THE COLLIN COUNTY

Deputies
Association
Inc.

Constitution

Adopted May 2, 2011

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NAME
ARTICLE II - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OBJECTIVES
ARTICLE III - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE IV - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE V - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ELECTIONS
ARTICLE VI - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
ARTICLE VII - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VIII- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MEETINGS
ARTICLE IX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PARLIAMENTARY
ARTICLE X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DUES
ARTICLE XI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EXPENDITURES
ARTICLE XII - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BY-LAWS
 ARTICLE I
“NAME”

SECTION 1:

This Association shall be known as “The Collin County Deputies

Association, Inc.” The Association is a tax-exempt, non-profit
organization as recognized by the United States Internal Revenue
Service.

ARTICLE II
“OBJECTIVES”

SECTION 1:

The objectives of the Association shall be:

(a) To actively represent its members, both individually and

collectively, in matters relating to their wages, hours, terms, and
conditions of their employment, and their employment benefits and
status, and in employer-employee relations;
(b)To promote the professional welfare of all members;
(c) To foster a positive influence in the community;
(d)To keep informed of County policies and functions in order to
more effectively represent the Association members;
(e) To provide a forum for exchange of ideas;
(f) To bring together members for social fellowship; and
communicate with the County Commissioners Court, the State
Legislature and all other public and private forums on a political but
non-partisan basis;
(g)To represent employees before the civil service board and
department chain in discipline, termination and other work related
issues.

SECTION 2:

In matters of common concern, the Association may act cooperatively

without their similarly constituted public employee organizations.
Where appropriate, the Association may become affiliated with leagues
and similar groupings of such organizations. Affiliations shall take
effect only if approved by a majority of the members.
SECTION 3:

The President can appoint liaisons for the purpose of communication

within the Association as well as outside of it (for patrol, detention,
Constable Precincts, Fire Marshal, etc). The President may also
appoint a Civil Service liaison to represent members during civil
service proceedings.

ARTICLE III
“MEMBERSHIP”

SECTION 1:

There are four mutually exclusive classes of membership: Active,

Associate, Supporter and Honorary.

SECTION 2:

Active Membership is limited to any non-exempt Collin County law employees in

law enforcement, both sworn and non sworn, and exempt employees from the
rank of Lieutenant and below not subject to exemption by the Sheriff of Sheriff’s
Office civil service rules. Active Members have full voting rights. Active/Life are
retired past members and non-members with no voting rights.

SECTION 3:

An Associate is any certified reserve peace officer of representative department,

any graduated member of a representative department’s citizen on patrol
program, a spouse of an Active member who is not also an Active member.

SECTION 4:

Supporter Membership includes any citizen in good standing.

SECTION 5:

Honorary members may be any citizen of the United States on who the
Association wishes to confer an honorary status of membership for significant
accomplishments in Governmental matters and for devoted interest in the aims
and purposes of the Association.

SECTION 6:
 Membership may be terminated by the failure to pay dues before they
are delinquent. Membership may also be terminated by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the Board of Directors for action detrimental to the
principles and purposes of the Association or unprofessional conduct
and/or conduct resulting in dismissal from work; or criminal liability
with a guilty finding in a judicial proceeding.

ARTICLE IV
“ADMINISTRATION”

SECTION 1:

The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall be

the governing body of the Association and shall consist of the elected
officers of the Association. The Board of Directors shall be five (5). This
includes the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
Sergeant at Arms.

SECTION 2:

The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at

Arms shall be elected by the Active Membership of the association.
The term of office is one (1) year.

SECTION 4:

It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to conduct, manage,

govern, execute, and administer all of the affairs of this Association; to
control and supervise the handling of its funds and property; to cause
to be kept a complete record of all meetings and acts; to supervise all
officers and employees of this Association and cause membership
certificates and other certificates required to be issued on all
applications that have been approved and accepted, and to pass upon
all matters of importance pertaining to this Association. The Board of
Directors shall be required to pass a balanced budget.

ARTICLE V
“ELECTIONS”

SECTION 1:

General Elections
 Nominations for office will be head at the November general
membership meeting each year. An election ballot shall be provided to
the membership on December 1st. A ballot can be defined as an
electronically submitted ballot. An electronically submitted ballot will be validated
and verified through a member PIN or password. All ballots must be
returned to the designated location by December 15. The results shall
be tallied by an election committee consisting of three (3) persons
appointed by the President. The committee shall report the results to
the President and he shall publish the results to the membership by
December 20th. The new board will take office on January 1st.

