(Revised by May 13, 2017)

Austin Black Deaf Advocates By-Laws

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ARTICLE I
( Name )

• 1.0:  Name. The name of the organization shall be the Austin Black Deaf Advocates,
         Inc., hereafter referred to as AustinBDA. An official 34th chapter under National
         Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA).
   

ARTICLE II
( Mission and Vision )

• 2.0: Austin Black Deaf Advocates Mission shall be:

             A.) Activist Development Workshops,

             B.) Self-sufficient Economic resources,

             C.) Cultural & Educational,

             D.) Recreational Opportunities.
 

• 2.1: The vision of AustinBDA shall be organized and operate mainly to promote the activist
       development, economic and educational opportunities, social equalities, and welfare of Black
       Deaf and Hard of Hearing people with multiple identities.
   

ARTICLE III
( Membership )

• 3.0: Membership-

             A.) Regular Member shall be applied to any individuals as stated herein without regard to
                   ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, national origin, or economic
                   status. Upon payment result in policy.

             B.) Senior Citizen Member shall be applied to any individuals at the age of 55 and over, upon
                   payment result in policy.
 

             C.) Student Member shall be applied to any individuals who are enrolled at any college or
                   post-secondary programs. Including a student form and student ID for the proof, upon
                   payment result in policy.

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             D.) Youth Member shall be applied to any individuals who are in age between 13 and 17, with
                   parental and/or guardian contractional permission to participate AustinBDA.  Upon
                   payment result in policy.

 

             E.) The following NBDA’s rate, annual AustinBDA membership dues shall be adjust set
                   through the policy by a vote of AustinBDA members; Regular, Senior Citizen, and Student
                   is also a member of NBDA, not Youth member.
 

             F.) All individual members have full voting and make motions privileges. All individual
                  members, (with exception of Youth Membership), shall be eligible to hold office within
                  AustinBDA.

 

             G.) All members are expected to follow local, state, and federal laws and Association’s By-
                   Laws and Policy.

 

• 3.1: Non-Membership-

             A.) Non-Members are not allowed to express their opinions during general
                 meeting.
 

            B.) Non-Members are not allowed to vote.

 

 

• 3.2: Membership Transfer-

             A.) A member, with a good standing, transferring from other NBDA chapters to
                  AustinBDA shall provide proof of membership prior to expiration date. The
                  term from other chapter is non-transferrable. When transfer is completed,
                  the term begins immediately.
 

ARTICLE IV
( Corporate Office )

• 4.0: The principal office of the corporation in the State of Texas shall be located in the
         City of Austin, Travis County.
   

ARTICLE V
( The Election )

• 5.0: Candidates shall be elected for said position by vote in the majority or in ballot by
        AustinBDA members with good standings.
   

• 5.1: The voting members have their right of recall and/or referendum.
   

ARTICLE VI
( Executive Board )

• 6.0: The Executive Board officers shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary,
        Chapter Liaison, Director of Public Relations, and BDU Representative.
   

• 6.1: The Executive Board of AustinBDA shall consist President, Vice President, Treasurer,
       Secretary, Chapter Liaison, Director of Public Relations, and BDU Representative that shall be      elected by ballot at the General Meeting, biennially, in April.
   

• 6.2: The Executive Board must be members in good standing for at least one year in AustinBDA.
       However, if the qualification is not met. Unqualification candidate shall goes through the
       members approval at the General Meeting.

 

• 6.3: The President, Vice President and Treasurer must be Black Deaf and fluent in
         American Sign Language. The Secretary,  Chapter Liaison, Director of Public
         Relations, and BDU Representative must be fluent in ASL.

 

• 6.4: The Executive Board of AustinBDA shall elected and installed by a majority of the
         entire membership present at the meeting. Those elected shall only serve in the
         position as defined by their job description in the policy for two (2) years.

 

• 6.5: Shall reside in Travis County and surrounding counties up to 75 miles radius.

 

• 6.6: A vacancy in any Executive Board position due to death, resignation, and/or
        Impeachment may be filled by vote of the current Executive Board until the next
        officer’s election.

