Missouri Guide Dog Users
CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS, revised October 2019
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1. NAME. Missouri Guide Dog Users
(A) The name of this organization shall be Missouri Guide Dog Users, (hereinafter to be known as MGDU.
(B) The name of Missouri Guide Dog Users shall not be used by any person or organization without the expressed written
Consent of the President and/or the Board of Directors of MGDU
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSES.
The purpose of this organization shall be:
(A) To promote, through efforts in advocacy and dissemination of educational information, the acceptance of guide dog teams by all
agencies, employers, educational institutions, those doing
business with the general public, and by the general public.
(B) To work for the standardization, enforcement and expansion of the legal provisions governing the admission of
guide dog users to public places, transportation, facilities,
hotels, apartments, restaurants, places of amusement and all
places to which the general public is invited.
(C) To work to improve the scope and quality of
educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for guide dog users through cooperation and
affiliation with Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) and the American Council
of the Blind.
(D) To encourage and improve the relationship between guide dog puppy raisers, guide dog users and guide dog schools.
(E) To work to improve the scope and quality of guide dog breeding, selection, training, health care, and guide dog retirement.
ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING.
(A) Any person 16 years of age or older may become a
member of MGDU upon compliance with the provisions and
requirements of this constitution and such bylaws as may be adopted.
(B) The majority of MGDU members, at least 50% plus 1, 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.
ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
(A) The officers of MGDU shall comprise the board of directors and shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
(B) Two (2) At-large Directors will be elected to serve with the officers on the Board of Directors.
( C ) Only members of MGDU who are guide dog users can be officers or Directors.
(D) No member can serve in
multiple offices simultaneously.
(E) All officers and Directors shall be elected. Elections shall be held during the MCB convention. All officers and Directors will be elected for terms of two (2) years.
(F) Of the four elected board members and Directors, elections
will be held every year for two of the board members and one of the Directors. Elections shall be held during MGDU meetings at the MCB convention. Election for President, Secretary, and one Director will be held on odd-numbered years. Elections for Vice President, Treasurer and the other Director will be held on even-numbered years.
(G) The officers shall perform the usual duties of their office as provided for in ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, current
edition, unless otherwise provided for by this constitution or
such bylaws as may be enacted.
(H) The Officers and the Board of Directors shall be
the governing body of MGDU between meetings of the membership, and will conduct business on behalf of MGDU.
Board meetings may be held in person or by telephone. A majority
of the Board shall constitute a
quorum at such meetings.
(I) All elections shall be by a majority vote of the members present.
ARTICLE 5. MEETINGS.
(A) MGDU will conduct monthly meetings of the membership and of the Board of Directors at dates and times as set by the vote of the membership.
(B) MGDU shall hold one business meeting per year, to be held in the the fall at the MCB convention during the same calendar year.
(C) One-third of the members shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting.
(D) The President or a majority of the Board of
Of Directors may call a special meeting. At least two weeks’ notice
must be given to the membership in order to hold a special
meeting.
ARTICLE 6. FISCAL YEAR.
(A) The fiscal year of MGDU shall begin November 1 through October 31st.
(B) All fees, membership and other requirements of
affiliation with the Missouri Council of the Blind shall be
provided as determined by the organization.
ARTICLE 7. RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
(A) Any officer or director may resign from office by notifying the President in writing. In the event of the President resigning or being unable to perform duties of office, the Vice President will assume duties of the President. The succeeding President may appoint an interim Vice President, with the approval the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may,
thereafter, in its discretion, elect a person to serve in any
vacant office until the next annual meeting.
(B) Any officer or director may be removed from office for good and sufficient cause as enumerated in Bylaw 5, by a vote
of two-thirds of the total membership of the Board of Directors,
but, in no event, shall the Board vote to remove a person from
office until the officer or director has been given notice in
writing of the charges pending against him/her and is afforded an
opportunity to appear and defend against the alleged charges.
(C) At the next meeting at the MCB convention, the membership of this organization shall, if necessary, elect a person to complete the
term for which the resigned or removed officer or director was
originally elected.
ARTICLE 8. Amendments
a. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of
two-third’s majority of the members attending a regular or special meeting.
b. Notice of the proposed amendment shall have been
mailed and/or electronically mailed (email) to the membership not less than 30 days prior to the meeting during which a vote on the amendment will take place.
c. All bylaw amendments shall be approved by a two-third’s majority
vote of the members present at the following regular or special meeting.
ARTICLE 9. COMMITTEES
The President shall appoint the chairperson of all
committees within the organization unless otherwise instructed by
the membership or the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 10. DISSOLUTION
Upon a vote of dissolution by 85 percent of the active
membership and after paying all of its debts and obligations, all
remaining funds shall revert to Missouri Council of the Blind.
BYLAWS
1. DUES:
a. The annual dues of this organization shall be the amount specified by the Board of Directors as annual MGDU dues.
b. Collected dues will be deposited in the MGDU account.
c. These MGDU dues shall
be determined from time to time by a majority vote of the
membership present at any regular meeting. A majority shall be half of
the members in attendance plus one.
d. Annual dues shall be
Due at the MCB convention, past due November 1, and become delinquent as of December 10 of that year.
2. FINANCES:
(A) The President and the Treasurer shall be responsible for the selection of a bank where) bank accounts
shall be established.
(B) The Treasurer may issue checks upon the order of the President.
(C) Either the President or the Treasurer may sign checks on behalf of the organization.
(D) The Treasurer and the President shall not spend more than $50 without the approval of the Board of Directors or, when appropriate, the membership.
3. VACANCIES:
If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the
Vice-President shall assume the office. If a vacancy occurs in another office of the organization, the Board of Directors shall appoint a person
to continue in that office until the next scheduled election.
4. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE:
(A) Failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without just cause.
(B) Failure to pay dues or otherwise comply with the membership requirement of MGDU.
(C) Failure to perform the duties of office as prescribed by the constitution and bylaws.
(D) Performance of the duties of office in a manner that is detrimental to the aims and purposes of this organization.
(E) Conviction of a felony.
5. STANDING COMMITTEES:
(A) MGDU will maintain the following standing committees:
(1) Fund raising.
(2) Advocacy and Legislation.
(3) Membership.
(4) Publications.
(B) Each committee will be chaired by an officer, as agreed among themselves.
(C) Directors will be assigned committee service by presidential appointment.
Revised and approved, May 9, 2018.
End of document.