SECTION 1A:

Immediately following the adoption of this constitution, a special

election will be held to elect the board to serve until the next
scheduled general election. A determination of how the election will be
held will be made by the general membership meeting held after the
adoption of this constitution (This section expires December 31, 2011).

SECTION 2:

Defective Ballots

(a) Any ballot, including electronically submitted ballots, which appears to

have been altered, has more than one candidate for each office
marked, or otherwise is marked/submitted in a manner that is contrary
to the ballot instructions shall be destroyed and not counted.
(b)The discovery of such questionable ballot(s) will not and cannot
invalidate the election, nor can they be used as a basis of appeal of the
election results.

ARTICLE VI
“THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS”

SECTION 1:

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT

The President, or in the President's absence, inability or refusal to act,

the succeeding Vice Presidents, shall call and preside at all meetings,
appoint Committees, and shall have, subject to the control of the Board
of Directors, the general management and direction of the affairs of
this Association. The President shall perform such other duties as may
be consistent with the office. Any vacancy occurring in the board of
 Directors, for any reason, shall be filled by appointment of a member in
good standing by the President. Such appointment shall be only for the
unexpired term of the office to be filled.

SECTION 2:

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Board of

Directors and of all the general meetings and special meetings.
He/She shall keep a record of the membership of the Association and
every other record made under or required by this constitution or the
By-Laws. He/She shall receive and maintain all correspondence and
other papers. He shall serve, issue, and publish all notices required to
be given or as directed by the President.

SECTION 3:

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the association accruing from
the membership dues, donations, gift, bequests, contributions and by
any other means received, dispose, disburse, or invest funds of the
association, under the direction of the Board of Directors, account for
all receipts and disbursements; pay all bills as ordered by the Board of
Directors on vouchers signed by his or her office and countersigned by
the President; prepare a monthly financial report and furnish copies for
the Board and the General Membership ensure that all checks, drafts,
and notes of financial obligation are signed by his or her office and
countersigned by the President. Shall be the primary signature on all
corporate financial accounts and be bonded in an account determined
by the Board of Directors at corporate expense.

SECTION 4:

DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

The Sergeant at Arms’ primary responsibility is to maintain order

within the association at all times. He/She will ensure all bylaws are
respected by everyone. During these meetings, it is the responsibility
of this person to make certain parliamentary procedures are followed,
and to call to order as well as adjourn all meetings. The sergeant at
arms will always support the president by making sure he has all
materials needed before the meeting. This means any outside
 materials or any additional support that will be needed by the
organization will fall upon the sergeant at arms. It is the sergeant at
arms' responsibility to enforce the rules. This means any infractions or
violations of the organization's policies must be reported to the
conduct committee for further action. The sergeant at arms is there to
instill this loyalty and discipline by carrying out any requests or orders
made by the president of an organization.

SECTION 5:

The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the Association.

The Board of Directors shall conduct ordinary business of the
Association; shall make recommendations to the membership of the
Association as the occasion arises, and shall take such executive action
as deemed desirable or necessary within the limitations of these by-
laws. At any business meeting of the Board of Directors, it will be
deemed a quorum of three (3) necessary in order to conduct business.

SECTION 6:

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least once a

month at the time and place designated by the President. A majority of
the member of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. The President may call a special meeting.
Notification of the meeting shall be in writing to at least two (2)
members of the Board. The President shall at the place and time
designate the meeting.

SECTION 7:

The order of business at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors

shall include:

(a) Call to order and Roll Call

(b) Reading of the minutes

(c) Report of the Treasurer

(d) Communications

(e) Reports of Committees.

(f) Unfinished Business

(g) New Business

(h) Adjournment.
 The order of Business at Special Meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be as follows:

(a) Call to Order, Roll Call

(b) Purpose of the meeting as stated in the call of the meeting

by the President

(c) Business of the Meeting

(d) Adjournment

SECTION 8:

The President shall not vote except in the event of a tie.

SECTION 9:

If any officer is absent for three (3) regular meetings without excuse,
his office shall be declared vacant.

SECTION 10:

The office of any officer shall be declared vacant when that officer
separates himself from county employment. The office of any officer
shall be declared vacant when dues are declared delinquent.

ARTICLE VII
“COMMITTEES”

SECTION 1:

The President of the Association is authorized to appoint special

committees to investigate and report on any specific subject or project.
Upon completion of the assignment(s), the committee(s) is/are
automatically dissolved.

ARTICLE VIII
“MEETINGS”

SECTION 1:
 General membership meetings shall be held monthly at the time and
place specified by the President.

