[CT-NFB] Revised Board Meeting and NFB of CT Constitution
mvcmelley at gmail.com
mvcmelley at gmail.com
Fri Oct 30 20:53:46 UTC 2020
Attached please find the new arrangement of our Board Meeting for Sunday.
Apparently we have been doing things wrong since the beginning of our
elections. Amy Ruell spoke with president Riccobono and he said we should be
having our entire board meeting prior to any voting. So that is what we are
going to do from now on. I have put the Board Meeting and Our Constitution
in the body of this email and as attachments. As always please share with
those not on our list serve.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
9:00a.m. Call to order
9:05a.m. Board Meeting
Roll Call
NFB Pledge
Reports:
Advisory Board: Mary Silverberg
SRC: Deb Reed
BCAC: Barbara Blejewski
PAC Plan: Anne West
Vehicle Donation: Marilyn Wenzel
Federationist: Brianna Rigsbee
New Business:
Vote on Amendment to Constitution
BELL Academy-Thank you Honorata and your volunteers
Subsidy Committee: Shonda Rosetta and Deb Reed
Washington Seminar Appointments: Mary Silverberg
Discuss Washington Seminar being Virtual
Donation Mailings: More help needed
2021 Convention
January Board Meeting date and location
Chapter News
Voting:
Any member nominated from the floor should have already agreed to serve
prior to this convention.
Nominees from the committee and from the floor will have one minute to state
why they feel the affiliate should vote for them. The one minute time will
be strictly enforced.
Elections: Results will be given to our national Representative Amy Ruell
Positions: President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
Meeting adjourned
1. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF CONNECTICUT
CONSTITUTION
Adopted December 4, 1971, at Meeting at Oak Hill School, Hartford
Amended September 18, 1976, at Board Meeting, West Willington
Amended November 8, 1992, at Board Meeting, Danbury
Amended November 5, 1995, at Board Meeting, Stamford
Amended November 8, 1998, at Board Meeting, New Britain
Amended November 4, 2012, at Board Meeting, Hartford
Amended November 2, 2019, at State Convention, Meriden
Article I:
NAME
The name of this organization shall be: National Federation of the Blind of
Connecticut.
Article II:
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the general welfare and
education of the blind of the State of Connecticut, and the nation, and to
cooperate with the National Federation of the Blind in its various
activities.
Article III:
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. ACTIVE MEMBERS: At least a majority of the active members must
be blind. Active members shall be of two classifications: active members
who are affiliated with local chapters and Divisions, and active members who
are not affiliated with local chapters and Divisions. All active members
shall pay dues.
A. All active members of this organization, shall have the right to vote,
serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office. Such persons may
be voting members of only one chapter at a time.
B. Members at Large who have paid their dues have the right to vote at
the annual state convention and run for any position on the board of
directors that is open.
C. Any person who is not affiliated with a local chapter may
become an active member of this organization by a majority vote of the
active members present and voting at a Convention, or by action of the Board
of Directors.
Section 2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Associate members shall have all the rights
and privileges of active members except that they may not vote, hold office,
or serve on the Board of Directors. Associate Members shall not pay dues.
Section 3. EXPULSION: Any member or chapter may be expelled from this
affiliate because of misconduct or neglect of duty or continued opposition
to the state or National Federation of the Blind by a two-thirds vote of the
active membership present and voting at any regular business session or
convention and/or by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Directors. All
parties shall be given at least 14 days written notice of intent to expel.
Article IV: LOCAL
CHAPTERS
Any local group desiring to become a local chapter of the NFB of Connecticut
shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of the NFB of
Connecticut a copy of its Constitution and a list of names and addresses,
phone numbers, and email if applicable of its members and local officers.
When the NFB of Connecticut, either in Convention assembled or by action of
its Board 2.
of Directors, shall have approved the Constitution, it shall issue to the
local chapter a Charter of Membership. Annually, on or before January 1st,
each local chapter shall provide to the President of the NFB of Connecticut
a current list of its members names, phone numbers, addresses and emails if
applicable. At the same time, each local Treasurer shall forward to the
State Treasurer its dues in the amount of $3.00 for each member of the
chapter. As new members enter the local chapter, their names, phone
numbers, addresses and email if applicable shall be sent without delay to
the president of the State organization. State dues shall be sent without
delay to the Treasurer of the State organization. Chapter presidents shall
assist new members in filling out the New Member Form online and submit such
form to the National office.
No group shall be accepted as a Chapter, and no group shall remain a
Chapter, unless at least a majority of its voting members are blind. The
President, the Vice-President, or Vice-Presidents, and at least a majority
of the Executive Committee, or Board of Directors of the local Chapter must
be blind.
The President of the NFB of CT shall be an Ex Officio member of each local
chapter.
Article V: OFFICERS AND THEIR
DUTIES
There shall be elected at the regular Annual Convention, during each
even-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 Convention at which they are elected and
qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active
members who are present and voting. There shall be no proxy voting.
