UNITY OF GREATER CHICAGO

UNITY的由來

1985年第二屆總幹事 閔錫慶

國父 孫中山先生說：「中國人像一盤散沙」，華人確實不團結成性。在芝加哥的華人，也經常因政治上對國家認同不一而互相排斥，心理上介於中美二種不同文化差異，平時又忙於工作養家糊口，對子女教育無暇顧及，以至於徘徊在美國主流之外，忽略了自己及下一代在美國的美好未來。

在中華民國駐芝加哥北美事務協調會劉伯倫處長的全力支持下，一群芝城僑領熱心籌劃，1984年在芝城北郊舉辦首屆的「大芝加哥僑學各界新年晚會」，提供給芝加哥地區僑學各界華人團結在一起的機會，共同慶祝農曆新年，歡渡盛會。為了方便美國及友邦政要與各界領袖參加盛會，促進國民外交，從第二屆起移師到芝加哥市中心舉辦，至今已有廿九個年頭。

除了團結華人之外，舉辦新年晚會的另一個目的是要藉這個機會擴大團結對象，由華人政、商、學各界的僑領邀請美國相同領域的重要人士來一起參與晚會，使中美雙方人士彼此有機會互相認識瞭解，打開雙方向的合作大門，提升華人在主流社會的地位，並促進國民外交。這就是「大芝加哥僑學各界新年晚會」名稱的由來。目前的晚會有來自南華埠傳統僑胞、北華埠越棉寮僑胞、和西郊的新僑共同參與，達成團結華人之目標。但是僅有主流政界人士參與，我們必須加強與其他各界人士的聯繫，鼓勵他們來參加晚會。

由於當時參加盛會的僑胞有一千餘人，為了使購票者開立支票方便起見，經過慎思後我特地為大會取了英文名稱“UNITY”，並向伊州政府登記立案，希望UNITY能永遠延續下去。UNITY包含團結華人和融合不同族裔的雙重意義，符合「大芝加哥僑學各界新年晚會」的實質目標，希望藉此提醒大家要團結，與各族裔和睦相處，作為華人在美參與主流社會之基礎。

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Unity 2017

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BYLAW

ARTICLE I — NAME AND ORGANIZATION

Section 1.

The official name of the organization shall be “UNITY OF GREATER CHICAGO” abbreviated “UNITY”.

Section 2.

UNITY is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. It shall only engage in activities consistent with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

Section 1.

The objectives of the UNITY organization shall include the following:
1) To plan and hold a Chinese New Year celebration event annually during Chinese Lunar New Year for the Chinese American Community in the Metropolitan Chicago Area,
2) To promote cultural exchange, educational enhancement, and business enterprising for the Chinese American community in and out of Metropolitan Chicago,
3) To provide networking opportunities for all, including but not limited to educational institutions, business corporations, or private entrepreneurs in the Chinese American Community with their counterparts,
4) To foster friendship and understandings between eastern and western societies, with the hope that these endeavors will enrich the lives of all peoples,
5) To advance the opportunities for the young Chinese Americans to increase awareness of the Chinese heritage and encouraging their participation in community activities for their growth in main stream America.

ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

The membership shall include volunteers and benefactors for the activities of UNITY New Year celebration events.

ARTICLE IV — ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Section 1.

UNITY organization shall be composed of:
1) The Board (董事會), and
2) The Operation Committee (執行委員會).

Section 2.

The Board shall consist of Executive Board Directors (執行董事 ) and Board Directors (董事) who are current and past General Coordinators（總幹事）of the UNITY Chinese New Year’s events, provided they reside in the Metropolitan Chicago area and they are active and contribute their time and volunteer work for UNITY.

The Board shall set the long-term goals and policies of UNITY, and authorize the Operation Committee to execute its plan and policies for the annual Chinese New Year celebration event.

The Board shall be governed by Executive Board Directors as a governing body, who are composed of six (6) past General Coordinators starting with 1984 UNITY, plus the General Coordinator of the current year as the seventh Executive Board Director. The membership of the Executive Board Directors will follow a staggered board set up. Of the six (6) Executive Board Directors, the three (3) most senior Executive Board Directors shall serve one year. Following that year, these three most senior Executive Board Directors shall step down and the next three most senior past General Coordinators shall take their place. The new six (6) Executive Board Directors shall serve for a period of two years. Following the year, the three (3) Executive Board Directors who remained
and have now served on two consecutive Boards shall step down, and the cycle shall be repeated continuously in the same order.

