ICDA-US BY-LAWS
(Adopted 10 July 1993)
ARTICLE I - CHAPTERS
Section 1: The ICDA-US shall have a
Chapter system and function as a Chapter system and a representative form of
government.
Section 2: CHARTERS.
(A) A Catholic organization of
the Deaf, must apply for a charter, to become a Chapter of the ICDA-US
(B) There shall be a fee,
determined by the Board of Directors, in order to obtain a charter.
(C) Application for a Charter
shall be granted to any Catholic deaf organization following the criteria set
in these ICDA-US By-Laws.
Section 3: ESTABLISHMENT AND
SUPPRESSION.
(A)
All Chapters are expected to follow generally accepted rules of conduct
in their establishment and business procedures.
(B)
A Chapter may be suspended, by 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors, for
proven failure to abide by the ICDA-US Constitution and By-Laws. After sixty (60) days notice of suspension,
the Charter shall be revoked if the Chapter still refuses to abide by the
Constitution and By-Laws.
(C)
No Chapter, rendered inactive, shall have its Charter revoked until ten
(10) years of such inactivity have passed.
Charter revocation requires a 2/3 vote by the Board of Directors.
Section 4: CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP.
(A)
There shall be no limitation to the number of Chapter members.
(B)
Every Chapter must be organized by and made up of ICDA-US “Active
Members” as defined in
Article V of the Constitution.
Section 5: MEMBERSHIP ROLLS.
(A)
Chapter secretaries shall provide the names and addresses of the newly
elected officers to the ICDA-US Secretary within thirty (30) days after the
election.
(B)
They shall keep an up-to-date list of all members of their Chapter.
Section 6: CHAPTER OFFICERS.
(A)
All the candidates for office in a Chapter must be active members of the
ICDA-US for at least twelve (12) consecutive months to be eligible. Newly Established Chapters are exempt from
this rule.
(B)
Each Chapter shall have officers, including a President, Secretary,
Treasurer or any combination according to need, except that the President and
Treasurer may not be the same person.
Officers must be elected membership from the general membership of the
Chapter.
Section 7: MODERATORS.
(A)
The Moderator is the person who coordinates, advises, animates and
encourages the spiritual growth of the Members.
(B)
The Moderator or Assistant Moderator should attend all conferences of the ICDA-US, as well as
regional conferences.
Section 8: CONFERENCE
REPRESENTATION.
(A) Each
Chapter shall elect and send a Delegate along with its Moderator or Assistant
Moderator to the Conference. The Delegate shall have been an “Active Member” of
ICDA-US for one year to be eligible and must be a faithful Catholic.
(B)
Election of Delegates shall be held any time in the months between
January and April, at the discretion of the Chapter. An alternate may be elected if desired. Delegates and Alternates shall be elected by
ICDA-US members in good standing.
(C)
Chapter secretaries shall send the name of the Delegates, Alternate, and
Moderator or Assistant Moderator to the ICDA-US Secretary on or before April 30
of the Conference year. Each Delegate shall bring a letter of
verification signed by the local Chapter Secretary and Moderator.
(D)
Each Chapter is encouraged to send participants to the Conferences.
Section 9: Any Chapter, subject to the
criteria established by the Board of Directors, may establish a Junior Branch
of the ICDA-US.
Section 10: All official correspondence
between the Chapters and the ICDA-US Board shall have the approval of the
Chapter President, Secretary, and Moderator.
If there is no Moderator, approval shall only be required of the Chapter
President and Secretary.
Section 1: The ICDA-US shall be divided geographically
into six Regions: West,
Section 2: REGION OFFICERS.
(A)
Each Region shall have officers elected by a Delegate and Moderator from
each local Chapter.
(B)
Term of office shall be determined by the Region.
(C) A
Region shall select a regional chaplain.
