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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Hello Federationists, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Below is the section regarding elections from the Greater Springfield Chapter. In the very first section of Article 10 it mentions the bi-annual election and in Section 7 it mentions the two-year term of all officers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Therefore, the election should be held every other June. You all have elections on the odd numbered years. This constitution was revised, voted on, submitted and approved by all Governing boards of the NFB. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>I have pasted Article 10 regarding elections below for your convenience. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Article 10<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Elections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify'><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 1</span></i><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>.</span></b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> The <b>biannual</b> election of the <b>Chapter’s officers and trustees</b> shall be held in June. The president should assign someone to chair the nominating committee in May. The chair should choose two other non-running members to select a slate of candidates for nominations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><a name="_Hlk143508217"><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 2.</span></i></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk143508217'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> If anyone who is running for office and he or she is out of the State or the country is automatically disqualified to run. If a member is running for a position but is absent on Election Day they can still be elected if they have a reasonable excuse (as sickness or death in the family) for their absence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk143508217'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk143508217'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk143508217'></span><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 3</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>.</span></i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> <b>All officers; term shall begin at the first meeting following the June elections.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 4.</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> Voting must be private and in person. Members cannot vote if they arrive after the elections begin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 5.</span></i><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> Any member in good standing shall be eligible to vote. The ballot box should be used for all contested elections. <b>The ballot box should be administered by the sergeant-at-arm assisted by the nominating committee. The nominating committee may ask for assistance if needed.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 6.</span></b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> if any member holding a position from previous elections who does not attend meetings for more than three times or who has resigned as a member election for that position should be held right at the following meeting allowing a slate of candidates from the floor to run for that vacant position.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Section 7.</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> If there is an extreme circumstance or reasonable excuse that the president cannot fulfill their 2-year term the vice president would continue the term until elections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:24.0pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbma.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sharawinton@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>