 

• 6.7: Any officers who is planning to resign must have submitted their resignation letter
        from the current position in two (2) weeks advance and a letter must be present at
        the general meeting.

 

• 6.8: The quorum for the membership and the Executive Board shall be determined
         based on the provisions of the current policy.
   

• 6.9: Elected Executive Board officers shall be immediately trained by previous term
         Executive Board Officers and they shall be monitored and mentored for up to 6 months to
         ensure that all Executive Board meet the Expectations of their duties.

 

• 6.10: Executive Board shall not receive any salaries for his/her service as a member of
           Executive Board. Especially, The Chapter Liaison shall receive a per diem expense
           for attending the NBDA meeting, other pre-approved, and approved events.
   

• 6.11: No member with a personal or financial interest of a material nature in the affairs
            of AustinBDA shall be eligible to serve as Executive Board of AustinBDA.
            Nepotism is prohibited; No family relatives shall be eligible to serve as Executive
            Board of AustinBDA.

 

• 6.12: The quorum for the Membership and the Executive Board shall be determined
            based on the provisions of the current policy.
   

ARTICLE VII
( Meeting )

• 7.0: General Meeting shall be held every monthly except August.
   

• 7.1: Special Meeting may be called for any reason at President’s wish.    

 

• 7.2: The business of the Executive Board, and the Committees shall be conducted
         monthly prior to the next General Meeting.

 

• 7.3: The Meeting are in the By-Laws, Policy, and latest edition Robert’s Rules of Order
         shall be the parliamentary authority of the Association.

 

• 7.4: All General meeting are open to all members and visitors. All other meetings are
         closed to only members.

 

• 7.5: Any malicious remarks or unacceptable behaviors, the President and/or Vice
         President may dismiss any members or visitors from the meetings.

 

• 7.6: General Meeting shall proceed in the following order:

 

            A.) Roll Call to Order
            B.) Read the Minutes of the previous General /Special Meeting(s) and Executive Board.
            C.) Officers’ Reports

            D.) Completed Business

            E.) Unfinished Business

            F.) New Business

            G.) Election(s)

            H.) Oath for new officers and board members

             I.) Announcements

            J.) Adjournment

 

• 7.7: Oath for new officers:
              A.)  “I, (name), do hereby pledge myself to follow by the By-Laws and
                      Policy of Austin Black Deaf Advocates and to faithfully perform the
                      duties of my office as (position) to the best of my knowledge and ability.”
   

ARTICLE VIII
( Committees )

• 8.0: The Executive Board may designate new Committees and requisite
        responsibilities.

 

• 8.1: Committee Chairs shall not be filled by officers, but shall be appointed by the
         Executive Board and voted for approval at regular meetings.

 

• 8.2: Each Committee Chair shall report the actions to the Executive Board and the
         General Meetings.

 

• 8:3: The duties of committees shall be determined based on the provisions of the
         current policy.
   

ARTICLE IX
( Amendments )

• 9.0: Any proposal for amendments to By-Laws shall go through Vice President for
        proper procedure. Vice President does have no authority to deny member’s
        privilege to make a proposal.

 

• 9.1: The By-Laws may be amended, altered or revoked by two-third (2/3) vote of
         members present at General Meeting.

 

• 9.2: The By-Laws may be suspended by two-third (2/3) vote of members present at
         General Meeting.
   

ARTICLE X
( Dissolution )

 

• 10.0: Section 1.  Assets and Liabilities. In the event of dissolution of AustinBDA, after payment of
           all of existing AustinBDA debts and liabilities, remaining assets shall be distributed to
           501(c)(3) organizations with objectives that are similar to those of AustinBDA.

 

• 10.1:.  Assets and Liabilities. In the event of dissolution of AustinBDA Chapter, after payment of
             all of the said Chapter debts and liabilities, remaining assets shall be transferred to NBDA.            NBDA shall hold such assets for two years. If the Chapter is reactivated within two years,              the assets shall be transferred back to the Chapter. If the Chapter is not reactivated within            two years, such assets shall be deemed forfeited to NBDA.