BDPA New York chapter bylaws.

1. BLACK DATA PROCESSING ASSOCIATES
NEW YORK CHAPTER
BYLAWS

2. Article I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be The New York Chapter of Black Data Processing Associates (hereinafter
referred to as the association).
Article II - OBJECTIVE
The objective of the association is to accumulate a pool of data processing knowledge and business expertise
with the intention of utilizing these resources to strengthen the expertise of minority members of the data
processing community; offer this expertise to those minorities evaluating data processing for future
career/business potential; and broaden the data processing knowledge of the minority community as a whole,
and participate in all activities directly related thereto.
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 FULL MEMBERSHIP
1.1 Shall be available to those persons directly employed by, involved in, or having an
interest in the information processing industry, included but not limited to; electronic
data communications. A Full Member shall have voting privileges.
Section 2 STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Shall be available to persons engaged in a public or private educational facility as a full
time student and not fully employed by the information processing industry, but having
an interest in the industry and the association. A Student member shall have voting
privileges.
Section 3 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Shall be granted at the discretion of the Executive Committee with the approval of the
voting membership. An Honorary member shall have no voting privileges.
Section 4 DUES
4.1 Shall be paid by all Full and Student Members.
4.2 Shall be determined by the National Board of Directors
4.3 Shall be paid on an annual basis, renewable on a member’s date. Delinquency of dues
by two months shall result in a loss of voting privileges. Delinquency of three months
shall result in termination of membership.
Section 5 APPLICATIONS

3. 5.1 Shall be made to the Membership Committee by submission of a completed official
application form and the appropriate application fee.
5.2 Shall be accepted only for full of student membership.
5.3 Shall not be accepted from former members who have been terminated as a result of
conduct deemed detrimental to the best interest of the association, in accordance with
Article III, Section 6.1.
Section 6 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP AND SANCTIONS
6.1 The Executive Committee after an appropriate hearing may, by majority vote of the
members present and voting at an Executive committee meeting, discipline a member
by suspension, termination, or the imposition of a fine that the Committee may
prescribe, if a member:
6.1.1 fails to pay membership dues as described in Article III, Section 4.3
6.1.2 Infringes on any of these bylaws
6.1.3 engages in activities that are in direct violation of these bylaws
6.1.4 encourages of participates in any activity that diminishes or embarrasses the
integrity of BDPA; or
6.1.5 commits any action deemed inappropriate and not in the best interest of BDPA
6.2 Written notice of the proposed sanction of a member shall be mailed to the executive
Committee and the member concerned at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting at
which action is to be considered and shall include reasons for the proposed action. The
member will be granted an opportunity to be heard by the Executive Committee prior to
a decision on termination, suspension of the imposition of a fine.
Section 7 APPROVAL
7.1 Financial approval shall occur when an individual’s draft has cleared all financial
institutions.
7.2 Final approval by Membership committee shall not occur if provision of Article III,
Section 7.1 have not been met.
Article IV - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1 ELIGIBILITY
1.1 All Executive Officers as defined in Article IV, Section 1, 1.1 shall be restricted to full
members who are financially current.
Section 2 NOMINATIONS
2.1 Nominations shall only be accepted from full members who are financially current.
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4. 2.2 Must be received in writing by the Nominations and Elections Committee no later than
sixty (60) days prior to the date of the election.
2.3 Shall be approved for but, one office per nominee.
2.4 Shall be presented to the voting membership no later than thirty (30) days prior to the
date of the Election.
2.5 Shall be accepted form he floor for those offices having less than two(2) candidates,
when such action is approved by a majority of the membership in attendance at a duly
convened Elections meeting.
Section 3 ELECTIONS
3.1 Shall be conducted and supervised by the Nominations and Elections Committee.
3.2 Shall be held at the November general meeting
3.3 Shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article VI.
Section 4 SPECIAL ELECTIONS
4.1 Shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article VI.
Article V - OFFICERS
Section 1 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
1.1 Shall consist of President, vice president, recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary,
and Treasurer.