Any significant contributing benefactors of UNITY events shall be named as Honorary Board Directors, who may participate in any and all activities of UNITY at the request of the Board.

Section 3.

The Operation Committee (hereinafter referred as the Committee) shall consist of the General Coordinator, Officers (組長), and Team Leaders (組長).

Section 4.

The General Coordinator shall plan and conduct the annual UNITY New Year celebration event during the lunar Chinese New Year for the year he or she is elected.

The General Coordinator shall coordinate the daily activities and affairs of UNITY consistent with policies and directions set by the Board.

The General Coordinator shall appoint the following Officers and Team Leaders to plan and accomplish the goals of the UNITY Chinese New Year Celebration:

1) Officers:

a) Deputies, no more than three (3), each represents a district in the community
b) Secretary
c) Treasurer

2) Team Leaders, who will be in charge of the following teams:

a) Program
b) Operations
c) Advertisement & Exhibition
d) Ticket Sales
e) Public Relationship
f) Raffle & Prizes
g) Printing & Publication
h) Registration
I) Others

General Coordinator shall also propose an annual budget for the Chinese New Year Celebration event, and shall report it to the Board no later than August 31st of each year. At the closing of the New Year’s event, the General Coordinator shall present a report of a balanced budget to the Board no later than June 30th of the next year.

If the General Coordinator cannot carry out his/her responsibilities for any reason, one of the three (3) Deputies shall be chosen by the Board to immediately succeed the position
of the General Coordinator, and shall act as the General Coordinator till the end of the term of the substituted General Coordinator.

Section 5.

The new incoming General Coordinator for the following year shall be elected by:

1) Out-going General Coordinator shall seek recommendations from the members of Board, Officers, and Team Leaders who may also nominate candidates of their choice. Candidates shall submit the following documents to the Board for their consideration:

a) A letter of recommendation by no less than three (3) members of Board, and
b) A written statement indicating that he/she is familiar with the organization, interested and capable of carrying out the duties of the General Coordinator for the sake of UNITY.

2) The Nomination of the new General Coordinator to the Board shall be completed no later than July 1st of each year, and the Election shall be held within thirty (30) days from the date of nomination.

3) An Election for the new General Coordinator for the up-coming year shall be conducted at the Board meeting no later than July 31st of each year.

4) The succeeding General Coordinator must win the election by the majority votes casted by the members of Board, and General Coordinator.

5) The newly elected General Coordinator shall appoint his/her new Officers and Team Leaders no later than August 15th of each year.

Section 6.

Duties of the Officers:
The Deputies shall assist the General Coordinator, by aiding and participating in any and all activities of UNITY authorized by the General Coordinator.

The Secretary shall keep the records of UNITY including those of the Board and Committee meetings.

The Treasurer shall plan and prepare an annual budget, receive and disburse monies under the direction of the General Coordinator, and is authorized to open UNITY’s bank account with two (2) authorized signatures. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining accurate records and on time filings for UNITY under its non-profit organization status with the State of Illinois. The Treasurer shall ensure all income and expenditures are legitimate and legal.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Section 1.

The Board shall meet no less than two (2) times a year at the request of
1) At least Two (2) Executive Board Directors, or
2) At least Five (5) Board Directors

A quorum of the Board meeting shall be composed of more than one half (1/2) of the Board members who attend the meeting plus those who have legal proxy. When the Board calls for a meeting as it is mentioned in ARTICLE V Section 1 and calls for a vote on a measure, the minimum requirement for such a measure to pass will be an agreement of two-thirds (2/3) of the quorum.

Section 2.

The Committee shall meet no less than four (4) times a year at the request of
1) The General Coordinator, or
2) At least Five (5) Officers and Team Leaders.

Directors may participate in Committee meetings at all times. The Committee shall report its activities to the General Coordinator, who shall summarize to the Board.

ARTICLE VI – BY-LAWS AMENDMENT

Section 1.

