Lao People's Democratic
Republic
Peace-Independence-Democracy-Unity-Prosperity
__________________________________________
Community Environmental Promotion and Cultural
Association
CHARTER
Of Community Environmental Promotion and Culture
Association
(CEPA)
__________________________________________________
References
1). Executive Order on the Creation and
Activities of Lao Union of Science and
Engineering
Association (LUSEA) No. 59/nor.gno dated 10 March 2005
2) Recommendations for the creation of the Association
made by the founding
members at the 20 June 2005 meeting
Part I
Goals and Objectives of CEPA
Article 01. Goals and Objectives
The Community Environmental promotion and Cultural
Association (CEPA) is a public organization(Non-Profit Organization) consisting
of technical experts in various disciplines who are interested in participating
in the promotion of awareness in natural environmental preservation, and
selective use of natural resources in daily life in an adequate and sustainable
manner. In addition, recognizing that there is a close relationship between
national and regional cultural values, and between natural resources and
culture, CEPA seeks to encourage the younger generation of various ethnicities
to seriously condemn all activities that are anti-environment and destroy
natural resources and the cultural values of the Nation.
CEPA was created in order to unite all the young
Lao from the age of 7 to high school age, intellectuals, scientists, engineers
of various specialties and technicians from inside Laos and overseas or other
Nationalities with the goal of strengthening mutual cooperation and using
knowledge, competence and personal skill in promoting the proper way of
thinking for children and younger Lao people so they can appreciate the
importance of natural resources they need to help protect and conserve for ever
in the best national interest. This will get the children and younger Lao
generation to adopt high moral standards, be etiquette, ethical behaviour,
righteousness, and act properly as they grow up, so they can help each other
develop their country and help it to prosper and make steady progress. To
educate the children and younger Lao people have thinking and behaviour
progress independent freedom.
CEPA research, analysis the natural resources and
culture. To research the tradition and Literature of the ethnic groups, and
Awareness and Mass media promotion, Song, Musical comedy,Dramma,short story and
poem. Publications
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problem relationship to promote the community
Environment. To organize the workshop for Local community, to promote the
essential infrastructure construction for Local community.
Article 02. Location of CEPA Office
CEPA office is located at Ban Nong Phagna, District
5, Muang Saythany, Vientiane, Tel.(020)5998896. P.O.Box:
11445.Email:Laos-CEPA@live.com.
PART II
Purposes, Duties, Responsibilities, and Rights of
CEPA
Article 03. Purposes
CEPA is a social organization operating within the
confine of the Lao Union of Science and engineering associations with the following
purposes:
1. Attract children aged 7 and older, including
students, intellectuals, and professionals in various disciplines who love and
want to preserve the precious natural resources and traditional multi-ethnic
culture of their native country
2. Explore ways for the Lao children and youngsters
to understand the importance of the natural environment they need to help
preserve
3. Look for ways for the young Lao ethnic people to
understand the relationship between natural resources and national ethnic
culture
4. Look for ways for the young Lao ethnic people to
understand and be involved in the cultural traditions of their country, so they
can be ethical and adopt forward-looking thinking and attitude
5. Explore ways for Lao children and youngsters to
improve themselves so their country can prosper and be successful
Article 04: Duties and Responsibilities of CEPA
A). Duties
1. Research, study, and disseminate the Central
Party and State's policy on natural environment and the international
Organization policies on the Natural Resources relationship to the social
cultural tradition of the ethnicities.
2. Research and implement the strategic long-term
plan developed by the Lao Union of Science and Engineering Associations.
