ByLaws

FLORIDA DEAF-BLIND ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

PREAMBLE

We, the Deaf-Blind People of Florida, in order to proclaim our rightful share of all rights and benefit due as Citizens of the State of Florida and the Nation, to advance our social and economical welfare, to secure the best educational opportunities, to improve our morale and competence, hereby ordain and establish this constitution, along with an affiliate status with the American Association of the Deaf-Blind.

ARTICLE I: NAME

Section 1.1 This organization shall be called Florida Deaf-Blind Association (FDBA).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 2.1 This organization shall be a non profit, beneficial society of Deaf-Blind persons and other interested individuals, organized for the purpose of advancing the economic, educational, employment, social equality, and just rights and privileges as Deaf-Blind residents of the State of Florida, and improving the morale among such individuals.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.1 Membership shall consist of four types:

•Active

•Associate

•Student

•Organizational

Section 3.2 Active Memberships

3.2.1 Active Membership shall be available to Deaf-Blind persons who support FDBA’s mission statement for Deaf-Blind residents of Florida.

3.2.2 Active Members shall be eligible to make motions, vote, and to serve on committees.

3.2.3 Active Members who are residents of the State of Florida may hold office.

3.2.4 Definition of Deaf-Blindness

(A) Vision

•Central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses

•Peripheral vision no greater than 20 degrees

•Progressive vision loss (i.e. Usher Syndrome)

(B) Hearing

•Chronic hearing impairment so severe that most speech cannot be understood with optimum amplification

•Progressive hearing loss

Deaf-Blind can include:

•Deaf and low vision

•Deaf and tunnel vision

•Deaf and blind

•Hard-of-hearing and low vision

•Hard-of-hearing and tunnel vision

•Hard-of-hearing and blind

Section 3.3 Associate Memberships

3.3.1 Associate Membership shall be available to any individuals who are family members and/or supporters of the Deaf-Blind.

3.3.2 Associate Members may serve on committees.

3.3.3 Associate Members who are residents of the State of Florida may hold the offices of Secretary Treasurer, and Member-at-Large.

3.3.4 Associate Members shall not vote unless they hold the office of Secretary, Treasurer, or Member-at-Large.

Section 3.4 Student Memberships

3.4.1 Student Membership shall be available to Deaf-Blind Students who are currently enrolled in high school or college up to the age of twenty-three (23) years.

3.4.2 Membership fee for Student Membership shall be one half (1/2) of Active Membership fee.

3.4.3 Student Membership shall be eligible to make motions, to vote, and to serve on committees (after they have reached the age of eighteen (18) years.)

3.4.4 Student Membership will be eligible to hold office after they have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years.

Section 3.5 Organizational Memberships

3.5.1 Organizational Membership shall be available to bona fide national, state, and local non-profit entities with a mission or interest for promoting the lives of Deaf-Blind people.

3.5.2 Organizational Members shall not have voting privileges.

3.5.3 Organizational Members may hold office.

Section 3.6 Membership Dues

3.6.1 Membership dues shall be paid upon joining FDBA.

3.6.2 Annual membership dues shall be renewed and paid by the end of 12th month of membership. The treasurer will send out reminder to each member one month prior to his/her expiration date.

3.6.3 Failure to pay annual dues within thirty (30) days of the due date, and after notice from the Treasurer, shall cause a membership to be terminated. Membership reinstatement will be permitted upon payment of dues.

3.6.4 Membership dues shall be determined by the Board.

Section 3.7 Non-Discrimination

3.7.1 No person, agency, or organization otherwise eligible shall be denied membership in the Association on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, or disability.

Section 3.8 Respect

3.8.1 FDBA reserves the right to take appropriate steps to remove disruptive or abusive member(s) from the state conferences, meetings, and other FDBA functions and remove membership privileges for one (1) year.

ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS (AKA THE BOARD)

Section 4.1 The Board shall consist of four (4) Officers and three (3) Members-at-Large.

4.1.1 The seven (7) Board Members shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Members-at-Large.

4.1.2 The Board Members shall be residents of the State of Florida.

4.1.3 Board Members shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

4.1.4 Each Board Member must have been a member in good standing for at least twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the date of when ballots for their election are counted.

4.1.5 Board Members shall have access to computer with Internet service and E-mail addresss

4.1.6 Board Members are eligible to serve two (2) consecutive four-year terms.

4.1.7 Board Members shall assume their respective positions effective the first state meeting held after the election meeting.

Section 4.2 Board Members

4.2.1 President, Vice President, and two (2) Members-at-Large must be an Active Member.

4.2.2 Secretary, Treasurer, and one (1) Member-at-Large must be either an Active Member or an Associate Member.

4.2.3 Secretary and Treasurer must possess the skills appropriate for the office.

4.2.4 Election of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Members-at-Large shall be every four (4) years beginning in 2011.

Section 4.3 Resignation

4.3.1 Resignation must be submitted in writing to the President or to the Secretary.

Section 4.4 Removal from The Board

4.4.1 Board Members may be removed for failure to carry out duties or for other good and sufficient reason by a two-third (2/3)vote of the Board.

