BYLAWS OF THE GREATER HOUSTON INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF
ARTICLE I
A. All Executive Board meetings and all general meetings shall follow an Order of Business Agenda.
B. The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority in all cases where there is no conflict with the Constitution and/or Bylaws.
C. At all stated or called general meetings, a quorum shall consist of ten percent (10%) of the Certified and Associate voting members.
D. At all Executive Board meetings, a quorum shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the Executive Board members.
E. The membership shall be notified fourteen (14) days in advance of all stated general meetings and two (2) days prior to any called general meeting.
F. Executive Board members shall be notified fourteen (14) days in advance of all stated general meetings and two (2) DAYS PRIOR TO ANY CALLED GENERAL MEETING.
G. The President or any two (2) Executive Board Members may call meetings of the Executive Board.
H. Only Certified and Associate voting members of GHID may make motions at any stated or called general meetings of the membership. During Executive Board meetings, only Executive Board Members may make motions. Non-voting members may address the Executive Board and/or the GHID membership at any meeting with the approval of the President or any two (2) members of the Executive Board.
I. The election of officers shall be held during the GHID General Meeting in the month of May.
ARTICLE II
A. The membership year shall extend from July 1 to June 30. A statement shall be sent to any member who is thirty (30) days delinquent in payment of dues. Should any member remain in default by August 31, his/her membership shall automatically be terminated. Payment of dues shall reinstate membership.
B. Voting Rights
1. A voting member must wait thirty (30) days after becoming a member to exercise their rights to vote in any meetings, referenda, and elections.
2. A voting member in good standing is an individual whose GHID dues are current.
3. Proxy votes may be assigned to and carried by voting members only and must be in written form to the Secretary. Each voting member may represent by proxy up to ten voting members in his/her membership category. Proxies in excess of ten voting members shall be re-assigned by the member carrying the proxies to another voting member in the same category of membership.
4. An individual holding proxy may not divide any votes held.
C. Qualifications of Membership
1. Certified Member:
Certified Members are those persons over the age of eighteen (18) with current certification in the interpreting profession. Certified Members shall be entitled to two (2) votes at all GHID General Meetings. Certified Members may be elected to an office in GHID and serve on committees.
2. Associate Member:
Associate Members are those persons over the age of eighteen (18) possessing skill or desiring to become skilled in interpreting, or persons involved in the field of deafness. Associate Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all GHID General Meetings. Associate Members may be elected to an office in GHID and serve on committees.
3. Honorary Member:
Persons so elected at a GHID Board Meeting, for a period of one (1) year, in recognition of outstanding service to GHID, who shall not pay dues, vote, nor hold an office.
4. Lifetime Member:
Persons so elected at the May general meeting of GHID, in recognition of continued outstanding service to GHID, who shall not pay dues, or hold office, but shall have one (1) vote at all GHID General meetings. If Lifetime Members wish to hold an office, appropriate membership dues must be paid in order for that person to hold an office.
5. Student Member:
Those persons who pay student membership dues to GHID, shall not vote nor hold office; must be a currently registered student in one of the following: an interpreter training program, communication with the Deaf program, Deaf Education, or in the field of Deafness (i.e., Audiologist, Speech/Hearing Pathologist).
ARTICLE III
The Executive Board shall transact the general business of GHID. It shall act as custodian of funds, properties, and records of GHID; shall do anything proper to carry out the purposes of GHID, subject to the limitations of these Constitution/Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
A. Authority and Responsibilities:
All Board members of GHID shall hold regular membership with both GHID and TSID.
