ECAN Board of Directors: Code of Ethics

1. Mission Primacy & Neutrality

In accordance with Article I, Section 2, Board Members serve to further ECAN’s charitable and educational purposes.

  • Separation of Agendas: Board Members shall not use their position, or the ECAN platform, to reflect or impose personal ethnic, religious, or political agendas.
  • Organizational Voice: When acting or speaking on behalf of ECAN, members must prioritize the collective interests of the Ethiopian community in Nashville over individual ideologies.

2. Prohibition of Personal Gain

While Article IV, Section 10 prohibits salaries for Board service, this code further clarifies the use of organizational resources:

  • Platform Integrity: Board Members are strictly prohibited from using ECAN’s name, logo, network, or digital platforms for personal, professional, or commercial gain.
  • Asset Protection: No member shall use ECAN’s funds or property (as protected in Article VIII) for non-organizational purposes.

3. Duty of Loyalty & Conflicts of Interest

As mandated by Article VII, Board Members must maintain total transparency:

  • Full Disclosure: Any member with a direct or indirect financial interest in a transaction must disclose it immediately (Article VII, Section 3.1).
  • Objective Decision-Making: After disclosing a potential conflict, the member must recuse themselves from the discussion and vote to ensure the Board remains impartial (Article VII, Section 3.2).

4. Fiduciary Responsibility & Stewardship

Pursuant to Article V, Section 8 and Article VIII, Board Members act as fiscal guardians:

  • Accountability: Members must ensure accurate recordkeeping and the ethical management of all deposits.
  • Financial Integrity: No loans or contracts shall be executed without explicit Board authorization.

5. Attendance and Community Engagement

To remain in good standing under Article III, Section 5:

  • Active Service: Members must participate in at least three scheduled activities within any consecutive six-month period.
  • Consequences of Inactivity: Continued absence, barring approved exceptions like illness, will result in membership termination.

6. Professional Conduct and Collective Action

  • Manner of Acting: The Board functions as a collective body via majority vote (Article IV, Section 7).
  • Right to Dissent: Members have the right to dissent, provided it is formally recorded in the minutes (Article IV, Section 11); however, once a decision is reached, members should uphold the Board's integrity publicly.
  • Confidentiality: Sensitive business discussed in executive sessions must remain confidential to protect the organization's legal and ethical interests.

7. Accountability & Removal

  • Compliance: Members must adhere to all Tennessee state laws and Federal 501(c)(3) regulations.
  • Permanent Ineligibility: As outlined in Article V, Section 4, any member removed for cause or misconduct is permanently ineligible for any future Board or Officer position within ECAN.

 

Adoption Note

This Code of Ethics serves as the standard of behavior for the Board of Directors. In the event of a conflict between this Code and the ECAN Bylaws, the Bylaws shall be the final authority.