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The proposed
amendments to the ADARA By-laws were accepted by the membership on
June 2, 1999 during the business meeting at the biennial conference.
Article I -
Name
Section 1:
The name of the Association shall be the "ADARA: Professionals
Networking for Excellence in Service Delivery with Individuals who are
Deaf or Hard of Hearing."
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Article II
- Purposes
Section 1:
The purpose of this Association shall be: (1) To promote the
development and expansion of professional rehabilitation services to
adult deaf individuals; (2) To provide a form and a common meeting
ground so that the Association may be instrumental in bringing about a
better understanding of deaf individuals as a whole by encouraging
students, professional persons, and laymen to develop more than a
superficial understanding of the needs and problems of this group -
especially the problems related to communication techniques needed to
work effectively with adult deaf individuals in a rehabilitation
setting; (3) To promote and encourage scientific research of the needs
and problems engendered by deafness which inhibit in more important
ways the successful overall functioning of a deaf individual; (4) To
promote and develop recruitment and training of professionals working
with deaf individuals; (5) To sponsor a professional publication for
the promotion of inter- and intra-disciplinary communication among
professional persons primarily concerned with deaf adults and other s
interested in such activities; and (6) To cooperate with other
organizations concerned with deafness and rehabilitation of deaf
individuals and with allied services in promoting and encouraging
legislation pertinent to the development of professional services and
facilities to adult deaf individuals.
Section 2:
The word "Professional" is herein construed to mean any
person who devotes a substantial part of his time providing
rehabilitation-oriented services, administration, research, or
training in behalf of deaf adults. The disciplines of rehabilitation,
education, psychology, social work, audiology, speech therapy, and
allied fields are specifically included in this definition.
Section 3:
The phrase "adult Deaf individual" is herein construed to
mean any person whose hearing (with or without amplification) is
non-functional for everyday use, who has attained the age of 16, and
who is no longer a full-time pupil in any private or public school for
the deaf; however, full-time attendance in a vocational or other
training program in such a school is included in this definition.
Section 4:
This Association shall be nonprofit. No activities shall be undertaken
for the individual profit of any of its officers and members; and no
alliance, financial or otherwise, shall be made with any political
party or any candidate of political office.
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Article III
- Membership
Section 1:
Membership in this Association may be Regular, Honorary, Student,
Retired, or Organizational.
Section 2a:
Regular membership shall be available to any person who has an
interest in and who supports the general aims and purposes of ADARA
and who is engaged in activities that contribute to the rehabilitation
of deaf individuals.
Section 2b:
Regular members shall be eligible to make motions and vote, to serve
on Committees, to be eligible to apply for ADARA
certification/licensing, when and if such procedures are established.
Section 3a:
The creation of sections composed of
ADARA members who have common interest shall be authorized by the
Executive Board on recognition of need by the Board or in response to
an application to the Board from members desiring to establish a
Section. Areas of special interest that would justify a Section are
(for example): Audiology and Speech Pathology, Community Work,
Education of Deaf People, Interpreting, Law, Medicine, Parentage,
Personnel Training, Prosthetics, Psychology, Rehabilitation
Counseling, Religion, and Social Work.
Section 3b:
The purposes of such Sections are: To facilitate the interchange of
specialized ideas and concerns, to establish standards for Section
membership, to recommend guidelines for delivery of services, to aid
in ADARA membership recruitment, to establish certification/licensing
fees schedules (when and if established) subject to approval of the
Executive Board, to administer the certification/licensing procedures
(when and if established), and to disseminate information on matters
of mutual concern.
Section 3c:
The members of each Section shall elect their own Chairperson and any
other officers that may be necessary. The Section Chairperson, in
addition to having the usual duties of such an office, shall also
serve as official liaison representative to the Board and to the
membership as a whole. Subject to Board approval, any Section may
access special dues to meet Section expenses. Board approval is not
necessary for the calling of meetings, the establishment of criteria
for Section membership, or other similar intra-Section activities.
However, the Board shall be kept informed of all such actions. The
President shall be notified of the requirements for membership once
such criteria are established, and shall be informed of any subsequent
additions, deletions, or alterations thereto. Each Section shall have
free use of the ADARA Newsletter for the circulation of information to
Section members. A committee, so appointed, of the members of each
Section must approve or reject the application of ADARA members for
Section membership. No action of any Section may be in conflict with
the current Bylaws of the Association.
Section 3d:
Any Section may dissolve through a majority vote of Section members,
and acceptance of the vote by the Executive Board. Any funds belonging
to the Section will be used to pay outstanding expenses of the Section
with the balance of such funds reverting to ADARA.
Section 3e:
No Section may enter into any agreement that obligates ADARA
financially otherwise without the approval of the Executive Board.
Section 4:
Dues for Regular Membership shall be set by the Executive Board. Dues
may not be increased by more than 20% during any biennium. Membership
begins with the month of initial membership; dues payment and rights
and benefits are not retroactive. Dues shall include a subscription to
the Association's publications.