If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, a run-off
election will be held between the two candidates receiving the highest
number of votes. If a tie occurs between two or more candidates receiving
the second highest number of votes, see procedural addendum.
Should a vacancy occur in any office, except that of the presidency before
the term expires, the office will be filled by a presidential appointment
until the next state convention at which time an election will be held to
fill the office of the unexpired term. The election shall be held in the
same manner as that provided for the election of officers. The vacancy of
President shall be filled by the succession of the Vice Presidents.
The President and Vice-Presidents must be blind. The duties of each officer
shall be those ordinarily associated with his office.
Article VI: BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall consist of the five constitutional officers,
and four additional members, two of whom shall be elected for a two year
term at the Annual Convention during even-numbered years, and two of whom
shall be elected for a two year term at the Annual Convention during
odd-numbered years.
The Board shall, upon reasonable notice, meet at the call of the President,
or on written call signed by any three of the Board members. The Board
shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the
organization between conventions.
3.
At least five members of the Board shall be present at any meeting to
constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by
telephone or mail ballot on any question.
Article VII:
MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Convention: This organization shall hold an Annual
Convention, the time and place of which shall be fixed by the membership,
or if this is not possible, by the Board of Directors. At least 15 active
members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business at any
Annual Convention.
Section 2. Special Meetings: The President of the organization may call a
special meeting of the body at any time he/she, or a majority of the Board
of Directors, deems such action to be necessary; but at such special
meetings, at least 15 active members must be present to constitute a quorum
to transact business, and written notices must have been sent to the
membership at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting.
Article VIII:
COMMITTEES
The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization,
deem necessary.
Article IX:
AFFILIATION
The National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut shall be an affiliate 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 1st a
list of the names, addresses, phone numbers, addresses and emails if
applicable of its members and elected officers, a copy of the Constitution
of the NFB of Connecticut, and all amendments to the Constitution shall also
be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind.
Article X: DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION
The organization shall elect each year at least one delegate, and at least
one alternate delegate to attend the Convention of the National Federation
of the Blind. No person shall be elected as delegate, or alternate, unless
he is an active member in good standing. To the extent of the resources of
the organization, the expenses of delegates, and alternate delegates, to the
Convention of the National Federation of the Blind shall be paid.
Article XI:
DUES
The dues of the organization shall be set by a vote of the board of
directors, payable in advance, in accordance with Article IV of the
Constitution. Local chapters shall pay the dues of their members. Members
who are not affiliated with local chapters shall pay their dues before
January 31st. A life-time membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00.
A person must be a paid member at least fifteen (15) days in advance of a
state convention to be able to vote at said convention.
4.
Article XII: DISBURSEMENT OF
FUNDS
The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank selected by the
Treasurer, with the approval of the President. The Treasurer shall be
bonded. All financial obligations of the organization shall be discharged by
checks issued on written order of the President and signed by the Treasurer.
Article XIII:
DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution, all assets of the organization shall be
given to the National Federation of the Blind.
Article XIV:
AMENDMENT
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization
by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and
voting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and
read at a previous business session.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF CONNECTICUT
CONSTITUTION
PROCEDURAL ADDENDUM
I. Article V: Officers and Their Duties: Elections
A. If two or more candidates receive the second highest number of votes,
they will be included in a run-off election against the person receiving the
highest number of votes.
B. If there is a tie for the highest number of votes among three or more
candidates, they will
participate in a run-off election.
Amendment 11/3/2019 at State Convention
1. Article III: Membership: Removal of; All active members shall be
over 16 years of age. Change all active members of local "Chapters" to
Chapters and Divisions. Add; Members at Large who have paid their dues have
the right to vote at the annual state convention and run for any position on
the board of directors that is open.
2. Article IV: Local Chapters: Replace "approved the application" with
approved the Constitution. Replace issue to the local chapter a" Certificate
of Acceptance" with Charter of Membership. Replace "Annually or before
"December 15th" with Annually on January 1st provide to the state; Replace
from "Secretary" to President. Replace list of "names and addresses" to
names, phone numbers, addresses and email if applicable wherever it is
listed and replace "December 15th" with January 31st their state dues shall
be sent without delay to the Treasurer of the State organization. Regarding
new members: their information shall be sent to the President replacing
"Secretary." New language added "Chapter Presidents shall assist new members
in filling out the new member form online and submit such form to the
national office."
3. Article VII: Meetings, Section 2. Change "he" too he/she when
referring to the president.
4. Article IX: Affiliation change "names and address" of members to
names, phone numbers, addresses, and email if applicable.
5. Article XI: Dues change "Members who are not affiliated with local
chapters shall pay their dues before, or during, the time of the annual
convention" to, shall pay their dues on or before January 31st.
Totally remove "any person affiliated with a local chapter.
Best Regards,
Maryanne Melley
President
National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut
860-212-5549
"Live the Life You Want"
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