Section 3: REGION OFFICERS’ DUTIES. The
duties of the regional officers shall be:
(A)
To forward all reports and minutes of regional activities to the ICDA-US
Vice President;
(B)
To ensure that the local Chapters in the Region conform to the
Constitution and By-Laws of the ICDA-US and carry out the directives of the
ICDA-US Board of Directors;
(C)
To ensure that the Region remains in good standing with the ICDA-US;
(D)
To plan and direct regional meetings and workshops for the benefit of
all regional officers and members. They
shall consult Chapter Presidents and Moderators in their planning. At Chapter meetings they shall take their
place alongside the local officers;
(E)
To inform the ICDA-US Secretary of the names of the elected Regional
officers within thirty days of the election;
(F)
And to encourage donations annually to the ICDA-US.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS’ DUTIES
Section 1: The PRESIDENT shall
preside at all meetings of the ICDA-US; appoint special committees; act as an
ex- officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee; and
authorized the use of the ICDA-US emblem or title to be used on printed matter
or publications.
Section 2: The VICE-PRESIDENT
shall preside in the absence of the President at all meetings of the ICDA-US;
performs duties assigned by the President or Board of Directors; receive all
reports and minutes of regional meetings and distribute them to the Board
members; and shall chair the Public Relations Committee.
Section 3: The SECRETARY shall
keep the records of the ICDA-US and minutes of all the meetings; in the absence
of the President and Vice-President,
shall call the meeting to order and preside until a temporary chairperson is
chosen for the meeting; send out notices for all meetings; conduct
correspondence for the ICDA-US as required; submit a summary of the proceedings
of the Business Conference to
the Editor of the Deaf Catholic for publication in the first
issue following the Conference;
and issue Life Membership cards and Certificates.
Section 4:
The TREASURER
shall receive and disburse all funds of the ICDA-US; have custody of all deeds
and other evidence of property belonging to the ICDA-US; be bonded; collect
group membership dues from and issue Group Membership cards to Chapter
secretaries; prepare a monthly financial statement for the Board of Directors;
arrange for the audit of all financial records; collect individual Membership
dues and issue membership cards; and
chair a Membership Committee to
promote increased membership in the ICDA-US.
Section 5: The CHAPLAIN shall
ensure that all meetings open and close with prayer; shall be consulted on matters
of religion and Church policy; shall maintain ongoing communication with
regional chaplains; shall serve as director of the ICDA-US Mission Fund, and shall appoint a Mission Fund
co-chairperson with the approval of the Board of Directors..
Section 6: The immediate PAST PRESIDENT shall attend all meetings of the
ICDA-US; shall serve as the chair- person of the Laws Committee and Nominating
Committee; and shall provide advice for the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV - APPOINTED OFFICERS
Section 1 (A)
All appointed officers shall be subject to instruction from the Board of
Directors, shall make recommendations and report to
the Board.
(B)
All appointed officers’ terms expire following the biennial elections of
the ICDA-US.
Section 2: Appointed officers shall
include the Editor of The DEAF CATHOLIC, the Junior ICDA
Chairperson, two (2) ICDA Executive Council representatives, and a
representative to the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Office for
the Deaf (NCOD).
Section 3: (A)
The ICDA-US shall be responsible for any financial support, as needed,
for the Appointed Officers.
(B)
Upon the request of the Appointed Officers, ICDA-US may fund for special
needs for the Appointed Officers.
ARTICLE V - OFFICAL PUBLICATION
Section 1: The ICDA-US shall provide a
publication issued bi-monthly, except July and August, officially known as The
DEAF CATHOLIC. The Board of
Directors shall be responsible for its publication and editorial policy.
Section 2: EDITOR.
(A) The
Board shall select the Editor who must be an “Active Member” of the ICDA-US.
(B)
The Board reserves the right to dismiss the Editor for sufficient
reason.
(C)
The Editor is required to provide sixty days (60) written notice to the
President prior to resignation from the post.
(D)
The Editor shall receive an honorarium payable at the end of the fiscal
year as determined by the Board
Section 3: The Editor, after
consultation with the President, may name a business manager to handle the
printing, mailing, advertisement solicitation, and other matters pertaining to
publication.
ARTICLE VI - STANDING COMMITTEE
Section 1: (A) All standing committee chairperson shall be
appointed by and serve for a time fixed by the Board.
(B)
Their term shall expire following the biennial elections of ICDA-US
officers.