Section 5:
Honorary membership may be awarded to any Regular Member who has made
an outstanding and lasting contribution to the development and/or
extension of professional rehabilitation services to adult Deaf
individuals. Such membership shall continue for the lifetime of the
recipient, and may be awarded only by two-thirds vote of all members
registered at a regular conference. The award shall be commemorated by
a suitable certificate. Not more than one honorary membership may be
awarded at any single conference. Honorary members shall have all the
privileges of Regular Members outlined in Section 2b of the Article,
except that no dues or registration fees shall be assessed.
Section 6:
Retired persons and students in graduate or undergraduate college
programs shall be entitled to membership upon payment of one-half the
dues of regular membership. Student and retired members shall be
entitled to all publications provided regular members, full voting
privileges, and shall be entitled to serve on committees.
Section 7a:
Regular Membership may be awarded to family members upon payment of
the full Regular Memberships dues plus an addition 40% of Regular
Membership dues for each additional family member. Such memberships
must run concurrently.
Section 7b:
Such membership shall entitle each to be eligible for all the rights
and benefits of Regular Membership as outlined under Section 2b of
this Article.
Section 7c:
Such memberships shall include a single mailing of all materials made
available to Regular Members.
Section 8a:
The creation of chapters composed of ADARA members residing in a
specific geographical area shall be authorized by the Executive Board
upon the arrival of the proposed chapter bylaws. Said chapters will
have at least 15 members. ADARA supports for formation of local
chapters through policies adopted under Article 111, Section 3a-3e.
Section 8b:
The purpose of a local chapter is to further the goals and objectives
of ADARA and to form the basis for a communication network that
assists ADARA and ADARA members in keeping abreast of local and
national priorities in the field of deafness.
Section 8c:
The members of each chapter shall elect their own officers. The
chapter president shall serve as the official liaison representative
to the ADARA Board.
Section 9:
Organizational membership shall be available for organizations with a
number of employees who wish to become ADARA members. Each
organization will be granted one vote, one mailing of all ADARA
publications (JADARA, ADARA Update, etc.), and three reduced
conference registration fees for designated members.
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Article IV
- Officers
Section 1:
The officers of this Association shall be a President,
President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2:
The duties of the President shall be to preside over the general
conferences of the Association and over meetings of the Executive
Board; to appoint chairpersons and members of special and standing
committees as set forth elsewhere in these Bylaws; to issue calls to
conference through the Association's official publication and/or by
any other means he/she may deem advisable; and to generally administer
and enforce these Bylaws. Upon completion of his/her term as
President, he/she will continue as a member of the Executive Board for
two years as the immediate Past-President. The President shall be an
ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating and
Elections Committees.
Section 2a:
Signature Authority: Within fiscal
limits specified by the Executive Board, the President will be
empowered to sign all communications, fiscal and official papers
which, in his/her judgment, do not conflict with Board policies, ADARA
objectives, and grant obligations.
Section 2b:
Obligation Authority: The President will
have authority to obligate ADARA or grant funds for purchase of
equipment, supplies, personal and non-personal services, travel,
utilities, and facilities. Any limits imposed are set by Board
approved budgets.
Section 3:
The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President in the
latter's absence. In the event the Presidency is vacated, he/she shall
assume the office. The President-Elect shall also act as a member of
the Bylaws Committee. After serving one term of office as
President-Elect, he/she shall serve as President for one term of
office.
Section 4:
The Vice President shall submit copies of the proposed agenda to the
Executive Board for its review at least 120 days prior to the date of
the Conference, and subsequently notify the membership of the approved
agenda at least 90 days prior to the Conference.
Section 5:
The Secretary shall be responsible for the transcription of minutes of
the business meetings of the Executive Board, at Conferences, and
carry on general correspondence of the Association. The Secretary
shall also serve as a non-voting member of the Nominations and
Elections Committee.
Section 6:
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of financial
statements of all liabilities and assets for the Association prior to
each Executive Board meeting. The Treasurer shall also serve as a
permanent member of the ADARA Finance Committee.
Section 7:
The term of all officers shall be for two years, beginning in July of
the Biennium and ending June 30 of the Biennium.
Section 8:
In the event of a vacancy in any office except the Presidency or
President-Elect, a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder
of the term by majority vote of the Executive Board within sixty (60)
days the vacancy occurs. Election may be by mail ballot and shall be
conducted by the Secretary or, should the office of the Secretary be
vacant, by the President.
Section 8a:
The ADARA Board shall by majority vote have the authority to declare
vacant the office of any officer who fails to discharge the duties of
this office. Before initiating such an action, the Board must notify
the person involved in such impending action and offer him/her the
opportunity to present his/her reaction to the proposal. Lack of reply
within 30 days to this offer shall be tantamount to acceptance of the
vacancy declaration should it be approved. In the event of a vacancy
of President-Elect, an election shall be held in accordance with
Article VI, Section 1.
