Bylaws

1. To form an association of Catholic women that will foster the spiritual growth of its members by giving them doctrinal and biblical formation.
2. To establish a link between Catholic women and the Church's Hierarchy and to represent women in matters relating to the Catholic Church at all levels.
3. To make women more aware that they belong to the Church and for this reason should be actively involved in Church affairs from the family through the Small Christian Communities, and should work hand in hand with the Church's Hierarchy.
4. To enable members to contribute to the growth of the parishes where they are, by actively participating in all parish activities, e.g., fund raising, church cleaning/decoration, parish receptions, etc.
5. To work towards improving the standard of church attendance and the worthy reception of the Sacraments by members.
6. To help support the clergy, seminarians, religious and catechists spiritually and materially.
7. To pray for one another and offer Masses during Easter, Solemnity of All Saints, Commemoration of All Souls, Christmas and all the Feast Days of the CWA for the spiritual and material well-being of members.
8. To take active part in retreats organised by the parish and in spiritual courses, retreats and recollections organised for members.
9. To foster the spirit of Christian charity among members through visiting and caring for the sick, the needy, and the imprisoned both spiritually and materially, organising and keeping wake on the occasion of the death of a member, a member's husband, child, parents, parents-in-law and siblings.
10. To improve the intellectual and general knowledge of the women through organising courses on topics such as adult education, children's welfare, cookery, sewing and knitting, gardening, first aid, cures and prevention of some common ailments, behaviour at social functions and parties, drama, games, family life education and empowerment of women.
11. To initiate and carry out income-generating projects by women in their groups for financial empowerment.
12. To rejoice with fellow members in regular situations in case of birth, particular successes in life, anniversaries, etc.

1. Membership in CWA shall depend on attendance at meetings, participation in CWA activities and payment of dues.
2. In case of transfer a member shall present a transfer certificate duly signed by the Branch President, Secretary and Financial Secretary.
3. A member, who is absent from the association for a period of over one (01) year without a valid excuse, shall be advised to withdraw.

A. THE PRESIDENT (BRANCH, ZONE, DIVISION, DIOCESE) She shall:

1. Call and preside over general and other meetings.
2. Plan all activities of the association, together with the executive, and follow their effective execution at her level.
3. Visit, at least once a year, the other groups under her jurisdiction with her executive.
4. Represent the association wherever need be.
5. Give a comprehensive report of the association at meetings and other levels when need arises.
6. Ensure the on-going Catholic formation of her members in collaboration with the Chaplain.
7. In collaboration with the executive, set up commissions for various needs, such as Liturgy, Ecumenism, etc.
8. Ensure the strict respect of the Statutes and Bylaws of the association and its hierarchy within her area of jurisdiction.

B. THE PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT In addition to the above (functions listed in A), she shall:

1. Keep in touch with the Presidents in all the Dioceses in her Province.
2. Ensure the implementation of the decisions of the Provincial Meeting/General Congress.
3. Foster and maintain a link with the General Executive.
4. Foster and maintain a link with the Provincial Episcopal Conference.
5. Follow up and ensure the growth and proper functioning of the association in the Province.

C. THE GENERAL PRESIDENT In addition to the above (functions listed in A), she shall:

1. Keep in touch with the Presidents of all the Provinces/Dioceses without a Provincial Structure and with CWA outside Cameroon.
2. Ensure the implementation of the decisions of the General Congress.
3. Foster and maintain a link with the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference and with the National Episcopal Conference.
4. Ensure the implementation of the WUCWO Priorities.

D. THE VICE PRESIDENT She shall:

1. Deputise for the President in the latter's absence.
2. Assist in chairing meetings.
3. Work in close collaboration with the President.

E. THE SECRETARY She shall:

1. Write and keep all the minutes of the association, executive meetings and general assemblies in good English or French.
2. Draft all correspondences between the CWA Executive, assemblies and other organs and present them to the President for approval and signature.
3. Work in close collaboration with the President.
4. Keep all the updated records of enrolment into CWA of her area of jurisdiction and send a copy to the archives.
5. With the President, draw up the agenda for meetings.
6. Submit reports as may be required and share responsibility with the Vice Secretary.

F. THE VICE SECRETARY She shall:

1. Assist the Secretary in her functions.
2. Take over the duties of the Secretary when the latter is absent.

G. THE TREASURER She shall:

1. • Receive from the Financial Secretary and immediately deposit in the appropriate diocesan account the money of the association.
   • Present evidence at the next meeting of all transactions carried out since the last meeting.
2. Keep a strict and accurate account of all income and expenditure backed by the relevant receipts.

H. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY She shall:

1. Request and collect the various dues required from members as well as other income for the association and immediately hand this over to the Treasurer against a receipt.
2. Keep a strict, accurate and up-to-date record of all the income of the association.
3. Give a financial statement at every meeting and render a written account quarterly.
4. Notify those who owe any dues of the association.
5. Work with the Treasurer to present a Balance Sheet annually and submit the records for auditing.
6. Help the various levels of the association to prepare budgets on an annual basis.

I. THE PUBLICITY SECRETARY She shall:

1. Initiate and publicise all the activities of CWA under the directives of the President and the Secretary.
2. Participate in the writing of the Newsletter as well as encourage members to contribute articles to the Newsletter.
3. At the General Level, be a member of the CWA Editorial Board.

J. SOCIAL SECRETARY She shall:

1. Organise or coordinate, following the general plan of the association, social days or evenings for the members of CWA.
2. Act as Discipline Mistress (Chief Whip) to ensure order and animation during meetings.
3. Organise the cleaning of meeting places and other places utilised by the association.
4. Act as Timekeeper.

K. THE ADVISERS They shall:

1. Advise at all levels on spiritual and moral issues (when need arises).
2. Advise on discipline, planning and organisation of special occasions and programmes.

L. AUDITORS They shall:

1. Control the management of CWA accounts, so that they are done following the basic rules of accounting.
2. Audit the records of the Treasurer and the Financial Secretary quarterly and whenever they deem it necessary without any prior notice.
3. Present at meetings, with the approval of the President, a reconciled statement of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer.
4. At the request of the executive, invite external auditors to audit the accounts of the association.

M. CHAPLAINS They shall:

1. Be responsible for the planning and execution of the on-going Christian formation of members in collaboration with the executive.
2. Guide and foster the spiritual growth of CWA by providing spiritual enrichment to the life of the members at the respective levels.
3. Meet at least once every year with the General Chaplain to prepare the spiritual journey for the women for a coordinated spiritual direction.

N. The Animators

1. They shall exist exclusively at Diocesan, Provincial and General Levels.

2. In accordance with the approved programme of the association they shall:

   • Visit groups to inspire, give encouragement and coordinate their work.
   • Organise and execute leadership courses, workshops, education and training courses (with the President and Executive).
   • Have accurate records and statistics of all Branches, Zones, Divisions, and Dioceses to facilitate their work.
   • Meet with the General Animators at least once a year to plan their work.
   • Help the women to set up income-generating projects and follow up the technical part.
   • Present a report to the Executive/association annually at their level of operation.
3. Animators who are not CWA members shall be Project/Social Managers.

O. LITURGIST Takes charge of all liturgical activities (Mass, prayers, dressing of the altar, etc.) under the supervision of the Chaplain.

P. ECUMENICAL REPRESENTATIVE She acts as a liaison person between CWA and all other ecumenical groups and in the organisation of all ecumenical activities within CWA.

1. It shall:
2. Comprise seven (07) members, namely, five (05) CWA members, one (01) Priest and one (01) Religious each at the Diocesan and General Levels.
3. Among its members get a chairperson and a secretary and the convenors shall be the Diocesan or General Executive at the respective levels.
4. Meet when need arises, e.g., to advise, encourage, make recommendations and resolve disputes.
5. Channel unresolved matters at the Diocesan Level to the General Advisory Council and at the General Level through the General Executive to the Competent Ecclesiastical Authority.

The Headquarters of CWA shall be in Bamenda.

1. The general secretariat shall have a full address and post box known to the women, a website and internet facilities.
2. The secretary shall be bilingual and computer-literate.
3. She shall be employed upon the recommendation of the General Executive.
4. The Office of the General Animators shall be attached to the General Secretariat.

