[Mdabs] Please Read: Constitutional Amendment to be Proposed at MDABS Business Meeting

[Chris Nusbaum]

Dear MDABS Members:

 

I hope all of you are enjoying the refreshing fall weather and looking
forward to a historic and memorable state convention this weekend in
Baltimore. As you have seen from Ellana's email of earlier today, we have an
exciting and informative program at our business meeting which is sure to
empower you to succeed in school and beyond. I hope many of you will join us
at 3:30 PM on Friday in the Chesapeake Room for this important program and
business meeting.

 

I am writing to notify you of an important amendment to our Constitution
which will be voted on as part of the organizational business portion of our
meeting. This amendment, if passed, would change the process by which we
elect officers and Board members in this organization. In the past, we have
elected all officers and Board members annually, meaning that the terms of
all officers have lasted for only one year following their election. After
consulting with affiliate President Sharon Maneki, however, the Board of
Directors feels that it would be more effective to have the terms of all
officers last for two years in order to allow for greater stability in the
leadership of the organization. Therefore, the Board is proposing that we
amend Article V, Section One of our Constitution to establish two-year terms
for all officers and Board members, with the officers being elected on
even-numbered years and the Board members being elected on odd-numbered
years

 

Please note that this will have no effect on this year's elections, as NFBMD
and MDABS policy states that Constitutional amendments take effect after the
business meeting at which they are voted on. This means that all positions
will be up for election this year. However, if this amendment passes, the
two Board member positions will be up for election in 2017, while the
officer positions will be up in 2018. For your reference, I have attached
and pasted below the entire text of the proposed Constitution, including the
language of the amendment being voted on. If you have any questions on this
amendment before casting your vote, please do not hesitate to contact me at
mdabs at nfbmd.org <mailto:mdabs at nfbmd.org>  or (443) 547-2409. I hope you will
consider this matter carefully as you prepare for convention, and that you
will take this opportunity to make your voice heard in deciding the policy
of our organization. See you at convention!

 

Best regards,

 

Chris Nusbaum, President

Maryland Association of Blind Students

 

Maryland Association of Blind Students

Proposed Constitution

 

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this Organization shall be the "Maryland Association of Blind
Students."

 

ARTICLE II: ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTER

This organization shall be chartered as a State Chapter of the National
Association of Blind Students and as a Division of the National Federation
of the Blind of Maryland.

 

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE

The purpose of this Organization shall be to promote educational
opportunities and the general well being of the blind of this nation and the
state to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the
Blind.

 

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

 

Section One: Active Members

At least a majority of the active members of this Organization must be
students who are blind.

 

1. All active members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees,
speak on the floor, and hold office.

 

2. Any person may become an active member of this Organization upon
application and payment of dues to the Treasurer of this Organization.

 

Section Two: Associate Members

Any person may apply for and receive Associate membership status at an
annual business meeting or through an officer of this Organization.
Associate Members

shall have all the rights and privileges of Active Members, except that they
may not vote or hold office. Associate Members do not pay dues.

 

Section Three: Expulsion

Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for
behavior unbecoming to a member of the National Federation of the Blind, by
a majority vote of the members present and voting at an annual business
meeting or by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The annual
business meeting 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 of Directors of the National
Federation of the Blind. Any person who feels he/she has been unjustly
expelled from the organization may appeal to the state board of directors at
the annual state convention. If the appeal is denied by the state board, the
party may further appeal to the national board of directors, who may, at
their discretion, reinstate a member.

 

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

 

Section One: Elections

There shall be elected at the regular annual business meeting, a President,
a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two board members. The terms
of their offices shall begin at the close of the annual business meeting at
which they are elected and qualified, and shall last for two years following
their election. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all members
present and voting. Officers shall be elected on even-numbered years, and
Board members shall be elected on odd-numbered years. There shall be no
proxy voting. If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot,
the name of the person

receiving the least votes will be removed from the list of nominees and a
second ballot recorded. This procedure shall continue until one candidate
receives a simple majority of the votes. All officers must be students who
are blind and planning to attend an educational program in the academic year
following the election.

 

Section Two: Duties

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

 

ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of this Organization shall consist of Four
Constitutional Officers and two additional officers. The Board shall meet at
the call of the President or on written call, signed by a majority of the
Board Members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of
the affairs of this Organization between meetings. At least a majority of
the Board must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business. The
board may be polled by telephone or mail ballot on any question. The Board
of Directors must consist of students who are blind.

 

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

 

Section One: Annual Business Meetings

The Organization shall hold an annual business meeting the time and place of
which shall coincide with the time and place of the State Convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. At least twenty-five percent
of the active 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 any time
she/he or a majority of the Board of Directors deems such action to be
necessary.  At such special meetings at least twenty-five percent of the
active members must be present to transact business. To call such a meeting,
notice must be given to the Board of Directors at least ten days prior to
the date of such special meeting.

 

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

The President may create such committees, as she/he or the Organization
deems necessary.

 

ARTICLE IX: AFFILIATION

The Maryland Association of Blind Students shall be an affiliate of the
National Association of Blind Students and the National Federation of the
Blind

of Maryland, which are, in turn, affiliates of the National Federation of
the Blind. The Maryland Association of Blind Students shall furnish to the
President of the National Association of Blind Students and the President of
the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland annually or before January
First, a list of the names and addresses of the members who are elected
officers of this Organization. A copy of the Constitution of the Maryland
Association of Blind Students, and all Amendments thereto, shall be sent to
the President of the National Association of Blind Students and to the
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, without
delay.

 

The Maryland Association of Blind Students shall not merely be a social
organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the
academic and social betterment of the blind. This Organization shall comply
with the provisions of the Constitution of the National Federation of the
Blind and with the provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the
Charter of Affiliation issued to the state affiliates by the National
Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the
Blind, whether made by the National Convention or the Board of Directors,
are binding on this Organization and this Organization shall participate and
act 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 the decision is made by the Convention or the Board of
Directors, 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 the affiliate and the chapters belong to the
reorganized affiliate, and the former affiliate shall dissolve and cease to
exist. The Maryland Association of Blind Students or any variant thereof, is
the property of the National Federation of the Blind, and this Organization,
upon the event of disaffiliation with the National federation of the Blind,
for whatever reason, shall forfeit the right to use the name Maryland
Association of Blind Students or any variant thereof.

 

ARTICLE X: DUES

The dues of this Organization shall be set at annual business meetings and
shall be payable at annual business meetings. No person may vote who is
delinquent

in the payment of dues.

 

ARTICLE XI: DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

The funds of this Organization shall be deposited in the established bank
account of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.  All financial
transactions shall be discharged by check or other draft, issued on the
order of the President and the Treasurer to the President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

 

ARTICLE XII: DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this Organization, or if, for any reason,
it ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, assets
shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, to be
held in trust for a reorganized student organization. In the event that no
student group is reorganized within a period of two years from the date of
dissolution, the assets may be deposited along with the general funds of the
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, to be used for the purposes of
that Organization.

 

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS

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 that it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter
of Affiliation issued by the National Federation of the Blind and the
policies of the National Federation of the Blind. Amendments may also be
acted upon at special meetings.

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