NCAD Bylaws

Update as of August 18, 2005

from General Assembly held June 18, 2005

NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, INC.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1: GENERAL

SECTION 1.1 NAME

This organization shall be known as the North Carolina Association of the Deaf, Inc.

(hereafter known as the "NCAD").

SECTION 1.2 INCORPORATION

The NCAD shall be incorporated into the laws of North Carolina as a non-profit

organization. These complete papers of the NCAD shall be kept in a location to be

designated by the Board.

SECTION 1.3 NATIONAL AFFLILIATION

The NCAD shall be a cooperating member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD),

meeting of its obligations including payment of annual dues as set by the NAD, and

sending to the national conferences the maximum number of delegates to which it is

entitled, providing the Board of Directors finds this financially feasible.

ARTICLE II: MISSION STATEMENT

The NCAD shall be organized and operated mainly to promote the educational,

socioeconomic, health and civil rights, welfare of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind

citizens of North Carolina.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in NCAD shall be in two classssifications: Individuals and

Organization/Affiliate.

SECTION 3.1. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

A. Active membership shall be granted to any North Carolina residence, deaf or hearing,

upon payment of annual dues. Active members shall have the privileges of the floor at

Conferences of the NCAD may serve in appointed offices and on committees, and may be

nominated for and/or elected to office in the NCAD.

B. Associate membership may be granted to non-residents of North Carolina upon

payment of dues. They shall not be eligible to participate in the business of the NCAD not

be eligible to hold office.

SECTION 3.2 ORGANIZATION/AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP

A. That NCAD chapters be recognized and acknowledged by NCAD Board and Membership.

B. Organizations desiring to become affiliates of NCAD can complete a written petition for such

    status, and submit it to the NCAD President for consideration by the Board.

C. Upon NCAD Board approved and conferral of affilate status, the organization can incorprate

    the phase, "an Affiliate organization of the North Carolina Association of the Deaf  (NCAD).

D. The member organization/affiliate can appoint a delegate or representative to attend NCAD

   events and have the privileges of the floor and participate in committees and votes,

   (presumably, NOT serve as officers, due to potential conflict of interests).

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

SECTION 4.1 LIST OF OFFICERS

The officers of the NCAD shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, four (4)

Representatives (Eastern, North Central, South Central, Western) and Past President.

SECTION 4.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS

4.2.1 The officers of the NCAD shall be elected with written ballot by a majority vote of

members assembled at Conference. The terms of each officer shall be for two (2) years and no

person shall serve more than two (2) consective terms in the same officer. In the event no

one runs for any of the ten (10) positions, the Board of Directors shall appoint a member

to serve in a officer.

4.2.2 Board members shall be attending the Board and Conference meetings, with travel

expenses covered.

SECTION 4.3 ASSUMPTIONS OF OFFICE

Newly elected officers shall asssume office upon the conlusion of Biennial Conference.

SECTION 4.4 VACANCIES

In the event of a vacancy, the President shall be empowered to choose a qualified member

of the NCAD to fill the vacancy, subject to the approval of the Board members. In the

event of a resignation, a formal notice shall be submitted to the President. In the event ---

the President resigns or vacates his office, the Vice-President shall serve as President for

the remainder of the vacating president's term.

SECTION 4.5 QUALIFICATIONS

No member shall be elected to office unless he/she has been a residence of North Carolina

for at last one year immediately prior to  election and is a current NCAD member in good

standing.

Each candidate who is interested in running for any NCAD Board's position shall complete

the application for a position three month prior to NCAD Conference elections, and/or be

nominated from the floor during Conference elections.

SECTION 4.6 REIMBURSEMENT

Officer shall serve without compensation except for standard expense reimbursement for cost incurrent in discharge of duties.

SECTION 4.7 DUTIES OF OFFICERS

A. President

1. Shall preside at all meetings of the NCAD and of the Board, and shall rule on

   matters in disputes. An appeal against a ruling by the President maybe sustained

   by a two-thirds (2/3 vote).

2. Shall head the list of NCAD delegates at a conference of the National Association                   of the Deaf (NAD).

3. Shall perform all the duties ordinarily associated with the office of President.

4. Shall have the power to appoint liaison representatives and members of standing

   and other committees subject to approval by the Board.

B. Vice President (Duties to be clarified and ratified by the board.)

1. Shall perform functions as determined by President or Board.

2. Shall assume duties of President in the President's absence.

C. Secretary

1. Shall keep a correct record of proceedings of the various NCAD meetings and

   Executive Board meetings, and shall prepare same for publications in the official

   organization of the NCAD. Copies of the Board meeting minutes shall be

   distributed to Board members within thirty (30) days following the meeting.

2. Shall keep a complete list of the officers and members and their mailing addresses.

D. Treasurer

1. Shall receive all monies belonging to the NCAD.

2. Shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and expenditures an submit an audited

   report of same to the NCAD at its regular business meeting.

3. Shall maintain inventory records of the NCAD's physical assets.

4. Shall maintain the record of membership and dues collected, send dues notices.

5. Must be bonded, along with the rest of elected officers, for less than an amount

   to be detemined by membership.