3. Lead in the implementation of monthly, annual,
and 5-year plans of the Association
4. Create, organize and guide the professional
members of the Association in conducting research on the relationship between
Man and Nature, training the young people in recognizing and understanding the value
of the natural environment so they can jointly preserve that cultural heritage
now and in the future
5. Coordinate with the regional authorities and
relevant departments in order to develop a program to train, promote a new way
of thinking for the young people,
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and develop what is needed for the villagers close
to towns and in remote areas as part of a program to resolve difficulties faced
by the people. Helping them is tantamount to helping the whole country
6. Write, publish, and widely disseminate
newsletters to publicize the results of the cultural research and constantly
enhance public knowledge in this area
7. Coordinate and provide the necessary means for
the students and teachers in remote areas, including funds and material to
allow them to participate in the research activities, and to promote their
thinking relative to the protection of the natural environment. In addition,
the Association must also operate in remote areas to help the local citizens in
growing trees in the headwater areas for use as firewood, allocating the right
amount of water to improve the natural environment and social conditions, train
the people in caring for the fruit and growing trees as a potential source of
income for the villagers
8. Organize workshops, seminars, and conferences to
present and discuss scientific items of interest within the expertise area and
the means available to the Association
b). Rights
1. The Association may contact other associations
and State departments for technical and financial assistance needed for its
expansion
2. It has the right to play a role in the
protection of the forest and the streams that constitute the natural
environment, provide comments on building plans and plans for economic, social
and cultural development at the national and regional levels as needed
3. Assign staff members, researchers and
specialists to training sessions, lessons learned sessions, workshops and
conferences, professional training in technical, economic, cultural, and social
fields inside and outside the country, at the regional, national and
international level
4. It may make recommendations to and participate
in the resolution of various issues that impact the environment and the culture
with the affected organization(s)
Part III
Composition of the Association.
Article 05: Composition:
The Association consists of the following bodies:
1. Executive group, including President,
vice-President, and Secretary
2. General Assembly
3. Research and Development Branch
4. Counselors/advisors and Experts
Article 06: Internal Activities
1. CEPA operates democratically in departments led
by individuals with specific tasks and responsibilities, in full compliance
with this Charter and the policy on scientific and engineering associations as
outlined in the State Law.
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2. CEPA will operate under a single leader, who is
authorized to make decisions, sign documents, and call for meetings. Meeting
decision will be by majority of votes.
3. The Association formulates its own direction and
its policy in the form of a plan, implements the plan, and reviews its
implementation in order to compile lessons learned and report findings to the
leadership in a timely manner.
4. The Executive members of the Association may
call management meetings once a month, normal general membership assembly
meetings once a year, and special general assembly to elect a new executive
committee once every five years.
5. CEPA shares regional area offices with the
State's administrative offices, creates clubs to preserve natural environment
according to its implementation plan, and promotes and monitors implementation
efforts at appropriate time intervals.
Article 07: Membership
1. CEPA Membership consists of two groups: one
group with members age 7 to 25, and one group with members age 25 to 70.
2. Members age 7 to 25 are those who volunteer to
participate in the Association's program for the purpose of studying natural
environment and culture.
3. Members age 25 to 70 are those who volunteer to
join and assist in training Lao children and teenagers to become educated and
knowledgeable.
4. Qualified candidate members must operate
according to the by-laws and be given a membership certificate. (Biography).
Article 08: CEPA Members
A). Duties of Members
The Association's members should:
1. Be accountable and behave themselves according
to the Association's bylaws
2. Operate in accordance with the Association's
policy as periodically updated
3. Participate in consultation meetings, formulate
opinions, develop ideas and provide feedback on the Association's activities
4. Receive input and support from CEPA in
conducting their functions
5. Participate in the activities of the Association
within their assigned responsibilities in an active and timely manner
6. Receive the various personal benefits as
provided by CEPA
7. Voluntarily resign from CEPCA membership if and
when called for by motion of the CEPA General Assembly
8. Receive full protection for personal benefits
received from EECA
b). Responsibilities of CEPA Members
CEPA Members are responsible for:
1. Executing the policy and the bylaws of the
Association
2. Executing instructions given by the executive
committee of CEPA
3. Pro-actively disseminating the CEPA policy and
plan of action
4. Making concerted effort to encourage people of
both sexes, all ages, and all ethnicities to participate in the activities of
the CEPA
5. Encouraging internal cooperation and mutual
assistance during implementation of CEPA programs
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6. Participating in the implementation of CEPA's
approved agenda and actively strengthening its value structure
Article 09: Membership termination
Membership will be terminated under the following
circumstances:
1. Termination was requested by motion of the
General Assembly
2. The Association is dissolved; the member
involved passed away; or got his right to freedom removed by Court order
3. The member involved blatantly failed to comply
with the CEPA's bylaws
Article 10: CEPA General Assembly is
A). Circumstance, composition and timing:
1. CEPA General Assembly is the supreme body of the
Association
2. Representatives attending CEPA General Assembly
include:
o Counselors/advisors
o Sponsoring members of the Association.
