Bylaws

Article I. Name and location
Name:
This organization shall be known and designated as the Greater Seattle Club of the Deaf aka GSCD.

Location:
This organization shall serve the Greater Seattle area and the following surrounding cities and towns of
Washington State.

Article II. Mission and Purpose
To advocate for, share knowledge with, and serve as a resource to individuals & Deaf
community groups, and the GSCD body.

The GSCD is to act in the best interest of the people in the following ways, including, but not limited to:
" Serving as liaison between the GSCD and the Deaf community.
" Promoting Deaf community through effective leadership and sport activities.
" Providing Deaf community with the opportunity to have access to activities critical to
"cultural experience"

Article III. Memberships and Benefits
1. Membership and benefits for regulars, youths and senior citizens.
2. Voice and vote privileges.
3. Right to serve in office with provisions as set forth in Article IV of these bylaws.
4. Right to chair any committee.
5. Discounted memberships to GSCD events.
6. Youths shall be between ages 18 - 25 years with proof of picture identification.
7. Youths between the ages of 16 - 18 shall have written permission from parents to play sport.
8. Senior citizens shall be 60 years of age and over with proof of picture identification.

Membership dues:
1. Members shall pay their dues anytime and their membership will start automatically.
2. Membership dues shall be U.S. funds annually.

Membership list:
1. The GSCD membership list shall be kept in confidentiality.
2. In no case shall an officer give out any members' addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses except in
cases whereas.
3. The member shall give permission in writing to the officers to disclose information to other member of
GSCD and members of other sports affiliated organizations who may request it.

Article IV. Executive Board
1. The Officers of the organization shall consist of four [4] persons who shall serve President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties as described in Article V of the Bylaws.
2. The officers are subordinate to the organization and will abide by these bylaws.
3. The positions of the Executive Board shall be filled by active members in good standing after one [1] year.

Terms of Officers:
1. Each officer shall be elected to a two [2] years term.
2. Officers shall not serve more than three [3] consecutive terms in the same position.
3. No officer shall hold more than one [1] office.

Removal from Office:
Two [2] unexcused absences from general meeting will result in removal from the office.
a) The other officers shall send a written notice to any officer who has missed two [2] meetings.
b) Any officer who had been removed may appeal the decision at the next general meeting.
c) The members may vote on whether to overturn the officer's removal or not.
d) If no motion is made, the removal will be accepted as an official decision.

An officer may be removed from office due to:
a) A failure or inability to perform duties outlined in Article V in these bylaws.
b) An intentional criminal act performed while in office, with evidence[s] provided.
c) Any other reason as determined necessary by the members.
d) Removal of an officer shall require a two-thirds [2/3] vote by secret ballot at a general business meeting.

Vacancies:
1. When the position of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant, the Executive Board shall
immediately appoint a member to serve as an Acting officer.
2. This selected Acting officer must be approved by a majority of members during the next business meeting.
3. If the Acting officer is appointed prior to next business meeting when the election for that position is held,
the term for this Acting officer will end at that meeting.

Article V. Duties of officers
President
The President shall:
1. Acquire a working knowledge of parliamentary procedures and thorough understanding of the
organization's bylaws and standing rules.
2. Preside and maintain order during business/emergency meetings.
3. Appoint committee chairperson and assist in recruiting committee's participants.
4. Keep informed and assist in supplying current news and information related to the community and reports
on sport activities to members
5. Countersign all checks drawn on GSCD's accounts to the Treasurer.
6. Appoint two [2] persons to audit and members to review all financial information for reporting to and
approval by the membership at every business meeting.
7. Keep in close touch and work along with the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and committees.
8. Shall submit copies of any business correspondence to the Secretary for record keeping.
9. Elect or appoint a webmaster for the GSCD website [www.gscdsite.org]
10. Shall appoint a parliamentarian for every general business meeting.

Vice President
The Vice President shall:
1. Preside and main the duties in business/emergency meetings in the absence of the President.
2. Automatically become President upon resignation, impeachment or death of the President.
3. Work closely and provide assistance to the President.
4. Chair bylaws committee.
5. Update and submit the bylaws to Executive Board for feedback and approval within thirty [30] days after
the business meeting.

