submits them to the council for study and evaluation.

Article 9

The Executive office

The executive office consists of nine members (including the heads of the branches) and two reserve members, and its members are elected by the board of directors every three years.
The members of the executive office distribute the tasks among themselves as follows:

-Vice president

- Secretary

- Financial officer

- Media officer

- Officer in charge of preparation committee of research and studies.

- Officer in charge of relationships and any other tasks the office deems necessary.

3- The office implements the decisions of directors to achieve the goals of the Centre, and the office hall meet once a month and whenever the need arises.

4-The office interprets and implements the plans and strategies developed annually by the board of directors. It also prepares the annual general report and the financial report for discussion at the general assembly meeting.

A quorum is considered legal in the event that more than half of the number of its members attend, and decisions are taken by a simple majority (half+1) of the attendance.
The executive office keeps Centre’s records.
The executive office supervises offices that were formed at home and abroad.
Proposing interim plans and strategies in a way that serves the Centre’s goals and does not contradict the general strategies and their implementation.
It monitors all headquarters, offices, branches or bodies of the Centre in all countries in they are located and those branches or bodies which would be formed in future.

Article 10

The Advisory body

It consists of a number of academics and experts specialising in different fields of knowledge who are able to write scientific research and they are chosen by the board of directors.

Its tasks

To provide advice to the board of directors,
To submit future research, studies and projects submitted to them by the executive office or the board of directors.
It’s not required that members of the advisory board be members of the Centre.

Article 11

Research and studies follow up committee

Its mission is to assess the need for new research topics and to contact people who can conduct such research.
Follow up the progress of research and studies.
The committee consists of three (3) members headed by a member of the executive office.

Media committee

Its mission is limited to the following tasks:

Publishing the works and resolutions of the Centre.
Supervising the media of the Centre and the electronic library.
Preparing data and reports for decisions of the executive office and the board of directors.

Article 12

Branches and offices of the Centre

The administrative structure consists of the board of directors and formed bodies and offices.
The executive office has the right to open branches in the countries and regions in which our people live in big numbers, with consultation and approval of the board of directors.
One of the members of the board of directors is chosen to be the head of the new branch.
The branch is directly linked to the executive office.

Article 13

Sources of financing the Centre

Membership subscription. The amount of the fee is determined by the board of directors.
The revenues from the activities and products of the Centre.
Unconditional aid and donations from institutions and individuals.
A bank account is opened for the Centre and withdrawals and disbursements are made with the approval of the head of the executive office, the secretary and the financial officer.

Article 14

Centre records

The first secretary is responsible for keeping the records of the sessions and decisions.
The secretary is responsible for the public records of the Centre members and new applicants.
The finance secretary is responsible for financial records on revenues and expenses.
The research committee officer is responsible for the records of the scientific activities of the Centre and conferences.
The finance secretary is responsible for registry of furniture and property.

Article 15

Dissolution of the centre

The Centre is dissolved after approval of two-thirds of the members of the general assembly in an ordinary or extraordinary meeting.
After the dissolution, the Centre’s properties will be given to institutions similar in goals.

The organisational structure of the Centre