ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization shall be known as the Buffalo Club of the Deaf, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
To provide a meeting place for the Deaf people for mutual pleasure, moral, social, intellectual, economical standing and sport activities; to foster and extend the character and good will of the Club; and to cooperate with other organizations on civic matters which are for the benefit and welfare of the Deaf people.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1.
The membership shall be unlimited in number and shall have seven (7) classes: active, non-resident, social, student, sports, senior citizen and honorary life. Any deaf or hearing-impaired person of good character, who is a resident of Buffalo or vicinity may become an active member upon payment of the required fee, which may be adopted by the Club.
Any deaf or hearing-impaired person of good character, who lives outside the Buffalo vicinity, may become a non-resident member upon payment of the yearly fee, which may be adopted by the Club. Non-resident member, upon payment of said fee, may take part in the Club's discussions and vote but shall not hold office.
Any hearing persons of good character may become a social member upon payment of the fee as adopted by the Club but shall not hold office and take part in discussions and vote. They may be invited only to give a talk for the interest of the Club.
Those who are out of school but still are under the age of 21 years old must secure parent's permission in writing to be a member of the Club. Any member maintaining a full-time student status shall be known as Student Member. Apart time student attending college is not considered as a Student Member and must pay full membership dues.
Any deaf or hearing impaired person of good character, who lives outside the Buffalo vicinity and wants to play sports, may become a Non-Resident member, upon payment of said fee, may take part in the Club's discussion and vote but shall not hold office.
Any active members, who become disabled, must be at least 62 years of age for men and 60 years of age for women to receive senior citizens membership rate.
Any active member at least 75 years of age may become a Honorary life member, subject to the unanimous approval of the members at the regular meeting, provide that he/she has been an active member of the Club for at least two (2) years prior to eligibility for Honorary Life membership. An Honorary Life member mayhave the privileges of an active member, but shall exempted from all payments of dues.
Chaplains or visionual impaired may have the privileges of active members except that they shall not any elective position, nor pay membership dues.
SECTION 2.
An applicant for membership must fill out and sign an application blank. This blank must include the written endorsement by one member in good standing.
It must be accompanied by the appropriate initiation fee. This application shall be submitted at the regular meeting. For an application to be accepted, a majority vote of those regular qualified members present is required.
SECTION 3.
A rejected applicant may reapply for admission to membership not less than six (6) months from the date of his/her rejection. Admission requires a two/thirds (2/3) vote of the qualified members voting at a regular meeting.
SECTION 4.
Any member who has been expelled from the club may not be readmitted to membership for period of not less than one (1) year from the date of expulsion.
SECTION 5.
A member whose dues are paid and who has attended at least five (5) meetings in the previous calendar year shall be considered to be in good standing.
SECTION 6.
Only the members in good standing who live within a twenty five (25) mile radius of Buffalo are eligible to hold any office at the club.
SECTION 7.
In the event of death of a regular member, a sum to be determined by the Board, shall be sent to the family of the deceased.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 1.
The officers of the Club shall be:
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
The officers shall be elected at the regular meeting of the Club, shall hold their respective offices for two (2) years or until their successors are duly elected and sworn.
The President and Treasurer shall be elected in "ODD" year for a two (2) years term beginning January 1st.
The Vice President and Secretary shall be elected in "EVEN" year for a two (2) years term beginning January 1st.
ARTICLE V:
MEETINGS
SECTION 1.
The regular meeting of the Club shall be held on the third Saturday of each month at 7:00 P.M. except in July, August and December.
In cases where some other event falls on the third Saturday of the month, the meeting will be held on another Saturday of said month to be determined by the Board.
SECTION 2.
Regular meeting or special meetings of the Club shall require twenty-five (25) qualified active members to form a quorum for its transaction of business.
SECTION 3.
Special meetings shall be held at any time as called for by the President, or upon request of the Board of Directors. The special meetings shall be confined to the purpose for which it is called.
SECTION 4.
An officer shall be removed from office if he misses (4) consecutive meetings without valid excuse.
SECTION 5.
The business at the regular meetings shall be taken up in the following order:
(a) Roll Call
(b) Invocation
(c) Silent Tribute
(d) Communications
(e) Reading of the Minutes
(f) Board of Directors' Report
(g) Officers' Reports
(h) Treasurer's Report
(I) Report of Committees
(J) Claims
(k) Unfinished Business
(l) Election (November)
(m) Installation (January)
(n) New Business
(o) Announcement (or Remarks)
(p) Adjournment
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Club by a two/thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous meeting.
ARTICLE VII: PARLIAMENTARY RULES
Roberts' Rules of order, Revised, shall be the recognized authority in all questions of Parliamentary Law that are not being covered by this Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE VIII: DISSOLUTION
At the time BCD is no longer able to exist. The Decision to dissolve the club should be made by a three-fourths(3/4) of the members voting at General meeting. All funds and finances plus monies received from the sale of the club building and other assets shall be placed in Trust. The purpose of the Trust is for whenever BCD is started again or a new club for the deaf formed. This trustee(s) shall be elected by the members who voted for the dissolution at the general meeting.
