Guide Dog Users
of California

Article I. NAME
Article II PURPOSE
Article III. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING
Article IV. OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Article V. RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Article VI. MEETINGS
Article VII. AMENDMENTS
Article VIII. COMMITTEES
Article IX. AFFILIATION
Article X. DISSOLUTION

BYLAWS
1. DUES
2. FINANCES
3. STANDING COMMITTEES
4. VACANCIES
5. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
6. CONVENTION DELEGATES
7. MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS
     A. Minutes
     B. Constitution and By-Laws
     C. Newsletter
8. Amendments

Article I. NAME

A. The name of this organization shall be Guide Dog Users of California, hereinafter to be referred to as GDUC.

B. No person or organization shall use the name Guide Dog Users of California without the express permission of the President and/or the Board of Directors.

Article II. PURPOSE

The purpose of GDUC shall be:

A. To promote the acceptance of blind persons with guide dogs 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, housing, restaurants, places of amusement and all places to which the general public is invited.

C. To work to improve the scope and quality of guide dog breeding, selection, training, health care and follow-up.

D. To work to improve the scope and quality of educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for blind persons in general, and Guide Dog Users in particular in the State of California.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING

C. All members in good standing shall have the right to cast their individual votes at any meeting of the membership. There shall be no proxy voting.

D. The supreme authority of Guide Dog Users of California shall rest with the general membership, present and voting.

Article IV. OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

B. Two Directors shall be elected, shall serve no more than two consecutive terms or five years in the same office.

C. The Immediate Past President shall be a member of the Board of Directors.

D. The President, Secretary and one (1) Director shall be elected at the Fall meeting of each odd-numbered year. The Vice President, Treasurer and one (1) Director shall be elected in the Fall of each even-numbered year.

E. The terms of officers and directors shall commence January 1 of the year following the adjournment of the Convention at which their election occurs.

F. 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.

G. The officers and directors shall constitute the Board of Directors and shall be the governing body of GDUC between meetings of the membership. The Board may cast vote by mail or telephone ballot.

H. The majority of the officers and the Board of Directors must be guide dog users. This majority shall include the President and Vice President.

I. All elections shall be by a majority vote of those members present and voting.

Article V. RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

B. Any Officer or Director may be removed from office for good and sufficient cause by a two thirds vote of the total membership of the Board of Directors excluding the charged Office or Director. In no event shall such a vote be taken until the Officer or Director has been given written notice via certified mail, of the charges pending and has had an opportunity to appear before the Board of Directors to defend against those charges. Following an affirmative vote to remove an Officer or Director, the Board may, in its discretion, elect a person to fill the vacant office until the next regular or special meeting.

C. Any Board member facing possible removal from office shall have fifteen (15) days following the receipt of notice in which to respond, at which time the Board may take action.

D. At the next regular or special meeting, the membership of GDUC shall, if necessary, elect a person to complete the term for which the resigned or removed officer or director was originally elected.

Article VI. MEETINGS

B. The President or a majority of the Board of Directors may call a special meeting. At least thirty (30) days notice must be given to the membership by mail or telephone in order to hold a special meeting.

C. A quorum at a special meeting shall consist of ten (10) percent of the total membership.

D. The Board of Directors shall annually hold a minimum of four (4) meetings of the Board of Directors not including the membership meetings. These meetings may be held either in person or telephonically.

Article VII. AMENDMENTS

A. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of those eligible to vote at a regular or special meeting provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to the membership not less than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

B. All Bylaw amendments shall be approved by a majority vote of those present and voting at a regular or special meeting.

Article VIII. COMMITTEES

A. The President may appoint all members of committees within the organization unless otherwise instructed by the membership or the Board of Directors.

Article IX. AFFILIATION

A. This organization shall be affiliated with the California Council of the Blind, Guide Dog Users, Inc. and the American Council of the Blind.

Article X. DISSOLUTION

A. Upon a vote of dissolution by 85% of the active membership and after paying all of its debts and obligations, all remaining funds shall revert to:

1. Guide Dog Users, Inc. If this organization no longer exists, all funds shall revert to:

2. The California Council of the Blind.

BYLAWS

1. DUES

A. The annual dues of this organization shall be twenty dollars ($20.00).

B. The dues shall be redetermined by the general membership present at any regular or special meeting. Annual dues shall be payable at each Fall meeting and become delinquent as of January 1st of the following year. Dues for the current calendar year will not be accepted after September 1 of the current year. As the calendar year runs from January 1 through December 31, dues paid after September 1 will be held for the next full calendar year.

C. Since GDUC does not have to forward dues to GDUI for GDUI life members, the dues for a GDUI life member shall be discounted by the amount forwarded to GDUI on a member's behalf, thus the GDUI life member shall pay to GDUC twelve dollars ($12) per year.

D. The Treasurer shall submit current dues and membership roster to Guide Dog Users, Inc. and to the California Council of the Blind on or before February 15 of each year.

2. FINANCES

A. The President and the Treasurer shall be responsible for the selection of a bank where bank accounts shall be established and maintained. All income including dues shall be deposited therein.

B. The Treasurer shall issue checks upon the order of the President.

C. Either the President or the Treasurer shall sign checks on behalf of the organization.

D. The Treasurer and the President shall not spend more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) without the approval of the Board of Directors or the membership.

3. STANDING COMMITTEES

A. Fund-raising
B. Membership
C. Legislative
D. Public Relations
E. Constitution and Bylaws
F. Publications
G. Advocacy

4. VACANCIES

If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President. If a vacancy occurs in the other offices of the organization, the President and the Board of Directors shall elect a person to continue in that office until the next regular or special meeting where an election shall be held.

5. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

A. Failure to attend three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without just cause.

B. Failure to perform the duties of office as specified by the Constitution and Bylaws of GDUC.

C. Performance of the duties of office in a manner that is detrimental to the aims and purposes of this organization.

D. Personal conduct which brings discredit on GDUC.

E. Conviction of any felony.

6. CONVENTION DELEGATES

A. At each Spring meeting, the organization shall elect a Delegate and an alternate Delegate who shall represent GDUC at the up coming Fall and Spring conventions of the California Council of the Blind. At the regular Spring meeting of this organization, a Delegate and alternate Delegate shall be elected to represent GDUC at the convention of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

B. Any delegate so elected, shall vote in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the membership, whether in general meeting or in caucus.

7. MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS

A. Minutes

1. The Secretary shall prepare minutes of all business meetings, special meetings, and meetings of the Board of Directors and send copies of said minutes to all members of the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days of each meeting. The Secretary shall maintain copies of minutes in a binder. Hand-printed or hand-written minutes are not acceptable.

2. Failure to comply with these instructions shall constitute grounds for removal from office.

B. Constitution and By-Laws.

A copy of the Constitution and By-Laws shall be issued to each member upon joining. Copies of the amendments thereto shall be furnished to each active member within sixty (60) days of such revisions. Choice of format shall be Braille, Two-track Standard Audio Cassette, IBM compatible computer disk, and print. A copy of the original and subsequent revised Constitution andBy-Laws shall be maintained to be passed on to the duly elected President of this organization.

C. Newsletter

1. The Board of Directors shall select an editor of the newsletter. Anyone serving as editor of the newsletter shall not be precluded from holding office. The Board of Directors shall determine the number of issues to be prepared by the editor.

2. All members shall be entitled to receive the newsletter. Non-members may receive the newsletter on payment of an annual subscription to be determined by the Board of Directors.

8. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be effective immediately upon approval by the membership present unless other wise so stated in the motion.