Dallas Association of the Deaf, Incorporated

Dallas Association of the Deaf, Incorporated

Bylaws

Table of Contents

ARTICLE 1 – NAME 3

ARTICLE 2 – OBJECTIVES 3

ARTICLE 3 – BASIS OF ORGANIZATIONS 3

ARTICLE 4 – MEMBERSHIP 3

ARTICLE 5 - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS 4

ARTICLE 6 - STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION 4

ARTICLE 7 - FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION 5

ARTICLE 8 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS, AUDITORS, & COMPLIANCE TEAM REPRESENTATIVES 6

ARTICLE 9 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS, AUDITORS, & COMPLIANCE TEAM REPRESENTATIVES 7

ARTICLE 10 – PROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS 9

ARTICLE 11 – VOTING PROCEDURES 10

ARTICLE 12 – POLICIES OF THE CORPORATION 10

ARTICLE 13 – REGISTERED AGENTS 10

ARTICLE 14 - AFFILIATION 10

ARTICLE 15 – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS 11

ARTICLE 16 – DISSOLUTION 11

Glossary 12

Organization Flowchart 13

Ratified - 2013

ARTICLE 1 – NAME

1.1 The name of this non-profit corporation shall be known as the Dallas Association of the Deaf, Inc. (DAD) which is located in the city of Dallas, Texas. DAD shall also legally be known as Dallas Community Center of the Deaf, Inc. (DCCD).

ARTICLE 2 – OBJECTIVES

2.1 The objectives of DAD and DCCD shall be to serve the needs and interests of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals so that they may achieve their full potential through increased independence, productivity and integration into society.

2.1.1 To furnish and provide recreation and welfare for the Deaf community, and to promote their social and educational interests.

2.1.2 To provide assistance in securing proper education and/or training for Deaf individuals.

2.1.3 To sponsor and promote understanding between the Deaf community and the general public.

2.1.4 To sponsor athletic, cultural, educational and patriotic activities among Deaf individuals.

2.1.5 To co-operate with all other organizations of the Deaf that have similar objectives.

2.1.6 To do any and all things necessary and proper to accomplish said purposes.

ARTICLE 3 – BASIS OF ORGANIZATIONS

3.1 These organizations are non-profit corporations without capital stock or individual ownership. They are formed primarily for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who reside both inside and outside the City of Dallas, Texas.

ARTICLE 4 – MEMBERSHIP

4.1 Any Deaf or Hard of Hearing person of good character, interested in the purpose of this corporation is eligible for membership. A person shall fill out an application form provided by the Membership Secretary and with payment of the required fees and dues. The Membership Secretary shall review the application then give it to Secretary of DAD. The Membership Secretary shall announce the name(s) to the members for approval in the General Meeting. Once approved, the applicant shall immediately be welcomed as a new member. The procedure for new members shall be the same for membership renewals. Members have the right to approve or reject applied person in the General Meeting.

4.2 There shall be four (4) classes of membership:

4.2.1 Active Members: Any legal voting age of 18 years old and up Deaf/Hard of Hearing person of good character shall be eligible for membership in this corporation upon payment of the required fees and dues. They shall have full privileges.

4.2.2 Associate Members Any legal voting age of 18 years old and up Deaf/Hard of Hearing student or Hearing person of good character shall be eligible for membership in this corporation upon payment of the required fees and dues. They shall have the right to voice, but cannot vote and hold office.

4.2.3 Lifetime Members: An awarded person, who has performed extraordinary service to this corporation and who has been an Active Member of the Association for more than 25 years of membership, qualifies for lifetime membership. An awarded person shall have the right to voice and vote and hold office.

4.2.4 Honorary Members: Any person deserving of the exceptional service may be elected by the members. Honorary Members shall have all privileges of Active Membership except holding office at all times.

4.3 A member who resides in Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex shall be an active member for one (1) year before he or she is eligible to run as a candidate for officer, auditor, or compliance team. He or she may participate on any committee.

4.4 Members’ Rights:

4.4.1 To contact any representative of the Compliance Team for questions, complaints or concerns.

4.4.2 To contact the Secretary of DAD for questions, to review the minutes report, or for DAD’s records. Absolutely no copies, snapshots, scans, et cetera shall be made of the minutes for DAD’s protection. If a member wishes to obtain a copy, they shall get with their lawyer to legally get it. The only exception will be for legal reasons requested by the court, judge, attorney, and et cetera.

4.4.3 To contact the Treasurer of DAD for monetary matters.

4.4.4 To oversee all the activities of the DAD Center.

4.4.5 To acknowledge the resignation of any officer who desires to do so after such officer has been discharged of his/her duties and passes on his/her records and books to the new officer with the approval of the members.

4.4.6 To hold surprise audits and check on activities of the officers and members with responsibilities associated with DAD.

4.4.7 To vote on the discharge from membership of members whose actions have been judged detrimental to the corporation’s best interest.

ARTICLE 5 - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

5.1 The members shall be required to pay dues and assessments owed to the Association and shall be payable to Dallas Association of the Deaf and handed to the Treasurer or his/her authorized agent. Exceptions shall be Lifetime and Honorary members.

5.2 One standard year's dues shall be whatever amount has been decided upon by the Members.

5.3 Members paying dues shall obtain a signed receipt and a copy of DAD Bylaws from the issuing officer. It is mandatory that a copy of DAD Bylaws be given to the new members.

5.4 A card shall be marked to show whether the holder of a card shall have floor privilege, the right to vote, and/or to run for office.

5.5 Sports players shall pay full dues before being allowed to play in leagues, tournaments or scheduled games. The players shall show proof of health insurance to cover their own liabilities.