o Volunteers, specialty instructors, teachers
assigned to various departments
3. Normal General Assembly meetings will be held
once every five years. However, special meetings may be held anytime when
counselors/advisors deem they are needed or when two thirds of the members ask
for those meetings
b). The General Assembly is designed to:
o Review and approve reports on CEPA program execution
for the preceding period
o Review and approve proposed action and
implementation plans for the next five years
o Research, improve, amend, and approve CEPA bylaws
and action plan
o Elect and approve selection of CEPA President and
vice-President
Article 11: CEPA Executive Group
o The Association's Executive Group should at least
consist of one President and one vice-President as specifically elected by vote
by the members present at the General Assembly meeting. The other team members
are considered committee members.
o When it is necessary to increase the size of the
Executive Group, the General Assembly will have to provide their
recommendation.
o All CEPA members have the right to run for a seat
on the Executive Group.
o The candidate with the most votes will be named
CEPA President. When there is a tie, the board of advisors who presides the
meeting will cast the tie-breaking vote; they may also ask for another round of
votes.
o CEPCA President will select his own executive
committee members and present his nominees to the General Assembly for formal
approval.
o Each CEPA Executive Group will remain in office
for five years. If there is any change in the Executive Group's composition for
whatever reason, the advisory board will fill the vacancy with one of the
candidates who had
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gone through the vote process before and got the
next highest number of votes. The term of the new Executive Group member will
expire with the Executive Group's original five-year term.
A). Roles and Responsibilities of the CEPA
President
o Lead and be responsible for day-to-day execution
o Represent CEPA in an official capacity during
contact, coordination and collaboration with other national and international
organizations
o Promote research, and solicit funds needed to
execute the Association's approved programs
o Make and/or revise decisions on all
implementation phases of the CEPA program
o Assign duties to other members of the Executive
Group with well- defined responsibilities on a permanent or temporary basis
when he is out of the office or has other commitments
b). Rights and duties of the Executive Group
Members
o Represent the Team's President as assigned in
writing
o Manage work specifically assigned by the
President and other tasks as applicable
o Assist the President in studying, researching,
reviewing, modifying and making decisions on CEPA issues
o Ask for the President's opinion or additional
guidance as needed
o Report to the President on the progress of the
programs managed by the team members
Article 12: CEPA Secretariat
A). Creation and Scope:
o CEPA Secretariat is an executive group consisting
of a certain number of people acting as staff members for the Executive Group,
keeping track of meeting minutes and carrying out the Association's day-to-day
work
o Include the chief and a deputy and a number of
staff members
b). Roles
o Engage, coordinate and negotiate with all
implementing national and international elements
o Research and formulate recommendations on program
implementation to membership
o Create tasks according to approved action plans
for selected time periods as recommended or assigned by the CEPA Executive
Group
c). Duties
o Develop programs, draft implementation plans,
monitor work progress, evaluate results, compile lessons learned, and submit
periodic progress reports
o Protect, execute, act as protocol coordinator or
secretary and meeting note taker
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o Stay involved, coordinate, and negotiate the
terms of competing national and international funding assistance sources,
consistent with applicable Lao PDR and international laws
o Implement report process every month, every six
month, and every year
o Research and review past CEPCA procedures with a
view to improving internal process germane to CEPA Secretariat
Article 13: CEPA Finance and Accounting
A). Organization and scope
o CEPA Finance and Accounting is a functional
element nominated, recallable by the CEPA President, and recognized by the CEPA
General Assembly as the office with finance and accounting responsibility in a
very transparent and efficient environment.
