An association call the Ethiopian Computer Standards Association (ECoSA) is established and will be governed by the articles of this charter.
ECoSA is a non-profit organization that is established to:
2.1) orchestrate standardization of computer user and developer technologies (software and peripherals) in Ethiopia in a liaison role between the user and developer communities and the Ethiopian Authority for Standards.
2.2) research and compose computer technology standards proposals to be submitted to the Ethiopian Authority for Standards (EAS) for national officiation.
2.3) encourage, facilitate and coordinate similar standardization efforts by external groups.
2.4) Popularize standards through publications, electronic dissemination, workshops, etc.
2.5) Create a liaison with international standards organizations and companies engaged in information technology (IT).
3.1) Membership in ECoSA is composed of three categories of Full Members, Student Members, and Institutional Members.
3.2) Membership fees in EcoSA:
| Registration Fee | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Local Student Members | 1 Birr | 2 Birr |
| Local Full Members | 10 Birr | 12 Birr |
| Local Institutions | 50 Birr | 200 Birr |
| International Student Members | 2 $ US | 10 $ US |
| International Full Members | 6 $ US | 24 $ US |
| International Institutions | 25 $ US | 200 $ US |
3.3) International members may submit membership fees in Birr using the prevalent exchange rate.
Application for membership is open to any and all interested individuals. The application can be made by filling in and returning the application form to the secretary of the association with the applicable fee. The applicant will be automatically accepted as a member of ECoSA as long the above conditions are satisfied.
5.1) All members should accept and help the achievement of the objectives of ECoSA.
5.2) Only full members have the right to be elected in any of the standing committees of the association.
5.3) A member has one vote on any matter that is discussed in general assemblies.
5.4) Any member should pay the membership and annual fees.
5.5) Members may obtain documents of the association freely or at discount rates as decided by the Executive Committee of the Association.
6.1) If the member wishes to terminate his/her membership.
6.2) If the member has outstanding unpaid membership fees for a period of six months.
6.3) If the general assembly has voted by a 2/3rds majority to terminate the membership.
6.4) When a membership is terminated the membership fees (already paid) will not be refunded.
6.5) An individual or institution whose membership has been terminated may re-apply for membership after a two-year period unless the general assembly reverses the initial termination by a 2/3rds majority.
7.1) The General Assembly
7.1.1) All members of the association are members of the general assembly.
7.1.2) Duties and Responsibilities of the General Assembly
7.1.2.1) Give general direction for the association.
7.1.2.2) Elect through voting the members of the standing committees.
7.1.2.3) Approve the annual budget submitted by the executive committee.
7.1.2.4) Approve by a majority vote any problem that is submitted to the general assembly, unless specified otherwise by the association charter.
7.1.2.5) The quorum of the general assembly is met when 2/5ths of the local members are present.
7.1.2.6) Participation of the non-local members on the agenda of the general assembly, prior to the meeting, should be facilitated by the executive committee.
7.1.2.7) When an equal number of votes are encounter for and against a motion, the vote of the executive committee president will be decisive.
7.1.2.8) Regular meetings of the general assembly will be called once a year.
7.1.2.9) Additional meetings of the general assembly may be called:
7.1.2.10) The general assembly approves changes to membership fees when proposed by the association treasurer.
7.2) The Executive Committee
7.2.1) The executive committee will be composed of a: President, Vice President, Secretary, Editor, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and three Member.
7.2.2) Members of the executive committee are elected by the general assembly for 2-year terms and have the right to be reelected indefinitely.
7.2.3) The officer posts of the Executive Committee are filled by election by the executive committee members amongst themselves.
7.2.4) International full members can serve only as members in the executive committee.
7.2.5) The quorum of the executive committee is 51% of the local executive committee members.
7.2.6) Every decision of the executive committee is made by majority vote.
7.2.7) In the event of a tie vote the president's vote will be decisive.
7.2.8) The executive committee should meet at least once every two months.
7.2.10) Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Committee
7.2.10.1) Registraters members.
7.2.10.2) Leads the day-to-day operation of the association.
7.2.10.3) Executs of decisions made by the general assembly.
7.2.10.4) A member of the executive committee must chair each committee (both permanent and ad-hoc).
7.2.10.5) Establishes ad-hoc committees whenever it sees necessary. Members of the ad-hoc committees are assigned by the executive committee and may be non-members of the association.