Section 4.5 Vacancies

4.5.1 The Board shall have the power to fill Board vacancies as they may occur between elections.

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 5.1 The President

5.1.1 Shall preside at all meetings of the FDBA.

5.1.2 Shall see that the policies of the FDBA and the decisions of the Board are carried out.

5.1.3 Shall represent the organization, or delegate such authority, whenever and wherever it is to be represented.

5.1.4 Shall sign all legal papers with the approval of the Board.

5.1.5 Shall have the power to appoint standing and other committees and shall appoint committee chairpersons, with the approval of the Board.

5.1.6 Shall be a member of the Board, shall have voting privileges, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees to insure communication for the executive officers.

Section 5.2 The Vice President

5.2.1 Shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President.

5.2.2 Shall assist the President.

5.2.3 Shall chair or serve on specific committees or subcommittees as necessary appointed by the President.

5.2.4 Shall be a member of the Board and have voting privileges.

Section 5.3 The Secretary

5.3.1 Shall keep a record of the proceedings of the FDBA at its various meetings and prepare them for distribution as may be directed by the FDBA.

5.3.2 Post (have available) minutes of all meetings three (3) weeks after the respective meetings have been held.

5.3.3 Shall notify each member of the FDBA of upcoming meetings.

5.3.4 Shall have charge of all papers and correspondence of the FDBA except that which properly belongs to other officers.

5.3.5 Shall be a member of the Board and have voting privileges.

Section 5.4 The Treasurer

5.4.1 Shall receive and deposit in an approved bank all FDBA monies.

5.4.2 Shall keep an accurate, verifiable account of all FDBA monies received and disbursed.

5.4.3 Shall collect membership dues, shall draft membership receipts, and shall notify all members of when their membership dues are required to be paid in order to remain in a "member in good standing" status.

5.4.4 Shall keep Secretary informed of all members of good standing of their names and current contact information and mailing addresses.

5.4.5 Shall report all bills and make payments, following authorization by the Board.

5.4.6 Shall prepare the semi-annual and annual financial statements.

5.4.7 Any disbursement of FDBA monies must be made by check.

5.4.8 Shall be a member of the Board and have voting privileges.

Section 5.5 Members-at-Large

5.5.1 Shall assist the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer as needed.

5.5.2 Shall chair or serve on specific committees or subcommittees as necessary appointed by the President.

5.5.3 Shall be spokesperson for the general members of FDBA.

5.5.4 Shall work with the general membership on important issues that the Board needs to address.

5.5.5 Shall be a member of the Board and have voting privileges.

ARTICLE VI: ELECTION

Section 6.1 Election Committee

6.1.1 The Election Committee shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board six months before the election to take place at the State meeting.

6.1.2 The Election Committee shall be comprised of an Active member, an Associate Member, and a representative of an outside agency. The committee members shall not run for any office or position in the FDBA.

6.1.3 The Election Committee shall conduct nomination process and compile secret ballots to be provided for voting at the State meeting.

Section 6.2 Eligibility Criteria

6.2.1 Candidates must meet eligibility requirements as stated in Article IV for each position.

Section 6.3 Voting

6.3.1 Voting of Officers shall take place at the State Meeting every four years beginning in 2011.

6.3.2 Counting of ballots shall be done by at least two (2) persons from the assembly that is not involved in running for any office. These people shall count the ballots in presence of one of the Election Committee members.

6.3.3 Each officer shall be sworn in using the following as the oath of office: "I solemnly promise to observe and uphold the Bylaws of the Florida Deaf-Blind Association and to perform the duties of my office to the best of my ability; so help me God."

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Section 7.1 State and Board Meetings

7.1.1 State Meetings shall take place at least once a year. Additional meetings may be held as decided by the Board.

7.1.2 A quorum for the State Meetings of the general membership shall consist of at least one-third (1/3) of the members registered and in attendance for the meeting.

7.1.3 Board Meetings shall be held as needed.

7.1.4 The President may conduct official electronic Board Meetings at any time if all Board Members agree and have access to computers.

7.1.5 A quorum for the Board Meetings shall consist of at least three fourths (3/4) of the Board

7.1.6 State and Board Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the principles set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Section 8.1 The current Bylaws may be amended with two-third (2/3) vote of the general Active Membership.

Section 8.2 Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Board for review to determine whether the proposed amendments are legitimate before the two-third (2/3) vote can take place at the State Meeting.

Section 8.3 Proposed amendments, all of which are approved by the Board, shall be brought to the general membership at the Business meeting for voting.

ARTICLE IX: DISSOULUTION

Section 9.1 FDBA may be dissolved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the current voting members.

Section 9.2 In the event of dissolution, all liabilities of FDBA will be paid and residual assets of FDBA will be exclusively conveyed to Florida Outreach Project (FOP) for the purpose of being used for the welfare of deaf-blind persons. FDBA established its tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and stated as amended.