YOLANO CHAPTER
Advocating for full and equal accessto all persons with disabilities
in the Yolo and Solano communities
YOLANO CHAPTERAdvocating for full and equal accessto all persons with disabilities in the Yolo and Solano communities |
BYLAWS
YOLANO CHAPTER
Californians for Disability Rights, Inc.
Adopted by Membership, July 1989; Approved by BOG, October 1989;
Amended January 1992; Revised December 1995
ARTICLE I. General
A. Name - The name of this Chapter shall be the Yolano Chapter
of Californians for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR).
B. Principal Place of Business - The principal place of business
of this Chapter shall be located in Yolo County, California.
C. This Chapter is an affiliate of the parent corporation, CDR,
and any rules or regulations promulgated by that corporation
are binding upon this Chapter.
ARTICLE II. Purposes and Function
A. The specific and primary purposes of the Yolano Chapter are
to initiate, sponsor and carry out plans, policies and
actvities that will enhance the lives of persons with
disabilities and enable them to enter more fully into society
at all levels. CDR is committed to providing full and equal
access to all persons with disabilities.
B. The activities of this Chapter are primarily educational.
The Chapter identifies physical and attitudinal barriers,
and works to eliminate them by interacting with individuals,
agencies and communities in the Yolo and Solano County region.
1. Where this Chapter's objectives require taking a position
on legislation, this Chapter may initiate, support, or
oppose legislation. The Chapter does not endorse political
candidates.
2. No member shall use CDR stationery or otherwise purport
to represent CDR and/or this Chapter, either orally or in
writing, without obtaining prior approval from the Executive
Board or the membership.
3. This Chapter shall not carry on any business for the profit
of its members or distribute any gains, profits or dividends
to any of its members.
ARTICLE III. Membership
A. Qualifications
Membership in this Chapter shall be open to any individual
holding membership in CDR who pays Yolano Chapter dues.
B. Dues
Chapter dues shall be set by the Executive Board of this
Chapter, with the approval of the membership.
C. Termination of Membership - Membership may be terminated
for the following reasons:
1. Loss of membership for any reason in CDR.
2. Failure to pay Chapter dues within sixty (60) days
after they become due. Payment of Chapter dues will
be cause for reinstatement.
3. For cause when the activities or conduct of the member
brings disrepute or dishonor to this Chapter or CDR, or
when a member intentionally violates a bylaw of the Chapter
or of CDR.
a. No member shall be terminated for cause unless the
member is given written notice of the conduct complained
of, and is offered an opportunity to appear before and
be heard by the Executive Board.
b. The Board shall review said conduct and shall make
a recommendation to the Chapter regarding termination
of such person's membership.
c. The Chapter shall terminate a person's membership for
cause only upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the
voting members present and voting at a regular or
special meeting.
d. A member terminated for cause may be readmitted only
upon application to the Executive Board, and presentation
to the Board of grounds sufficient to demonstrate that
the said conduct will not occur again.
e. If the cause for termination is a violation of CDR
Bylaws, the Chapter Executive Board will seek termination
of membership in CDR through the procedures of the CDR
State Council.
D. Confidentiality for Members - Information identifying individual
members collected for internal use by the Chapter shall not be
shared with non-members without the member's consent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, information may be disclosed to
or by a person who has provided adequate written assurance that
the information will be used in a form that will not identify
any individual.
1. Each member shall protect contact lists to maintain privacy.
2. Information about disability and other personal circumstances
shall not be shared without the individual member's
permission.
ARTICLE IV. Membership Meetings
A. All meetings shall be held within the Chapter's geographical
boundaries.
B. Regular meetings are to held at least eight (8) times a year
at a date, time and place designated by the Executive Board.
Regular membership meetings will be open to the general public.
Written notice will be sent to members at least ten (10) days
before each meeting.
C. One of the regular meetings will be the annual meeting as
chosen by the Board. Written notice of the date, time, place
and purpose of the annual meeting must be mailed to each member
at least ten (10) days, but not more than thirty (30) days,
before such meeting.
D. A special meeting of the members may be called by the Executive
Board upon a 2/3 affirmative vote, or shall be called by the
Secretary upon the petition of at least thirty percent (30%)
of the members. Notice must be made at least (5) days in
advance specifying the date, time, place and purpose of the
special meeting. The public may be barred by a majority vote
of the Executive Board.
E. Voting - A quorum for the transaction of business at any
membership meeting shall exist whenever there is present, in
person, ten (10) percent of the voting membership of the
Chapter or eight (8) members, whichever is larger. Each voting
member is entitled to one (1) vote on all matters to come
before the members.
ARTICLE V. Officers
A. Nomination - Not less than sixty (60) days before each annual
meeting, the membership shall elect a nominating committee,
at a membership meeting, from among the active members, one
who shall be designated by the President as Chair. The
nominating committee shall select individuals for nomination
as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. At the
membership meeting prior to the annual meeting, the Chair shall
announce the names of those persons so nominated and any member
may make additional nominations from the floor. To be valid,
a nomination must have the consent of the person so nominated.
B. Election of Officers shall be by a written ballot at the annual
meeting or by absentee ballot. The Executive Board shall act
as a vote tally committee. However, candidates shall be
disqualified from this committee. If additional help is
required, each candidate officer may select a voting member
to serve on the tally committee. The election of officers
shall be by a majority vote.
