Bylaws For theSouthern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.Organized 1967 Incorporated 1971 Revised 1980 Revised 1987 Revised 1990 Revised 1996 New Bylaws adopted 2002 Revised 2015 Revised 2021 Article I: NAMEThe name of the corporation shall be the Southern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., herein referred to as SCRID. Article II: MISSION STATEMENTIt is the mission of the Southern California Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf to promote best practices, equity, and representation within the profession of Sign Language Interpreting; provide professional development and education for current and future practitioners; serve as a forum for ongoing assessment of and response to community needs; and, advocate to the public for the highest standards in the provision of interpreting services for users of both sign languages and spoken languages. Article III: OBJECTIVESection 1: Objectives
2. Providing for equitable and representative professional development and continual education of sign language interpreters; 3. Providing the public with information and resources regarding effective and best practices within the field of sign language interpreting; 4. Tracking current issues having the potential to impact the field of sign language interpreting and taking action as appropriate--locally, state-wide, and nationally; and, 5. Supporting the activities of organizations of, for, and by Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Coda (DDBDDHHLDC) communities, and sign language interpreters insofar as such activities are not in conflict with the purposes of this organization or those of RID. Article IV: MEMBERSHIPSection 1: Categories of MembershipThis corporation shall have the following categories of non-transferable membership. 1. Voting Members:
Section 2: Eligibility
Section 3: Voting Rights and Requirements
Section 4: Termination of Membership1. SCRID may, at any time, terminate the membership of a member for the following causes:1. Misconduct determined by the Board of Directors to be damaging to the name or objectives of SCRID, and/or for cause. Such determination shall be decided by an Executive session of The Board of Directors. The decision of the Board of Directors will be included in the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors immediately following the executive session, and the member in question notified within seven (7) days of the executive session. Private, sealed minutes of the Executive Session will be kept. 2. Non-payment of dues 3. Resignation Section 5: Change of Membership CategoryA member who has a change in membership category will immediately be entitled to the privileges thereof. The member must pay the difference for the new membership rate. In the beginning of the next fiscal year, all dues for that member shall be based on the new membership category. Section 6: LiabilityNo member of SCRID shall be held personally or otherwise liable for any debts, liabilities, and/or obligations of SCRID. Article V: DIRECTORSSection 1: Composition of Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors shall be comprised of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Deaf Member-at-Large, Deaf-Parented Sign Language Interpreter Member-at-Large, and Diversity Member-at-Large. In addition, the Immediate Past President may serve as a Non-Voting Ex-Officio member of the Board of Directors for up to one term. Section 2: Powers and LimitationsAll corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors. Unless so authorized by the Board of Directors, no director, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract, engagement, pledge its credit, render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in any amount. All charges, responsibilities and membership directives shall persist until fulfilled regardless of any changes to the makeup of the Board of Directors. Section 3: Duties
1. President
Section 4: QualificationsAll candidates for Board of Directors shall be Certified or Associate members in good standing with the National RID and SCRID for at least one (1) year immediately prior to candidacy. The president must be a Certified member of the National RID and SCRID for at least one year prior to the nomination period for the intended election. Section 5: Term of OfficeDirectors: (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, all Members-at-Large) shall serve two-year terms, or until a successor is elected or appointed (cf. Article V, Section 7 “Vacancies”). They shall be elected by electronic ballot prior to the annual membership meeting during the Spring of odd number years. Terms shall commence on July 1 of the following fiscal year. Section 6: Nominations & ElectionsThe election of the directors shall take place in the spring of every odd number year. Nominations must be received from a voting member in good standing with SCRID. Elections shall be held by electronic ballot following the procedures of Call for Nominations in the organization’s Policies and Procedures Manual. Procedures governing nominations, acceptance of nominations, and elections are contained in the Policies and Procedures Manual. Section 7: Vacancies
Section 8: Meetings of Directors