1. Members who fail to attend meetings, conferences and congresses, at their respective levels of the association shall pay the levies expected from them.
2. At the Branch Level meetings shall be held ONCE every week (in the mission compound and, if not possible, elsewhere with the permission of the Parish Priest), at the Zonal Level ONCE every four months, at the Divisional Level ONCE every six months, at the Diocesan Level ONCE a year, at the Provincial Level ONCE in eighteen months and at the General Level ONCE every three years.
3. CWA members visiting abroad can attend CWA meetings in any branch but should not give any instructions or advice contrary to the Statutes and Bylaws of the association.
4. Delegates to international meetings must be those who can validly represent the association.
5. At Branch, Zonal and Divisional Levels, all members shall attend general meetings.
6. At Diocesan Level, all the Diocesan Executive members, all Divisional Executive members, Zonal Presidents and Secretaries, Branch Presidents, the members of the Diocesan Advisory Council, any General Executive member and WUCWO Board member present in that Diocese shall attend meetings.
7. At Provincial Level, all Provincial Executive members, all Diocesan Executive members, Divisional Presidents and Secretaries, Zonal Presidents, and the General Executive members present in that Province shall attend meetings.
8. At the General Level, all the General Executive members, all the Provincial Executive members, all the Diocesan Executive members, Divisional Presidents, members of the General Advisory Council and the WUCWO Board member shall attend meetings.
9. Executive and Enlarged Executive Meetings shall be attended by elected officials of that level and those deemed necessary by the Executive.
10. At every level, reports must be submitted as required.

1. MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS
2. • At every level of the association, an enlarged executive shall meet to draw up the budget.
   • The budget shall be presented at the general meeting of each level for adoption.

3. The preparation of these budgets shall cover the following subheadings:

   • Dues
   • Secretariat
   • Documentation
   • Communication
   • Vocational Fund
   • Transport
   • Ordination/Final Profession
   • Gifts (for the Diocesan, Provincial and General Levels only)
   • International Contributions (for the General Executive only)
   • Feeding
   • Miscellaneous
   • Depreciation
   • Reserves, etc.
4. Social and charitable activities shall be first and foremost spiritually oriented; if any expenditure at all, it should be very minimal.
5. All gifts (in cash or kind) local or from abroad received in the name of the association shall be duly declared and used for the purpose for which they were solicited or simply offered. These should be duly acknowledged to the donors.

6. The Execution Commission shall comprise the following members:

   • The President
   • The Treasurer
   • The Financial Secretary
   • The Animator
7. The Execution Commission shall meet every three months to compare budget realisation and other financial reports.
8. The Execution Commission shall hold an evaluation meeting after every huge expenditure or event to reconcile financial statements.
9. The 7 October and 8 December special collections for the purposes of CWA shall remain at the Branch Level and be registered as part of the budget to be spent. The WUCWO Day of Prayer collection shall be forwarded to the General Fund for onward transmission.
10. Income at all levels shall be duly entered in the cash book and a receipt issued for all money received.
11. Expenses shall be approved at each level by the President, Treasurer and Financial Secretary, backed by authentic receipts, and duly entered in the cash book.
12. • All profit realised from income generating projects shall be presented during executive and general meetings at the respective level.
    • The Financial Secretary at every level shall prepare quarterly financial reports and present them to the Executive of her respective level, along with a statement of account from the financial institution in which the money of the level concerned is lodged, for study and appraisal.
    • Where income generating projects exist, the Project Manager in collaboration with the Financial Secretary and Auditor(s) shall present quarterly and yearly project reports. Reports shall be backed by copies of necessary documents and shall be disseminated to all who have contributed towards the project.
13. • Capital Investment shall be separated from all other income and expenditure.
    • Depreciation shall be calculated on all fixed and moveable assets of the CWA, so that at any point in time the actual value of the assets shall be known.
    • A reserves account shall be kept from the income realised, in order to build a good foundation for CWA Cameroon and for future use.
14. All assets of the CWA shall be codified, listed and presented to members during meetings at all levels. At the General Level, the assets shall be presented according to the various Dioceses.
15. All financial documents of the CWA shall be properly filed at all levels in order to preserve vital financial information and facilitate proper handing over.
16. The Auditors of the General Level shall audit the Provincial Level; the Auditors of the General and Provincial Levels shall audit the Diocesan Level; the Auditors of the Diocesan Level shall audit the Divisional Level; the Auditors of the Divisional Level shall audit the Zonal Level; and the Auditors of the Zonal Level shall audit the Branch Level once a year in the month of May.
17. An external, objective and independent audit firm shall be engaged to audit the accounts of the General Level once a year in the month of June.
18. The audit report(s) of each level shall be presented during executive and general meetings/conference/congress as the case may be.

1. ELECTORAL OFFICERS
2. The Chaplain and other Priests and Religious present shall conduct the elections.
3. They shall be assisted by the Animator.
4. They can call upon some members of the association to assist them in the electoral process.

