Important: MIA Constitution Amendments & Voting Details (October 4-6)

McKinney Islamic Association    

Assalamu Alaikum MIA Community,

We pray this message reaches you in the best of health and Imaan, InshAllah. The McKinney Islamic Association (MIA) would like to inform you about the upcoming voting on amendments to the MIA Constitution. These amendments reflect updates essential for ensuring that our governance remains aligned with the growth and needs of our community. 

Voting will take place from Friday, October 4th through Sunday, October 6th, with voting concluding on Sunday evening, October 6th.

What is the Constitution?
The Constitution consists of by-laws to govern the affairs of the McKinney Islamic Association (MIA). MIA is organized under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act and is aligned with the Ahle-Sunnah wal Jamaa denomination.

Why Are We Amending the Constitution?
The original constitution is outdated and it is recommended that the MIA constitution be reviewed every five years. The community has grown significantly, and the amendments align with current challenges and goals.

Key Changes (in bold)

Article 3: Organization  
- 3.6.4.1: If a Shura member (other than the Amir) resigns or is unable to serve 90 days or more before the term ends, the Shura is authorized to fill the vacant position within 30 days by appointing an MIA member.  
- 3.7: Remove the Board of Trustees (BOT) clause.

Article 5: Membership
- 5.1: MIA membership is open to Muslims adhering to Ahle-Sunnah wal Jamaa, living (not just working) in McKinney, or serving on Shura committees for at least 90 days, living in McKinney, Melissa, Anna, Princeton or neighboring zip codes: 75013 (Allen), 75035 (Frisco), 75069 (Fairview).

Article 7: Qualifications
- 7.2: Candidates for the office of Amir must be MIA members, McKinney residents, and qualified to lead Salah.

Article 8: Responsibilities
- 8.3.2: The Imam must be a scholar trained in Sunni Fiqh, preferably a Hafiz, fluent in Arabic and English.  
- 8.10.4: Only members authorized by the Shura can act as MIA spokespersons.  
- 8.10.5: Contacts with media shall be restricted to Shura members pre-authorized by the Amir or a Shura majority vote.

Article 13: Amendments
- 13.3: A quorum for amendments is now 20% of members (vs 30%). If the quorum is not met, the members present in the third meeting will satisfy the quorum requirement regardless of their number.  
- 13.8: Rules may be adopted, pursuant to the amendment procedures and quorum requirements (vs a simple majority vote of the General Body).

Voting Schedule:
- Friday, October 4th
- Saturday, October 5th
- Sunday, October 6th (Final Day)

We encourage all eligible members to review these proposed changes and participate in the voting process to ensure your voice is heard. Your input is essential to shaping the future of our community's governance.

Should you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to us.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

McKinney Islamic Association