Revised May 6, 2006
ARTICLE I Name:
ARTICLE II Philosophy,
The philosophy of PARID is that excellence in the delivery of interpretation services among people who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and people who are hearing will ensure effective communication. As an affiliate chapter of the professional association for interpreters and transliterators, PARID serves as an essential arena for its members in the pursuit of excellence.
It is the mission of PARID to provide state and local forums and an organizational structure for the continued growth and development of the profession of interpretation and transliteration of American Sign Language and English.
It is the goal of PARID to promote the profession of interpreting and transliterating American Sign Language and English.
ARTICLE III Membership
Section I: Definition
1. Voting Member
A. Certified Member
B. Associate Member (non- certified interpreter)
2. Non-voting Member
A. Student Member
B. Supporting Member
C. Organizational/Institutional Member
Section II: Eligibility
1. Certified Member: Any interpreter or transliterator of American Sign Language and/or English currently holding a valid certification from RID, Inc. This membership can be under any certified category defined by RID, Inc.
2. Associate Member: Any individual who is actively engaged in the interpretation of American Sign Language and English and/or the transliteration of English, but who is not currently certified by the RID, Inc. Individual must be a member of RID, Inc. This membership can be under any category defined by RID, Inc.
3. Student Member: Any individual currently enrolled in a course of study in interpretation of American Sign Language and English and the transliteration of English, who does not meet eligibility requirements under Sections II-1 or II-2 under Article III, Membership.
4. Supporting Member: Any individual with an interest in supporting the purposes and activities of the organization, who does not meet eligibility requirements for Sections II-1, II-2, or II-3, under Article III, Membership.
5. Organizational/Institutional Member: Any organization/institution with an interest in supporting the purposes and activities of PARID.
Section III: Membership
Membership may be obtained upon application to the PARID Board.
Section IV: Good Standing
A member organization or individual in good standing is one whose dues are not delinquent. Member organizations or individuals whose dues are in arrears for 90 days shall be dropped from the membership roll.
Section V: Change of Membership Category
A member who has a change of membership category shall immediately be entitled to the privileges thereof. Beginning with the next fiscal year, all dues, fees, and assessments for that member shall be based on the new category.
ARTICLE IV Meetings of Members
Section I: Annual Meeting
General membership meetings shall be held annually with a written notice of time and place of meeting to be given at least four (4) months prior to the meeting.
Section II: Special Meetings
Special membership meetings may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or by written petition of not less than ten percent (10%) of the voting members of the organization, sent to the Board of Directors. Written notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be given at least one (1) month prior to the meeting.
Section III: Place of Meeting
The annual meeting of the Pennsylvania State RID will be held at a place designated by the Board of Directors.
Section IV: Conduct of Meetings
Unless otherwise provided for by the membership, all meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised).
Section V: Quorum
A quorum is fifty-one percent of the voting members who have
registered for the business meeting by picking up their voting cards at the
Credentials Table.
ARTICLE V Officers
Section I: Board of Directors
1. Members of the Board of Directors shall be a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, District Chapter Presidents, and a representative from any geographical area in which there is no existing chapter.
2. All officers shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
3. For elected office, there shall be a limit of two consecutive terms per office. After at least a one term break from a specific office, an individual may run for election for that previously held office.
A) President
(1) The president shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the organization. S/he shall preside at all meetings of the members and/or directors and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed, from time to time, by the Board of Directors or the members.
(2) The President shall appoint such committees as may be provided for in the By-Laws and following the appointment procedures and may create such other committees as may be mandated by the membership or may be deemed necessary in promoting the purposes of the organization.
(3) The President shall share with the Treasurer the right to sign checks except those expressly prohibited by law, or by the By-Laws.
(4) The President shall represent the organization in all activities except those expressly prohibited by law, or by the By-Laws.
(5) The President shall provide annual reports to the
membership, including all district chapters and
B) Vice President
In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall perform all duties of the President and in so acting shall have all the powers of the President. The Vice President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed, from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
C) Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the organization and the Board of Directors.
D) Corresponding Secretary
The Corresponding Secretary shall take care of all the correspondence of the organization. S/he shall report all communications to the Board of Directors and to the organization when so ordered. S/he shall perform such other duties as the organization or the Board of Directors shall, from time to time, direct. The Corresponding Secretary shall receive all applications for membership and chair the Membership Committee.
E) Treasurer
The Treasurer shall supervise the receipt and safekeeping of all funds of the organization and deposits that may be designated by the Board of Directors. Those funds shall be paid out only on checks of the organization signed by the President, Treasurer or by such officers as may be designated by the Board of Directors as authorized so to sign them. Two signatures are required for disbursements.
Section II: Candidates for Office
1. A candidate eligible for nomination as an officer or board member must hold valid certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., and must be a voting member in good standing of PARID. In the event that there are no certified interpreters available for a specific office, the candidate must be a voting member of PARID in good standing.
2. An elected officer or board member must be a member of RID, Inc., at the time of PARID election and throughout his/her term of office.
3. A candidate eligible for nomination as an officer or board member of PARID must have been a member of PARID for one (1) year.
4. Vacancy occurring in an elective office shall be filled by appointment of the Board. The appointee shall hold that position for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section III: Board Liaisons
The board of directors may ask related organizations to send liaisons to attend board meetings as non-voting members.