1. Elections shall only be held when there is a quorum of at least 2/3 of all the expected members at any given level.
2. For all the posts a simple majority of the votes cast shall be required.
3. For the levels where more than one Adviser and Auditor are needed, the first two names that have the highest votes would be considered voted into the executive.

4. To be eligible for elections at the different levels a member must have served the following lengths of time:

   • At the Branch Level, 3 years except for newly created branches.
   • At the Zonal Level, 5 years.
   • At the Divisional Level, 7 years.
   • At the Diocesan, Provincial and General Levels, at least 10 years, except for Dioceses that have existed for less than 10 years.
5. • After elections there shall be an official handing over and the installation of the new executive within one (01) month in a special ceremony to be arranged at local level.
   • All property of the association shall be handed over during the handing over ceremony.

1. At all levels voting rights shall be according to numerical strength and by those represented at congress (or general meeting) who have paid their dues.
2. At the General Level, for every 100 members of a Diocese there will be one voting right. If the remainder of the members is at least 50 members, an additional 01 vote would be allotted.
3. At the Provincial Level, for every 50 members of a Diocese there will be one voting right. If the remainder is at least 25 members, an additional 01 vote would be allotted.
4. At the Diocesan Level, for every 25 members of a Division, there will be one (01) voting right. If the remainder is at least 13 members, an additional 01 vote would be allotted.
5. At the Divisional Level, for every 15 members of a Zone there will be one (01) voting right. If the remainder is at least 08 members, an additional 01 vote would be allotted.
6. At the Zonal Level, for every 3 members of a Branch there will be one (01) voting right.
7. At the Branch Level, all members have voting rights.
8. In a case where there are many candidates, elections shall be done in two rounds. The first round shall select the first three candidates. Then the second round shall retain the one who has the highest number of votes cast. Otherwise, it shall be decided by a simple majority.

1. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 December) shall be celebrated as the CWA General Feast Day.
2. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (7 October) shall be celebrated as the CWA General Day of Prayer.
3. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August) and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 December) shall be the days for the dedication of new members. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary shall be the day for renewal of dedication.
4. All levels of the association from Branches to Provinces shall take their names from any Marian title of their choice and may celebrate it as their Branch, Zonal, Divisional, Diocesan or Provincial Feast Day.

1. The uniform shall be white polyester, short sleeve V-neck blouse without buttons or a zip, with "Maria wrappers" and a head-tie of the wrapper material, with white shoes, white beads (of a single layer), white earrings if these are to be worn, a black, white or CWA handbag and a white or navy blue pullover if it is to be worn, and a CWA Badge.
2. Although the uniform is paid for by the individual member, it remains the property of the association and shall be withdrawn by the Arbitration Committee from a member who fails to live up to its objectives.
3. Members shall wear the uniform during General, Provincial, Diocesan and Divisional meetings and on special occasions to be specified by the Diocesan Executive, e.g., religious occasions, ecumenical services, marriages of members and of their children.
4. The uniform shall also be worn during the funerals of members, of members' husbands, parents, parents-in-law, children, brothers and sisters, and of the Clergy and Religious.
5. The CWA uniforms shall not be given to new members until their dedication into the association is accomplished. Therefore, uniforms can only be bought for members by Branch Presidents through the CWA Hierarchy.
6. Non-dedicated members shall wear the CWA blouse with a wrapper of blue or dark colour and a head-tie of the same wrapper material.
7. The Jubilee "Kaba" (social uniform) shall be worn at all social activities including wake-keeping. Members without the Jubilee "Kaba" shall wear a simply-designed "Kaba" of their choice with a blue headscarf.

A. The Emblem

1. The Emblem of the association shall be a cross in a circle with the abbreviation CWA in it, then the Greek letters A (Alpha) and Ω (Omega) and the dove with the peace plant in its beak and the gong, all these enclosed in a circle.
2. The symbols in the Emblem are: A (Alpha) which stands for Christ who is the beginning; Ω (Omega) which stands for Christ who is the end; The Dove with the peace plant stands for peace and hope; The Gong stands for the proclamation of the Good News; The Circle is a symbol of unity; The Cross is a symbol of salvation and Christ-like service.

