CONSTITUTION

OF THE

INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC DEAF ASSOCIATION, INC.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SECTION

(RATIFIED 10 JULY 1991)

ARTICLE 1 - NAME

Section 1: The name of the organization shall be the International Catholic Deaf Association, Inc. (ICDA),

United States of America Section, hereafter referred to as the ICDA-US.

ARTICLE 11 - ORGANIZATION

Section 1: The ICDA-US shall be a federation of cooperating local chapters.

ARTICLE III - HOME OFFICE

Section 1: A home office in the USA shall serve as the ICDA-US headquarters.

ARTICLE IV - OBJECTS AND PURPOSES

The objects and purposes of the ICDA-US shall be as follows:

Section 1: To promote cultural, spiritual and social union among deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholic throughout the United States of America;

Section 2: To promote the teachings and principles of the Catholic faith among deaf and hard-of-hearing people;

Section 3: To engage in all good works pertaining to the educational, social, and moral advancement of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons;

Section 4: To provide accurate information to the public, concerning deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholic;

Section 5: To provide for the exchange of ideas and information among the Chapters of the ICDA-US;

Section 6: To carry on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the ICDA-US shall be used in promoting it objects; and

Section 7: To recognize all people as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: The ICDA-US shall be a membership association with four (4) classifications: Active, Associate, Honorary, and Junior.

(A) ACTIVE Members shall be:

(1) Deaf or Hard of Hearing practicing Catholics;

(2) Those hearing, deaf, or hard-of-hearing religious or lay pastoral workers devoted to with the Deaf or;

(3) A Catholic hearing spouse of a deaf and hard of hearing member.

(B) ASSOCIATE Members shall be:

(1) Hearing persons who have any active interest in the Chapter’s social, educational, or spiritual welfare of deaf and hard-of-hearing;

(C) HONORARY Members shall be awarded Life Membership and criteria for the membership shall be conferred by the ICDA-US Board of Directors;

(D) JUNIOR Members shall consist of young deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. Age and criteria for their admission shall be decided by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The right to vote and hold office is limited to Active Members.

Section 3: The dues shall be based on three (3) categories: INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND LIFE. Dues and criteria for payments for all memberships shall be decided by the ICDA-US Board of Directors.

(A) INDIVIDUAL dues are paid annually by individuals or married couples to the ICDA-US Treasurer.

(B) GROUP dues are paid annually by Chapters to the ICDA-US Treasurer.

(1) Are paid once for life by any person who is eligible for individual or Group membership to the ICDA-US Treasurer.

(2) Upon submission, through the ICDA-US, the ICDA will assign a Life Member number.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The governing body of the ICDA-US shall consist of six (6) elected directors, also called officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, and the immediate Past-President. The governing body shall be known as the Board of Directors.

Section 2: All officers, except the immediate Past-President, shall be elected by ballot at the Conference of the ICDA-US.

Section 3: The President and Vice-President shall be limited to two (2) consecutive terms of four (4) years each term. No such limitation shall apply to the other directors of the ICDA-US.

Section 4: The officers shall assume their duties on the first day of the month following their election. They shall hold their office until their respective successors have assumed their duties on the first day of the month following election, or vacated for just cause.

Section 5: The Board of Directors shall have control of the policies and business affairs of the ICDA-US.

Section 6: Four (4) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 7: Any officer’s term may be terminated for just cause by unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Board.

Section 8: In event of a vacancy occurring in elective office of the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer or Chaplain, the Board of Directors shall immediately fill the position until the next election. The office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President in case of vacancy.

ARTICLE VII - CHAPTERS

Section 1: The local Chapter shall become chartered by the ICDA-US upon submission of an application approved by the Board of Directors and with approval of ICDA will be issued its Chapter number by the ICDA (International Council).

Section 2: Local chapters shall be assigned to regions following criteria approved by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS

Section 1: For the purpose of transacting the business of ICDA-US, a general conference shall be held at least every two (2) years.

Section 2: (A) Each Chapter shall have official representation at such conference by a duly elected delegate and by the moderator of the Chapter.

(B) Each region shall have official representation at such conference by a duly elected representative.

Section 3: Twenty-five (25) delegates, moderators, and regional representatives shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the general conference.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Section 1: The Constitution of the ICDA-US may be amended at the conference by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at the General Assembly.

Section 2: Amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least sixty (60) days prior to the conference.

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION

Section 1: Upon dissolution, the ICDA-US shall donate its net assets to such deaf religious, charitable, or educational organizations or entities exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, of the United States of America, as a majority of the Board of Directors may determine.

Section 2: During the life-time of the ICDA-US and upon its dissolution, only those donees which qualify under the regulation of the local national government will be considered as recipients of its funds or assets.