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Palm BeachCounty Association
of the Deaf, Inc.
3901 Davis Road
Lake Worth, Florida33461
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CONSTITUTION
AND
BYLAWS
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Revised – 2014
Organized – 1969 Incorporated – 1978
CONSTITUTION
AND
BYLAWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONSTITUTION
Page
ARTICLE I..Name and Location3
ARTICLE II..Mission3
ARTICLE III..Membership3 ARTICLE IV..Officers 3
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I…Organizational Status 4
ARTICLE II…Membership, Fees and Dues 4 ARTICLE III..Election of Officers 5 ARTICLE IV..Duties of Officers 6
ARTICLE V…Vacancies in Office 8
ARTICLE VI..Standing Committees 9
ARTICLE VII.Meetings 10
ARTICLE VIII.Termination of Membership 11
ARTICLE IX...Application for Re-Instatement 12
ARTICLE X....Charges – Suspensions – Expulsions 12
ARTICLE XI...Contracts – Mortgages – Emergencies 13
ARTICLE XII..Amendments 14
ARTICLE XIII..Dissolutions 14
ARTICLE XIV.Order of Business 15
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name and Location
Section 1: The organization shall be known as the PALM BEACH COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, INCORPORATED, (PBCAD), henceforth referred to as the Association.
Section 2: The Association shall be located in Palm Beach County.
ARTICLE II
Mission
Section 1: The mission of thePalm Beach County Association of the Deaf (PBCAD)is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.
Section 2: The Association shall operate as non-profit organization as specified under the charter issued by the State of Florida.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Membership shall be open to all persons over eighteen (18) years of age, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws of the Association.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, four (4) Board Members, and three (3) Trustees.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Organizational Status
Section 1: The Association shall be identified as a non-profit organization, which is qualified for tax exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Section 2: The Association shall be recognized as exempt from the payment of Sales and Use Tax on the Purchase or Lease of Tangible Personal Property, or the lease of Transient Rental Accommodations or Real Property.
Section 3: The Fiscal year shall be January 1st - December 31st.
ARTICLE II
Membership, Fees and Dues
Section 1: There shall be five (5) classes of membership: Active, Associate/Non-Resident, Associate/Youth (18-25 yrs of age), Lifetime and Honorary.
Section 2: Dues and initiation fees shall be established by the Board of Directors and voted on by the membership in October.
Section 3: All members except Life and Honorary pay their dues no later than sixty (60) days past the due date. Dues are non-refundable.
Section 4: All participants of an Association sponsored activity, including athletic, must be active member(s) of the Association.
Section 5: Dues for new members shall be paid on the 1st of the year or/prorated dues at the time of the filing of application.
Section 6:
a) ACTIVE MEMBER-
Active membership shall be open to Deaf or Hard of Hearing person (18 years old and up). Each Active Member shall be entitled to voice and vote on all matters, which may come before the membership of the Association.
b) ASSOCIATE/NON-RESIDENT-
A person residing outside of Palm Beach County or a hearing person may become an Associate/Non-Resident member of the Association. An Associate/Non-Resident member shall enjoy the right and privileges of an Active Member except he/she cannot hold office in this Association. However, an Associate/Non-Resident member may upgrade their status to an Active Member by paying the Active Member dues. In doing so, they receive the same rights as an Active Member, including the privilege of being heard (voice), and holding the office. A hearing person, who wishes to pay Active Member dues, may have full privileges but cannot hold any office in the Association.
c) ASSOCIATE/YOUTH MEMBER-
A member,18-25 years of age, shall enjoy the rights and privileges of an Active member except he/she cannot vote or hold office in this Association. However, an Associate Youth member may upgrade their status to an Active Member by paying Active Member dues. In doing so, they receive the same rights as an Active Member, including the privilegeof being heard (voice), and holding office. A hearing youth wishing to pay Active Member dues may have full privileges, but cannot hold any office in this Association.
d)HONORARY MEMBER-
Honorary membership must be bestowed upon a person by nomination by the Board of Directors and a two-thirds vote of the members at a regular meeting in recognition for outstanding services or monetary contribution to the Association or to the deaf community.
e) LIFETIME MEMBER-
A Lifetime Member is an Active Member who has satisfied certain conditions as voted on by the Board of Directors and the members of the Association. Refer to PBCAD Guidelines.
f) No membership dues are to be imposed on a ninety (90) years old member after being a member for at least 10 years. This does not apply to lifetime members.
g) Membership dues for Deaf-Blind individual shall be waived subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
Election of Officers
Section 1: An Active member after one year membership shall hold an office. No individual shall hold more than one office at the same time.
Section 2: Nominations for the office of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) Board Members shall take place at the biennial meeting in October followed by an election in November.
Section 3: The Board of Trustees shall be elected to staggered terms. One shall serve one (1) year, another serve for two (2) years and the third for three (3) years.
Section 4: The Immediate Past President, automatically on the list of the Board of Directors, cannot be a chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Section 5: All newly elected officers shall take the following oath at the January general meeting before beginning new business.