1.2 Shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
Section 2 TERM OF OFFICE
2.1 Shall be defined as two (2) years running concurrent with BDPA National elections.
2.2 Shall be limited to two consecutive terms of office for President and Vice President.
Section 3 RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICE
3.1 The President
3.1.1 Shall preside over all meetings of the general membership and the executive
committee.
3.1.2 Shall be responsible for seeing all the decisions of the general membership are
carried out.
3.1.3 Shall be an ex-officio member for all committees.
3.1.4 Shall have the power to appoint specific committee with the approval of the
Executive Committee.
3.1.5 Shall assign officers to act as liaisons to the standing committees.
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5. 3.2 The Vice President
3.2.1 Shall Serve as President in the absence of the President.
3.2.2 Shall fulfill the duties of Assistant Treasurer.
3.2.3 Shall act as liaison to the standing committee as designated by the President.
3.3 The Recording Secretary
3.3.1 Shall have the responsibility to maintain and report accurate minutes of all
meetings of the general membership and of the executive committee.
3.3.2 Shall be responsible for determining when a quorum has been reached at all
general membership meetings.
3.3.3 Shall keep an official file of all correspondence and documents of the
association.
3.3.4 Shall sign official documents of the Association when requested by the
President.
3.3.5 Shall be responsible for the agenda for general and Executive Board Meetings
3.3.6 Shall maintain a list of all officers and members of the association.
3.3.7 Shall act as liaison to the standing committee as designated by the President.
3.4 The Corresponding Secretary
3.4.1 Shall maintain a list of all officers and members of the association.
3.4.2 Shall conduct correspondence as directed by the President or the Executive
Committee.
3.4.3 Shall notify all members of scheduled meetings.
3.4.4 Shall read significant correspondence of the Association at General
Membership meetings as directed by the President or the Executive committee.
3.4.5 Shall act as liaison to the standing committee as designated by the President.
3.5 The Treasurer
3.5.1 Shall have the responsibility of maintaining complete financial records of all
monies received and dispersed by the Association.
3.5.2 Shall issue periodic financial reports in accordance with the provisions of
Article VII, Section 2.
3.5.3 Shall determine which members of the association are financially current.
3.5.4 Shall actively oversee the collection of fees and dues.
3.5.5 Shall act as liaison to the standing committee as designated by the President.
Section 4 VACANCIES OF OFFICE
4.1 In the Presidency shall be filled by the Vice President.
4.2 In all elected offices except the presidency with one half or more of the term remaining,
shall be filled by special election.
4.3 In all elected offices except the Presidency with less than one half of the term
remaining, shall be filled by presidential appointment with the approval of the
Executive Committee.
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6. Section 5 SUSPENSION AND RECALL OF OFFICERS
5.1 The Executive committee may, after a hearing before a duly constituted meeting of the
Board, suspend an elected officer of the New York Chapter by two-thirds vote for:
5.1.1 failure to conduct the affairs of the chapter in accordance with the provisions of
these bylaws;
5.1.2 fails to perform required duties in discharge of his/her office;
5.1.3 malfeasance or nonfeasance; or
5.1.4 fails to pay membership dues as described in Article III, Section 4.3;
5.1.5 infringes on any of these Bylaws;
5.1.6 engages in activities that are in direct violation of the Bylaws;
5.1.7 encourages or participates in any activity that diminishes or embarrasses the
integrity of BDPA;
5.1.8 Commits any action deemed inappropriate and not in the best interest of BDPA.
5.2 The individual concerned shall be mailed written notification starting the cause of the
proposed action, at least twenty (20) days prior to planned suspension and shall have
the right to be heard and/or resign prior to the action being taken. If the conduct that
caused the suspension is not rectified within the period of the suspension, the Board
may declare the New York Chapter office to be vacant.
5.3 A vacancy so created shall be filled in accordance with the provisions in the New York
Chapter’s Bylaws Article IV, Section 4.
5.4 Members of the New York chapter shall be promptly notified of the suspension and the
reason therefore. The rights of members of the New York Chapter shall not be affected
by an action against an officer or officers of the New York Chapter.
5.5 A suspended officer of the New York Chapter:
5.5.1 shall not have the right to function as a member of the Executive Committee.
5.5.2 shall not vote on any matter pertaining to BDPA.
5.5.3 shall not receive any written communication from BDPA.