1. President
The President shall preside at all meetings of GHID and the Executive Board; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination Committee; shall be the official agent of GHID and shall be responsible for maintaining cooperation and affiliation with TSID; (shall perform other duties as designated by the Executive Board and/or Membership.) The President may also serve as the GHID Chapter Representative to the TSID Executive Board (for these duties, See Article IV-A-9 of these Bylaws). The outgoing President shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming President within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
2. First Vice-President
The First Vice-President shall assist the President with the duties of that office and shall perform other duties as designated by the President; shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President; (shall automatically become the President in the even that the office of President is vacated;) shall coordinate the General Membership meetings of GHID. The outgoing First Vice-President shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming First Vice-President within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
3. Second Vice-President
Second Vice-President shall be a regular member of GHID and shall serve as a liaison with the Def Community and shall assist in the educational programs of the Deaf Community via agencies working with the Deaf Community as well as the Deaf themselves and shall report such activities to the Executive Board and the General membership. The outgoing Second Vice-President shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Second Vice-President within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
4. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep accurate records of the proceedings of all meetings of GHID, including the Executive Board; shall conduct all correspondence of GHID (and shall issue notices of meetings as directed by the President/Executive Board). The Secretary shall be responsible for sending the GHID Chapter reports to the TSID InterpreTexan on a regular basis. The outgoing Secretary shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Secretary within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
5. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive, deposit, and disperse all monies; and bills shall be approved by the President and/or Executive Board before payment; all drafts shall be signed by the treasurer and co-signed by the President and/or a designated member. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all monetary transactions. The Treasurer shall present his/her records to the Audit Committee at the end of a fiscal year prior to GHID’s Annual Meeting, upon request by the President and/or Executive Board, and/or upon termination of office. The outgoing Treasurer shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Treasurer within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
6. Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall rule on questions involving parliamentary procedure; shall be the liaison to the Nominations Committee; shall be responsible for all voting by ballot, show of hands, and other methods of voting. The Parliamentarian shall chair the Bylaws Committee in regards to the Constitution/Bylaws. The outgoing Parliamentarian shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Parliamentarian within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
7. Membership Chairperson
Shall be responsible for keeping the membership list current, mailing out notices for membership dues, recruit new members and process applications for membership, verify members and their voting status at General Meetings and furnish the Board with current membership lists. The outgoing Membership Chairperson shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Membership Chairperson within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
8. Professional Development Chairperson
Shall be responsible for the planning of workshops, and speakers of special meetings. The outgoing Professional Development Chairperson shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Professional Development Chairperson within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
9. Chapter Representative
GHID’s Chapter Representative to the TSID Board shall be required to attend at least three (3) TSID Board Meetings in order for GHID to remain in good standing as a local chapter of TSID according to Article V of the TSID By-Laws. GHID Chapter Representative shall vote on behalf of GHID; report to GHID any issues discussed on the State level; report to GHID any information disseminated at the TSID Executive Board meetings; inform the TSID Executive Board of GHID’s needs; act as liaison between TSID and GHID; assist in maintaining cooperation and affiliation between GHID and TSID. GHID’s Chapter representative also must hold current regular membership in RID. The Chapter Representative to TSID will be required to file an annual written report as well as a financial statement to TSID at the appointed times. This position shall preferably be held by any person holding another office in GHID, but can be an individual not holding another office. The outgoing Chapter Representative shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Chapter Representative within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
10. Student Liaison
Shall be responsible for communicating GHID programs and promoting membership among students of various area interpreting programs including but not limited to Houston Community College System, Lee College of Baytown, North Harris Community College, and local area agencies’ classes. The outgoing Student Liaison shall also be required to transfer all data material (such as board manuals, policy/procedures manuals) as well as provide training to the incoming Student Liaison within forty-five (45) days following termination of office.
B. Vacancies in Office:
1. Vacancies in office, due to death, resignation, or other causes, other than that of the President, shall be filled by the Executive Board.
2. Resignations shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board and shall not require a vote of acceptance.
3. Should a member of the Executive Board fail to perform the duties as outlined in these Constitutions/Bylaws, such a member may be replace by action of the Executive Board.
4. Officers are required to attend seventy-five percent (75%) of all membership and Executive Board meetings. Failure to comply with this shall be basis for replacement by action of the Executive Board. Proxies do not constitute attendance.
5. The outgoing officers shall be required to transfer all data and materials of the office in which they held, to the incoming officer within fifteen (15) days following termination of office.
6. The outgoing President may serve one year as Immediate Past President of GHID, will not have voting privileges on the Executive Board, but may conduct the business meetings of both the Executive Board and the General meetings in the absence of both President and First Vice-President; may serve as an Ex-Officio member to the Executive Board and/or committees.