5.6 The non-payment of dues and/or assessments, after reasonable notice, shall authorize the Members to suspend or terminate the membership of any member who is in arrears. The members may adapt such policies for the reinstatement of the suspended or terminated individual members as it may be deemed advisable.

ARTICLE 6 - STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION

6.1 The hierarchy is:

6.1.1 Members

6.1.2 President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer respectively

6.1.3 Committees (administrative staff, managerial staff, and standing)

6.2 All duties of each officer shall be performed to the best of his/her ability, and all responsibilities for each office's official duties shall rest upon the officers higher up in the organization setup. All decisions or agreements handed down by the upper echelon officer in this organizational structure shall be accepted in good faith and with cooperation. However, decisions may be appealed to the party or parties concerned. If a satisfactory agreement can not be reached, the decision can be appealed to the Compliance Team and the membership's decision on the matter shall be final.

6.3 A detailed flowchart structure is located inside the back cover.

6.4 The club emblem is displayed in the building.

6.5 The DAD’s traditional colors are yellow, blue, and white. Additionally, these following colors may be used: black, gold, green, red, and silver.

ARTICLE 7 - FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION

7.1 All assets, property, monetary funds, equipment are the common property of all the members of the Dallas Association of the Deaf, Inc.

7.2 All equipment shall only be used for DAD’s purposes and absolutely no personal use.

7.3 The funds of the Association shall be used exclusively for its benefits. Donations to other organizations can be made by a motion passed by the Members at the General Meeting.

7.4 The Association’s safe shall be used as a temporary storage of papers at any time. A minimum of $400 and up to a maximum of $1,000 in petty cash shall be kept in the safe. Only 2 officers shall know the safe’s combination numbers.

7.5 For any withdrawal from any savings account, two out of four Executive officers shall approve such withdrawal after such authority is obtained from the Members at the General Meeting.

7.6 All Association checks shall be co-signed by any two out of four Executive officers.

7.7 The Treasurer shall be bonded by an amount decided by the Members.

7.8 The funds shall be put in a bank which is a member of the F.D.I.C. Funds shall only be withdrawn in the manner provided by the Bylaws.

7.9 The Treasurer shall post a current financial report on the Association’s bulletin board prior to the next scheduled General Meeting.

7.10 All expenditures and payments shall require a receipt and that receipt shall be given only to the Treasurer.

7.11 The four DAD officers may, by a majority vote of a quorum present, request funds from the Treasurer for emergency needs, if any special fund in existence shall not meet the emergency request, a special meeting of the membership shall be called in order to rearrange the finances to meet the emergency request for funds.

7.12 As long as a quorum exist the members at any meeting, may request any special expenditure by a majority vote, provided the source of income or fund is named. If there are no specific funds in existence for that purpose, additional income shall be proposed to cover the request.

7.13 All revenue collected from admissions, counter sales, etc., shall be handed over to the Treasurer or be placed in the safe when the building closes for the day.

7.14 Solicitations of any kind of donations by any fundraising committee by any person for any good cause of the Association shall specify that identification or checks be made to the order of the Dallas Association of the Deaf, Inc. The committee or persons concerned shall specify that the donor identify the check pertaining to specific use if desired. Failure to observe the above may result in refusal by the Association to accept such check. All fund-raising done in the name of the Association shall obtain proper clearance from the concerned government bureaus. The proceeds from the fundraisers are to provide assistance to any Deaf organization(s) or a Deaf person(s).

7.15 Any excess monies in the bar fund over what is deemed necessary for the proper operating of the bar shall be placed in the Association's operating fund.

7.16 Committee Chairpersons: After a committee has completed its responsibilities & duties in coordinating a special occasion or event, the chairperson of that committee shall submit a final financial report to the DAD members within 30 days.

ARTICLE 8 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS, AUDITORS, & COMPLIANCE TEAM REPRESENTATIVES

8.1 The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall constitute as Executive Officers. There shall be 3 Auditors and 3 Compliance Team Representatives.

8.2 The terms for all four Executive Officers shall be for a period of one year. The term for auditor and Compliance Team Representatives shall be staggered up to three years.

8.3 Eligibility Requirements:

8.3.1 No member may be qualified for election to an executive office unless he or she has been an active member for at least a year from the date of his/her membership roll before the election. He/She shall be at least 18 years old, and an American citizen, have a good character and have been a resident of Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex of Texas at least a year.

8.3.2 Eligibility to hold office - Any active member in good standing shall be eligible to hold office except as provided in the bylaws. A member shall be considered in good standing when he or she has all his or her dues paid in full.

8.3.3 Any active member shall not be eligible to hold office who has not been admitted to membership for one full year prior to election, and who has not attended at least four General Meetings during the year.

8.4 Nominations:

8.4.1 Starting in October or November, the Vice President and the Nominating Committee appointed by Vice President shall solicit nominations. The committee shall make every effort to encourage and nominate candidates for officers. They shall endeavor to nominate the individuals whose work may greatly benefit the Association.

8.4.2 Candidates for officers may be nominated on the floor at the election during General Meeting. All candidates shall be present at the election. All candidates shall be allotted three minutes to give a speech prior to the election during the General Meeting.

8.4.3 Officers may be eligible for reelection.

8.5 Election Procedure:

8.5.1 Voting for each position shall be by members at this election and be counted as “present and voting”. A plurality vote shall constitute an elective victory for that position. If a position is not filled, it shall be declared vacant until next General Meeting.

8.5.2 Administration of oath shall follow the completion of the election:

“I do hereby pledge myself to abide by the Bylaws of the