Preface & Reflection on the BYLAWS of Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS)

Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London

Preface & Reflection on the BYLAWS of Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS)

The BYLAWS of Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS) stand as an admirable and thoughtfully composed foundational document, crafted with precision, foresight, and moral conviction. More than an administrative framework, it serves as a carefully structured expression of shared values, institutional discipline, and visionary purpose.

What distinguishes this charter is its critical depth and intellectual rigor. It moves beyond procedural definition to engage profoundly with the ethical and strategic principles that must guide a responsible, future-oriented movement. The PTS bylaws embody a deliberate balance between idealism and pragmatism, embedding unity, justice, and accountability within every operational and moral dimension of the organization.

At a moment when Tigray’s political and social landscape calls for renewal, responsibility, and principled leadership, this document represents the birth of a new culture of governance — one that values consultation over coercion, solidarity over division, and purpose over personal ambition. It reminds us that lasting progress is not achieved through rhetoric, but through structure, integrity, and collective vision.

The PTS bylaws therefore stand as a living framework for collective responsibility and progressive transformation. They affirm that the enduring strength of a people lies not only in their resilience but in their capacity to institutionalize values that uphold freedom, dignity, and truth. In this sense, the Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity movement marks a pivotal step toward rebuilding trust, nurturing civic virtue, and shaping a democratic future worthy of Tigray’s proud heritage and unbreakable spirit.

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BYLAWS OF Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS)

ARTICLE I. Name, Nature, and Address

The name of this corporation shall be Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS). PTS is a global advocacy organization that strives for the realization of the rule of law, democracy and justice in Tigray, Ethiopia, and the East Africa region. PTS is a non-partisan, non-religious, and not-for-profit. The board of directors may designate other names for specific activities and programs. The principal office shall be located in Washington DC, USA.

ARTICLE II. Mission Vision, Objectives, Strategies, and Core Values

Mission:

The mission of Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity (PTS) is to contribute towards building an equitable and democratic government system led by progressive leadership which serves as a vehicle to realize the rule of law, freedom, justice, and good governance in Tigray. To realize this, special focus is given to building a democratic culture through the instrumentality of a multi-party political system. To this end, PTS solicits curiosity, debate, learning, unlearning, adaptability, and unity of purpose by conducting progressive and knowledge-based discourses on political, economic, social, and diplomatic issues of Tigray and the region within the context of the dynamic global order.

ARTICLE III. Vision:

The vision of Progressive Tigrayans Solidarity is to make meaningful contributions towards building a just, modern, and prosperous Tigray where every citizen enjoys the rule of law and exercises freedom and pursuit of happiness.

ARTICLE IV. Objectives:

1. Advance Democratic Political Culture
   • Advance multi-political party system in Tigray is the only practical way to build a competent, responsible, and accountable political leadership in Tigray.
   • Educate that a democratic political system where there is a clear separation of power and checks and balances in Tigray is a matter of survival.
   • Promote civility, tolerance, compromise, collaboration, and unity of purpose among Tigrayans in the Diaspora and Tigray.
   • Promote free and knowledge-based political and socio-economic discourses as instruments to define and refine our shared values and aspirations.
2. Promote Freedom of Expression and Independent Media
   • Promote free and independent media and journalism.
   • Encourage scientific dialogue on substantive issues as a tool for meaningful re/thinking, re/configuration, re/arrangement, as well as re/instituting a strong and capable leadership pool for Tigray.
   • Uphold pluralism and diversity of ideas as a means of achieving an innovative, creative, and modern society.
3. Promote equity on socio-economic benefits and costs
   • Uphold for fair distribution of benefits and costs among all Tigrayans irrespective of their political beliefs or other social attributes.
   • Let the market decide winners and losers based on performance and symmetric market information.
   • Government or party or community enterprises should not be systematically favored as winners in economic competition
   • Detest informal networking, nepotism, clientelism, patronage, and rent-seeking to gain unfair benefits.
   • Support a transparent, representative, and participatory decision-making process on vital socio-economic matters at all levels of the government that put the people and national interest first.
4. Uphold the Rule of Law
   • Support multi-party political system where power is assumed only through free, fair and transparent elections on a periodic basis.
   • Advance the need to limit the number of political positions that the elected political party will assign its members. We aspire to make these positions as few as possible.
   • Advocate for term limits of top government positions on all branches of the government.
   • Advance the need for holding any other government positions only based on merit.
   • Promote transparency, right to know and integrity,
   • Promote accountability in case of corrupt practices that deviate from the law and acceptable social norms.
   • Advance the need for an independent justice system that is completely insulated from the influence and intervention of the executive branch of the government.
5. Advance the Security of Tigray
   • Advocate for a strong and professional defense apparatus and security system insulated from party influence where its fidelity is to the interest of the Tigray people.
   • Build fraternity, healthy social interdependence, and interest-driven political alliance with all neighboring people and across the globe.

