Dear NorCRID Voting Members:

On Friday, July 25, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, NorCRID members are invited to attend a Special Election combined with a two-hour workshop with Jimmy Beldon at the Deaf Community Center (DCC) in San Leandro, CA.   Please register for this free event by going to the events tab on this website.

The Special Election is your opportunity to shape the future of NorCRID, as prospective bylaw revisions and candidates for the NorCRID board are considered and voted upon.  Outlined below, NorCRID has three proposed bylaw revisions to be considered during the July 25th Special Election.  One proposes a Deaf Community Seat on the board.  Another would make electronic voting possible for NorCRID.  Finally a third seeks to make the bylaws document gender-neutral to be more inclusive of our community. 

Thank you for considering these proposed changes below.  You may find the 2001 NorCRID Bylaws under the About tab on this website.  Hope to see you at the NorCRID Special Election.

Respectfully,

Terri Manning

Interim President of NorCRID

 

 

Proposed Bylaw Revisions for the July 25, 2014 NorCRID Special Election

1. A.Deaf Community Seat

Background:  This proposal would open NorCRID to Deaf leadership through a voting position on the board.  As has been established in other affiliate chapters and the national RID board, NorCRID would follow the trend toward honoring Deaf input, formally acknowledging Deaf consumers as important stakeholders in interpreting services, and thereby in professional organizations.  As it stands a Deaf Community voice is not included in the structure of the NorCRID executive board.  The NorCRID bylaws as currently written limit input from Deaf Community members to a supporting membership with no voting privileges.  As framed the bylaws restrict board service to those who are voting members of both the national organization and the affiliate chapter.  Many Deaf Community members, while committed to elevating the interpreting field, do not have the economic privilege to pay dual voting memberships.  This proposal would enable Deaf Community service on the board by removing the financial barrier of professional dues.

Proposal:  Change the bylaws, adding wording as follows: 

1.  In Article IV, Section 1 add a sentence at the end of  clause “a” to read:

One of the Members at Large shall be Deaf or Hard of Hearing and an active user of ASL interpreting services.

 

1. In Article IV, Section 1 ad a sentence at the end of “b” to read:

“The Deaf or Hard of Hearing Member at Large shall be exempt from the membership requirements outlined for the executive board but required to hold a current Supporting Membership with NorCRID.  A Deaf or Hard of Hearing Member at Large who ceases to be a NorCRID member shall also cease to be a Member of the Executive Board.”

1. B.Online Voting

Background:  NorCRID bylaws currently limit mail referenda to postal mail.  This proposal seeks to expand NorCRID’s capabilities to the technology of the day for the election of candidates.  (Bylaw revisions still must be voted by a quorum of members present at a NorCRID Business Meeting.)  Since we do not know what technologies lie ahead, wording is abstracted in an effort to preserve the arena for voting in the most current technology.  Rather than to name specifically “online” voting, the word “remote” is used to keep the bylaws flexible to future technologies that function as remote voting systems.

Proposal:  Change Article VI,   Section 4. “Mail Referenda” to be titled “Remote Referenda” and to replace the words “mail referenda” and “mail” with the words “remote” and “remotely via commonly available technology easily accessed by the general membership,” as in:

Article VI,   Section 4. Remote Referenda

Voting may take place remotely via commonly available technology easily accessed by the general membership. Remotereferenda must be sent by the Executive Board to all eligible Voting Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the deadline for returning ballots.  A vote shall be decided by a majority of valid ballots.  Results of the remote  referenda shall be provided to the Members of the organization within sixty (60) days of the deadline for returning ballots.

1. C.Gender-Neutral Language
   1.  Article IV Executive Board, Section 1. b.

Background:  As it is written the NorCRID bylaws uses binary gendered pronouns.  Because the NorCRID Board prioritizes inclusion and embracing diversity in all of its operations, the bylaws stand out as not inclusive to all members.

Proposal:  Change the wording of the bylaws to remove gender-specific pronouns and replace with a gender-neutral equivalent.  Each instance of binary-gendered pronouns is shown highlighted in its original form with a proposed change of wording directly below.

If a person ceases to be a Voting Member, she or he shall also cease to be a Member.

Proposed change to:  A person whose Voting Membership lapses also ceases to be a Member.

1.  Article IV Executive Board, Section 1. d.

The Past-President shall be a full member of the Executive Board with the rights and privileges of Executive Board members except that he or she shall not be a voting member.

Proposed change to:  The Past-President shall be a full member of the Executive Board with the rights and privileges of Executive Board members but shall not be a voting member.

1. Article IV, Section 3. Election and Term of Office of Officers (3rd clause)

New officers assume office in January of the next calendar year following their election. An Officer may succeed him/herself in office.

                             

Proposed change to: New officers assume office in January of the next calendar year following their election. An Officer may serve a successive term in office.

                                         

1. Article IV, Section 3. Election and Term of Members-at-Large. (3rd sentence down)

A Member-at-Large may succeed him/herself in office.

                             

Proposed change: A Member-at-Large may serve a successive term in office.

1. Article IV, Section 5.  Election and Term of Office of Alternates. (3rd sentence down)

An Alternate may succeed him/herself in office.                               

Proposed change: An Alternate may serve a successive term in office.

1. Article IV, Section 7. Removal from Office.

With good cause, an Executive Board Member may be removed from office, for reasons other than attendance, by unanimous vote of the remaining Members of the Executive Board. Before such action, however, the Board Member in question must be notified in writing that his/her removal is being considered by the Executive Board, and an opportunity must be given the Board Member to address the board in his/her defense.

Proposed change:  With good cause, an Executive Board Member may be removed from office, for reasons other than attendance, by unanimous vote of the remaining Members of the Executive Board. Before such action, however, the Board Member in question must be notified in writing that a removal is being considered by the Executive Board, and an opportunity must be given the Board Member to address the board in defense.

1. Article V, Section 3. a. The President.

The President shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of NorCRID. S/he shall preside at all meetings of the Members and the Executive Board and shall have other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board.

Proposed change: The President shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of NorCRID. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members and the Executive Board and shall have other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board.

1. Article V, Section 6. The Treasurer. (3rd sentence down)

Any check written for an amount greater than the established limit shall require the signatures of two officers of the Executive Board. S/he shall make financial reports for each board meeting and an annual report audited by two trustees to be selected by the Executive Board. S/he shall discharge such other duties as may be

prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board.

Proposed change:Any check written for an amount greater than the established limit shall require the signatures of two officers of the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall make financial reports for each board meeting and an annual report audited by two trustees to be selected by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall discharge such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board.

END OF PROPOSED BYLAW REVISIONS