Bylaws
Georgia Guide Dog Users
Georgia Guide Dog Users
Bylaws
Georgia Guide Dog Users
Adopted December 1, 2011
Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be Georgia Guide Dog Users, herein to be referred to as GGDU.
Article II. Purposes
The purposes of GGDU shall be, but are not limited to:
A. Promoting the acceptance of blind people with guide dogs by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, those doing business with the general public, and by the general public.
B. Working for the standardization, enforcement and expansion of the legal provisions governing the admission of guide dog handlers to public places, transportation, facilities, hotels, apartments, restaurants, places of amusement and all places to which the general public is invited.
C. Working to improve the scope and quality of educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for guide dog handlers through cooperation and affiliation with Guide Dog Users, Inc, herein referred to as GDUI; the American Council of the Blind, herein referred to as ACB; and the Georgia Council of the Blind, herein referred to as GCB.
D. Providing peer support to all guide dog handlers.
Article III. Membership and Voting
A. Any person sixteen years of age or older may become a member of GGDU upon compliance with the provisions and requirements of these bylaws.
B. The majority of GGDU members shall be guide dog users.
C. All members in good standing shall have the right to cast their individual votes at any meeting of the membership. Refer to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised for the definition of “good standing.”
D. Regular Members: Regular members pay full annual dues of fifteen dollars ($15.00) and are also considered members of GDUI and the ACB. Regular members may hold office, serve on affiliate and national committees, and serve as delegates to state and national conventions.
E. Associate Members: Associate members pay Annual GGDU dues of seven dollars ($7.00), but are not considered members of GDUI or the ACB. They have the right to vote on GGDU issues, to hold office except for that of president and vice president, and to serve on affiliate committees. They do not have the right to serve on state and national committees or be delegates to state conventions of the GCB and national conventions of GDUI.
Article IV. Dues
A. The annual dues of this organization shall be fifteen (15) dollars, seven (7) dollars of which will be retained by the GGDU chapter and eight (8) dollars will be forwarded to GDUI. These dues shall be determined from time to time by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting.
B. Associate members will pay dues of seven (7) dollars. This amount is retained by GGDU.
C. Annual dues shall be payable by January first of each year, and if not paid become delinquent after February 1. After March 1, membership shall be forfeited unless an extension is granted by the Executive Board.
D. GGDU will be affiliated with and pay dues to the GCB, and will have one delegate to serve on the GCB board. This delegate is usually the president, but if that person holds an office on the GCB board, he/she may name a representative to serve in his/her place.
Article V. Officers, Directors and Elections
A. Officers
The officers of GGDU shall be: a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer. Any regular member can be elected to any office. Associate members are not eligible to be elected to the office of president or vice president, but may serve as secretary or treasurer. The president and vice president must be guide dog handlers and must be members of GDUI. Members may not serve in multiple offices simultaneously.
B. Directors
Two members shall be elected as directors. One additional director may be elected when the membership of GGDU reaches 50.
C. Executive Board
The officers and directors shall constitute the Executive Board, which shall be the governing body of GGDU between meetings of the membership, provided that it shall make no policy decisions nor take any official actions in conflict with existing decisions or actions of the general membership.
The officers and directors shall perform the usual duties of their respective positions as provided for in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, and as may be authorized in these bylaws.
Regular or special meetings of the Executive Board may be at the call of the president or at the request of a majority of the Board. Such meetings may be in person or by telephone conference with quorum requirements being a majority of the Board, provided there are two guide dog handlers among the majority present.
Notice of such meetings shall be by written or electronic means with a minimum of ten (10) days notification for regular meetings and seven (7) days for a special meeting, unless an emergency situation as declared by the President exists.
Business decisions shall be adopted by majority vote of the members present and voting.
D. Elections
The officers and directors shall be elected at an annual meeting as specified in these bylaws, take office at the close of the meeting at which they are elected, and hold office for two (2) years or until their successors are appointed or elected and take office. No officer or director may serve more than two consecutive two-year terms, except for the secretary and the treasurer.
The officers are elected in even numbered years and the directors are elected in odd years.
A majority vote elects members to office. During an election for the same office, where more than two candidates are running, and no candidate receives a majority vote, a runoff election will be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
Election procedures shall be established by a nominating committee appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board, prior to the meeting at which elections take place. Such committee shall be responsible for securing nominees for the various positions up for election, in addition to all other duties necessary for conducting an election.
Nominations from the floor shall be called for in addition to any nominees that may be presented to the assembly by a nominating committee. The presiding officer may declare any unopposed candidate(s) duly elected by voice vote or unanimous consent.
E. Vacancies
Any vacancy in the office of president shall be filled by the vice president, after which the Executive Board shall elect by majority vote an eligible member to serve the term remaining of the vice president. Any vacancy occurring in any other Executive Board position shall be filled by an eligible member elected by a majority of Board members to complete the term of the office vacated.
Article VI. Finances
A. The president and the treasurer shall be responsible for the selection of a bank where GGDU bank accounts shall be established.
B. The treasurer may issue checks upon the request of the president.
C. Either the president or the treasurer may sign checks on behalf of the organization.
D. The treasurer and/or the president shall not spend more than fifty dollars ($50) without the approval of the Executive Board or the membership.
Article VII. Meetings
A. GGDU shall hold at least two in-person regular membership meetings during the year on dates and in locations to be determined by the membership. The second regular in-person membership meeting shall be designated the annual meeting. Additional meetings may also be held by telephone conference call on dates determined by the membership.
B. The president or a majority of the Executive Board may call a special meeting. At least two (2) weeks notice must be given to the membership in order to hold a special meeting.
C. One-third of the members shall constitute a quorum to transact business at any regular or special meeting.
Article VIII. Committees
The president may appoint all committees and their members as the needs of GGDU demand or as the membership or the Executive Board instruct.
Article IX. Resignation or Removal from Office
A. Any board member may resign from office by notifying the President in writing. The president shall communicate acceptance or non-acceptance to the member requesting resignation and the effective date of such action.
B. The removal of an officer or director from the Executive Board shall be according to the advice of an attorney or according to the disciplinary procedures outlined in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. Board action is limited to suspension and referral to the membership for a vote by the membership.
C. Causes for removal of board members include, but may not be limited to:
1. Being absent three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Board without just cause.
2. Failing to pay dues or otherwise comply with membership requirements.
3. Failing to perform the duties of office as prescribed by these bylaws.
4. Performing the duties of office in a manner detrimental to the aims and purposes of GGDU.
5. Personal conduct that brings discredit upon GGDU.
6. Conviction of a felony.
Article X. Affiliation
This organization shall be affiliated with GDUI and the GCB.
Article XI. Convention Delegates
Each year at the meeting of this organization held closest to the beginning of the new year, a delegate and alternate delegate shall be selected to represent GGDU at the GDUI annual meeting and other convention events.
Article XII. Parliamentary Authority
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the conduct of business of GGDU in all cases to which it applies and is not inconsistent with these bylaws or any higher authority to which GGDU is subject.
Article XIII. Amendments
Any member in good standing may submit to the bylaws committee a proposed amendment that has been signed by not fewer than three (3) members. The bylaws committee shall review proposed amendments according to all governing documents that apply. The chairperson of the bylaws committee then shall submit to the membership all proposed amendments.
These bylaws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members attending a regular or special meeting. Proposed bylaw amendments shall have been mailed or e-mailed by the bylaws committee chairperson to the membership not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment(s) will be voted on. Proposed amendments will be read a second time upon a request from any member present at that meeting.
Article XIV. Dissolution
Should dissolution become necessary, GGDU shall follow the procedures stated in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
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