GDUKI Constitution

Article I: Name and Affiliation

  1. The name of this organization shall be Guide Dog Users of Kentuckiana, hereinafter to be known as GDUKI.
  2. The name of Guide Dog Users of KentuckI shall not be used by any person or organization without the expressed written consent of the President and/or the Board of Directors of GDUKI.
  3. GDUKI shall be affiliated with Guide Dog Users Inc. (GDUI) and with the Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB).

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be:

  1. To promote the acceptance of guide dog teams by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, those doing business with the general public, and by the general public in Kentucky and surrounding areas.
  2. To work for the standardization and enforcement and expansion of the legal provisions governing the admission of guide dog users to public places, transportation, facilities, hotels, apartments, restaurants, medical facilities, places of amusement and all places to which the general public is invited.
  3. 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 Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB).
  4. To encourage and improve the relationship between Guide dog puppy raisers, guide dog users and guide dog schools.
  5. To work to improve the scope and quality of guide dog breeding, selection, training, health care, and guide dog retirement.

Article III: Membership and Voting

  1. Any person 16 years of age or older may become a member of GDUKI.
  2. The majority of GDUKI members shall be guide dog users.
  3. All members in good standing shall have the right to cast their individual votes at any meeting of the membership. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Article IV: Officers and Directors

  1. The officers of GDUKI shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  2. The President and Vice President must be guide dog users and shall be elected for terms of two years. No person shall be eligible for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
  3. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for terms of two years and there shall be no term limits.
  4. Three directors shall be elected to the Board and shall serve terms of two years. One director may also be an officer on the Board. No person shall serve as director for more than two consecutive terms.
  5. Elections will be held at the fall meeting. Officers will be elected in odd-numbered years, and directors will be elected in even-numbered years.
  6. Election of officers and directors shall be by a majority of members present and eligible to vote at any election. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
  7. The officers, directors and immediate past president shall constitute the Board of Directors and shall be the governing body of GDUKI between meetings of the membership. The Board of Directors shall make no policy decisions or take any official action which is in conflict with or contrary to prior decisions or actions of the membership. The Board of Directors may cast votes in person, by mail or email, or by telephone.
  8. Officers shall perform the usual duties of their offices as provided in Robert’s Rules of Order, Current Edition, unless otherwise provided for by this constitution or such bylaws as may be enacted.
  9. Any officer or director may resign from office by notifying the President in writing. The Board of Directors may, thereafter, by its discretion, elect a person to serve in the vacant office until the next annual meeting.
  10. 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. In no event shall the Board vote to remove a person from office until the officer or director has been given notice in writing (by print, braille, or electronic format) of the charges pending against him/her and has been afforded an opportunity to appear and defend against the alleged charges.
  11. At the next annual meeting, 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 V: Meetings

  1. GDUKI shall hold at least two meetings each calendar year, one to be held in the spring and the second to be held in the fall.
  2. One-third of the members shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting. A majority of those present must be guide dog users.
  3. The President or a majority of the Board of Directors may call a special meeting. At least two weeks written notice must be given to the membership in order to hold a special meeting.

Article VI: Fiscal Year

  1. The fiscal year of GDUKI shall be from January 1 through December 31.
  2. All dues and other requirements of affiliation with the Guide Dog Users Inc. and the Kentucky Council of the Blind shall be provided as determined by GDUI and KCB.

Article VII: Committees

The President shall appoint the chairperson of all committees within the organization unless otherwise instructed by the membership or the Board of Directors. All committees shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws.

Article VIII: Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members attending a regular or special meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to the membership not less than 30 days prior to the meeting.

BYLAWS

  1. DUES: The annual dues of this organization shall be an amount to be determined by a majority vote at the fall meeting. Annual dues shall be payable at each fall meeting and become delinquent as of January 1 of each year.
  2. FINANCES
    1. The President and the Treasurer shall be responsible for the selection of a bank where GDUKI bank accounts shall be established.
    2. The Treasurer may issue checks upon the order of the President.
    3. The Treasurer and the President or Vice President shall sign checks on behalf of the organization.
    4. The Treasurer and the President shall not spend more than $50 without the approval of the Board of Directors or the membership.
  3. 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. Convention Delegates
    1. At the spring meeting of this organization, a delegate and an alternate delegate may be elected to serve at the annual convention of Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI).
    2. Each year, the President of this organization shall appoint a representative and an alternate representative to serve at the annual convention of the Kentucky Council of the Blind (KCB).
  5. 5. Grounds for Removal from Office
    1. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without just cause.
    2. Failure to pay dues or otherwise comply with the membership requirements of GDUKI.
    3. Failure to perform the duties of office as prescribed by the constitution and bylaws.
    4. Performance of the duties of office in a manner that is detrimental to the aims and purposes of this organization.
    5. Conviction of a felony.
  6. 6. Standing Committees
      1. Membership
      2. Nominating Committee
      3. Constitution and Bylaws
      4. Other committees as needed
    2. 7. Amendments: These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting.
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