SECTION 2:

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President and

shall be called upon written request of at least ten (10) members of the
Association. Such a meeting shall be held at the time and place
designated by the President.

SECTION 3:

The order of business at the general membership meetings shall

include:

(a) Call to order and Roll Call

(b) Reading of the minutes

(c) Report of the Treasurer

(d) Communications

(e) Reports of Committees.

(f) Unfinished Business

(g) New Business

(h) Adjournment.

The order of Business at special membership meetings shall be as follows:

(a) Call to Order, Roll Call

(b) Purpose of the meeting as stated in the call of the meeting by

the President

(c) Business of the Meeting

(d) Adjournment

SECTION 4:

All voting shall be by a simple show of hands, unless otherwise

requested by a member or officer.

SECTION 5:
 The President shall not vote except in the event of a tie.

ARTICLE IX
“PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY”

SECTION 1:

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (revised), shall govern

the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which
they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.

ARTICLES X
“DUES”

SECTION 1:

The Association Officers shall determine the eligibility of prospective

members.

SECTION 2:

Dues for Active members are $7 and may be raised by a majority of members attending an announced
meeting that includes a vote on raising such dues. Full voting rights and access to association
password protected website. An employee with an excused absence may vote absentee.

All other membership types shall make payment by an approved method.

Active/Life – Dues are waived for retirees of Collin County. No voting rights. Has access to
association password protected website.

Associate – Dues are $25 per year. No voting rights. Has access to association password
protected website.

Supporter – Dues are $30 per year (May replace payment with donation of product if business. Dues may
then be prorated for up to 5 years). No voting rights or access to association password protected
website.

Honorary – No Dues. Holds such title for life. No voting rights or access to association password
protected website.

SECTION 4:
 Any member ninety (90) days in arrears shall be dropped from the membership
and shall not be reinstated until all arrearage is paid in full.

ARTICLE XI
“EXPENDITURES”

SECTION 1:

Each Board Member of the Association is empowered to expend five

hundred ($500.00) dollars without notifying the general membership,
except if the general membership or Board of Directors has previously
voted against the expenditure. This expenditure is specifically meant
to benefit the purpose(s) of the Association. (This expenditure can be
used to dispatch appropriate communiqués to survivors and/or
associates of deceased law enforcement members killed in the line of
duty within the State of Texas.)

SECTION 2:

The Board of Directors of the Association is empowered to expend one

thousand ($1,000.00) dollars without notifying the general
membership, when that expenditure will benefit the purpose of the
Association. This empowerment does not limit the Secretary
-Treasurer’s authority to handle the usual and customary expenses in
the daily operation of the Association.

SECTION 3:

An itemized annual budget will be prepared by the Treasurer and

submitted to the Board at the August Board meeting. The budget will
be voted on by members at the membership at the September general
membership meeting. Vote will be by the raised hands method or
approved voting method.

SECTION 4:

Requests for donation of Association monies by outside organizations

or other person(s) will be made in writing to the Association Board of
Directors, which will approve or disapprove the request.

SECTION 5:

A motion for the expenditure of funds of $500.00 or less made at a

general membership meeting is authorized when a simple majority of
 those in attendance approve the motion. Expenditures in excess of
$500.00 will be referred to the Association’s executive board for
consideration. If approved by a majority of board members, the
motion will be referred to the next general membership meeting where
it will require a simple majority for approval.

SECTION 6:

All proceeds from fund raising methods shall be applied to cover all financial costs
associated with the fund raiser. All monies above and beyond costs will be put into the
general fund and applied to the budget.

ARTICLE XII

“AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS”

SECTION 1:

Any amendment to these by-laws must be submitted at a regularly

scheduled meeting. The amendment will be voted on by those
members present and voting. If a simple majority of those present to
vote in favor of the amendment, a ballot will be prepared and mailed
to all active members of the Association.

SECTION 2:

There shall be fifteen (15) days to return said ballot to the designated
locations, including email or any other specified electronic means. On
the sixteenth (16th) day, all returned ballots shall be counted by three
(3) members appointed by the President and a simple majority of those
returned will decide the issue.

SECTION 3:

If the amendment is defeated by the membership present at the

meeting, the Amendment is to be tabled indefinitely.

SECTION 4:

All amendments to and copies of revised by-laws shall be forwarded to

the Secretary of State as required for not-profit corporate status.

SECTION 5:
Any approved amendment shall take effect immediately unless
otherwise stated in the amendment.