ARTICLE I.  NAME [top]

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (MIRID), an affiliate chapter of the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID).

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE [top]

Section 1.  The PRINCIPLE PURPOSE of the organization shall be to initiate, sponsor, promote and execute policies and activities that will further the profession of interpretation and American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and the transliteration of English.

Section 2.  The SPECIFIC PURPOSES shall be to advance the professional standard(s) of interpreters/transliterators, and promote the professional skills, interests and welfare of its members:

A.  to increase the public awareness of interpreting and deafness in general; and

B.  to provide opportunities for training through workshops, meetings, lectures, etc.; and

C.  to promote national interpreter evaluations in Michigan; and

D.  to participate in the provision and maintenance of statewide Quality Assurance screening; and

E.  to act as liaison between Michigan interpreters and the RID; and

F.  to advocate interpreters' interests and other related interests in the Legislature of the State of Michigan; and

G.  to support organizations of and for deaf persons insofar as such activities are not in conflict with the purposes of MIRID; and

H.  to disseminate all pertinent information to the membership; and

I.  to promote an environment conducive to mutual growth and support in membership; and

J.  to carry on any activity in connection therewith not forbidden by the laws of the State of Michigan.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP [top]

Section 1.  Members shall be persons who support the purposes and goals of MIRID and whose dues are paid.

Section 2.  MIRID members whose dues were paid before July 1, 1970, are known as charter members.

Section 3.  A member's good standing shall be contingent upon payment of annual dues before July 31st of each year.

Section 4.  Each member who holds dual status membership in both MIRID and RID is entitled to one (1) vote.

Section 5.  Non-payment of dues within thirty (30) days of due date (July 1) shall terminate membership.

Section 6.  A member whose membership has lapsed may reinstate membership upon payment of dues for the current year, plus payment of dues for the year immediately preceding the current year.

Section 7.  A member who has rejoined may vote.

Section 8.  A member may be denied rights and privileges of membership if her/his actions are detrimental to the name, goals and/or purposes of this organization.

Section 9.  No individual, who is now or later becomes a member, shall personally be liable to this organization's creditors for any indebtedness or liability. Any and all creditors shall look only to the assets of this organization for payment.

Section 10.  MIRID recognizes the following levels of membership:

A. Voting members - those who are dual members in both RID and MIRID (with subcategories: interpreters, students, and deaf members.)

B.  Non-voting members - those who are only members in MIRID (with subcategories: interpreters, students,  deaf members, other individuals, and organizations.

ARTICLE IV.  MEETINGS [top]

Section 1.  Business meetings shall be held during the spring and fall of each year.

Section 2.  A special meeting may be called by the executive board or shall be called upon written petition to the executive board by seven (7) members in good standing.

Section 3.  Membership must be notified of business meetings at least thirty (30) days in advance.

Section 4.  This organization shall not recognize proxy votes.

Section 5.  A quorum for a business meeting shall consist of a majority of the dual status members registered to attend the workshop in conjunction with the general business meeting.

Section 6.  Parliamentary order shall be maintained at the meetings with fair respect to Robert’s Rules of Order current edition.

ARTICLE V.  EXECUTIVE BOARD AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS [top]

Section 1.  The executive board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, three (3) elected Members-at-large [consisting of one (1) deaf member and two (2) general members], and a Publications Manager; the board of directors shall consist of the executive board and local chapter chairpersons, and a Michigan Deaf Association (MDA) Liaison; and

Section 2.  shall conduct, manage and control the business of this organization; and

Section 3.  shall have a quorum when the majority of the state elected executive board officers are present; and

Section 4.  shall have officers who have been members of MIRID in good standing for two (2) consecutive years prior to nomination maintaining membership in good standing throughout their term of office; and

Section 5.  shall be RID members in good standing, maintaining that membership in good standing throughout their term of office; and

Section 6.  shall assume office at the Fall Workshop or October 1, whichever is first, of their election year for a period of two (2) years, or until such time as duly appointed/elected successors have been installed.

A.  No state elected officer shall hold more than one state office at one time.

B.  No state elected officer shall hold the same office for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

C.  Newly elected officers will be officers-elect from date of election until succession.

Section 7.  Vacancies shall exist in elected office(s) upon resignation, removal, death or other causes.