Section 2: JUNIOR ICDA-US. This committee shall promote a variety of
interests among young people including religious, social, and recreational
(including athletics). The chairperson
and two other members shall supervise the establishment of Junior
units, stimulate their growth and make recommendations to the Board of
Directors.
Section 3: MEMBERSHIP. The committee is chaired by the Treasurer
and includes two other active members.
The committee shall take steps to increase the number of members of the
ICDA-US and keep an updated list of all members.
Section 4: PUBLIC RELATIONS. This committee shall be chaired by the
Vice-President and include two other active members. The committee shall handle publicity and
public relations matters for the ICDA-US.
Section 5: NOMINATING. This committee shall be chaired by the
immediate Past-President and include four other active members. This committee will ensure that chapters
submit names of nominees to the chairperson by April 30th of the election year,
verify the nominee meets qualifications set by the Constitution and
By-Laws. Receive the consent of each candidate, obtain a written biographical
sketch from each and send it to each Chapter by June 1 of the elections’ year,
announce the slate of candidates, and prepare for and conduct the elections
during the business conference.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS’ EXPENSES
Section 1: CONFERENCE. The host Chapter and the treasury of the
ICDA-US shall share equally in the payment of conference expenses for the ICDA-US Board of Directors. Such expenses shall be limited to
direct-route round trip travel by economy class train or plane, lodging during
the Conference week; and a combo
ticket. The Board of Directors shall be
understood to be those listed in the Constitution, Article VI, Section 1.
Section 2: REGIONAL CONFERENCES. Any officer of the ICDA-US chosen to attend
a regional conference by the President shall be paid appropriate travel
expenses and one night’s lodging from the ICDA-US Treasury.
Section 3: OTHER COMPENSATION. The compensation of anyone performing
special services under the direction of the President shall be set by the
Budget Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - MEMBERSHIP DUES
Section 1: All membership dues shall
be at a rate determined by the Board of Directors and approved by a General
Assembly of a Business Conference.
Section 2: GROUP
MEMBERSHIP.
(A) Annual
group membership assessments are to be charged to each Chapter according to the
number of members in the Chapter.
(B)
Life members are not counted in calculating Group membership fees.
Section 3: INDIVIDUAL
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP.
(A)
Individual annual membership dues shall be paid through the Chapter
treasurer or directly to the ICDA-US Treasurer.
(B)
In addition to ICDA-US membership dues, each Chapter may decide upon its
own Chapter membership dues.
(C)
The ICDA-US Treasurer shall ensure that the local Chapter may decide
upon its own Chapter membership dues directly to him/her.
(D)
Annual membership dues are payable on January 1st.
Section 4: LIFE MEMBERSHIP. Requires a one-time fee
payable in total or by installments of a four year period. Life membership dues fees shall not be
refunded.
Section 5: SUBSCRIPTION
FEES.
(A)
Subscription fees for The DEAF CATHOLIC are included in
the dues, except for non-members and Honorary members.
(B)
The subscription fees shall be at a rate determined by the Board of
Directors.
Section 6: Failure to pay dues shall
result in the exclusion of the member’s name from the membership list sixty
(60) days after the expiration of the membership.
ARTICLE IX - THE MISSION FUND
Section 1:
(A) The ICDA-US shall have a
fund to be known as the ICDA-US Mission Fund.
(B)
The Mission Fund supports missions, retreats, and catechism classes,
whenever needed. It is supported by
voluntary contributions.
(C)
The Board of Directors shall establish policies for the disbursement of
donations.
Section 2: FUNDING.
(A)
The Chaplain shall mail letters of solicitation of funds annually.
(B)
Each Chapter shall be urged to hold fund-raising events for the Mission
Fund.
(C)
A perpetual prayer enrollment in the ICDA-US for all deceased relatives
and friends shall be payable to the Mission Fund for an offering determined by
the Chaplain and approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 3: EXPENSES. All expenses of the Chaplain and
the Mission Fund co-chairperson incurred in connection with
Mission Fund money-raising ventures shall be defrayed by the
ARTICLE X - FISCAL
Section 1: The fiscal year of the ICDA-US shall be June 1 to May 31.
Section 2: AUDITS. All financial books of the ICDA-US shall
be audited annually before the convention by a certified public accountant
(CPA) or by an auditing committee who shall be selected by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE XI - CONFERENCES
Section 1: CONFERENCES.
