ARTICLE I   Name

The name of this association shall be Deaf Seniors of America, Incorporated, hereinafter referred to as "DSA."

ARTICLE II   Object

Section 1: The object of DSA shall be to serve as an advocate for deaf seniors by providing information and educational programs designed to enhance their physical, economic and social well being; and to otherwise promote the common interests of deaf seniors.

Section 2:  DSA shall not engage in partisan political activity.

Section 3: No part of the net earnings of DSA shall accrue to the members, directors or officers except for reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred in performance of official DSA duties.

ARTICLE III   Membership

Section 1: Active membership shall be open at anytime to any deaf persons 50 years or older residing in the United States of America.

Section 2: Associate membership shall be open to any hearing person or any deaf non-resident of the United States of America who support the object and goals of DSA.  Associate members shall have all privileges of Active membership except holding office at any time.

ARTICLE IV   Dues

Section 1: Membership Dues shall be set by resolution at national conferences.

Section 2: Membership Dues shall be effective from national conference up to the next national conference.

ARTICLE V   Meetings

Section 1: Meetings of DSA shall be held at national conferences held in odd numbered years at sites to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 2:   Bids for national conferences may be submitted for vote during business meeting at a given conference.  Final determination, however, shall be made by the Executive Board.

Section 3:   Special meetings may be called by the President with concurrence of the Board or when so requested by one-tenth of all active members.  Business conducted during special meetings shall be confined to the purpose of the special meeting.

Section 4:   One hundred fifty (150) members of DSA registered during conferences shall constitute a quorum for conducting business.

ARTICLE VI   Officers/Terms

Section 1:   The officers of DSA shall be active members and shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The officers except the treasurer shall be elected at each national conference to serve two-year terms.  The treasurer shall be elected to serve a four-year term. Any officer is eligible to serve three consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 2: One of the three Board Members shall be elected to a six-year term at national conferences. (There will be two other members serving the two and four remaining years respectively.)

Section 3: Vacancies in offices and board membership between national conferences shall be filled by the Executive Board.

Section 4: Candidate(s) will be eligible to run for any office after attending at least one prior DSA Conference.

ARTICLE VII   Executive Board

Section 1: The Executive Board shall be composed of the officers and three (3) Board Members. The board may also include up to two (2) additional members at large.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall have authority to make decisions between national conferences in accordance with the object of DSA and as needs may arise.

Section 3: The Executive Board shall reserve the right to appoint up to two members at large to serve a term of two years.

ARTICLE VIII   Committees

Section 1: Standing committees to be appointed by the President shall be Ways and Means, Resolutions, Nominations and Law.

Section 2: Other committees may be appointed by the President for stated purposes.

ARTICLE IX  Official Publication

Section 1: DSA shall have an official publication, New Horizons.  It shall be sent to all members at least four (4) times a year.

Section 2: An Editor shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3: An Editor shall appoint at least one proofreader with the approval of the President.

Section 4: All policies of the New Horizons shall be consistent with the aims and objectives of the DSA.

ARTICLE X   Parliamentary Authority

In parliamentary procedure, unless otherwise specified in these By-laws, Robert's Rules of Order, current edition, shall be the parliamentary authority governing deliberations of this organization.

ARTICLE XI   Amendments

Section 1: The bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at any regular conference if provided therein.

Section 2: Proposed amendments offered prior to a conference shall be submitted in writing to the Law Committee on revisions of bylaws at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the date of the conference, a brief of such amendment as approved by the committee shall be made public in the issue of New Horizons prior to the conference.

ARTICLE XII   Dissolution

Upon the affirmative vote of a three-fourths (3/4) of the membership of the DSA, DSA shall be dissolved or otherwise shall cease to exist and all assets of the DSA shall revert to 501(c)(3) organizations whose primary object is the interest of deaf senior citizens.