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Article V -
Executive Board
Section 1:
There shall be an Executive Board consisting of all officers plus four
(4) Board members and the immediate Past-president. The Editors of the
Journal for Professionals Networking for Excellence in Service
Delivery with Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (JADARA),
the ADARA Update newsletter, and monographs and the ADARA
representatives to other organizations shall be non-voting members of
the Executive Board.
Section 2:
All voting Board members shall be elected to four-year terms, such
terms to begin July 1 of the biennial year.
Section 3:
It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Board to determine the
date and site of regular conferences; to determine policy matters of
the Association between conferences; and, in general, to act for the
membership between conferences. None of its actions, however, shall
overrule, contradict, or render ineffective any action taken by any
regular conference as a whole. The Association will have a conference
at least once during the biennium.
Section 4:
It is desirable for the Executive Board to meet at six-month intervals
between conferences. Until such time as this is feasible, the Board
shall meet on the call of the President, who shall convene such
meetings at his/her discretion or upon written request of three
Executive Board members.
Section 5:
Five voting members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum
at Board meetings.
Section 6:
It is desirable, if the financial status of the Association permits,
that all officers and members of the Executive Board be reimbursed for
all necessary expenses incurred at conferences or at meetings of the
Board including travel expenses.
Section 7:
For purposes of efficiency, economy, and convenience of communication,
the Board has the authority to appoint any Regular member to be
ADARA's official representative to another organization.
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Article VI
- Elections
Section 1:
The election of officers and Board Members of the Association shall be
carried out in the following manner: (1) From four to six months prior
to the beginning of the new term, the Nominating and Elections
Committee shall distribute a ballot. The ballot shall include
provision of a write-in vote for each office and whenever possible, at
least two nominees for each office; (2) The membership shall mark and
return its ballots within thirty (30) days to the Home Office; (3)
Ballots may be in paper form, or via e-mail, or web based, fax
transmission, or other electronic format; and (4) If no nominee for a
vacancy obtains a majority of the votes so cast, the Nominating and
Elections Committee shall conduct a run-off election between the two
nominees polling the most votes for the vacancy.
Section 2:
The President and the President-Elect shall not be eligible for a
second consecutive term in the same office. Other officers may be
eligible for no more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
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Article
VII - Standing Committees
Section 1:
There shall be a standing Bylaws Committee consisting of three members
of the Association appointed by the new President at the close of each
Conference to serve until the next Conference. The President-Elect
shall be a member of this committee. The committee shall elect its own
chairperson. All amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted to the
Chairperson in accordance with Article X, Section 1. During the
conference, the committee shall report upon all amendments properly
submitted. The Regular members present shall then act upon the
reports. None of the members of the committee, with the exception of
the President-Elect and the President, who is an ex-officio member,
shall be members of the Executive Board.
Section 2:
There shall be a Nominating and Elections Committee consisting of five
members elected by the Executive Board. The Secretary/Treasurer of the
Association shall serve as a nonvoting Secretary of the Committee. The
Committee shall be responsible for conducting the elections as set
forth in Article VI, Section 1 of the Bylaws. The Committee shall
elect its own chairperson.
Section 3:
The Executive Board shall appoint the editors of any and all ADARA
publications and Editorial Advisory Committees. A majority vote shall
be required for the selection of such appointees, and two-thirds
majority vote be required for revocation of such an appointment.
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Article
VIII - Conferences
Section 1:
The Association shall meet at least once during each biennium after
July 1, 1967, on such dates and at such a place as may be determined
by the Executive Board.
Section 2:
The purpose of such conferences shall be to stimulate the membership
towards the objectives of the Association as set forth in Article II,
Section 1 of these Bylaws, to promote professional growth among the
members, and to conduct the business of the Association as a whole.
Section 3:
A simple majority of the Regular Members registered for the conference
shall constitute a quorum of the business sessions of the conference.
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Article IX -
Rules of Order
Section 1:
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall
govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and
in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
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Article X -
Amendments
Section 1:
These Bylaws may be amended upon vote of two-thirds of the membership
present in any business session of the Association during conferences,
a quorum being present and voting. Amendments must be submitted by
Regular Members to the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee ninety (90)
days prior to the next conference. He/she, in turn, shall cause these
amendments to be published and mailed to all Regular members at least
thirty (30) days prior to the next conference.
Section 1a:
A second procedure for amending the Association's Bylaws is through
mail ballot. Specifically, amendments must be submitted by Regular
Members to the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee. He/she, in turn,
shall cause these amendments to be published and mailed to all Regular
members. The Bylaws may be amended upon a two-thirds vote of all
returned ballots.
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Article XI - Dissolution
Section 1:
Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Executive Board shall,
after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the
liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the
corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such
manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and
operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or
scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt
organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future
United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Board shall
determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by
the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office
of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or
to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine,
which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
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