5.5.4 shall not attend any meetings of BDPA.
5.5.5 shall refrain from distributing any negative information regarding BDPA or its
Executive Committee.
5.6 General members may present a Recall petition containing specific charges and the
signatures of a majority of the voting membership at a General Membership meeting.
5.7 A Recall shall occur when teo0thirds of the voting membership has approved the recall
petition.
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7. Section 6 APPOINTED OFFICERS
6.1 Shall consist of the chairpersons of the Standing and ADHOC Committees and other
such officers as deemed necessary by the President and the Executive Committee.
6.2 Shall be appointed by the President for a term that shall not exceed that of the
appointing President.
Article VI - MEETINGS
Section 1 QUORUM
1.1 Shall consist of one-fifth of the voting membership.
1.2 Shall be binding once declared.
1.3 Shall be declared by the Recording Secretary.
1.4 Shall, in the absence of the Recording Secretary, be declared by the Corresponding
Secretary, President, or the President’s delegate, respectively.
Section 2 VOTING
2.1 Shall be by Ballot.
2.2 Shall not be accepted by Proxy.
Section 3 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
3.1 Shall be held at a place and time determined by the Executive Committee.
3.2 Shall be official when a quorum is reached.
Section 4 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
4.1 Shall be held on a monthly basis prior to the general membership meeting at a place
determined by the Executive Committee.
4.2 Shall be official when the majority of the Executive committee is present.
Article VII - FISCAL AND FINANCIAL POLICIES
Section 1 FISCAL YEAR
1.1 Shall begin on January 1st of each year and end of December 31st of each year.
Section 2 FINANCIAL REPORTS
2.1 Shall be presented by the Treasurer at each meeting of the Executive Committee.
2.2 Shall be presented on a quarterly basis to the General membership.
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8. Section 3 DISBURSEMENTS AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
Section 4
4.1 Exceeding $100.00 must be approved by a majority of the Executive committee.
4.2 Exceeding $500.00 must be approved by two-thirds of the Executive Committee.
4.3 Must be issued by check with the signature of two of the following officers; President,
Vice-President or Treasurer.
Article VIII - COMMITTEES
Section 1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1.1 Shall consist of the President, past President, Vice President, Recording Secretary,
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and the chairpersons of the standing committees.
1.2 Shall provide the direction and control of the Association.
1.3 Shall propose and establish policy for the operation of the Association.
1.4 Shall evaluate any issues unresolved at the General membership meeting.
1.5 Shall report its recommendations to the General membership.
1.6 Shall have its recommendations accepted as the policy of the Association, unless
overridden by a majority of the voting membership.
Section 2 STANDING COMMITTEES
2.1 Shall consist of:
2.1.1 Career Development
2.1.2 Membership
2.1.3 Education
2.1.4 Public Relations
2.1.5 Entrepreneurial
2.1.6 Fund Raising
2.1.7 Program
2.1.8 Finance
2.1.9 Communications
2.2 Shall have the chairpersons appointed by the President with the approval of the majority
of the Executive Committee within two months of taking office.
2.3 Shall have members appointed by their respective chairpersons.
Section 3 AD HOC COMMITTEES
3.1 Shall be established as deemed necessary by the President or a majority of the
Executive Committee.
3.2 Shall have their chairperson appointed by the President in accordance with Article V,
Section 6.2.
Article IX - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
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9. Section 1 PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT
1.1 Shall be presented to the membership in writing at a General Membership meeting.
1.2 Shall be approved as an agenda item by a majority of the voting membership present at
the General Membership meeting.
1.3 Shall be included in the published agenda of the forthcoming General Membership
meeting.
1.4 Shall be adopted as an Amendment to the Bylaws by two-thirds majority of the voting
membership present at the General Membership meeting.
Article X - AFFILIATIONS
Section 1 DISSOLUTION
1.1 In the event of the Dissolution of the New York Chapter, all remaining funds shall be
distributed:
1.1.1 to satisfy all known outstanding legal debts and/or liens against the chapter, and
1.1.2 to satisfy all outstanding financial commitments made by the chapter.
Article XI - PARLIAMENTARY
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the Association and all cases
where they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.
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