Strategies:

• Engage the citizenry with enlightening debates on pertinent issues using different tools including the Media
• Engaging the gov’t of Tigray in a meaningful debate on all pertinent issues.
• Discuss with other political parties and hear their story as to how they plan to improve the life of Tigrayans.
• Challenge both the ruling and the other political parties to promote a constructive, transparent, and inclusive political culture that educates and inspires the constituents while also defining our shared values and aspirations.
• Consult other civic and civil societies in Tigray and collaborate with them.
• Conduct public meetings of the Diaspora community and enlighten the masses on vital relevant discussions, while also facing the potential challenges thereof.
• Engage relevant foreigners and foreign governments to advance the interest of Tigray.
• Releasing public presses.
• Preparing consensus document.
• Conducting public debates and seminars.
• Conduct stakeholder analysis and identify opportunities and threats. Then, take remedies.
• Continuously assess the environment, evaluate current processes, and adapt to changes to stay relevant and vibrant.
• Utilize different tools to build fraternity, healthy social interdependence, and interest-driven political alliance with all neighboring people and across the globe.

Core Values:

• Integrity and honesty
• Transparency and accountability
• Benevolence in public service
• Inclusiveness, collaboration and empowerment
• Excellence and innovation
• Justice, fairness, and equality
• Peace, security and democracy

ARTICLE III. Membership

Members of the board of directors shall constitute the membership of the corporation.
Membership is voluntary as long as one fulfills the criteria for membership and s/he is willing to pay membership fees. The criteria for membership shall be based on one’s track record of public service, dedication, honesty, experience, and competence.

ARTICLE IV. Board of Directors

      A.  Composition of the Board of Directors:  The number of board members shall be at least 15 and no more than 27.  Directors shall be of adult age.  Directors shall be qualified to lead by example and need to have proven leadership experience and dedication to public service as well as the quest for scientific debate.
      B.  Election:  Candidates for membership shall be selected from among those nominated by the Nominating Committee, which shall consist of three persons appointed by the President.  A majority of members present may also nominate candidates for positions on the board of directors.  Directors shall be elected by a majority vote of those members present.

      C.  Terms:  Each director shall serve for a term of three years, or until a successor is selected.  Initially, one-third of the directors shall serve three year terms; one-third shall serve two year terms and one-third shall serve one year terms.  Terms shall be established so that one-third of the directors may be elected each year.

      D.  Removal:  A director who has missed three or more consecutive meetings may be removed by a majority vote of the board members then sitting.  A director may be removed for good reason by a vote of two-thirds of the members then sitting.

      E.  Vacancies:   Vacancies may be filled at any time by a majority vote of members then sitting.

      F.  General Powers:  The board of directors shall constitute the governing body of the corporation.  The board shall manage the business and affairs of the corporation.  It shall have all powers necessary to carry out the objectives of the corporation as set forth in Article II.  The board may accept, on behalf of the corporation, any contribution, bequest, or devise.  The board shall have the authority to hire and dismiss the director as necessary in order to carry out the objectives of the corporation.

      G.  Meetings:  Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at least 4 times each year, at a reasonable time and place designated by the president.  The president may designate additional meeting dates.  One-third of the board members then sitting may, by written request, schedule additional meetings.

      H.  Annual Meeting:  A meeting during the fourth quarter of the year shall be designated as the "Annual Meeting," at which new members are elected and other formal annual business is conducted. 
      I.  Notice of Meetings:  Board members shall receive two days’ notice of regularly scheduled meetings.  This notice may be given in writing, in person, by telephone, by text, or by any other reasonable method.

      J.  Waiver of Notice of Meeting:  A director may, in writing, waive notice of any meeting of the board of directors either before or after the meeting, and such waiver shall be deemed the equivalent of giving notice.  Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of that meeting unless attendance is for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business because the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

      K.  Adjournment:  A meeting of the board of directors may be adjourned.  Notice of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted there, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, shall not be necessary.  At an adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the meeting originally called.

      L.  Informal Action:  If all the directors severally or collectively consent in writing to any action taken or to be taken by the corporation, the action shall be as valid as though it had been authorized at a meeting of the board.

      M.  Attendance by Telephone or Virtually:  If a member is not reasonably able to attend a meeting, a majority of the members present may authorize participation by telephone, so long as the absent member can hear, or be advised of the discussion of business, and other members can hear, or be advised of the absent member's votes or comments.  A

member participating by telephone through virtual technology may count toward a quorum.

      N.  Resignations:  Any director may resign at any time by giving notice of resignation to the President or to the board.

      O.  Quorum:  A quorum shall be 50+1 of the directors then sitting. 

      P.  Proxy Voting:  There shall be no proxy voting.  Upon a vote of two-third members then sitting, the board may allow proxy voting on a specific resolution, provided that a copy of the resolution shall be distributed to members at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which proxy voting on the resolution is proposed.

