FAD BYLAWS 

Florida Association of the Deaf
BYLAWS
As adopted during the 2026 FAD Conference in Kissimmee, Florida.
ARTICLE 1 – NAME
1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be the Florida Association of the Deaf,
hereafter referred to as the Association.
ARTICLE 2 – OBJECT
2.1 Objective
The objective of the Association shall be to preserve, protect, and promote the
civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, and
deaf-blind individuals in Florida.
2.2 Status
The Association shall be a nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of
Florida.
2.3 Relationship
The Association shall be a state association affiliate member of the National
Association of the Deaf (NAD) in good standing, with associated benefits and
privileges.
2.4 Membership
Individual membership in the Association shall be open to all deaf, hard of
hearing, late deafened, deaf-blind, or hearing individuals, without discrimination
based on race, color, religion, sex, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or
gender identity. The Association shall also offer organizational membership
categories.
ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership Categories
The Association shall offer an Individual Membership category and
two organizational categories: Affiliate Membership and Nonprofit
Membership.
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3.2 Individual Membership
Individual Membership shall be open to anyone eighteen (18) years of age and
over.
3.2.1 Status
Individual Member status shall be conferred upon individuals upon payment
of annual dues.
3.2.2 Privileges
Individual Members in good standing shall be entitled to voting
representation at biennial State Conferences.
3.3 Affiliate Membership
Affiliate Membership shall be open to eligible local and state clubs or
organizations.
3.3.1 Status
Affiliate Membership status shall be conferred to local and state clubs or
organizations in Florida led by and representing deaf, hard-of-hearing,
late-deafened, or deaf-blind people, upon payment of annual dues.
3.3.2 Privileges
Affiliate Members in good standing shall be entitled to voting
representation at biannual Board Meetings and biennial State Conferences.
Affiliate Members with 99 members or fewer shall designate one (1)
representative, and those with 100 or more members shall designate up to
two (2) representatives. Each designated representative shall also be an
Individual Member in good standing.
3.4 Nonprofit Membership
Nonprofit Membership shall be open to eligible local and state nonprofit entities or
government agencies.
3.4.1 Status
Nonprofit Membership status shall be conferred on local and state
nonprofit entities or government agencies in Florida that provide services
to deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind people, upon
payment of annual dues.
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3.4.2 Privileges
Nonprofit Members in good standing shall be entitled to one (1)
non-voting representative at biannual Board Meetings. The designated
representative shall also be an Individual Member in good standing.
3.5 Membership Dues
The Board of Directors shall determine dues for all membership categories.
ARTICLE 4 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4.1 Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Association shall be composed of the President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Appointed
Members, and Affiliate Organization Representatives.
4.2 Elected Officers
The President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Board of Directors shall be
elected by ballot at the biennial State Conference. The Board of Directors will
select the Treasurer after vetting and interviews by the President and one additional
board member.
Individual Members who seek office shall be deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened,
or deaf-blind, be full-time Florida residents (6 months or more), be members in
good standing for the two (2) years preceding the election and shall have attended
at least one (1) State Conference.
4.3 Immediate Past President
The outgoing President of the Board of Directors, upon completion of the term
of office, shall assume the role of Immediate Past President.
4.4 Appointed Members
The Board of Directors may select up to two (2) Appointed Members for
special expertise. Individual Members considered for appointment shall be
deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind, be full-time Florida
residents (6 months or more), be members in good standing for the two (2)
years preceding election and shall have attended at least one (1) State
Conference.
4.5 Candidacy Requirements
The Election Committee shall receive completed candidacy forms, requisite
background information, and proof of membership from prospective candidates for
elected Board positions no later than thirty (30) days before the biennial State
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Conference to verify that candidacy requirements are met. Names of official Board
candidates shall be posted seven (7) days before the start of the conference. If there
are no prospects for a particular Board position, the Election Committee shall
receive candidacy documents before the conference business meeting begins.
4.6 Terms of Office
Elected Officers of the Board of Directors shall be eligible to serve for no more
than two (2) consecutive two-year terms. Appointed Members of the Board shall
be eligible to serve for no more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms.
4.7 Assumption of Office
Elected Officers shall assume their respective Board duties immediately after
adjournment of the biennial State Conference. Appointed Members shall start their
respective Board duties no later than sixty (60) days after the conference.
Designated representatives of Affiliate Members shall start their respective Board
duties no later than thirty (30) days after the conference.
4.8 Duties of Office
The Board of Directors shall have general control of the affairs of the Association
between biennial State Conferences. During this time, they shall consider action
on conference recommendations and membership input. The Board shall have the
power to fill Board vacancies except for the office of President if these occur
between biennial State Conferences. The Board shall undertake actions to ensure
the financial health and growth of the Association and to ensure that the
Association's expenditure does not at any time exceed its income for each fiscal
year.
4.9 Duties of the Board of Directors
Duties specific to each member of the Board of Directors are as follows:
4.9.1 President
The President shall be the chief spokesperson for the Association and shall
chair official Board meetings and business meetings during biennial State
Conferences. The President, with Board approval, shall appoint the chair of
each standing committee other than the Finance Committee and shall be an
ex officio member of all committees.
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4.9.2 Vice President
The Vice President shall perform duties agreed upon by the Board and shall
serve at any time the President is unable to serve or when the office of the
President becomes vacant.
4.9.3 Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of Board meetings,
business meetings held during the State Conference, and the Association's
official documents.
4.9.4 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be appointed to the Board of Directors after a thorough
background check and an interview conducted by the President and another
board member. The recommendation for the new Treasurer shall be voted on
and approved by the entire Board of Directors at the next Board meeting.