The Board may alter, amend, or repeal the By-laws through voting and only with the approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the Board members who are present and satisfaction of  the quorum. Such action may be taken at a regular or a special Board meeting for which a written notice must be given in advance and sent to all members of Board thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting specially called.

Section 2.

The By-laws contained herein may not contain any provisions for the purpose of regulating and managing the affairs of the Board to be inconsistent with the laws or the Articles of Incorporation of the State of Illinois.

Section 3.

The official name of the organization is changed from “UNITY-Chinese Culture Council” to “UNITY OF GREATER CHICAGO” by affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office, at a meeting of the board of directors on January 5, 2013, in accordance with Section 110.15.

Section 4.

The term of the Executive Board Directors shall be two years by affirmative vote of a 2/3 majority of the directors in office, at a meeting of the board of directors on June 29, 2014.

Appendix A: Organization Diagram

Appendix B: Important Deadlines

Jul. 31 – Election of the GC & announcement of the result
Aug. 15 – Appointment of new Officers and Team Leaders by GC
Aug. 31 – Proposing an annual budget plan by GC to the Board
Jan. – Feb – Celebration of the Chinese New Year Party Event
Jun. 30 – Presenting a balanced budget report by GC to the Board
Jul. 01 – Nomination of the new GC to the Board
* GC: General Coordinator

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歷屆主席和總幹事 Former Chairmen and General Coordinators

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贊助社團 Coalition Organizations

1	芝加哥中華會館	46	美中中文學校協會
2	芝加哥台美商會	47	芝加哥中國同學及校友會
3	芝華藝坊	48	芝加哥榮光聯誼會
4	安良工商會	49	政治大學校友會
5	洪門致公堂	50	國防醫學院中西部校友會
6	梅氏總公所	51	芝加哥台灣大學校友會
7	協勝公會	52	芝加哥福建同鄉會
8	至孝篤親公所	53	師範大學校友會
9	至德三德公所	54	美中地區華文記者協會
10	李氏公所	55	偉而美婦女會
11	黃氏宗親會	56	成功大學校友會
12	昭倫公所	57	文化大學校友會
13	龍岡親義公所	58	中西部北一女校友會
14	遡源公所	59	美中玉山科技協會
15	伍胥山公所	60	世界華人工商婦女企管協會
16	林西河堂	61	高雄醫學院校友會
17	海晏公所	62	台北醫學院校友會
18	國民黨美中支部	63	美中海華聯誼會
19	洪門音樂社	64	世界廣東同鄉會芝加哥分會
20	中美協進會	65	芝加哥港澳之友協會
21	鳳倫公所	66	中華義警團
22	華僑婦女會	67	北美洲台灣人醫師會
23	華裔退伍軍人會	68	芝加哥韓華聯誼會
24	余風釆堂	69	芝加哥泛藍大聯盟
25	緬華聯誼會	70	芝加哥親民會
26	阮氏公所	71	芝加哥新黨之友會
27	馬氏宗親會	72	中華民國婦女聯合會芝加哥分會
28	華人互助會	73	美中菲華聯誼會
29	芝城同源會	74	北伊華人協會
30	華人諮詢服務處	75	溫州同鄉會
31	華龍體育會	76	中華才藝協會
32	芝城華商會	77	香港華協會
33	棉寮華人聯誼會	78	逢甲大學校友會
34	美國亞裔小企業協會	79	芝加哥實踐大學校友會
35	新華埠華人工商聯合會	80	芝加哥靜宜大學校友會
36	東南亞中心	81	新竹中學校友會
37	潮州同鄉會	82	芝北中文學校
38	伊州華人經濟貿易促進會	83	台灣佛教慈濟基金會美國芝加哥分會
39	伊州安老協會	84	全球台大早期校友會
40	華人福利總會美中地區分會	85	芝加哥華人牙醫協會
41	美中三民主義大同盟	86	芝加哥淡江大學校友會
42	美中華人學術聯誼會	87	芝加哥東吳大學校友會
43	芝城華人經濟協進會	88	TAP-Chicago
44	海外中山學社	89	青少年文化大使協會 (FASCA)
45	芝加哥區台灣同鄉聯誼會