o This office consists of a chief and a deputy
chief as needed by the work in progress.
b). Roles
o Protect and preserve CEPA funds
o Protect and preserve CEPA financial resources,
including cash, property, resources and material
c). Duties
o Develop budget; and monthly, six- monthly, and
annual income and expense statements; expend funds, perform financial audits,
evaluate results, compile lessons learned, and submit periodic evaluation
reports
o Protect and preserve CEPA funds
o Assist the Executive Group in their contact,
coordination, collaboration, and competing for assistance funds from national
and international sources; promote interest and contact potential donors who
may be ready to support and improve the chance of success of CEPA programs
o Review and reevaluate past processes in trying to
improve CEPA finance and accounting
Article 14: CEPA Recording Committee
A). Organization and Duties
1. CEPA Recording Committee is a functional element
nominated and terminated by the President and approved by the General Assembly.
Its main responsibility is to record documents and maintain statistics about
the Association's members.
2. This committee consists of the chief,
deputy-chief, and staff members whose number depends on the need of the work at
hand.
b). Responsibilities and Duties
1. Register documents; keep records and statistics
on members including regular members, those on training, volunteers,
instructors, and professionals in various fields who are interested in being
involved in the CEPA activities
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2. Research and review documents containing
recommendations submitted for review by the members
3. Research, review, improve and amend different
articles of the Association's rules and regulations to ensure they are
consistent with CEPA bylaws
4. Re-examine previous articles of the
Association's bylaws looking to improve the Association's bylaws regarding
records keeping
PART IV
Budget and Accounting of CEPA
Article 15: CEPA Budget
CEPA has its own budget and operates independently
within the rules governing the Association's Finance and Accounting and in
accordance with CEPA national and international regulations.
Article 16: CEPA Budget and Property
CEPA operates according to regulations issued by
the Lao PDR, and maintains a financial account in an international commercial
bank or some other banks.
Article 17: Sources of Income and Properties:
CEPA incomes are derived from:
o Donations from supporters
o Membership admission fees
o Annual contributions by members at rates approved
periodically by the General Assembly
o Other voluntary contributions by members
o Fees for professional services
o Collective donations in cash or in kind by
individuals, national and international organizations
o Contribution and other forms of support by
various programs which CEPA members were active on as assigned by CEPA.
o Any other forms of financial assistance allowed
by Lao PDR, Lao Union of Science and engineering associations, and CEPA.
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PART V
Rewards and Discipline
Article 18: Rewards
CEPA members who have achieved outstanding results
in promoting public awareness of the sustainability of natural environment and
culture and making concerned efforts in helping the younger generation gain a
better frame of mind will receive appreciation awards directly from CEPCA or
will be recommended for awards by other organizations as appropriate.
Articled 19: Internal discipline
CEPA members who misbehave or violate CEPA bylaws
will receive various degrees of reprimand as follows:
o Warning
o Training/counseling
o Investigation
o Membership termination
PART VI
Final Provisions
Article: CEPA Logo
CEPA logo consists of symbols representing:
o Natural resources: trees
o Team effort to develop awareness, appreciation,
and etiquette: three lines color: Green,blu and Gold
o Traditional Cultures: Thaen and Zor.
o Community Environmental promotion and Cultural
Association: use the Lao and English abbreviation: ¦¦¸ê§ (Sor.sor.vor.thor) and
CEPA
The combination of the various symbols listed above
led to the logo shown below.
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Article 21: CEPA Seal
CEPA has its own seal for use in official
communications or documents.
Article 22: Amendments of CEPA Bylaws
CEPA General Assembly, CEPA President, and the
Advisory Board are the only entities authorized to modify the current bylaws.
Article 23: Effective date of CEPA bylaws
The current bylaws are effective from the signature
date onward.
Vientiane,
15 September 2005,approved 2006
The President of CEPA