The Treasurer shall oversee the Association's vested funds, serve as chair of
the Finance Committee, and submit an annual budget for the upcoming year
to the entire Board for approval just before the start of the next fiscal
year. The Treasurer should also have experience with nonprofit financial
reporting.
4.9.5 Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President shall confer with the President and provide
input to the Board of Directors.
4.9.6 Affiliate Member Representatives
Affiliated Members shall serve as liaisons between the Board and their
respective organizations and work with the Board of Directors as a whole.
4.10 Resignation
Resignations from the Board of Directors must be submitted in writing to the
President and the Secretary.
4.11 Removal from Office
Elected and appointed members of the Board may be removed after a due
process hearing for failure to carry out their duties or for other good and
sufficient reason by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors present
and voting.
4.12 Conflict of Interest
Elected and appointed members of the Board of Directors, before acceptance and
during their tenure, shall consider each item of business, where they have a vote or
decision authority, to determine if a real or perceived conflict exists with the
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interests of the Association. In the event of such a conflict, the Board member shall
promptly disclose the conflict to the Board and recuse themselves from
deliberations or voting on the matter giving rise to the conflict of interest.
4.13 Compensation
Members of the Board of Directors shall serve without compensation except
for standard expense reimbursement for costs incurred in the discharge of
duties.
4.14 Indemnification
The Association will indemnify any Board or committee member for expenses they
genuinely incur while defending civil actions, suits, or proceedings related to their
role, provided they are found not liable. This indemnity is not exclusive and does
not restrict any other rights such members might possess under bylaws,
agreements, Board votes, or other rules.
ARTICLE 5 – MEETINGS
5.1 Full Board Meetings
The full Board of Directors, including representatives of Affiliate Member
organizations, shall meet quarterly to receive progress reports on Association
business. Such meetings may be held via video conference, shall be open to the
public, shall be announced 60 days in advance, and shall take place in
geographically accessible regions of the state.
5.2 Executive Board Meetings
The Executive Board of Directors, composed of elected and appointed members
and the immediate past president, shall convene no less than four (4) times each
year to conduct Association business. Such meetings may be held via
Videoconference, shall be open to the public, shall be announced 30 days in
advance, and shall take place in geographically accessible regions of the state.
5.3 Executive Sessions
The Executive Board of Directors shall convene in executive session where
circumstances warrant, that is, when discussing matters of a sensitive, personnel,
or litigious nature.
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5.4 Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called upon the request of the President or any three
(3) Board elected or appointed members. Notification shall be given to the
Executive Board of Directors at least seven (7) days before the meeting. Such
meetings may be held by electronic conference or similar video communication
methods. Electronic vote results shall be ratified at the next Executive Board
meeting.
5.5 Email Motions & Voting
The Executive Board of Directors may, when necessary, deliberate and vote on a
formal motion presented via email or videoconference.
5.6 Biennial Conferences
The Association shall meet biennially at the State Conference in odd-numbered
years.
5.6.1 Business Meeting
The Executive Board of Directors shall provide for an official business
meeting at the biennial State Conference to report on the Association's
progress. Further, members in good standing with voting privileges shall
have the opportunity to deliberate on priorities for the next two years,
consider proposed amendments to the bylaws, and elect new Board officers.
5.6.2 Bids & Site Selection
Affiliate Member organizations may bid to serve as host for the next
biennial State Conference. Such bids shall be in accordance with site
selection and hosting policies and procedures established and announced
by the Executive Board of Directors, including the selection of the
winning bid.
5.7 Quorum
A quorum to conduct business at any annual, regular, special, or committee
meetings shall be a majority of the voting membership registered to attend the
meeting. An exception to this rule shall be both bylaws and dissolution meetings in
which the bylaws may be amended as specified in Articles 8 and 9 below.
ARTICLE 6 – COMMITTEES
6.1 Standing Committees
The standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be the Bylaws,
Communications (Outreach/Social Media), Finance (Fundraising), Investment,
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and Membership committees. The President, with Board approval, shall appoint
the chairs of each committee (other than Finance), and the Vice President shall
serve as Board liaison on all committees.
6.2 Ad Hoc & Special Committees
The Board of Directors may form ad hoc or special committees from time to time
as needed. These may include committees focusing on biennial State Conference
matters, specific projects, and task forces. The President, with Board approval,
shall appoint the chairs of each committee, and the Vice President shall serve as
Board liaison on all committees.
ARTICLE 7 – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
7.1 Robert’s Rules of Order
Unless otherwise provided for in these bylaws, the current edition of Robert's
Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority of the
Association.
ARTICLE 8 – AMENDMENTS
8.1 Proposed Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present
and voting at the biennial State Conference, provided that amendments are
submitted to the Bylaws Committee sixty (60) days before the conference, that
proposed amendments are distributed to the members at least thirty (30) days
before the conference, and that the amendments are read during the conference.
Any amendments or motions passed at the State Conference shall become effective
immediately, unless specified otherwise.
8.2 Suspensions
These bylaws may NOT be suspended for any purpose at the Biennial State
Conference by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of members present and voting.
ARTICLE 9 – DISSOLUTION
9.1 Dissolution of Assets
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Upon the dissolution (2/3 vote) of the whole Association through mail ballots, all
of its assets remaining after payment of all expenses of such dissolution shall be
distributed to a bona-fide nonprofit (preferably an organization that is run by deaf
people as outlined in these bylaws) fund, foundation, or association that serves
Florida Deaf citizens and that is organized and operated exclusively for purposes
that is qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, as amended. The Board of Directors and any individual members of
the Association shall not receive any assets for any purpose.
Florida Association of the Deaf 2026 Bylaws