A. Resignation(s) of officer(s) shall be submitted in writing to the president with a copy to the secretary.

B. If the office of president becomes vacant the vice-president shall automatically fulfill the office of president.

C. Vacancies in elected office(s) shall be temporarily filled by appointment of a member by the president, with the approval of the executive board.  A permanent replacement shall be elected at the next general meeting by a simple majority.

D.  A motion for the removal of a state elected officer may be brought by the general membership, or the executive board, due to the officer's failure to act in good faith in fulfilling the duties inherent in the office.  The voting body (i.e. the general membership or the executive board) must notify all of its members in writing, and must notify the officer by certified letter, of its reasons for the intended removal; of the action being taken; and of the time and place of the meeting; sixty (60) days prior to a call for a vote.  A three-fourths (3/4) majority of the voting body is required to pass the motion for removal.

ARTICLE VI.  DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS [top]

Section 1.  President

A.  shall preside at executive board meetings and regular and special meetings of the membership; and

B.  shall set up any committee(s) deemed necessary, with the approval of the executive board or membership; and

C.  shall, with the approval of the executive board, appoint a committee of three (3) members to audit the treasurer's records; and

D.  may have other powers and duties as prescribed by the executive board and/or the membership; and

E.  shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee; and

F.  shall be the secondary signer on all checks; and

G.  shall serve as a liaison between the national organization, the regional organization, the chapter, and the local chapters.

H.  shall represent MIRID during other organizational meetings of/for the deaf and hard-of-hearing persons as necessary.

I.    shall continue to serve on the executive board in an advisory capacity for one (1) year after her/his elected term of office.

Section 2.  Vice-president

A.  shall serve as president pro-tem when the president is unable to perform the duties of her/his office for any reason; and

B.  shall be responsible for working with the workshop committee; and

C.  may have other powers and duties as prescribed by the executive board and/or the membership.

Section 3.  Secretary

A.  shall keep accurate and complete minutes of the meetings of this organization and of the executive board; and

B.  shall serve as president pro-tem and appoint a secretary pro-tem if the president and vice-president are unable to chair the meeting for any reason; and

C.  shall be the tertiary signer on checks for the disbursement of monies

Section 4.  Treasurer

A.  shall be responsible for collecting, recording, banking and disbursing all monies of MIRID; and

B.  shall be responsible for an accurate accounting of all membership dues and issuance of membership cards and receipts; and

C.  shall prepare quarterly reports and provide same to the executive board; and

D.  shall be the primary signer on all checks for the disbursement of monies; and

E.  shall give a complete written audited financial report at general meetings; and

F.  shall send membership dues notices during the month of May each year; and

G.  shall be eligible to be bonded; and

H.  may be bonded; and

I.  shall, if for any reason the president, vice president and the secretary are unable to chair a meeting, serve as president pro-tem and appoint a secretary pro-tem.

Section 5.  Members-at-large

A.  shall represent the general membership; and

B.  shall assist the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer as needed.

Section 6.  Publications Manager

A.  shall develop and edit The Michigan Interpreter's Link; and

B.  shall manage MIRID's website; and

C. shall develop and other publications the board deems necessary.

Section 7.  Local Chapter Chairpersons

A.  shall represent their respective local chapter members; and

B.  shall assist the members-at-large as needed.

Section 8.  Michigan Deaf Association (MDA) Liaison

A.  acting as a liaison between the executive boards of MIRID and MDA; and

B.  shall complete any duties as assigned.

ARTICLE VII.  NOMINATIONS and ELECTIONS [top]

Section 1.  A member is eligible to run for office if s/he is currently in good standing and has maintained her/his good standing status consecutively for a period of at least two (2) years.

Section 2.  Nominations for officers may be made by:

A.  any current member and submitted to the nominating committee and/or

B.  the nominating committee; and or

C.  any current member from the floor.

Section 3.  The election of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer shall be during the regular spring meeting of each odd year.

Section 4.  The election of members-at-large shall be held during the regular spring meeting of each even year.

Section 5.  Election to any office shall be by a majority vote.

Section 6.  Voting shall be by ballot.

