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B.A.D. BY-LAWS

The organization shall be known as the Belleville Association of the Deaf (B.A.D.), hencoreforth as "the Association".

The location of the organization shall be in the Regional Municipality of Belleville and surrounding areas in Ontario.

The objectives of the organization shall be to assist in promoting the general well-being of all Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons; to promote advocacy for any organizations, institutions, agencies and other recognized groups in their efforts to achieve goals that are compatible with the goals of the Assocation; to participate in creative public awareness of Deafness and to bring to the attention of appropriate authorities the means to achieve the objectives of the Association; to inform the general public about the talents and abilities of Deaf individuals and Deaf culture; to assist in promoting the language of the Deaf; to take a stand and seek assistance from any individual or organization in order to counteract any action that infringes upon the rights and privileges of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in this region; to see affiliation with any local, provincial and national organizations as a way to incorporate efforts in pursuit of their objectives; to provide services as approved by the Association in principles consistent with the objectives of the Association; to establish an advisory committee(s) to provide the Association with necessary information; to acquire lands, by purchase or otherwise, erect or otherwise provide a building or buildings for social and community purposes; to sell, manage, lease, mortgage, dispose of or otherwise deal with the property of this Association.

Any individual, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, may become a member of the organization upon meeting all the conditions of membership.

1.1 CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

(a) Members shall observe, conform to and abide by the Constitution, the By-Laws, and the rules and regulations of the organization.

(b) The term of membership, renewable annually, shall be from January 1st to December 31st. (January of 2011: revised from old date: September 1st to August 31st).

(c) The executive board reserves the right to revoke or refuse membership at any time to anyone.

(d) Members shall work as a team and support each other.

(e) Non-members are welcome to attend meetings to observe and speak when invited by members. Frequent non-members/visitors are encouraged to join the membership.

1.2 CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

(a) Active members shall be any member in good standing, who is entitled to the full privilege of the organization upon payment of the active membership fee.

(b) Honourary member shall be any person declared by the membership as an honourary member for dedication and services or donations to the organization. Honourary members shall not be eligible to run for election, make motions or exercise votes at meetings.

(c) Assoociate member shall be as follows:

Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing person (except the spouse of a member) who is interested in the welfare of the Deaf community. Associate members may not vote at any meetings conducted by the B.A.D. Associate member fee will be charged.

(d) Senior Citizen member shall be as follows:

Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing person who is active; member can vote at any meetings; can hold office and sit on committee(s); must be 60 years old or over as of September 1st, and upon payment of the senior citizen membership fee.

(e) Student shall be as follows:

Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing person age 13 and over who is currently attending school, college or university; can participate in any activities; and upon the payment of the student membership fee.

(f) Patron shall be as follows:

Can include any person (Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing); can become eligible for membership as patron pursuant to the same criteria as for Honourary member; to be eligible for patron, with a minimum of $1,000 donation; can not vote or run for election at meetings; and may be exempted from paying annual membership fees.

1.3 DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Disciplinary action may be enforced against members in accordance with a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast by the membership at a general meeting.

1.4 WITHDRAWL OF MEMBERS

A member may upon written notice, withdraw from membership in the organization. All monies and properties of the organization are to be returned immediately to the satisfaction of the executive board.


2.1 COMPOSITION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(a) The general meetings shall be held twice per calendar year and preferably in the months of October and April; and additional meetings may be held at other times upon notice thereof being delievered to the members by the Secretary, or upon written request; and signed by three (3) members and delivered to the executive board by the Secretary of the organization. Regular meetings shall be held on the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of the month with the approval of the Executive Board's decision.

(b) Notice of meetings of the general assembly shall be delivered in writing to the members, or published 2 months prior to the holding of such meetings and shall contain the agenda with the exception of special or emergency meetings.

(c) Dates for Board of Directors meeting are to be decided by the President.

(d) Vacancy of Director/Executive Position(s) shall be filled for the remainder of the term at a special meeting of Belleville Association of the Deaf membership.

2.2 QUORUM OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A quorum of the general assembly shall be obtained when at least ten (10) members excluding board members are present.