"I do hereby pledge myself to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Palm Beach County Association of the Deaf, Inc. and to perform the duties of my office to the best of my knowledge and ability. I swear to keep sensitive information confidential."
Section 6: New chairperson chosen by Board members to a two (2) year term shall run the Board meetings.
ARTICLE IV
Duties of Officers
Section 1: The President:
a) May preside at all meetings of the Association.
b) Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
c) Shall appoint committees and committee chairs, subject to the approval of the membership at a regular meeting unless such appointments are otherwisespecified.
d) Shall countersign with the Treasurer on all checksandvouchers.
e) Have access to Association online banking accounts.
f) Shall review and approve the Secretary's minutes of regular and board meetings before being read to membersat regular meetings.
g) Shall appoint Recreation Director.
h) Shall appoint two (2) Sergeants at Arms and an Advisor at eachregular meeting.
i) Shall appoint chairs of all standing committees.
j) Shall appoint two (2) Financial Officers for investmentaccounts.
k) Shall give clubhouse keys to up to eight (8) authorized people whoshall also be responsible for the burglar alarm system.
l) Shall appoint a House Manager.
m) Shall if interested, serve as one of two (2) representatives to the Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD).
n) Shall appoint all Standing Committee within sixty (60) days of election to office.
o) Shall appoint a membership due collector.
p) Shall appoint a person(s) to maintain the Associationweb-site.
q) Shall oversee the debit and gift cards.
Section 2: The Vice-President:
a) Shall assume the duties of the President in the event of his/herinability toact.
b) Shall oversee PBCAD By-Laws. Shall appoint three (3)members.
c) Shall assume any responsibility as directed by the President.
Section 3: The Secretary:
a) Shall present all necessary reports at the regular meeting.
b) Shall take and maintain the minutes of each regular, Board of Directors and any special meetings.
c) Shall permit inspection of the minute books by active membersof the Association.
d) Shall keep all addresses and phone numbers of the members confidential.
e) Shall keep and maintain an attendance roll for all regular and special meetings.
f) Shall carry all previous minute reports to every meeting.
g) Shall be responsible for all official correspondence of theAssociation as directed by the President.
h) Shall keep all financial reports.
i) Shall appoint Assistant Secretary to work together on recording and/or corresponding.
Section 4: The Treasurer:
a) Shall execute a bond as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
b) Shall receive and give official receipts for all monetary transactions made by the Association.
c) Shall keep a detailed account of all monies received and distributed.
d) Shall present an audited monthly fiscal report at each regularmeeting.
e) Shall countersign with the President all checks rendered by the Association.
f) Shall render annual fiscal reports to the Internal Revenue Service.
g) Shall keep addresses and phone numbers of the members confidential.
h) Shall appoint Assistant Treasurer to work with him/her in the collection of building funds, membership dues andadmission fees.
Section 5:The Board of Directors
a) The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, theTreasurer, and Chairperson of the Board, three (3)MembersAt-Large, and Past President.
b) One of the three (3) Members At-Large shall be appointed as a chairpersonof the Board.
c) The Board of Directors shall:
1) Have charge of the day-to-day operation of the Association.
2) Have power to act in emergencies.
d) Name a date and time for the meetings, which shall occurat least once a month.
e) Require a quorum of five (5) for the transaction of any and all business at their meetings.
f) A majority vote shall decide all issues at the general meeting.
Section 6: All elective officers of the Association, the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and Board of Directors' shall be required to attend at least eight (8) regular meetings. In addition, any officer absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings or three (3) consecutive Board meetings without sufficient cause shall automatically be removed from office.
ARTICLE V
Vacancies in Office
Section 1: Vacancies in office may occur by:
a) The acceptance of a written resignation.
b) Impeachment as defined in Article V, Section 4.
Section 2: Vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President who shall serve until the completion of the term.
Section 3: Vacancies in other offices shall:
a)Be filled by presidential appointment with the approval of the members at the next regular meeting
b) Be in effect until the next election.
Section 4: An officer of the Association may be impeached by a secret ballot vote of third-fourths (3/4) of the members present at a special meeting at which there shall be at least a fifteen (15%) percent quorum. Grounds for impeachment are:
a) Failure to execute duties of his/her office as defined in Article IV of the By-Laws.
b) Failure to abide by his/her oath of office as stated in Article III, Section 5 of the By-Laws.
c) Conduct injurious to the name, peace and interests of the Association.
d) Violation of any item in Sections 1 to 5 in Article X.
ARTICLE VI
Standing Committees
Section 1: The Board of Trustees, elected, shall consist of three (3) members. Their duties to be as follows:
a) Two (2) Trustees shall audit all money collected from social affairsafter the event or when call by the Treasurer up to 30 days. Trustees and the Treasurer shall sign the financial reports; sign the audited papersalong with the Treasurer.
b) Two (2) Trustees shall countersign along with the President and the Treasurer for all withdrawals from the savings and investment accounts.
c) Two (2) trustees shall audit the Treasurer's monthly reports.
