In the year of 1900, a handful ofimmigrant farmers formed Hip Sen Association to be a self-help, friendship and brotherhood organization. A rented room in Belmont, California, served as a social gathering,employment center, unemployment refuge, information and farming techniques exchange and a permanent address for the members.

Our Association span centuries, went through several wars, few major earthquakes and many major social and environmental changes; We have grown stronger and more stable through the dedication and hard work of our members. We now have more than five hundred members with one office in San Francisco and one offce inSan Jose to continue the work in self help,honoring our elders, educating our youths, helping new comers and observing the Chinese cultures and traditions. We provide reading rooms and reading materials,TV and musical entertainment, Coffee, Tea andsnacks, a place for information and technique exchange and a place of relaxation for our seniors and members, We provide scholarship to encourage the younger generation to seek higher education and to join up with the American Main Stream.

Section l: The Association's membership shall be limited toUnited States residents. The Association is registered with the United States Government as a nonproft charitable organization.

Section 1:

To apply for membership in the Association, theapplicant shall submit a completed registration form. All registered members shall fulfll all responsibilities and abide by the rules set forth in the Association's By-laws and the laws of the USA. All registered members shall enjoy all rights andprivileges as prescribed in the By-laws.

Section 2:

Each new membership applicant shall be introduced by a member with good standing and the application will be posted for 30 days to evaluate applicant's character and background. Association may issue a membership certifcate when approved.

Section 3:

Members objecting an applicant's new member-ship should have a good reason and notify the president and the Board of Directors.

Section 4:

Members terminating the Association membership shall obtain the approval of the Board of Director and return the certifcate, pay all the dues & debtsand return all equipments and keys. Members not paying the membership fees for 3years will forft their membership and all privileges.

Section 1:

The general membership meeting is the highestauthoritative body of the Association.

Section 2:

When matters can not be resolved by theAssociation's President or Board of Director; aspecial general membership meeting shall be called by the Board of Directors to resolve thematter.

Section 3:

Regular general membership meeting shall be held at least once a year. The date and location of the meeting shall be announced.

Section 1:

The Board of Directors is the highest executivebody of the Hip Sen Benevolent Association. Said board is consisted of fifteen directors and fiteen representatives.

Section 2:

(a) Nomination: The general membership of the association shall nominate qualifed members to be candidates.

(b) Election: Offcers are elected by the general membership meeting in November each year.

(c) The installation of the new directors shall be conducted in the first Sunday of January.

Section 1:

(a)The offcers shall consist of a President, aVice-president, a Chinese Secretary and anAssistant, an English Secretary and an Assistant,aTreasurer and an Assistant, a PropertyManager and an Assistant, two Auditors, twoCommunity Liaison offcers, a ChiefRepresentative and15 Representatives. and onecustodian are appointed by the Board.(b) Duties of the Offcers:President -Conducts and calls for generalmembership meeting and Director meetings ofthe association, and directs the Offcers for thedaily affairs.Vice-President -Assists the President as needed.Community Liaison offcers -Represents theAssociation to attend meetings of otherCommunity Organizations.Chinese Secretary-Responses to the association'scorrespondences and records minutes of all themeetings.Assistant Chinese Secretary- Assists the Secretaryas needed.English Secretary - Responses to the Englishcorrespondences,social activities andtranslation; and serves as the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.

Assistant English Secretary - Assists the Secretary asneeded.

Treasurer-Manages the association's fnance and Investments.

Assistant Treasurer-Assists the Treasurer as needed.Property Manager-Manages the association's ReaEstate properties.

Assistant Property Manager-Assists the PropertyManager as needed.Auditors - Audit the books of incomes andexpenses ofthe association.

Custodian-Controls and coordinates volunteers forthe Opening and closing of the Offce, providingtea, coffee and snacks, and the cleaning of thepremises.

(d) The term of the offcers shall be one year. The officers can serve another term if elected. The President,Treasurer, and Property Manager cannot serve in three consecutive terms.

(e) All the above offcers upon the completion oftheir term shall transfer their responsibilities to the newly elected offcers, as well as records, and information necessary to carry out duties.

Section 2:

Elders-the past President or past Vice-Presidentover sixty five year of age automatically becomes an Elder of the association. Elders shall become consultants to the Board.

Section 3: 
Duties of the Board of Directors 

The duties of the directors are:

(a) Manage the Association's properties, fnance, routine correspondences, and execute of order.

(b) Plan and provide for the welfare of the seniormembers,regular members and new membersof the association.

(c) Plan and manage the Association's Scholarshipprogram.

Section 4: 

Board of directors shall hold meeting atleast four (4)times annually.The President may calfor a special meeting if necessary.

Section 1:

The rental incomes of the association shall be deposited immediately to the Bank.

Section 2:

Documents such as leases, contracts, shall be kept in the Association metal cabinet. The documents shall be handed over to the new offcers at the installation of offcers.

Section 3:

The President, Vice-President, the Chinese Secretary, theTreasurer and the Property manager are responsible for the savings accounts, checking accounts and investment accounts.

Section 4:

Property repair costs over three thousand dollars require the approval of the Board of Directors priorto the order of the work.

Section 5:

The Board of Directors approve all property leasing & contract agreements.

Section 6:

Donation over five hundred dollars requires the Board of Directors' approval.

Section 7:

The association's incomes and expenses are to be reported by the treasurer to the Board of Directors and shall be audited at least three times a year.

Section l:

A quorum shall be comprised of at least half of the elected board, and a meeting may not be set without such a quorum.

Section 2:

The purchase or selling of real estate property require two third of the Board of Directors' approval, with notifcation of the general membership.

Section 3:

All motions must be made with appropriate actionand second by another member before such pro-posal can be voted upon.

Section 4:

To override any adopted motion, after appropriateproposal, at least two third of the vote of the boardis needed to override the adopted motion.

Section 5:

The President has the right to stop or terminate anyunrelated proposal or speech in the meeting.

Section 6:

The President makes the fnal decision for all tied votes.

Members who disturb the peace and /or threathen other members during Association meetings oractivities will be asked to leave. Members repeat distubances may lose their memberships by the Board of Directors' consideration and voting.

Section 2:

Members who use the Association's name to create trouble and harm to others may lose their memberships by the Board's consideration and voting, andthe victum may seek justice from the law.

Section 3:

Members who create harm and damage to theAssociation's finance, properties and reputationmay lose their membership by the Board o fDirectors' consideration and voting.

Section 1:

The Association may assist the members who arepoor, sick or too old to work.

Section 2:

The Association may donate $300 to the memberswith happy occasion ceremonies when thepresidents are invited to join the ceremony

Section 3:

The Association may award the member who hasgreat accoplishment for the Association and /or thecommunities.The award amount will be deter-mined and approved by the Board.

Section l:

In the event the President past away, the Association may donate $300, one wreath, six funeral sedans and one funeral band. In case the Vice-President past away, the Association may donate $300, one wreath, fivefuneral sedans.

Section 2:

In the event the former President or the Vice President past away, the Association may donate $200, one wreath and three funeral sedans. Member of the Board of Directors past away, thedonations will be $200, one wreath, two funeralsedans.

Section 3:

In the event members past away, the Associationmay donate $100, one wreath and two funeralsedans. All members past away who have joined the Association and the Wellfare Group for one to tenyears and beyond shall receive a donation of $100 per year joined, up to a maximum $1,000.

Section l:

In the event the association, under special circumstances is unable to operate its business all the assets have to be liquidated after paying off all debts.The remaining cash left over shall bedonated to other benevolent associations ornonprofit organizations within the law.