[il-talk] Proposed amended Chicago Chapter Constitution

[Patti Gregory-Chang]

Dave and I thought some of you might want to see this before the first 
reading this Saturday.  This is a proposed amendment resulting from a series 
of committee meetings last year.

Constitution of the NATIONAL FEDERATION of the BLIND of ILLINOIS CHICAGO 
CHAPTER CONSTITUTION

PROPOSED 2010



It is proposed that the October 2003 Chicago Chapter Constitution be amended 
by substituting the following language in its entirety.  We will vote 
article and section by article ans subsection.



ARTICLE I.  NAME The name of this organization shall be The National 
Federation of the Blind of Illinois Chicago Chapter



ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE The purpose of the Chicago Chapter of the National 
Federation of the Blind of Illinois shall be to advance the general welfare 
of the blind of the Chicago area, of the state of Illinois and of the 
nation; to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the 
Blind; to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of the 
Chicago area; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and 
interested sighted persons can come together 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 into 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

Section One - Members At least a majority of the members of this 
organization must be blind. Every person is presumed to be eligible for 
membership in this organization.   For this reason any person may become a 
member of this organization with all the rights and responsibilities of 
membership in the National Federation of the Blind Chicago Chapter by 
tendering dues; and shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, speak 
on the floor, and hold office.



Section Two- Affiliation Membership in this organization automatically 
establishes membership in the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 
and the National Federation of the Blind.



Section Three- Expulsion: Any member may be expelled for violation of this 
Constitution, for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation or for 
egregious acts including but not limited to racism, or sexism by a two 
thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular 
business meeting of this organization.  The National Federation of the Blind 
of Illinois Chicago Chapter is an all inclusive organization.  A person 
charged with any of these offences must be presented with a written copy of 
the charges at least one 1 regular business meeting  prior to the business 
meeting at which these charges are to be heard and must be afforded an 
opportunity to respond in writing or orally. The state convention of this 
organization 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 Convention or by the National 
Board.  Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly expelled from 
this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National 
Federation of the Blind, which may (in its discretion) consider the matter 
and make a binding decision.







ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES: There shall be elected annually 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 
meeting at which they are elected and qualified.  Officers and board members 
shall be elected by a majority vote of the members who are present and 
voting; a majority of the members voting must be blind.  All members shall 
be eligible to vote in an election if, they have paid their dues at least 
one (1) chapter meeting prior to the date of the election. Election shall be 
by voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, or roll call vote unless a 
majority of the members who are present and voting decide that a secret 
ballot shall be used.  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, the Vice Presidents, and a majority of the 
Officers must be blind.



ARTICLE V.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS:  The Board of Directors of this organization 
shall consist of the five (5) constitutional officers and four (4) 
additional members.  The four (4) Board Members shall be elected at the same 
time and in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. 
The Board shall meet four times each year, 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 a majority of the members of the 
Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact 
business.  The Board may be polled by telephone, e-mail, or mail ballot on 
any questions.  A majority of the Board must be blind.



ARTICLE VI.  MEETINGS:

Section One - Regular Meetings: This organization shall hold regular 
meetings at a time and place to be determined by the membership.  At least 
20 members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

Section Two - Special Meetings: The President of this 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.  At such special meeting at 
least 20 members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact 
business.



ARTICLE VII.  COMMITTEES: The President may appoint such committees as 
he/she or the organization deems necessary.



ARTICLE VIII.  AFFILIATION: The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 
Chicago Chapter shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the 
Blind of Illinois and the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish 
to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois upon 
request a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected 
officers and board members.  A copy of the Constitution of the National 
Federation of the blind of Illinois Chicago Chapter and of all amendments to 
the Constitution shall be sent for review to the President of the National 
Federation of the Blind of Illinois and the National Federation of the Blind 
without delay.  This constitution and any amendments to this constitution 
will not take affect until they are ratified by the state board of directors 
of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois.  The National 
Federation of the Blind of Illinois Chicago Chapter 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 Illinois and the provisions of the contract 
appearing on the back of the Charter of Affiliation issued to state 
affiliates by the National Federation of the Blind.  Policy decisions of the 
National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of 
Illinois (whether made by the National Convention or the National Board of 
Directors or the State Convention or the State Board of Directors) are 
binding on this organization, and this organization 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 or the National 
Board or the State Convention or State Board) has the power to expel or 
discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state affiliate 
or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of this 
organization shall belong to the reorganized chapter or if no reorganization 
occurs for a period of two years, to the National Federation of the Blind of 
Illinois 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 this 
organization, if it ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the 
Blind, (for whatever reason) shall forfeit the right to use the name 
National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant 
thereof.



ARTICLE IX.  DUES: The dues of this organization shall be $2 per year, 
payable in advance.  Existing members' dues are owed on the anniversary date 
of the month on which they paid prior to the adoption of this constitution 
and annually thereafter.  Dues are owed annually on the anniversary date of 
the members joining the chapter for all members joining after the effective 
date of this constitution.  If a member wishes to alter the date upon which 
their dues are owed, they may do so by paying before their anniversary date. 
A life-time membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00.  Dues must be 
paid at least one chapter meeting before an election to gain eligibility to 
vote.



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.  The Treasurer and all signatories on bank accounts shall be 
bonded.  All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged 
by check, issued on written order of the President, and signed by the 
Treasurer.



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



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 read at a previous business session and provided it 
is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received 
by the state affiliate from the National Federation of the Blind and with 
the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and the 
National Federation of the Blind.





Adopted: ???



_______________________________________

Dave Meyer, President NFBI Chicago Chapter



RATIFIED BY the STATE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL Federation OF THE Blind OF 
ILLINOIS on ???.



_______________________________________

Patti Gregory-Chang President NFBI





OFFICIAL PLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND I pledge to 
participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind 
to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the 
policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its Constitution.






P.S. Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB Imagination Fund 
via your phone bill.

P.S.S.  National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is now on twitter at 
www.twitter.com/nfbi.
We also have a facebook page.  Just search for our full name.

Patti Gregory-Chang, Esq.
Chairperson, NFB Scholarship Committee
scholarships at nfb.org
President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
pattichang at att.net
www.nfbofillinois.org 
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