Section 9: QuorumA majority of the Board of Directors are required to attend in order to constitute a quorum. Article VI: COMMITTEESSection 1: AppointmentUpon the Board of Directors' approval, the President shall appoint any committees and chairpersons, including standing, special and/or ad hoc committees. Furthermore, the president shall designate a member of the board of directors to serve as a liaison for each committee. Article VII: ORGANIZATION GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTSSection 1: EstablishmentSCRID Districts are established by five (5) or more Voting SCRID Members who petition for recognition as a SCRID District, submit their letter of intent, describe the area which the district will represent, and name of Regional Representative for approval by the SCRID Board of Directors. Upon confirmation, that SCRID District will be recognized. Section 2: Professional DevelopmentRecognized SCRID Districts, in cooperation with SCRID Committees and with approval by the Board of Directors, may host events and professional development opportunities. Funds generated by SCRID Districts are to be managed by the Treasurer and become part of SCRID’s general fund. Section 3: District RepresentativesSCRID District Representatives shall attend at least seventy-five percent (75%) of SCRID meetings. Section 4: SCRID DistrictsSCRID Districts may be dissolved at the discretion of the President and approved by the Board of Directors. District Representatives may be removed or replaced at the discretion of the President and as approved by the Board of Directors. Article VIII: MEETING OF MEMBERSSection 1: Annual Membership MeetingsTime and place of the annual membership spring meeting will be designated by the Board of Directors with written public notice of such via email, website and/or other social media to be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting in accordance with the Policies and Procedures Manual. Section 2: Special Membership MeetingsSpecial membership meetings may be called at any time by the Board of Directors. Written public notice via email, website and/or other social media, of the time and place of special meetings shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. A quorum to conduct business at annual and special meetings shall consist of no less than six percent (6%) of the voting members. Instructions for conducting special membership meetings are contained in the Policies and Procedures Manual. Article IX: ELECTRONIC MAIL REFERENDUMSection 1: MotionsMotions may be voted on by the membership by electronic mail referendum in the following manner: 1) Mail referenda will be carried out in electronic format, in a manner in accordance with the Policies and Procedures Manual. 2) Electronic Mail referenda may be drafted and submitted by the Board of Directors, by a committee at the request of the Board of Directors, or by written petition of at least five percent (5%) of the voting members of the corporation, sent to the Board of Directors. The format for referenda submissions must be in accordance with instructions outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual. 3) Written notice of the referendum, stating and describing all motions, procedures and deadlines for voting, shall be provided to all voting members at least forty-five (45) days prior to the referendum deadline as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual. 4) Results of all electronic mail referenda shall be determined by a majority of the valid ballots returned, quorum having been reached, except when a higher percentage is required by these Bylaws or by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. 5) Results of electronic mail referenda shall be disseminated to the membership within thirty (30) days after the referenda deadline. Article X: INSPECTION RIGHTS AND CORPORATE SEALA copy of the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as amended to date shall be open to inspection by the members of the corporation by request. The Corporate logo shall be used by the corporation and its affiliated chapters for official and/or approved purposes only. Article XI: FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATIONThe fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June of each year. Article XII: FEES, DUES AND ASSESSMENTSSection 1: Rolling MembershipIn order to remain in good standing, members must pay dues annually, in amounts to be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall not increase or decrease membership dues by more than twenty-five percent (25%) without a majority vote of the membership at the annual meeting or by mail referendum. The Board may, at its discretion for emergency/catastrophic reasons, with approval by the current Treasurer and/or Finance Committee and by unanimous vote, reduce annual dues without notification and for a period of time relevant to the emergency. Notification of any changes in dues must be published via membership email & announced on SCRID’s website at least forty-five (45) days prior to the anticipated implementation. Article XIII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWSSection 1: BylawsThe Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of eligible voting members, either in attendance, a quorum being present, or by electronic mail referendum. This vote will take place during a regular or special meeting of the membership, with sixty (60) prior notice, or by following the guidelines under Article IX, ELECTRONIC MAIL REFERENDUM. Any amendment, however, which would materially and adversely affect the rights of a specific category must be approved by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the members voting from that affected category. Section 2: State of EmergencyState of Emergency Suspension of Bylaws--In cases where a State of Emergency has been officially declared (at the County, State, and/or Federal levels), the Board reserves the right to declare these Bylaws Suspended, in part or in full, for the purpose of maintaining the business of the organization and membership support. This requires a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of all Board members. Article XIV: NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICYSCRID does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of hearing status, race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, selection of volunteers or vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Article XV: DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATIONDissolution of the Corporation will follow the procedures as specified in the Articles of Incorporation. Article XVI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITYThe rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this Corporation in all cases to which they are applicable and consistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Corporation may adopt. Draft of Revised Bylaws to be approved by the membership, 2020. |