Why Vote NO on ICDA-US Constitution and Bylaws Proposals?

Why Vote NO on ICDA-US Constitution and Bylaws Proposals?

ICDA-US also proposed a separate Bylaws Article XI (Conference)

Deaf Angels encourages you to vote NO on ALL proposals.  ICDA-US members need more time to understand the changes and the Board’s reasoning.

Deaf Angels analyzed the proposals and created summaries of the changes.  They are posted here: https://see.deafangels.page/daresearch.  We also compared the proposals to the current ICDA-US Constitution, Bylaws and Article XI (Conference).  The comparisons are found here: https://see.deafangels.page/dacrres. 

The following points support our NO position:

1. Lack of information on the proposed Constitution & Bylaws and Bylaws Article XI (Conference).  ICDA-US proposed major changes and restructuring of the Constitution and Bylaws.  See this page for our research in this:  https://see.deafangels.page/daresearch 
2. Lack of communication from ICDA-US Board.  Chapters and ICDA-US members have not received clear and timely communications on many areas of concerns.  ICDA-US held a Zoom meeting on July 28 and we have heard from some of the people who attended that it did not go well
3. Lack of process, communication and clarity on the 23+ motions from 2023 ICDA-US Conference in Boston
4. Lack of timely transparency from ICDA-US to Chapters and members especially in ICDA-US IRS 501(c)3 status and ICDA-US’s corporate registration to do business in Ohio (where the home office is located)
5. Lack of financial reports and transparency – especially on the Mission Fund
6. ICDA-US has mentioned that establishing a new Chapter requires 10 members, but the current Bylaws does not say how many members are needed
7. In the ICDA-US proposed Constitution and Bylaws, they changed the qualifications for the Board Chaplain from an ordained priest or deacon (or nun) to layperson.

And many more, too many to list here.

So, the responsible action for ICDA-US members at the General Meeting this Friday October 10 at the ICDA 75th Anniversary Bash is to vote NO on all three proposals (or table the proposals to 2027 Conference).