ARTICLE VI District Chapters
Section I: Existing District Chapter Status
Any district chapter located in
Section II:
1. Any member wishing to relate to the organization through a district chapter shall do so through the district chapter in their area. Membership shall be sought in the district chapter that is geographically most proximal to the membership.
2. In the event that there is no district chapter in an area, any group of at least ten (10) individuals, each of whom qualify for membership on the organization as a voting member may apply for affiliation as a district chapter of PARID.
3. There will be eight (8) districts which are comprised of the counties identified below:
District 1:
District 2:
District 3:
District 4: McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron,
District 5: Mifflin, Juniata, Perry,
District 6: Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna,
District 7: Northumberland, Montour, Schuylkill, Carbon,
Berks, Lehigh,
District 8:
4. The number and composition of local chapters may be amended by the Board of Directors with approval of the membership at the next yearly general meeting.
Section III: Application Procedures
1. Each group wishing affiliation shall submit a certified copy of its By-Laws and/or governing instruments to the Board of Directors. Such By-Laws and/or governing instruments shall demonstrate that the purpose of the applicant group is substantially similar to that of the organization as set forth in these By-Laws and the policies and procedures adopted by PARID.
2. Each applicant group shall submit a list of charter members.
Section IV: Application Approval
District chapters of this organization shall be created by resolution of the Board of Directors. A certificate designating an applicant group as a district chapter shall be issued by the Board of Directors after the application has been approved in accordance with these By-Laws.
ARTICLE VII Committees
Section I: Type and Composition of Committees
The organization shall have Standing Committees, and may have special and/or Ad Hoc Committees.
Section II: Appointments
Unless otherwise specified in these By-Laws, the members of all committees shall be appointed by the President upon approval of a majority of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the President shall designate a member of each Committee as chairperson. The President may authorize committee chairpersons to select the other members of their respective committees.
Section III: Standing Committees
1. Professional Development Committee
2. Public Relations Committee
3. Professional Standards Committee
4. Educational Interpreting Committee
5. Legislative Committee
6. Fundraising Committee
7. Membership Committee
Section IV: Special Other Committees
The President, upon approval by the Board of Directors, shall appoint any special and/or Ad Hoc committees as may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives and activities of the organization as set forth in these By-Laws and/or as mandated by the voting membership of the organization.
Section V: Term of Office
Each member of a committee will serve a term of two years in
conjunction with the officers of the organization.
Section VI: Vacancies
Vacancies in the membership of any committee may be filled by the appointment made in like manner to Article V, Section II-4 of these By-Laws.
Section VII: Quorum
Unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws or by resolution of the Board of Directors, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the action of a majority of the members present at the meeting at which a quorum is present or voting on the matter shall be the action of the committee.
Section VIII: Meetings
The time for meetings may be fixed by the Board of Directors. Meetings and actions of committees will be directed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII Execution of Funds
Execution of funds shall be in accordance with the goals of the organization.
ARTICLE IX Dues and Finances
Section I: Execution of Instruments
The officers may by resolution authorize any officer or agent of the organization to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of the organization. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no officer, agent or employer shall have any power or authority to bind the organization by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in any account.
Section II: Promissory Notes
In order to authorize the signing of any promissory note, the officers must cast a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote for approval.
Section III: Checks and Notes
Except as otherwise specifically determined by resolution of the officers, or as otherwise required by law, checks, drafts, and orders for payment of money, shall be signed by the Treasurer and counter-signed by the President.
Section IV: Deposits
All funds of the organization shall be deposited in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the officers may designate, to the credit of the organization.
Section V: Gifts
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the
organization, any contribution, gift, bequest or device for the non-profit or
public purpose of the organization.
Section VI: Annual Report
The officers shall cause an Annual Report to be furnished by the designated person(s) no later than ninety (90) days after the close of the fiscal year to all the directors and members. Such report shall contain the following information in appropriate detail:
A) The assets and liabilities, including trust funds, of the organization as of the close of the fiscal year.
B) The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds, during the fiscal year.
C) The revenue or receipts of the organization, both unrestricted and restricted to particular purposes, for the fiscal year.
D) The expenses or disbursements of the organization, both for general and restricted purposes, during the fiscal year.
The Annual Report shall be accompanied by any report thereon
by independent accountants or, if there is no such report, the certificate of
an authorized officer of the organization that such statement were prepared without
audit from the books and records of the organization.
Section VII: Fees, Dues and Assessments
A) Payment of dues shall be in advance of the first (1st) day of July of each fiscal year.
B) The Board of Directors may determine from time to time the amount of a reinstatement fee, if any, and the manner in which such fees must be paid. Furthermore, the Board of Directors may determine and assign the payment of a reasonable late fee. Dues are in arrears as of August first (1st) of each fiscal year. Reinstatement following termination shall be contingent upon payment of dues in arrears and such reinstatement and/or late fees as shall be assigned by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X Amendments
Amendments to these By-Laws may be passed at any regular meeting by a majority vote of a quorum of members providing such amendments have been submitted by the By-Laws Committee for their review. Following timely review by the By-Laws Committee, the membership will be notified of the amendment at least 30 days in advance of the regular meeting.
ARTICLE XI Dissolution Procedure
In the event of dissolution of this organization, all remaining assets, real or personal property of whatever nature, shall be transferred to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
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