2.3 VOTING AT MEETING OF THE GENERAL MEETING

(a) The classification of membership shall be as follows:

1) Voting member - any Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing person who is a paid member in good standing.

2) Non voting member - any Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing or Hearing person who is not an active member. Non-voting members shall not be permitted to vote proxy at any meeting.

(b) Except for amendments to the constitution (Article VI), all resolutions brought before the general assembly shall require a simple majority of the votes cast. The president at the general assembly shall finally determine tied votes.

(c) Except for elections, voting at the meetings at the General Assembly shall be by show of hands or secret ballot.

(d) The order of business for the General Meeting shall be as follows:

1) Opening and Roll Call
2) Approval and/or Revision of Agenda
3) Approval and/or Revision of Last Minutes
4) Approval of Unadudited Financial Reports
5) Board Reports
6) Committee Reports
7) Comments and Feedback
8) Old Business
9) New Business
10) Announcement(s)
11) Adjournment

3.1 ELECTION OF EXECUTIVES

(a) The members shall elect as the executive officers; a President; a Vice-President; a Secretary; a Treasurer; a Sport Director; and a Sport Director; and a Social Director.

(b) All Executive Officers shall be Deaf or Hard of Hearing members in good standing.

(c) The term of the Executive shall run for a term of two (2) years. Officers shall be elected biennially at a fall meeting. The elected officers shall take their oaths of office in September at a special meeting.

(d) All elected officers must be Deaf or Hard of Hearing with the exception of the Secretary who may be hearing if needed, and be members in good standing.

3.2 REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVES

(a) Executives may be removed from office for cause upon the passing of a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast at a meeting of the general assembly.

(b) An executive at the end of his/her term, upon vacating office as a result of retirement, illness or otherwise, must return all properties of the organization as may be in his/her possession.

3.3 VACANCIES

Vacancies occurring within the executive board as the result of resignation, death, illness, and expulsion or otherwise, may not be filled until election at a special meeting of the general assembly.

3.4 COMPENSATION TO EXECUTIVES

Executives shall be compensated for reasonable and proven travel and accommodation expenses as may be incurred in the course of organization business, subject to resolutions passed by the majority of votes cast at general meetings. No other compensation or remuneration thereof is to be authorized.

3.5 JURISDICATION AND POWERS OF DIRECTORS

The executive board shall have the right, jurisdiction, power, authority and duty to perform as necessary in carrying out the objectives of the organization. The executive board shall carry out all the executive, administrative and judicial functions to the continuing attainment of the aims, ideals, and objectives set firth in the Constitution of the organization.

(a) The Executive Board of the organization shall consist of duly elected officers: a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Social Director, and a Sports Director.

(b) In addition, the executive board shall consist of a Past-President who shall be present at the meetings.

(c) Past President may not vote or have authority as an executive officer and is not elected at the general assembly.

4.1 ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Executive Officers shall be elected by the members of the Belleville Association of the Deaf Club.


4.2 DUTIES AND POWERS OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

4.2.1 PRESIDENT

(a) The president shall preside over all meetings of the general assembly and the executive board.

(b) The president shall perform all other and such usual duties as are performed by the president and shall be the official spokeperson for an on behalf of the organization. The president shall also be an ex-officio member of standing committees of the organization.

(c) The president shall co-sign with the Treasurer, any and all documents or writings, required by the By-Laws or the chartered bank of the organization and without limiting the gerality of the foregoing, the president shall co-sign with the Treasurer, any and all promissory notes, cheques, negotiable instruments, bills of exchange and notes of indebtedness, for and on the behalf of the organization.

4.2.2 VICE-PRESIDENT

(a) The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president, in the absence of the president and shall assist the president in the conduct of his/her office.

(b) The vice-president shall perform the liaison duties with outside organizations.

(c) The vice-president shall be responsible for preparing and keeping the by-laws up to date.

4.2.3 SECRETARY

(a) The secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the general assembly and the executive board and shall be responsible for the maintenance, control and safe-keeping of all books, membership lists/addresses/e-mails, minutes, writings, contracts, statistics, condolences and other records of the organization.

