[CapChapOhio] Fwd: revisedCapital Chapter Constitution

Sun Jan 30 21:45:05 UTC 2022

Hello,

Below is a copy of the draft of changes that we are proposing to make to our chapter constitution. These are the changes that we discussed at the last meeting, and will propose to vote on at our meeting on February 12. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Annette

Annette Lutz
President
Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
614-288-4323
President.capital.nfboh at gmail.com

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people because we know that low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want, blindness is not what holds you back. 

Begin forwarded message:

From: shelbiah1 at gmail.com
Date: January 8, 2022 at 4:37:18 PM EST
To: annettelutz at icloud.com
Subject: revisedCapital Chapter Constitution

CONSTITUTION

Capital Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

            April 1997

April 2, 2016

 February 12, 2022

            Article I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

            Article II. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind of the Columbus area, the state of Ohio, and the nation; to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio; to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of the Columbus area; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together in a local organization to plan and carry out programs to improve the quality of life of the blind; to provide a means of collective action for parents of blind children; to forward the interests of blind students and provide them with a means of joint action and expression; to promote the vocational, cultural, and social advancement of the blind; to achieve the integration of the blind in to society on a basis of equality with the sighted; and to take any other action which will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.

            Article III. MEMBERSHIP

            A. Members

At least a majority of the members of this organization must be blind, but sighted people are welcome to be members.  A quorum for transacting business in this organization shall be five (5) members. A majority of the members present and voting on any issue must be blind, and three (3) of these members must be on the Board of Directors.  

            B. Disciplinary Action

Any member may be expelled for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting of this organization, or by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio may reinstate any person who has been expelled unless such expulsion has been confirmed by the National Convention or by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, in which event the person may not be reinstated except by the National Board of Directors. Any person who feels that he or she has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio or the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, which may (in its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision; but until or unless the action of discipline or expulsion is reversed by the State or National Board of Directors, it shall continue in effect.

            Article IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

            A. There shall be elected biannually at the regular November meeting  in the odd numbered years.  President, Vice President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. The President and Vice-President of this chapter must be blind. The terms of these officers shall begin the following January  1. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members who are present and 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. No proxy votes will be accepted either by telephone, written message, or word of mouth.

            B.  The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office.

            C. The position of secretary, treasurer, or board member at large may be held by a sighted person. Only one (1)) sighted person can serve on the board of directors at any given time.  Sighted people are welcome to be members of this organization but a majority of the members present and voting on any issue must be blind. 

            Article V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

            A. The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the four (4) constitutional officers, and one (1) additional member, elected for a two-year term at the same time as the officers. The at-large member shall be elected in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. The elected board member can be either sighted or blind. (Only one (1) member of the board of directors for Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio can be sighted.) 

            B. 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 meetings. At least three (3) members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by telephone, text message  or email ballot on any question. (Only one (1) member  of the board can be sighted.) 

            Article VI. COMMITTEES

            A. The President may appoint such committees as they or the organization deems necessary. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the nominating committee.

           B. Nominating committee and its chair shall be appointed by the president at the September meeting of odd numbered years.  This committee will meet by either teleconference or in person to prepare a slate of officers and a board member to be presented at the November meeting of odd numbered years at which meeting the elections will take place. Nominations can be made from the floor but all those wishing to be nominated from the floor must be present. The committee must have confirmed, beforehand, that those being placed on the slate are willing to accept the position for which their name is being placed and that the person is willing to read and sign the National Federation of the Blind Code of Conduct.  

            Article VII. AFFILIATION

            A. The Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall be a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and shall furnish to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers and shall also provide to the state President a detailed financial report for the past year upon their request.

            B.  A copy of the Constitution of the Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, and to the chairperson of the Constitution Committee,  without delay.

            C. The fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar year.

            D. The Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind 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 of Ohio and the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the National Convention, the National Board of Directors, the State Convention, or the State Board of Directors) are binding on this organization and its members; and this organization and its members shall participate affirmatively in carrying out such policy decisions. As a condition of affiliation, it is agreed by this organization that the National Federation of the Blind (whether by action of the National Convention, the National Board of Directors, the State Convention, or the State Board of Directors) has the power to expel or discipline and individual member and to expel or reorganize the local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the chapter belong to the reorganized chapter; and the former chapter shall dissolve and cease to exist. The name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof, is the property of the National Federation of the Blind; and if this organization ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (for whatever reason), it shall forfeit the right to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

E. The President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall ex officio be a member of this organization as long as it exists and is in good standing.  

            Article VIII. DUES

 The amount of dues paid by members to this organization shall be established by the membership.  Existing members  shall pay their dues  annually by the end of February, after which time they will not be considered members in good standing and be unable to vote. Good standing status shall be reinstated immediately upon receipt of dues.  No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of their dues.
Each year prior to the annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, this organization shall pay its and its members, state dues for the following year as stipulated in the policies and Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

            Article IX. 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 may be discharged only on written order of the president, and recorded by the treasurer.

            Article X. DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, to be held in trust for a reorganized chapter in the area. In the event that no chapter is organized in the Columbus area for a period of two (2) years from the date this organization ceases to be a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

            If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that time neither the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio nor the National Federation of the Blind is a tax exempt organization under the provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code or if the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and the National Federation of the Blind have been dissolved, all assets of this organization shall be given to an organization with similar purposes which has received tax exempt certification from the federal Internal Revenue Service.

            Article XI. 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 that the proposed amendment has been circulated in writing to the members of the organization at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the meeting and provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received from the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and the National Federation of the Blind.

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