C. Qualifications - To be eligible for nomination or appointment
to office, a person must be at least eighteen (18) years of
age, and in the past year have been a Chapter member and
attended at least six (6) membership meetings. In the first
year following the formation of the Chapter, the attendance
requirement shall not apply.
D. Term - Officers shall be elected each year at the end of the
annual meeting by a majority vote of the total number of
members voting in person and by absentee ballot.
E. Vacancy - Any vacancy in office shall be filled by a majority
vote of the membership present and voting for the unexpired
term thereof; or in such other manner as they may determine.
Any officer may be removed from office for cause only upon the
affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting membership.
F. Duties - Officers shall attend meetings regularly except for
good cause.
1. The President shall be the chief administrative officer
of this Chapter and shall preside at all meetings of the
members and the Executive Board. The President shall
appoint any officers and chairs deemed necessary with the
advice and consent of the Executive Board. The President
shall be responsible for transmitting to the state
organization the names and current address of the chapter
officers and chapter delegates and alternates to the State
Council.
2. Vice President - In the absence of the President, the Vice
President shall discharge all the duties of the President.
The Vice President shall be parliamentarian, and shall be
responsible for seeing that a copy of the Bylaws is
available at every membership meeting. The Vice President
shall perform such other duties as the President or the
Executive Board may determine.
3. Secretary - The Secretary shall keep complete records and
correspondence of this Chapter and present the minutes of
the previous membership meeting at each regular membership
meeting. At the annual meeting, the Secretary shall provide
a ballot for each active member of the Chapter. The
Secretary shall perform such other duties as the President
or the Executive Board determines.
4. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall be the chief fiscal officer
of this Chapter; shall receive and account for all monies,
and shall disburse such funds upon order of the membership
in the manner provided by these Bylaws. The Treasurer shall
make such reports of the financial position of this Chapter
as the Executive Board or membership may deem necessary.
On or before each annual meeting, the Treasurer shall prepare
a report of the financial position of this Chapter for the
preceding year and shall present it at the annual meeting.
All authorized expenditures shall be made only by check
bearing the signature of the Treasurer and counter-signature
of either the President or the Vice President.
ARTICLE VI. State Council Representatives
The Executive Board of this Chapter may name two representatives
to the State Council and forward this information as noted in
Article V, Section F. These representatives shall be responsible
for attending State Council meetings and serving as liaison
between the chapter and the state.
ARTICLE VII. Executive Board
A. Composition - The Executive Board shall be the officers of
the Chapter -- President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer -- and all committee chairs appointed by the President.
1. Committees - The Executive Board shall establish and abolish
such committees as the Board deems necessary for the operation
of the Chapter.
a. Committee Chair - The President shall appoint all chairs
of the committees from among interested persons who, in
the previous three (3) months, have been active Chapter
members and attended at least two (2) regular membership
meetings.
1. The Chair is responsible for guiding committee
activities appropriately to the Bylaws and Executive
Board goals, and for managing committee resources
(e.g., members, funds).
2. Any committee chair can be removed by a 2/3 vote of
the Executive Board.
b. Committee membership - Any Chapter member may choose to
join any committee except committees responsible for
nomination of officers and tallying of votes.
B. Duties
1. The Board shall serve as an advisory body to the President
and the Chapter membership.
2. The Board members shall act as liaison to the community.
3. The Board shall be responsible for implementing the
activities of the Chapter and CDR in support of our mutual
goals.
C. Meetings
1. Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held no
less than seven (7) days prior to a regular membership
meeting at a date, time and place determined by the President.
Notice of regular meetings shall be given fourteen (14) days
or more prior to such meeting.
2. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President
at any time and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt
of a petition by not less than one-half (1/2) of the Executive
Board members. Notice of a special meeting shall be given
as early as possible to all Executive Board members.
3. The presence in person in one-half (1/2) of the members of
the Board, including two of the elected officers, shall
constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of
the Board. All matters coming before the Board shall be
decided by a simple majority vote of those present and
voting except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII. Rules and Regulations
A. Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, the membership
shall have the power to make rules and regulations regarding
the conduct of the affairs of the Chapter.
B. All regular or special meetings of both the members and the
Board shall be conducted in conformity with Roberts' Rules
of Order.
C. The fiscal year, in accordance with state bylaws, shall be
the calendar year.
D. Upon dissolution, all property and assets of this chapter,
including funds, membership and mailing lists shall be turned
over to the state CDR.
ARTICLE IX. Amendments
A. These Bylaws may be amended upon a 2/3 vote of those members
in good standing present and voting at such meeting as may be
proper to consider a Bylaws amendment.
B. A proposed amendment to these Bylaws shall be presented to a
meeting of the Executive Board which will bring it to the next
membership meeting for information purposes only. The proposed
text of the amendment will be included in the mailed notice
for the membership meeting next following the one at which it
was first presented by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE X. Adoption
These bylaws are adopted by the Yolano Chapter of Californians
for Disability Rights, Inc., on December 16, 1995, to conform to
the bylaws of CDR which on September 9, 1995, became the successor
to California Association of Persons with Handicaps, Inc. Having
met all other requirements, the Yolano Chapter will become a part
of CDR upon approval of these bylaws by the CDR State Council.