Special Edition!
PESDHH Periodicals ~ Summer 2026
You may be wondering "what are bylaws?" and what could the updates mean for you? Bylaws act as the "constitution" of an organization; updates are not just administrative, but essential for ensuring our organization operates within certain parameters and adapts to changes that we have faced over time. PESDHH operates much differently now compared to when it was established over 30 years ago, so we want to make sure the bylaws reflect current times. Part of the updates will include descriptions of officer positions and committees, timelines for serving in these roles, as well as updated terms of membership and participation (more about this in the next section!).
In the next few months, PESDHH will be holding elections to fill several leadership positions within the organization! We will discuss this in more detail at the Summer Workshop, but we wanted to encourage you to begin thinking about it now.
We hope that, when the time comes, many of you will consider serving in one of the available Officer or Committee positions. While not all positions will be up for election this year, we wanted to provide a brief description of each leadership role and the duties associated with them. The time commitment is approximately four meetings per year, in addition to time spent developing and maintaining respective role responsibilities.
To be eligible for a leadership position, members must be current on their annual membership dues. For 2026, dues will be included with registration for the Summer 2026 Workshop.
Executive Officer positions and descriptions:
- President
- Presides over all organization meetings and carries out duties related to leading and managing the organization. Responsibilities include maintaining organization records and the official logo, serving as or appointing a representative to the Educational Resources for Children with Hearing Loss (ERCHL) advisory board, organizing and conducting officer elections, appointing committee members in accordance with the By-Laws, serving as an ex-officio member of all standing committees, and participating on the Professional Development Committee.
- President Elect
- Supports organizational leadership by overseeing standing committees to ensure they are meeting their responsibilities and contributing to the organization’s goals. The role also includes providing input on strategic planning and organizational direction, reviewing policies and bylaws, and initiating ad hoc committees when updates or revisions are needed. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect may assume leadership responsibilities or assist in appointing a president pro tempore when necessary.
- Communications & Records Officer
- Supports member engagement by coordinating communication within the organization and sharing important updates with members. Responsibilities include maintaining meeting minutes and member contact records, distributing notices and information about meetings and events, and managing internal and external communications such as emails, newsletters, website updates, and social media. The role also ensures that organizational messaging aligns with the mission and goals of the organization while promoting transparency and member connection.
- Treasurer
- Responsible for managing and safeguarding the organization’s funds and financial records. Duties include handling deposits and payments, maintaining accurate financial records, and providing financial reports at board meetings and upon request. The Treasurer also monitors committees involved in fundraising or financial activities to ensure proper procedures and accountability.
Executive Committee positions and descriptions:
- Membership Committee (3 positions)
- Responsible for maintaining and increasing membership in the organization. This committee will conduct an annual membership campaign and be responsible for keeping up-to-date lists of members. Additionally, in cooperation with the Social Media Officer Communications and Records Officer, this committee will assist in keeping the members informed about the activities of the organization.
- Professional Development Committee (3 positions)
- Responsible for planning and organizing the organization’s Annual Convocation as appropriate each year. The committee also gathers and reviews participant feedback, compiles evaluation materials, and provides reports and recommendations to the Executive Committee to support future professional development events.
- Nominating Committee (3 positions)
- The Nominating Committee is responsible for preparing and presenting a slate of candidates for the organization’s elected leadership positions, including President, President-Elect, Communications and Records Officer, and Treasurer.
- Communications & Records Committee (3 positions)
- responsible for developing and disseminating pertinent information to members about the organization as well as news and trends in the field of education of students who are deaf and hard of hearing via email, social media and any other appropriate formats.