7.2.10.6) Establishes the authority to waive membership fees and to decide discount rates on publications.
7.2.10.7) Members of the executive committee may replace from full members an officer who has become unable to fulfill his/her duties as an executive committee officer. This has to be approved by the next meeting of the General Assembly. However, no more than three replacements can be made before convention of the general assembly.
7.2.10.8) Accepts grants from organizations and individuals as long as acceptance of the contribution does not demonstrate a conflict of interest with the objectives of the association.
7.2.10.9) Prepares the agenda of the general assembly and approves the report of the president to the general assembly.
7.2.10.10) Determines ECoSA's co-operation with other national and international organizations.
7.2.10.11) Approves its own charter.
7.2.10.12) Nominates board members for the general assembly.
7.2.10.13) Establishes, if necessary, subcommittees to be chaired by a member of the Executive Committee.
7.2.10.14) The president of the executive committee has the responsibility to deliver standards approved by the executive committee to the Standard Officiators Board.
7.3) The Standard Officiators Board
7.3.1) Will be composed of seven individuals, residing in Ethiopia, who represent the different organizations, disciplines, and fields of interest in the association’s objectives. The president of the executive committee will be a non-voting eighth member of the board.
7.3.2) Members of the board are nominated by the executive committee, and elected by the general assembly for three-year terms. Non members can also be elected as members of the Board.
7.3.3) Will elect a chairperson amongst themselves.
7.3.4) The quorum of the board is 51%.
7.3.5) Every decision of the board is made by majority vote.
7.3.6) In the event of a tie vote the chairperson's vote will be decisive.
7.3.7) The board should have regular meetings at least every 6 months and as needed.
7.3.8) Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson.
7.3.9 Duties and Responsibilities of the Standard Officiators Board
7.3.9.1) Approves standards reviewed by the executive committee.
7.3.9.2) Gives final approval to standards of the association.
7.3.9.3) Has the right to reject and return a standard to the executive committee for modifications.
8.2) The executive committee can issue a call for proposals at any time and in any number.
8.3) The executive committee can be petitioned to issue a call for proposals by a 1/10 majority vote of the general assembly or by direct request of the board.
8.4) Proposals will be considered from any source submitting a proposal that meets the required conditions given by the executive committee at the call for proposals.
8.5) Following a call for proposals the executive committee will form an ad-hoc technical committee, which can include non-members, to study and produce a proposal.
8.6) The ad-hoc technical committee will be chaired by a member of the executive committee.
8.7) Proposals received by the association will be made available to members and interested groups for comments.
8.8) The ad-hoc technical committee will meet, in sessions open to association members, to eliminate proposals for consideration or return proposals to the submitter with request for modifications.
8.9: The ad-hoc committee may compose a final draft standard from submitted proposals or elect from submitted proposals a single proposal as a standard to be submitted to the Standard Officiators Board.
8.10) Upon completing the final draft of a new standard, the chairman of the ad-hoc technical committee will return to the executive committee. The executive committee will submit the draft together with endorsed recommendations to the Standard Officiators Board through the executive committee president within a month time.
8.11) The Standard Officiators Board upon receiving an approved proposal by the ad-hoc technical committee makes the final approval of the standard.
8.12) The board must accept or reject proposals within a six weeks period.
8.13) Rejected proposals are returned by the board to the Executive Committee with detailed explanations. However, after two rejections, the executive committee can call the general assembly, which can revert the rejection of the board to officiate the standard in the name of the association.
8.14) The proposal completing officiation by the Board is recognized as an association standard and will be submitted to the Ethiopian Authority of Standards for acceptance as a national standard.
9.2) The executive committee can use other means of collecting funds without going against the objectives of the association.
9.3) The funds of the association should be kept at a bank in the name of the association.
9.4) Any withdrawal from the association bank account can only be made by both the treasurer's and the president's signatures.
9.5) The finances of the association will be audited every year by a the auditors committee.
The charter of the association can be modified by approval of a 2/3rds majority of the general assembly.
11.1) The dissolution of the association can be effective only if approved by a 3/4ths majority of the general assembly.
11.2) The general assembly determines the outcome of accumulated funds and holdings of the association upon dissolution. Individual members may not be recipients of association funds upon dissolution of the association.
Addis Ababa, August 30th 1997