CAHEAD Capital AHEAD

CONSTITUTION of the CAPITAL AREA ASSOCIATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND DISABILITITY (CAHEAD)

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Capital Area AHEAD.

Article II. Definition

For the purposes of this constitution, the term disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such an individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.

Article III. Purpose

The purpose of the Capital Area AHEAD shall be to:

A. Provide members with opportunities for professional development.
B. Promote equal access for students with disabilities in higher education.
C. Share information and resources through a network of postsecondary institutions and organizations.
D. Monitor current legislation affecting disability issues
E. Provide service related activities such as support groups, special program development, and technical assistance.

Article IV. Membership

Section 1. The Capital Area AHEAD shall have three classifications of membership: Institutional/Organizational, Individual and Honorary.

Section 2. Individual or Institutional/Organizational membership shall be open to all professionals in, or institutions of, postsecondary learning who are engaged in the administration of the provision services or the general operation of programs designed to provide services which will enhance postsecondary educational programs for students with disabilities. Each individual member or Institutional/Organizational member must pay annual dues and is entitled to one vote and is eligible to hold office.

Section 3. Honorary Membership may be conferred by the Capital Area AHEAD upon persons of distinction. Honorary Membership is granted upon recommendation of the Executive Board.

Section 4. The membership year shall be from July 1 through June 30.

Section 5. We will set a deadline date of November 1 for payment of membership dues; however membership dues will be accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the membership year.

Article V. OFFICERS OF THE CAPITAL AREA AHEAD

Section 1. Officers and Terms of Office

A. The Officers of the Capital Area AHEAD shall be the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, two (2) Board Members At-Large. Each officer shall hold office for two consecutive terms or until their successors are determined.

B. The term of office for any elected officer shall be for a period of two years and shall begin July 1.

C. The officers of the Capital Area AHEAD shall form the Executive Board.

D. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Board, the remaining members of the Board shall designate the replacement(s) subject to an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the voting members attending the next regularly scheduled Capital Area AHEAD meeting or via email or online voting.

Section 2. Duties of Officers

A. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Capital Area AHEAD and perform other such duties as pertain to that office. The president shall be Chairperson of the Executive Board.

B. The president shall appoint one member of the Executive Board to serve as President-Elect.

C. The president shall appoint one member of the Executive Board to serve as Treasurer, and designate an Executive Board member as alternate signature. Bank records should reflect current approved signatures.

D. The treasurer shall be responsible for receiving all monies of the Capital Area AHEAD under policies approved by the Executive Board. He or she shall keep adequate and appropriate records of such receipts and disbursements. The treasurer shall perform the duties customary to the office and such additional as may be directed by the Capital Area AHEAD. The treasurer shall submit an annual written report to the Capital Area AHEAD at the end of the fiscal year.

E. The president shall appoint one member of the Executive Board to serve as Secretary.

F. The secretary shall be the recording officer of the Capital Area AHEAD and of the Executive Board and serve as custodian of all records except such as are specifically assigned to others. It is the responsibility of the Secretary to send out copies of the minutes and proper notices of all called membership meetings.

G. The President shall assign duties to the 2 At-Large Members of the Executive Board as needed to carry out the work of the Capital Area AHEAD (e.g., membership and special events).

H. In addition, the President may appoint Capital Area AHEAD members to direct activities consistent with the purpose of the Capital Area AHEAD as stated in the Constitution (e.g., information sharing, monitoring legislation).

I. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, makes all aforementioned appointments of Officers and Capital Area AHEAD members.

Section 3. Executive Board

A. The Executive Board shall have full authority to conduct the affairs of the Capital Area AHEAD during the interim period between meetings. Such authority must remain within the 2 provisions of this constitution and not conflict with decisions, actions, or policies established by the Capital Area AHEAD. If necessary a majority vote of the Executive Board shall be the deciding matter.

B. The Executive Board shall be comprised of six (6) elected officers.

Article VI. Committees

Section 1. Appointment of committees: The president shall name such standing and ad hoc committees as may be needed to conduct the business of the Capital Area AHEAD. Such committees shall operate within the purposes and philosophy of the Capital Area AHEAD and shall be specifically charged. Ad hoc committees, in addition, shall be automatically dismissed upon completion of their tasks.

Article VII. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nomination procedures: Each year, the Executive Board shall, by the end of March, appoint a nomination and election committee to develop a slate of three new candidates for the Executive Board to replace the three members whose two year term has expired described in Article V, Section 1, Part A. Any member of the Capital Area AHEAD shall make nominations to this committee but only voting members are eligible to hold office. The nominees shall be contacted by the committee to verify their acceptance of the nomination. Members will be emailed notification of the slate of candidates by May 15.

Section 2. Election Process: the nomination and election shall be conducted by email or web ballot. Ballots shall be emailed by May 15 and submitted for return before the June meeting of the Capital Area AHEAD enabling the newly elected officers to assume office July 1. Voting members will each cast three votes, electing three new members to the board annually. The three candidates receiving the largest number of votes will be named the new members of the Executive Board. The nomination and election committee will be responsible for the tallying of the election votes.

Section 3. Election Procedures: The nomination and election committee shall be responsible for establishing the election procedures within the guidelines of the constitution and subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

Article VIII. Dues

Section 1. Dues shall be assessed and collected in such amount and in such manner as may be prescribed by the by-laws. Any change in the dues of the Capital Area AHEAD may be deemed necessary by a unanimous vote of the board after careful consideration of all potential expenses and any other relevant issues.

Section 2. Dues shall be assessed according to the membership year, July 1 through June 30. The Executive Board should send out notices for renewal by June 15. The Executive Board will send a second notice by October 1.

Section 3. Persons will be enrolled as members and afforded all benefits of membership when payment of dues is received.

Article IX. Finance

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Capital Area AHEAD shall be from July 1 through June 30.

Section 2. Income shall be derived from membership dues and such other sources as the Executive Board may approve.

Section 3. No part of the net earnings of the Capital Area AHEAD shall inure to the benefit of any member, officer, sponsor or private individual. This shall not prevent payment of responsible compensation for services rendered to or for the Capital Area AHEAD in effecting its purpose.

Section 4. Income shall be used to further the purposes of the Capital Area AHEAD as stated in Article III in a manner prescribed by the Executive Board.

Section 5. Upon dissolution of the Capital Area AHEAD all assets shall be distributed to such organizations which qualify under Section 501 (c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any successor provision thereto.

Section 6. The books of the Capital Area AHEAD shall be audited at the conclusion of each of the Capital Area AHEAD's fiscal years in a manner prescribed by the Executive Board.

Article X. Rules of Order

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall be the parliamentary reference for proceedings of the Capital Area AHEAD unless otherwise specified in the Constitution.

Section 2. Parliamentarian: The president may appoint a parliamentarian for all voting meetings of the Capital Area AHEAD.

Article XI. Constitutional Amendments

This constitution may be amended at a duly called meeting of the Capital Area AHEAD whereby an affirmative vote is cast by either two-thirds of the voting members present or via email or web ballot. A notice to amend the constitution must be given to the membership at least two weeks previous to the duly called meeting where the amendment(s) will be discussed and voted upon.

As amended: July, 1980; December, 1981; February, 1982; April, 1994; January, 1999; October, 2003; October 2007.

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