A. CWA BADGE The CWA Badge shall be owned by each member and may be worn at all times.

B. Membership Card

1. Every regular member shall own a membership card and pay her dues between 1 January and 31 March every year.
2. The membership card shall be designed to last for 5 years, with spaces for a passport-size photograph and signature.
3. A disabled member or one who is above 80 years of age and is unable to pay her dues shall benefit from all the privileges of the association.

C. CWA DAILY PRAYER / ANTHEM The CWA Daily Prayer shall be said and the Anthem sung in English or French before every meeting at all levels. The Anthem shall be sung at the Funeral Mass or burial of a member.

D. Dedication

1. Only members who have undergone the required probationary period of at least one year and who have passed the doctrinal formation test shall be admitted for dedication.
2. The preparation shall be followed up by the Chaplain, who will also administer the test. He can be assisted by a mandated CWA member(s). 3 The General Executive shall design Dedication and Transfer Certificates.

1. There shall be an Arbitration Committee at the Divisional and Zonal Levels comprising the following:

   • Two responsible members of CWA chosen by the executive;
   • Divisional or Zonal President;
   • Divisional or Zonal Advisers;
   • A Priest;
   • Branch President.
2. Members at all levels of the association, who do not work in the spirit of CWA, shall be subject to advice and/or discipline, suspension or expulsion.
3. Members, who absent themselves from meetings for four (04) consecutive times without a reasonable excuse, shall be subject to a fine of 1 000 Francs CFA. After that, if there is no change, they shall be served warning letters; and if after three (03) months there is no change such members shall be expelled.
4. Members, who come late, disturb or leave meetings before time, shall be subject to advice and/or discipline with a fine of 50 to 100 Francs CFA.
5. Members, who are only "uniform members," shall be subject to advice and/or discipline.

6. Dioceses, which do not pay their dues completely by 31 March, may not:

   • Propose candidates for General Elections;
   • Vote or be voted for at congress;
   • Propose amendments at congress.
7. In case the dues are not paid for two consecutive years, the Diocese concerned shall be considered to have withdrawn.
8. A Diocese that withdraws from CWA shall pay in all its debts before it is given back full rights into the association.
9. Only the General Executive has the right to publish or recommend any document for use in CWA or in the name of CWA. Any document found circulating within any of the structures of CWA (i.e., from Branch to Province) which is not from the appropriate authority will be immediately confiscated and the originator sanctioned together with the President of that level in which the document is being used.

1. Each Diocese shall be responsible for its own Newsletter and the setting up of the Editorial Board.
2. Each Diocese shall contribute to the General Newsletter, which shall be published once a year.

2. The finance committee of the host Diocese shall be responsible for making all arrangements for catering and shall communicate same to all the levels concerned before the actual meeting takes place.
3. Each delegate shall be required to pay a registration fee charged by the finance/catering committee at least two (02) weeks before the official opening of the meeting or congress.

A. Correspondence / Documentation

1. Copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence to and from the General President shall be sent to the General Secretariat.
2. At general meetings a secretariat shall be set up, comprising two (02) secretaries from each Diocese under the supervision of the General Secretary.
3. Each Diocesan Secretary shall be responsible for collecting and distributing all documents for her Diocese.
4. There shall be no production or reproduction (photocopying) of any document of the association by a level without the written authorisation of the General Executive.
5. All correspondence to a higher organ must follow the association's hierarchy.

B. CWA Outside Cameroon

1. For CWA structures outside Cameroon, the highest existing structure shall correspond directly with the General President.
2. CWA members visiting outside their country can attend CWA meetings in any Branch. They shall, however, not give any directives on any issue, e.g., dedication, Statutes/Bylaws, uniform, etc., except with a written permission from the General President.

1. At the General Level, provision shall be made for spontaneous and bilingual translation.
2. All congress documents shall be produced in English and French.

1. The setting up of an Amendment Committee shall be left to the charge of the General Executive.
2. No unauthorised individual or group of individuals shall modify the Statutes and Bylaws after they have been adopted at a General Congress.

The Authentic Interpreter of these Statutes and Bylaws shall be the General Executive.

Signed in Bamenda, this ________ day of the month of ________in the year ________

__________________ _______________________ + George Nkuo + Andrew

F. Nkea Bishop of Kumbo Archbishop of Bamenda (President of BAPEC)

_____________________ _________________________________ + Agapitus Nfon + Michael Bibi Bishop of Kumba Bishop of Buea

__________________________ + Aloysius Fondong Abangalo Bishop of Mamfe