Secretary
The Secretary shall:
1. Keep members at business meeting informed of various newsletter, documents, publicity and
correspondence.
2. Record the minutes of meetings - regular, officers' and emergency meetings.
3. Type and submit the minutes to Executive Board for feedback and approval within thirty [30] days after
the business meeting.
4. Preside at business meeting in the absence of both the President and Vice President.
5. Appoint, if desired, an assistant with approval of the majority of members for the minutes.
6. Maintain the membership list of all officers and members.
7. Keep all documents, publicity, and correspondence on file.
8. Maintain and update the inventory list of GSCD property by every business meeting.

Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
1. Maintain a membership list, to be used exclusively by the officers.
2. Receive all GSCD funds in U.S. dollars for deposit in an American bank.
3. Give a statement of financial reports [all income, expenses, transactions, and balances, including petty
accounts] and bank statements at every business meetings and at officers' meetings as request by the officers.
4. Prepare annual audited financial report and bank statement to the approval by the Board and the
membership at the end-of-year general business meeting.
5. Have authority, when in doubt, to refuse any budget request unless both the President and the Vice
President sign request.
6. Keep all cancelled checks, receipts, and other financial-related papers on file.
7. In the absence of Treasurer, s/he shall submit financial reports and bank statement to one of the officers
prior to the business meetings.

Article VI. Athletic Coordinator
1. Athletic Coordinator must be a current outstanding member of GSCD.
2. Athletic Coordinator shall be elected with a majority vote from members at the business meeting every odd
year.
3. Athletic Coordinator shall coordinate sport activities - softball and basketball as well as other sports.
4. Athletic Coordinator can serve for an unlimited term.

Article VII. Events Coordinator
1. Events Coordinator must be a current outstanding member of GSCD.
2. Events Coordinator shall be elected with a majority vote from members at the business meeting every even
year.
3. Events Coordinator shall coordinate social and educational events and recreational activities.
4. Events Coordinator can serve for an unlimited term.

Article VIII. Committees
1. Any committees, standing or ad hoc, shall be developed under the supervision of the officers to whom the
chairperson shall report.
2. Each chairperson or coordinator shall oversee his/her immediate committee.
3. Committee chairperson may be an officer or a regular member.
4. Committee chairperson shall submit the final report activities with signatures and dates of auditors and
finances to the President within sixty [60] days after the event.

Article IX. Elections
1. President, Secretary and Athletic Coordinator shall be elected during odd-numbered years.
2. Vice President, Treasurer and Events Coordinator shall be elected during even-numbered years.

Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates for office must be regular members in good standing with GSCD after one [1] year.

Election Process:
1. Members must cast their votes by secret ballot.
2. Members must be present to vote. There shall be no voting by proxy.
3. Each candidate shall be elected on an individual basis.

Oath:
1. The oath shall occur after the business meeting.
2. The oath shall be administered by the President, retiring President or other honorary member in good
standing. [Oath statement can be found on last page of these bylaws.]
3. The new officers shall begin her/his term immediately after an oath.

[GSCD's Officers' Oath at Elections:
(Officers' names), please rise and approach.
You have been elected [president/secretary or vice president/treasurer] of the Greater Seattle Club of the
Deaf. It will be your duty to abide by the bylaws, and to function in every respect as an officer. You will guide
the officers in developing the chapter's goals and objectives. You will become familiar with Roberts Rules of
Order, and with GSCD and its by-laws. (Officers' names), you should at all times be watchful for activities,
projects and programs which could benefit your organization and its members as a whole. Ultimately, the
success of this organization rests in your hands.

(Officers' names), do you agree to abide by GSCD and its by-laws and to adhere to its Code of Ethics?
(Answer "I do.") Please raise your right hand and take the oath of office.