C. Eligibility for Office:
A person may be eligible for nomination and/or election to office provided he/she has been a Certified or Associate member in good standing with GHID for at least nine months prior to elections; must hold Certified or Associate membership with TSID or be willing to join the appropriate membership category with TSID upon election to office.
Eligibility for nomination and/or election to the office of Student Liaison may consist of nine (9) months membership with GHID in any membership category, but must be willing to join the appropriate membership category with GHID and TSID upon election of office.
D. Election of Office:
1. Election of officers shall take place at GHID’s General meeting in May.
2. Voting privileges for elections shall be restricted to Certified, Associate, and Lifetime members in good standing.
3. Officers shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, term of office to be July 1 through June 30, or beginning and ending with the installation of Officers at the General Meeting during the month of May.
President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Educational Chairperson and Student Liaison shall be elected on even years. First Vice-President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, Membership Chairperson and Chapter Representative to TSID shall be elected on odd years.
4. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate for elective officer positions. Other Nominations may be made from the floor, provided the person nominated has been asked, is eligible to serve and is willing to serve.
5. Voting shall be done by the ballot unless there is only one (1) candidate for the office in which that office will be filled by acclamation.
6. A simple majority of those present and voting is required for election.
7. Only one office may be held by an Executive Board member with the exception of the TSID Representative. If an individual holds the TSID Representative office and also holds another office on the Executive Board, that individual is allowed only one vote at the Executive Board meetings.
ARTICLE V
GHID shall have the following select committees and may establish other select committees as needed. If the membership does not name a chairperson for slect committees, the President and/or the Executive Board shall appoint the Chairperson of each committee.
A. Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee shall consist of at least three individuals from the membership with the Parliamentarian as the Executive Board liaison to the committee. The Executive Board shall appoint this committee.
B. Audit Committee
Audit Committee shall consist of at least four individuals to annually audit the books of the Treasurer. This committee can consist of volunteer individuals that are not members of GHID, but are in the profession of accounting/bookkeeping. An Executive Board member (with the exception of the Treasurer) shall be appointed during the month of August to chair this committee.
C. Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee shall consist of at least three individuals with the Parliamentarian as the Chairperson. This committee will address Constitution/Bylaws revisions as they are submitted to the Board/Membership. The Chairperson may appoint the members of the committee as needed.
D. Finance Committee
The Finance Committee shall be chaired by a member appointed by the President and/or the Executive Board. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for investigation and acquiring ongoing financial support for GHID. The Chairperson may appoint members and non-members to serve on this committee. The Executive Board liaison to the committee shall be the Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI
A. The Executive Board with approval of the membership shall designate membership dues for all members of GHID.
B. Dues paid shall be applied to the membership year in which they are applying.
C. To vote at GHID’s General Meeting in which election of officers are held in May, dues must be paid thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
These Bylaws may be amended at any called or stated general meeting by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present and voting, provided the proposed amendment is presented to the membership for study and review fourteen (14) days prior to a vote.
In the event GHID is unable to convene at the stated or called general meeting, a mailing of the proposed amendment shall be sent to each voting member who shall vote, sign and return the ballot to the Executive Board. The ballots shall be tabulated by the Executive Board or a Special Committee. The membership shall be notified of the final result of the voting. All ballots shall be maintained on file for one (1) year and shall be open to inspection upon request by any member in good standing. Ballot response must be received within a thirty (30) day period, with seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting members responding, and two-thirds (2/3) vote in favor will adopt the proposed amendment or two-thirds (2/3) vote against will defeat the proposed amendment.
Proposals of amendments to the Bylaws for mail ballot vote must be in writing and signed by ten (10) or more members in good standing, presented to the Executive Board for study, or proposed by the Executive Board prior to dissemination.
These Bylaws are effective as of May 01, 1989.
Amended as of January 26, 1990
Amended as of January 11, 1991
Amended as of September 13, 1991
Amended as of November 08, 1991
Amended as of May 08, and July 10, 1992
Amended as of May 31, 2003