ARTICLE VIII.  LOCAL CHAPTERS [top]

Section 1.  shall be identified by MIRID as a group within a defined geographical area; and

Section 2.  shall adhere to the by-laws, philosophies, procedures, policies and guidelines of MIRID; and

Section 3.  shall consist of a chairperson, secretary, treasurer, or secretary-treasurer, and other officers deemed necessary; and

Section 4.  shall prepare annual fiscal and membership reports and submit same to the executive board by March 1st of each year; and

Section 5.  shall be represented at all executive board meetings by regional chairpersons who may vote.

Section 6.  Regional terminations shall be instituted if a region fails to follow the by-laws, policies, procedures and philosophies of MIRID, or upon regional request or inactivity; and

A.  shall be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the executive board and must be ratified by a simple majority of the membership at the next general meeting; and

B.  shall, in the event a region is officially terminated by the membership, release and assign to MIRID all assets within thirty (30) days of said termination.  These assets will be held in escrow for a period of two (2) years or until the region is reactivated, whichever occurs first.  Failure to comply within the thirty (30) days requirement will necessitate MIRID’s seizure of said assets.

ARTICLE IX.  COMMITTEES [top]

Section 1.  Standing committees shall be chaired by a member in good standing appointed by the president upon approval of the executive board.  The standing committees of MIRID may include, but are not limited, to the following: Auditing, Budget, By-laws, Fund Raising, Nominating, Publications, and Workshop.

Section 2.  Ad hoc committees shall be chaired by a member in good standing appointed by the president upon approval of the executive board as may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives and activities as set forth in these by-laws and or as mandated by the voting membership.

Section 3.  Committees shall be governed by policy statements regarding each committee; and

Section 4.  shall adhere to the by-laws, philosophies, procedures, policies and guidelines of MIRID.

Section 5.  All committee members and committee chairs shall be in office for a period of 2 years.  At that time, if the position cannot be filled, the committee chair may temporarily be reappointed until a new chair is recruited.

ARTICLE X.  FINANCES [top]

Section 1.  Primary finances for MIRID are by dues and workshop fees.

Section 2.  Checks and notes shall be signed by the treasurer and be countersigned by the president.  The president may authorize the secretary to countersign specific checks as needed.

Section 3.  Deposits of all funds shall be made promptly to the credit of this organization in such banks, trust company or other depositories as the executive board may designate.

Section 4.  Audit of the financial status of this organization shall be conducted by three (3) auditors at least two (2) times a year.

Section 5.  An independent audit will be conducted by November 30 of every odd year, bi-annually (every 2 years).

ARTICLE XI.  FISCAL YEAR [top]

Section 1.  The fiscal year of this organization shall begin on the first (1st) day of July and end on the thirtieth (30th) day of June each year.

ARTICLE XII.  DUES and ASSESSMENTS [top]

Section 1.  Dues shall be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present at a MIRID meeting.

Section 2.  Dues must be paid by July 1st of each year.

Section 3.  Assessment may be levied on all MIRID members by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of membership present at a regular or specially called meeting.  Such assessment shall not exceed one-half (1/2) the amount of that year’s dues.

Section 4.  Dues will be assessed according to the following levels of membership:  Voting (interpreters, students, and deaf members); and Non-voting (interpreters, students, deaf members, other individuals and organization.)

Section 5.  Dues will be changed per assessment and approval of membership.

ARTICLE XIII.  AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS [top]

Section 1.  Amendments to the by-laws must be ratified as follows:

A.  by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those voting, if notice of proposed changes is given sixty (60) days prior to the meeting; or

B.  by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of those voting if no notice has been given.

ARTICLE XIV.  VETO POWERS OF THE MEMBERS [top]

Section 1.  Any decision of the executive board may be vetoed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those eligible and voting during a regular or special meeting of the membership.

ARTICLE XV.  DISSOLUTION [top]

Section 1.  In the event this organization dissolves, all remaining assets, real and personal of whatsoever nature, shall be put in escrow for a period of ten (10) years; or until reorganization (whichever comes first) by a Michigan non-profit organization of interpreters serving deaf people.  If no such organization exists, the assets shall be distributed to Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) a non-profit corporation which has established its tax-exempt status under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code as amended.