REPEAT AFTER ME: In the presence of honored guests and the members here assembled, (repeat)
" I, (each officer's name), do solemnly promise and pledge (repeat)
" to faithfully execute the duties of president/secretary or vice president/treasurer of Greater Seattle Club of
the Deaf (repeat)
" to the best of my knowledge and ability, (repeat),
" to commit myself to the GSCD's Code of Ethics (repeat)
" and to further the goals and objectives of this organization. (repeat.)
On behalf of the Greater Seattle Club of the Deaf, I hereby install you as an officer of GSCD.
Congratulations.]

Article X. Meetings
1. General business meetings shall be held every 3 months quarterly or four [4] times a year.
2. End-of-the-year general business meeting shall have elections.

Quorum:
1. Presences 10 or more members shall constitute a quorum for the general business meeting provided that
two [2] or more officers are present.
2. If presences of less than 10 members and/or one [1] officer are present, the business meeting shall be
informal and there will not be any vote taking its place.
3. For special meetings, there shall be presences 10 or more members and two [2] officers.

Special Meeting:
A written notice shall be sent to members a special meeting will be conducted at least ten [10] days in
advance.

Order of business:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Announcements
5. Officers' Reports
a) President
b) Vice President
c) Secretary
d) Treasurer
6. Report of Athletic Coordinator
7. Report of Events Coordinator
8. Webmaster Report
9. Reports of Committees
10. Old Business
11. New Business
12. Election of Officers
13. Oath of New Officers
14. Adjournment

Article XI. Parliamentary Authority
The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority on all matters not covered
by these bylaws.

Article XII. Revisions to Bylaws
1. New revisions to the bylaws must be mailed to the members no later than forty-five [45] days prior to the
end-of-year business meeting.
2. Any member with suggested revision must be acknowledged by the Vice President at any business
meetings.
3. Any changes or amendments to the bylaws must be presented by the Vice President and approved by a
two-thirds [2/3] majority of members present at business meeting.
4. The suspension of the bylaws is prohibited.

Article XIII. Affiliations
1. As an independent organization, GSCD shall be affiliated with other organizations as seen fit and worthy
by its members through recommendations of the officers.
2. Affiliation with a certain organization shall be approved and voted by members.

Article XIV. Funds
Fiscal Year:
The organization's fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31 of a calendar year.

Bank Account:
The GSCD funds shall be deposited in a separate bank account from an account the Treasurer keeps her/his
personal funds. The bank account shall be located in Washington State.

Checks:
1. The President shall approve any withdrawals in writing.
2. Checks shall be signed by both the Treasurer and the President.
3. If the President is not available to sign the check, the Vice President shall sign the check.
4. For any financial expenditure that is amounted five hundred dollars [$500.00] or more that urgently need
immediate or exceptional attention or situation, the Executive Board must approve its withdrawal in writing
without the members' votes for permission/approval.
***This financial expenditure request is limited to one per quarter (3 months). ***
[See Standing Rules for "Restrictions for Executive Board"]

Article XV. Disciplinary Action
The Executive Board may discipline a member by reprimand, suspend, reduce or terminate the membership
privileges.

Grounds for Disciplinary Action:
The Executive Board may discipline a member by a majority vote for one or more of the following:
a) Treat other member and officers without respect, courtesy and/or fairness
b) Disrespect GSCD mission, policies and regulations
c) Wrongful use of GSCD organization as a representative outside of GSCD
d) Inappropriate unsafe and/or illegal behavior/conducts and acts made which pose as a threat to members,
officers and communities

Process for Disciplinary Action:
1. A complaint may be made in writing [letter or email] or videotape to the President and Secretary.
2. A request for disciplinary action meeting may be made in writing [letter or email] or videotaped to the
President and Secretary.
3. The Executive Board must complete the review and investigate the complaint within thirty [30] days upon
the date of the receipt of the complaint prior to an informal meeting to discuss which action to take.
4. The Executive Board may write a letter of reprimand to a member the board finds that said member's
conduct inappropriate to well-being and mission of GSCD.

Member's Appeal Rights:

Article XVI. Dissolution
In the event of GSCD's dissolution, its fund after paying all debts shall be given to names of non-profit
agencies that serve Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing communities. The names must be approved and
voted by members during the final closure business meeting.