[blindlaw] amending NABL Constitution

Scott C. LaBarre slabarre at labarrelaw.com
Fri Jun 26 17:57:13 UTC 2009


Greetings:

We will be conducting our annual meeting next Sunday, July 5th, in Detroit as part of the NFB Convention.  Our growth and increased activity requires a larger board of directors.  Cureently, we have five officers and four board members.  Pursuant to Article XII of the Constitution, we can amend the Constitution by majority vote at any regular meeting as long as the notice of the amendment is circulated ahead of time.  I am proposing that we increase the number of our board members to six from four.  Therefore, I submit the below amended Constitution pursuant to Article XII.    The Article regarding the Board is Article V. 


CONSTITUTION

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS

 

ARTICLE I.  NAME

 

The name of this organization shall be The National Association of Blind Lawyers.

 

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the National Association of Blind Merchants is to serve as an active division of the National Federation of the Blind; to function as a mechanism

through which blind lawyers, legal professionals, and law students along with interested sighted persons can come together in local, state and national meetings to plan and carry out programs

to improve opportunities for the blind in the legal profession and thereby improve the quality of life for the blind; to provide a means of collective action for blind lawyers, legal professionals, and law students; to promote the vocational, economic, business, cultural, civil rights, and social advancement of the blind through direct and indirect advocacy; to maximize opportunities for blind lawyers, legal professionals, and law students to achieve success in the legal field; to take all necessary action to insure that blind lawyers, legal professionals, and law students have full access to the Nation's judicial and legal system; and to take such other action as will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.

 

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

 

Section A. Members shall pay annual dues to this organization.  Dues paid to State divisions, affiliates, and chapters will not apply toward membership

to this organization.  At least a majority of the members of this organization must be blind.  All members have the right to vote, serve on committees,

Speak on the floor, and hold office.

 

Section B. Disciplinary Action.  Any member may be expelled or suspended for violation of this constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the

Federation and/or this Association, by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular business session of this organization, or by a two thirds vote of the board

of directors.  Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization may appeal to the board of directors of

the National Federation of the Blind, which may, in it's discretion, consider the matter and make a binding decision; but until or unless the action of

discipline or expulsion is reversed by the National board, it shall continue in effect.

 

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

 

There shall be elected at the regular business session of this organization, at the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind, during each

Odd numbered year, a president, a first vice president, a second vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer.  The terms of these officers shall begin

at the close of the business meeting at which they are elected.  Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members who are present and voting.

 There shall be no proxy voting.  If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the name of the person receiving the fewest votes shall be

dropped from the list of nominees and a second ballot shall be taken.  This procedure shall continue until one of the nominees has received a majority

vote from the members present and voting.  The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office.  The president and the vice

presidents must be blind.

 

ARTICLE V.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The board of directors of this organization shall consist of the five (5) constitutional officers and six (6) additional members, six (6) of whom shall

be elected for two (2) year terms at the business meeting at the annual convention, during odd numbered years.  The six (6) board members shall be elected in the same

manner as that prescribed for the election of officers.  The board shall meet at the call of the president or on written call signed by any three (3) of

the board members.  The board shall advise the president and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between national conventions.  At least

six  (6) members of the board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business.  The board may be polled by telephone, email,

or mail ballot on any question.  A majority of the board must be blind.

 

ARTICLE VI.  SPECIAL MEETINGS

 

The president of this organization may call a special meeting of the body any time he/she or a majority of the board of directors deems such action necessary.

 

ARTICLE VII.  COMMITTEES

 

The president may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary.  The president shall be ex officio a member of all committees.

 

ARTICLE VIII.  AFFILIATION

 

The National Association of Blind Lawyers shall be a division of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the president of the National

Federation of the Blind annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names and addresses of it's members and elected officers.  A copy of the constitution

of The National Association of Blind Lawyers, and of all amendments to the constitution, shall be sent to the president of the National Federation of

the Blind without delay upon adoption.  The National Association of Blind Lawyers shall not merely be a social organization, but shall formulate programs

and actively work to promote the economic and social betterment of the blind.  This organization shall comply with the provisions of the constitution of

the National Federation of the Blind.  Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the national convention or the national

board of directors) are binding on this organization.  This organization shall participate affirmatively in carrying out such policy decisions.

 

ARTICLE IX.  DUES

 

The dues for this organization shall be paid on or before the day of the business session at the annual National Federation of the Blind convention.  The

amount for dues may be changed by a majority vote at the annual business session.

 

ARTICLE X.  DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

 

The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be selected by the treasurer with the approval of the president.  All financial obligations

of this organization shall be discharged by check, issued on order of the president and signed by the treasurer or by an assistant treasurer approved by

the membership or the board of directors, except that with approval of the board, some transactions may be paid in cash at the National convention.

 

ARTICLE XI.  DISSOLUTION

 

In the event of the dissolution of this organization or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind, it's

assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind to be held in trust for a reorganized division.  In the event that no division is organized

for a period of two (2) years from the date this organization ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind, the assets become the property

of the National Federation of the Blind.

 

ARTICLE XII.  AMENDMENTS

 

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the members present and voting, provided

the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and circulated prior to the meeting and provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the

constitution of the National Federation of the Blind and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind.




Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.

LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
1660 South Albion Street, Ste. 918
Denver, Colorado 80222
303 504-5979 (voice)
303 757-3640 (fax)
slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e-mail)
www.labarrelaw.com (website)

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