      Q.  Committees:  The board of directors may appoint any committee it deems necessary to help fulfill its functions. An executive committee of at least 9 members shall be elected by the board to run the day-to-day operations of the corporation.

      R.  Compensation of Board Members:  No member of the board of directors shall receive any salary or compensation for their services as director.  No member shall receive any service or benefit not provided to the general public.  Members may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while conducting authorized business on behalf of the corporation.  Members shall be entitled to receive reasonable fees for goods or services rendered to the corporation in capacities other than as members of the board.  

ARTICLE V. Officers

      A.  Officers:  The board of directors shall have a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.  Any person may not hold two or more offices.

      B.  Duties of Officers:

1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and executive committee. The president shall appoint members to standing and ad hoc committees. The president shall perform whatever duties the board of directors may from time to time assign.
2. The vice-president shall carry out the duties of the president when the president is absent or incapacitated; shall have the same power and duties as the president when acting in that capacity; and shall perform whatever duties the board may from time to time assign.
3. The secretary shall have charge of such books, documents and papers as the board of directors may determine; shall keep, or cause to be kept, a true and complete record of the meetings of the board of directors; shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the directors; shall keep, or cause to be kept, a record containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are members of the corporation, showing their places of residence, the names of persons entitled to participate in corporate affairs. Such books shall be open for inspection as provided by law. The secretary shall, in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of secretary subject to the control of the board of directors and shall perform other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors.
4. The treasurer shall have custody of all corporate funds, property and securities subject to such regulations as may be imposed by the board of directors. The treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements and shall deposit, or cause to be deposited all corporate funds and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit of the corporation in a depository or depositories designated by the board of directors. Corporate funds may be deposited only in banks or institutions which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. The treasurer shall give to the president or board, whenever they require it, an account of transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation and shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of treasurer, subject to the control of the board of directors. C. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the board of directors and other board members as a majority of the board shall designate. They shall meet as needed to plan for the board's work and to fulfill tasks assigned to them by the board. D. Election and Terms: The officers shall be elected by the board of directors. The term of office shall be for three years, or until the member's term as director expires.

ARTICLE VI. Staff

      A.  Executive Director:  The president is the executive director. The executive director is responsible for administering the program of the corporation.  The executive director is accountable to the board of directors and shall work closely with the board to fulfill its objectives.  The executive director, as authorized by the board's fiscal policy, shall sign or delegate authority to sign checks and enter into agreements with the approval of the board of directors, which are necessary to carry out the objectives of the corporation.  The executive director may hire other staff members as the board of directors authorizes.  The executive director shall be an ex officio member of the board.  The executive director shall not be entitled to vote but shall be entitled to notice of and attendance at meetings, except those portions of a meeting at which matters directly relating to the director are discussed.

      B.  Other Staff:  All other staff shall be supervised by and accountable to the director.

      C.  Hiring policies:  Hiring shall be conducted in full compliance with the corporation's anti-discrimination policy.  The corporation shall hire no employees who are members of the immediate family (spouse, grandparent, parent, brother or sister, son or daughter) of any board member, or of any person who will supervise the employee.

ARTICLE VII. Finances

      A.  Fiscal Year:  The board shall establish the corporation's fiscal year.

      B.  Budget:  The board of directors shall prepare and adopt a budget at its first meeting each year.

      C.  Annual Financial Statement:  The corporation shall prepare an annual financial statement for distribution to board members.

      D.  Fiscal Policy:  The board shall adopt and from time to time review a fiscal policy setting out a formal procedure that shall govern internal controls, the signing of checks; the obligation of funds; approval of contracts, leases, deeds and mortgages; and other significant aspects of the organization's fiscal operation.  The fiscal policy shall assure that the corporation shall have sound financial controls that are appropriate, under generally accepted accounting principles, to its size and purpose.

      E.  Seal:  The corporation will not use a common seal.  The signature of the name of the corporation by an authorized person shall be legal and binding.

ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Procedures

      Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these bylaws.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments to the Bylaws

      The bylaws may be amended, supplemented, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.  Before directors may vote on an amendment to the charter or bylaws, notice must be given to directors of the proposed amendment at a prior meeting of the board, and in no case less than 30 days before the amendment is to be considered.  These bylaws shall become effective upon approval by the board of directors.

ARTICLE X. Statement of Nondiscrimination

      The corporation shall not discriminate against any person in the hiring of personnel, the election of board members, provision of service to the public, the contracting for or purchasing of services or in any other way, on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, disabling condition, age, or any other basis prohibited by law.  This policy against discrimination includes, but is not limited to, a commitment to full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and any subsequent amendments to these statutes.

Approved:

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