(b) The secretary shall receive and send all communications of the organization accordance with accepted secretarial practices and shall deliver any and all notices required by law or the by-laws to be delivered to the members, or any other person, organization or party concerned.

4.2.4 TREASURER

(a) The treasurer shall be the custodian of and keep an accurate record of all financial records and bookkeeping of the organization, including and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all bank records, finanical statements, balance sheets, petty cash records, operating and capital cost records, income statements, monies and bills of exchange, for an on behalf of the organization and shall report on the status of such matters from time to time and upon request.

(b) The treasurer shall receive and disburse the funds of the organization in accordance with good bookkeeping practices and as directed by the membership.

(c) The treasurer shall cause the accounts of the organization to be audited two (2) or three (3) a year and shall deliver said audited statements to the membership, not more than a month after the expiry of his/her term. In addition, the treasurer shall deliver to the executive board, up-to-date statements of income and expenditure of the organization.

(d) The treasurer shall co-sign with the president all the organization's banking documents and all promissory notes, cheques, negotiable instruments, bills of exchange and notes of indebtedness of the organization, for and on behalf of the organization.

(e) The treasurer shall assist the sports/social committees with financial reports.

(f) The treasurer shall not purchase items over $500.00. The president shall use his/her discretion when purchasing necessary items.

(g) The treasurer may use up to $1,000 for hall rental, hosting events & bookings with understanding that the committee pay the full amount back.

4.2.5 SPORTS DIRECTOR

(a) The director of sports shall direct and control the activities of teams and the equipment and abide by the rules and conventions of the occasion. He/she shall keep abreast of revisions, amendments or additions, with adherence to the conditions and terms.

(b) The sports director shall present a progress report on behalf of committees so designated under his/her authority by resolution at meetings of the general assembly.

(c) The director of sports shall appoint chairpersons or managers and supervise the committee activities under his/her authority, subject to votes cast at general meetings or in accordance with the constitution, by-laws and regulations of the organization.

(d) The director of sports, assisted by the chairpersons of the committee under his/her authority, shall have the power of seeding and drawing the players eligible for tournaments. The sports teams shall be responsible to raise sufficient funds for accommodations, travel expenses and tournament fees at a reasonable time frame prior to the tournaments or pay their own expenses.

4.2.6 SOCIAL DIRECTOR

(a) The social director shall direct and control the activities of committees and the organization's properties in accordance with the constitution, by-laws and regulations of the organization.

(b) The social director shall present progress reports on behalf of committees (Social, Cultural, Political, Sports, Fund Raising) so designated under his/her authority by resolution at meetings of the general assembly.

(c) The social director shall appoint chairpersons and supervise the committee activites under his/her authority, subject to approval by votes cast at meetings of the general assembly. A chairperson shall have the power to appoint committees and the membership shall volunteer to sit on the committees.

(d) The social director shall exercise jurisdiction over the locations, schedules, programs of activities of chairpersons by resolutions carried at meetings of the general assembly and in accordance with the constitiution, by-laws and regulations of the organization.

4.3 AUDITORS

(a) Auditors shall be active members of the Belleville Association of the Deaf duly elected at general or special meetings.

(b) At the end of each term of the Treasurer, two auditors shall audit the financial report, within one month after the expiry of the Treasurer's term.

(c) Two auditors shall be elected at the general or special meetings to examine all the income and expenditure statements, investments, bank records and capital accounts of the Belleville Association of the Deaf.

(d) Auditors are not members of the executive board with power to vote or take part in executive meetings.

Upon dissolution of the Association, the remaining assests of this Association shall be distributed to a charitable organization or organizations that further promote the well being of the Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Hearing. Also, in no event shall any of the assests be applied for any use other than charitable one. The final decision shall be made by the general membership at a special meeting. The vote must be a majority vote.

(At our April 16, 2005 By-Laws Meeting, we agreed to refer the creation of our Mission Statement to the By-Laws committee and it is in progress.)

Belleville Deaf Community Lifelong Dream

"BELLEVILLE DEAF CENTRE"
(BDC)

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