(A)
The ICDA-US shall hold a biennial Conference at a time designated jointly by the Board of Directors
and the host Chapter’s conference committee.
(B)
The conference will
always be held during the month of July and, as far as is possible, shall start
on the second week of the month.
(C)
A Mass must be offered daily during the conference and Communion Service
or Prayer Service may
be offered anytime before or after
(D)
A Business/Workshop Conference
shall be held in odd numbered years.
Section 2: CONFERENCE BIDS.
(A)
Any Chapter desiring to bid for a conference must submit a letter to the ICDA-US Secretary at least
sixty (60) days prior to the start of the conference in which the bids will be voted upon.
(B)
Voting to accept a Chapter’s bid to host a Conference shall be held four years in advance of the conference in question. Voting shall be done at a General Assembly
during a Conference.
(C)
Upon acceptance of a host city, the chapter shall secure a letter of
approval from the Ordinary of the (Arch)Diocese. The letter must be sent to the ICDA-US
Secretary by the start of the next biennial Conference following the acceptance of the conference bid.
(D)
The Chapter that is selected as host for the Conference shall elect a chairperson from among the Chapter
members. The chairperson is to be a deaf
“Active Member” of the ICDA-US in good standing as defined in the Constitution
(Article V, Section 1),
Section 3: CONFERENCE
COMMITTEES. At the beginning of the conference the President shall appoint
the conference committees,
including: Audit (if needed), Budget, Credentials, Grievance, Laws,
Resolutions, and Sergeants-at-Arms. The
duties of the conference
committee are as follows:
(A) Audit
Committee: To examine the financial books of the ICDA-US and make a report
of their examination to the conference.
(B) Budget
Committee: To prepare a two year
budget for the ICDA-US. The committee
shall consist of three members aided by the services of the ICDA-US Treasurer.
(C) Credentials
Committee: To examine the
credentials of all delegates, alternate delegates, moderators, and regional
representatives and make a list of all who are entitled to be seated at the
closed sessions; to revise the list and reports changes at the beginning of
each session; and to check the membership cards of those attending the General
Assembly.
(D) Grievance
Committee: To accept grievances from the officers,
delegates, moderators, and regional representatives at the convention regarding
the meeting rooms, equipment, environment, etc.
The committee shall report when asked by the President.
(E)
Laws Committee: To study
proposed amendments to the ICDA-US Constitution and By-Laws, submitted prior to
the conference in accord with
the articles on amendments; to make recommendations regarding appropriate
amendments or to reject inappropriate amendments, and to provide reasons for
their recommendations or rejections.
The immediate Past President of ICDA-US shall be the chairperson of this
committee. Membership on this committee
shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall include the conference parliamentarian who has the
right to voice but not to vote.
(F)
Resolutions Committee: To
accept resolutions from members, Chapters, delegates, and moderators and to
study them for presentation to the conference. The committee may reword any resolution it
deems necessary. It shall then make its
recommendation to the conference.
(G)
Sergeants-at-Arms: To
assist the President in maintaining order and conducting business at the conference. Such duties may include, but not be limited
to: distributing papers or reports, collecting ballots or papers, etc.
Section 4: DURING
THE CONFERENCE:
(A)
There shall be at least three workshops and a total of at least six
hours of lectures or discussions directed to the spiritual, educational, and
cultural interests of deaf people. The
responsibility for the workshops will rest with a committee, including at least
one Moderator. This committee shall be
appointed by the Board of Directors.
(B)
The meetings of the General Assembly shall be limited to business only;
all lectures and workshops shall be held during the allotted times.
(C)
Time shall be allotted for a meeting of the professional Pastoral
Workers.
(D)
The conference
Parliamentarian shall be chosen by the President at least sixty (60) days prior
to the conference in order to
have sufficient time to review parliamentary procedures.
Section 5: GENERAL
ASSEMBLY:
(A)
All persons must present current membership cards when attending any
General Assembly in order to participate.
(B)
No motion accepted by the General Assembly shall be acted upon or become
official unless it is approved at the closed session of Officers, Delegates,
Moderators, and Regional Representatives.
