Guide Dog Users of Oregon

Article I. Name

Article II. Purpose

1. To promote the acceptance by Federal and State agencies, employers, educational institutions, those granted licenses to do business with the public, and by the general public of blind persons with guide dogs.
2. To work for the enforcement of standardization of, and the expansion of the laws pertaining to the admission of guide dog owners and users to public places, transportation facilities, hotels, apartments, restaurants, places of amusement, and to all places to which the general public is invited to do business.
3. To work to expand the scope and to improve the quality of the educational, cultural, employment and rehabilitation services for all blind persons, by cooperation and affiliation with Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Article III. Membership and Voting

1. Any person, 16 years of age or older, may become a member of this organization upon the compliance with the provisions and requirements of the constitution, and any bylaws which may be adopted.
2. A member in good standing shall have the right to cast an individual vote at a meeting of the membership at which he is present.
3. A vote by mail is to be permitted and reserved for important issues, other than the election of officers, when a full vote of the membership is required.
4. Upon the signed recommendation of one member seconded by another member and by 2/3 vote by ballot at an annual meeting, honorary lifetime membership may be conferred upon an adult resident of the state of Oregon who shall have rendered notable service to the organization. An honorary member shall have none of the obligations of membership in the organization, but shall be entitled to all of the privileges, including the making of motions, voting and holding of office.

Article IV. Dues

1. The annual dues shall be $15.00 payable in advance on or before January 15th of each year.
2. Dues for a lifetime membership shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) which may be paid in no more than five (5) consecutive semi- annual installments. Amended November 7, 1998

Article V. Officers

1. The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall be elected for terms of two years, and no officer shall be elected to more than three consecutive terms in the same office. An officer must be a member in good standing for at least 360 days immediately preceding the annual meeting at which he or she is elected.
2. The officers shall perform the usual functions of their offices, as provided by Robert's Rules of Order (newly revised), unless otherwise provided by this constitution or bylaws.
3. The election of the officers shall be by a majority of the members present and eligible to vote in a meeting of the membership, and the vote shall be cast by secret ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be taken between the two candidates for the same office receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot. Ballots must be tallied and certified by a sighted person who is totally disinterested in the proceedings of the election.
4. In addition to the officers, the immediate past president shall be a member of the executive board with full voting privileges. The immediate past president shall serve until there shall be a new immediate past president or until elected to another position. The editor of the newsletter, The Puppy Prattle, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall serve a two-year term. The editor shall be part of the Board of Directors with full voting privileges. There shall be no limit to the number of terms the editor may serve. Adopted November 7, 1998
5. The officers shall constitute the Executive Board and shall be the governing body of this organization between meetings of the membership. The Executive Board shall make no policy decisions, or take no official actions in conflict with, or contrary to prior decisions or actions taken by the membership. The executive Board may cast votes by phone conference.
6. If a member who has accepted an office finds that he is unable to perform it, he should submit his resignation - in writing - to the Secretary or President thirty (30) days before the next Executive Board meeting.
7. The President and Vice-President shall be users of guide dogs.
8. All officers must be 21 years of age or older.

Article VI. Meetings

1. The Guide Dog Users of Oregon shall meet semi-annually. The President and a majority of the Executive Board may call additional meetings of the membership. The President shall send each Executive Board member an agenda fifteen (15) days prior to any board meeting.
2. The President, or a majority of the Executive Board, may call a meeting of the Executive Board.
3. A majority of the voting members registered at such meetings shall constitute a quorum for doing business. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for that body.
4. All procedures and meetings of Guide Dog Users of Oregon shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised Edition), unless otherwise specifically provided by this constitution or rules of order which may be adopted by a majority of the membership.

Article VII. Committees

1. The President may appoint all standing committees, may attend all committee meetings without a voting privilege, and may not serve as the chairperson on any of these committees.

Article VIII. Amendments

1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members registered at a meeting, providing that notice of the proposed amendments shall have been mailed to the members not later than forty-five (45) days prior to the next annual meeting. The mailing shall constitute the first reading. There shall be a second reading at the beginning of the annual meeting. The third reading will be with full discussion and voting of the proposed amendments.
2. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members registered at a meeting, providing that notice of the proposed amendments shall have been mailed to the members not later than forty-five (45) days prior to the next annual meeting. The mailing shall constitute the first reading. There shall be a second reading at the beginning of the annual meeting. The third reading will be with full discussion and voting of the proposed amendments.

Article IX. Fiscal Year

1. The fiscal year shall begin on January 1st and shall end on December 31st.