Section 2: The Recreation Committee shall consist of the Recreation Director and two (2) appointed members. They shall arrange and promote recreation functions under the name of the Association. They are responsible for assuring that all persons engaging in Association sponsored recreation events are members of the Association in good standing.
Section 3:
a) Committees conducting monthly affairs are to have complete control of all games, the right to fix prizes and regulate them to the best interestsof the Association and must turn over all proceeds from the functionsto the Treasurer at the end ofthe event. The committee shall make areport in duplicate ofthe event within thirty (30) days.
b) Committees of any large event shall submit the final reportwithin ninety (90) days.
c) Any committee shall be composed of two (2) or more members.
d) If, for any reason that is beyond the control of a committee of a large event to submit the final report by ninety (90)days, the committee shall write a letter to the President and Secretary requesting anextension with good reasons.
Section 4:
a) All committee members and those who work in the kitchen must be members of PBCAD or guests of members and they become members' responsibility. Bar workers must be PBCAD members.
b) All volunteers shall not be paid.
Section 5: The Guardian of the Financial Account(s) shall:
a) Communicate with the Financial Consultant (FC) monthly.
b) Have authority to make any transactions when advised by the FC and approved by the President.
c) Give monthly reports at the regular meetings of the Association.
d) Appoint two (2) persons to assist him/her.
Section 6: The chair of the Ways and Means shall:
a) Be responsible for advising the Association as to the future fiscal status of the Association.
b) Submit plans for fiscal matters when so requested by the Board or the Association.
c) Review and vote on the final new fiscal year on the budget during general meeting in January.
Section 7: Sergeant-at-Arms during the meeting
a)Shall use the light for attention by President’s request
b)Shall stop a member(s) from talking
Section 8: Advisor
a) Shall have the copy and knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order
b)Shall have the copy of PBCAD By-Laws
Section 9: House Manager
a)Shall use the gift card for the purpose to purchase the building materials
b)Shall appoint 2 members to help controlling parking lot during the special events
c)Shall respond to all emergency calls at the PBCAD
d)Shall select a member in his/her absence with Board’s approval
e)Shall check the list on reservations from the House Rules.
Section 10: Grievance Committee
a)The President shall appoint three (3) members to address appeals, limited to suspensions, expulsions or penalty fines.
b)The 3-member panel shall elect one (1) of its members to preside over the panel’s actions.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings
Section 1: Regular meetings of the Association shall be held at least eight (8) times a year on the third Saturday of the month in the afternoon. The time of the meeting shall be decided by the President.
Section 2: A quorum shall consist of fifteen (15%) percent ofmembers including the Board of Directors. Should there be no quorum within one-half (1/2) hour after the meeting is scheduled to start, the presiding officer shall declare that the meeting is canceled.
Section 3: The biennial election meeting shall be held in November. During this meeting, no business shall be transacted other than the reading of the monthly reports, by the officers.
Section 4: The President, upon petition of ten(10) active members in good standing may call a special meeting of the Association between the regular scheduled meetings. The President shall clearly state the objective and purpose of the special meeting. At this meeting, no business except the purpose of the meeting was called for may be conducted. Members must be notified of the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
Section 5: A majority vote shall decide all issues by the members at the general meeting.
Section 6: All meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors shall follow the guidelines as established by Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VIII
Termination of Membership
Section 1: Membership in the Association may be terminated as follows:
a) By voluntary resignation. A letter must be tendered to thePresident and actedon by the Board of Directors and the Association at a regular meeting. Resignation shall be granted providing that the person has settled all claims due the Association.
b) By expulsion. A letter must be tendered to the President of the charges of conduct injurious to the name, peace and interests of the Association that shall be grounds for expulsion. A Certified Letter shall be sent to the offending member requesting his/her presence at the date of a special meeting with the President and the Board. Whether or not the offending member attends, the President and the Board shall make a decision of they should appoint aGrievance Committee.
A second Certified Letter shall be sent outlining the President's, the Board's and the Grievance Committee's (if requested) decision who shall, if their decision is to expel the member in question, bring their recommendation to the next regular meeting of the Association for action by the members. A three-fourth (3/4) vote of all members present at the meeting shall be necessary for action to be taken. The offending member's rights of due process shall be maintained.
c) If a membership is terminated either by voluntary resignation or by expulsion, no membership dues or initiation fees shall be refunded.
d) Those members terminated by expulsion shall not be allowed on the premises of the Association except at public functions.
e) Termination of membership shall constitute a release fromall rights, any legal action against, title to, or interest in the assets of the Association.
f) Termination of membership occurs when dues are unpaid by the first Saturday of March.
Section 2: Suspension/Probation:
Period of suspension or probation shall be up to one year.
ARTICLE IX
Application for Re-Instatement
Section 1: A person whose membership has been terminated for any reason and who wishes to be reinstated may do so by paying the initiation fee as established at the time of reapplication and comply with those rules stated in Article II of the By-Laws. Any person wishing to apply for reinstatement must settle all indebtedness to the Association prior to submitting an application.