E. Regional Representatives

1. Shall regularly communicate with NCAD members and other individuals (including

   Chapters) interested in Deaf Community issues in his/her region, before and after each

   Board meeting.

a. Collect issues/concerns/proposals/motions for Board attention and action.

b. Share information about the Board meeting and related NCAD activities.

2. Shall be chair(s) of standard or ad hoc committee(s) as assistant by President or

   Board.

3. Shall participate in membership drive and promote NCAD objectives.

4. Encourage and help the development of NCAD-related activities and events in

   his/her region.

5. Shall serve on Conference planning committee (if host/chapter region is handling

   Conference).

G. Past President

1. Shall act as ex-officio.

2. Shall have no voting privileges.

ARTICLE V: BOARD MEMBERS

SECTION 5.1 COMPOSITION

The voting members of the Boad shall consist of the NCAD officers and four regional

representatives, Non-voting members include Past President (ex-officio), NAD delegate,

the NCAD Newsletter editor and Assistant Treasurer.

An Assistant Treasurer shall be appointed and approved by the Board and participate in

meetings with non-voting privileges.

The NAD Delegate will be expected to submit a written/type report about attendance at

NAD convention, before being reimbursed for expenses incurred.

SECTION 5.2 RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY

The Board shall:

A. Be responsible for general management of the affiars to be NCAD, as expressed by

   resolutions or otherwise, between regular Biennial Conferences.

B. Have the power to appropriate available funds of the NCAD to promote the interests

   of the NCAD within the constraints of the biennial budget as proposed by the Ways and

   Means Committee and approved by members attending the Conference.

C. Have the power, bya two-thirds (2.3) vote to suspend any member or officer from

   his/her office and from the discharge of his/her duties. Such suspended officer shall have

   the right appeal action to the NCAD at the next regular meeting following the

   suspension.

SECTION 5.3 BOARD MEETING

A. The Board shall meet quarterly.

B. A special Board meeting shall be called at the President's discretion, or whenever six (6)

   or more Board members petition for one. A complee petition should be received by the

   President at least four (4) weeks ahead of the requested date.

C. A quorum for conduting business at the Board meeting shall consist of two-thirds (2/3)

   of the Board members.

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES

SECTION 6.1 STANDING COMMITTEES

Standing committee of the NCAD shall be the Education Committee, Law Committee,

Ways and Means Committe, Membership Committee, Nominating an Elections

Committee, Resolutions Committee, Remember Committee, MIss Deaf North Carolina

Pageant Commitee, Awards Commitee, North Carolina Independent Living for Disabled

Persons (NCILDP) Committee, and the Conference Committee.

SECTION 6.2 APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

The President shall appoint the Chair of each Committee, subject to approval of the Board.

The President shall appoint othe such committee may be necessary to conduct the business

of the NCAD.

SECTION 7.1 SCHEDULE

Conferences of the NCAD shall be held every two (2) years, during odd numbered years.

SECTION 7.2 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

A. Chapter(s) take turns being responsible for planning the conference. The Chapter/host

    committee shall receive reimbursement of 70% of Conference profits, while NCAD

    receives 30%.

B. All matters relating the Biennial Conference, except for the NCAD business meeting,

   shall be responsibility of the Conference Committee.

SECTION 7.3 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FOR NCAD BOARD MEMBERS

NCAD shall cover combo costs except registration for the elected officers (President, Vice

President, Secretaray, Treasurer, and Representatives).

ARAATICLE VIII: MEETINGS

SECTION 8.1 PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The proceedings of all meetings of the NCAD and the Board, unless otherwise specified in

these Bylaws, shall be  governed according to current revised edition of Robert's Rules of

Order.

SECTION 8.2 APPOINTMENT OF PARLIAMENTARIAN

The President shall appoint a parliamentarian at all NCAD and Board meetings.

SECTION 8.3 ORDER OF MEETING

The President may appoint a sergeant-at-arms to help preserve order during any regular

meeting of the NCAD.

SECTION 8.4 QUORUM

A quorum for conducting business at the NCAD meetins shall consist of a simple majority

of active members present at the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: DUES

SECTION 9.1 DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP DUES

Required membership (and Chapter) dues shall be determined by Conference resolution.

SECTION 9. 2 PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF DUES

Dues may be paid (January 1 to December 31) to the NCAD Treasurer.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 10.1 PROCEDURES

Proposed amendments the Bylaws of the NCAD shall be made in writing and mailed to the

Law Commitee chairperson. The Law Committee shall be the proposed changes and

develop recommenations for accepting or reject the submitted proposals. Proposals for

amendments (together with Law Committee recommendations) should be sent out to

NCAD membeship six days prior to Conference/General Assembly meeting. The

recommendation of the Law Committee shall consititute a motion with a second.

SECTION 10.2 VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR ADOPTION

Amendments to the Bylaws of the NCAD may be made at its regular met by a two-thirds

(2/3) vote of the members in attendance and voting.

ARTICLE XI: NON-DISCRIMINATION

NCAD shall consider this article as a policy of non-discriminatior basis of race, color.

religion, sex. age, national origin, or physical or mental handicap for clients of the agency,

employees of the agency, and members of the governing board.