Constitution
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ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization is the Arkansas Community Development Society, a chapter of the Community Development Society, hereafter referred to as ACDS.
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ARTICLE II. PURPOSES
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ACDS is an educational non-profit organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the community development profession by:
1. Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and the development of common interest among the members of ACDS;
2. Providing for publication and dissemination of community development information to members of the public;
3. Advocating excellence in community development scholarship, research, and practice for the good of mankind; and
4. Promoting citizen participation as essential to effective community development.
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ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP REGIONS
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Section 1. For the purpose of membership recruitment and retention, the board shall designate membership regions within the state. Membership regions shall be described in the bylaws.
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Section 2. A director of each membership region shall be elected from the membership and serve as a member of the board of directors. Requirements for election and service shall be described in the bylaws.
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ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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Section 1. ACDS shall be governed by a board of directors elected by a plurality of the membership voting in an election. Duties of the board shall be to establish and administer the policies and procedures of ACDS, to adopt and amend bylaws for this purpose, and provide leadership and initiative to realize the purpose of the organization. Election procedures and duties of officers and directors shall be described in the bylaws.
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Section 2. The number of directors shall not exceed fifteen (15). All voting members in good standing shall be eligible for election to the board and all directors must be voting members in good standing.
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Section 3. Officers of the board shall be president, vice president-programs, vice president-membership, vice president-technology, secretary, treasurer, and immediate past president. Regional directors shall also serve on the board.
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Section 4. The terms of office for officers and regional directors shall begin on January 1 following their election. The term of service shall be for two years or until such time as successors are elected and duly qualified. There are no limits placed upon terms of elected positions.
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Section 5. The board of directors shall meet at least once annually. That meeting shall take place immediately following the adjournment of the annual meeting of the general membership of ACDS.
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Section 6. A director may be removed from board service upon missing three (3) consecutive meetings. An appeal process for hardship cases will be described in the bylaws.
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ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP
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Section 1. Membership shall be restricted to individuals. Any person interested in the advancement of any aspect of community development or the community development profession, including but not limited to individuals from the private sector, government agencies, citizen groups, and academic institutions, is eligible for membership in ACDS.
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Section 2. The board of directors shall take no action to deny membership in ACDS of any person on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, handicap, or national origin.
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Section 3. A member's dues must be paid in full in order to be eligible to vote in elections of ACDS.
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ARTICLE VI. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF ACDS
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Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the general membership at such place and time as set by the board of directors. The board shall provide the membership with thirty (30) days of advance notice of the annual meeting. A quorum shall be the number of members in attendance at a duly called annual meeting.
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Section 2. The board of directors may, or upon petition by not less than twenty-five (25) percent of the membership shall, convene a special meeting of the membership. The business of such special meetings shall be restricted to those matters stated in the call for such meetings. A quorum shall be the number of members in attendance at a duly called special meeting.
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Section 3. A meeting of the membership may be called by the president or by three (3) directors. The directors must submit their request to the secretary who will notify the membership of the meeting. The business of such special meetings shall be restricted to those matters stated in the call for such meetings. A quorum shall be the number of members in attendance at a duly called special meeting.
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Section 4. For the purpose of transacting business, a quorum of the board shall consist of not less than five (5) directors.
Section 5. Votes may be cast in person or online, depending upon how the board called the meeting. Members may not cast a vote by proxy.
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Section 6. Meetings of the membership and board shall be conducted according to procedures stated in the bylaws, or subordinately by Robert's Rules of Order.
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Section 7. Nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the authority of the board of directors to convene regional workshops or seminars for the advancement of the scientific and educational purposes of ACDS.
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ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
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Section 1. There shall be established by the board of directors the following standing committees:
- Awards and Recognition
- Membership and Marketing
- Nominating
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Program Scholarship
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Section 2. The terms of office for members of the committees shall run for two years beginning January 1 following their appointment.
Section 3. The board of directors may establish ad hoc committees as needed, to be reviewed annually.
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ARTICLE VIII. FINANCE
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Section 1. The board of directors shall approve the annual budget for ACDS which shall constitute authorization for expenditure.
Section 2. Dues shall be established by the board of directions and defined in the bylaws.
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ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION
Should ACDS be dissolved by a vote of the majority of the membership in a referendum of all members, funds remaining in the ACDS treasury shall be donated to the international Community Development Society.
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ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT
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The constitution may be amended by a majority of the members present at any annual or special meeting of the membership called for that purpose. Each member shall be advised in writing thirty (30) days in advance of the proposed change prior to the meeting at which the vote will take place.
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Approved April 16, 1993
Amended June 27, 2002
Amended June 25, 2008