Section 6: CLOSED
SESSIONS.
(A)
The Delegates, Moderators, and Regional Representatives shall have the
same privileges at closed sessions. The
Delegates and Moderators shall sit together during the conference sessions in numerical order of their Chapters.
(B)
No person, other than the ICDA-US Officers, Delegates, Moderators, and
Regional Representatives, shall have the privilege of the floor at closed
sessions, except by the unanimous consent of the conference.
Section 7: MODERATOR VOTES.
(A)
Only the Moderator or Assistant Moderator from a city that has a Chapter
shall vote at closed sessions. But when
two or more Chapters have the same Moderator, s/he shall be entitled to vote
for each Chapter, provided each Chapter has a Delegate present at the session.
(B)
Each Moderator shall have at least one vote irrespective of the number
of delegates.
Section 8: CONFERENCE REPORTS.
(A)
Reports to the business conference
by the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Past-President, and Chaplain shall
be presented to the Board prior to the conference,
as determined by the President.
(B)
These reports will be provided to all Delegates, Moderators, and
Regional Representatives at the conference.
Section 9: ELECTIONS FOR OFFICE.
(A)
The elections shall be held on Friday morning.
(B)
Candidates for any office must be present at the conference in order to run for office, except those who are
excused by the President because of extraordinary circumstances.
(C)
Only those “Active Members” of the ICDA-US who are in good standing may
be considered for office. All offices,
except that of Chaplain, must be filled by deaf persons.
(D)
The Chaplain shall be any Moderator or Assistant Moderator.
(E)
All Delegates, Moderators, elected ICDA-US Officers, and one Regional
Representative from each formerly established ICDA-US Region shall have the
right to vote.
(F)
The voting shall be by separate ballot for each office. A majority vote shall constitute an election.
Section 10: CONFERENCE
FINANCES.
(A)
Fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds from the conference shall be turned over to the ICDA-US Treasurer within sixty (60) days
after the close of the conference. If a loss is incurred by the conference, the loss shall be divided
on a 50/50 basis between the ICDA-US and the host Chapter.
(B) The business conference registration fee for students who are children of
active ICDA members, having reached their twelfth but not their eighteenth
birthday, shall be at a reduced rate.
Those who are under the age of 12 shall be admitted free.
Section 11: YOUTH PROGRAM. The host chapter conference committee should attempt to
provide special events for students at reduced prices.
Section 12: SIGN LANGUAGE. All members who take the floor at meetings,
or are called upon to speak at social functions of a conference, shall use signs for the benefits of all. They may use an interpreter for this
purpose. American Sign Language (ASL)
shall be recognized as the language used at all ICDA-US meetings.
ARTICLE XII - ORDER OF BUSINESS
Section 1: The following shall be the order of business for meetings.
1. Invocation
2. Roll Call of Delegates and
Moderators
3. Approval of the Minutes
4. Communications
5. Reports of Officers
6. Reports of Committees
7. Amendments to the Constitution
and By Laws
8. Nominations and election
of conference city (via bids)
9. Nominations and election
of officers
10. New Business
11. Announcements
12. Invocation
13. Adjournment
ARTICLE XIII - MISCELLANY
Section 1: The ICDA-US shall be given credit for any
program operated under its auspices, even though funds are donated by other
organizations.
Section 2: AFFILIATIONS. The ICDA-US shall affiliate with the
following groups:
(A)
The National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD).
(B)
(C)
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD).
Section 3: LIABILITY. ICDA-US shall not be liable for any
accident, resulting in any injury or death to any person participating in the ICDA-US
affairs or events. All registrants
participate at their own risk.
ARTICLE XIV – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1: Robert’s
Rules of Order shall be
the authority on questions of procedures for ICDA-US meetings not covered by
the Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE XV - AMENDMENTS
Section 1:
Proposed amendments to the By-Laws are to be sent to the ICDA-US
Secretary sixty (60) days prior to the start of the Business Conference. The Secretary shall then send the proposed
amendments to each Chapter prior to the conference.
Section 2: The By-Laws may be amended
by two-thirds vote of the members present at the General Assembly of a Business
Conference.