[MN-at-Large] Time's running out! Register for the Semiannual Convention!

[David Andrews]

>
>There’s only a week left to register for the semiannual convention.
>Don’t want the details? Register Here: 
><http://www.nfbmn.org/semiannual>www.nfbmn.org/semiannual
>
>Want details? Read on.
>Dear Members and Friends of the NFB of Minnesota,
>
>I’m writing to invite you to our 2020 spring 
>convention, which will be held virtually rather 
>than in-person, and to urge you to renew your 
>membership in the National Federation of the 
>Blind of Minnesota, as our membership year 
>begins on June 1. Whether or not you are able to 
>attend the convention, please renew your 
>membership for the coming year by using our 
>online form at 
><http://www.nfbmn.org/semiannual>www.nfbmn.org/semiannual 
>or by sending your dues along with the 
>membership slip you will receive in the mail. 
>Read on to learn about the likely bonus that 
>will come with your membership renewal this year only!
>
>
>
>The 2020 Semiannual Convention will take place 
>on Saturday, May 2 from 9 AM to 12 PM.
>
>
>
>In light of the current public health crisis, 
>the Board of Directors opted to hold the 
>business session with everyone connected by 
>phone or computer instead of gathering at a 
>physical space. The lunch and other breakout 
>sessions typically held in the afternoon are 
>being deferred until we meet in-person, and 
>we’ll finalize plans for those as soon as possible.
>
>Our agenda will include holding our annual 
>election of delegates to our National 
>Convention, calling for pledges to the tenBroek 
>Fund, and voting on the attached proposed 
>amendments to our bylaws that will change our 
>membership year to align with the calendar year. 
>There will be other interesting activities and 
>surprises as well that you won't want to miss, 
>so stay tuned for the full agenda.
>Registration for this virtual convention costs 
>just $5! When we receive your registration, we 
>will send you information about how to connect 
>to the meeting, which you can do either by 
>calling on a telephone, using your computer, or 
>joining via a smartphone app. Please submit the 
>enclosed registration form by mail (or submit it 
>online) no later than April 27.
>
>
>
>This is also the time to pay membership dues.
>
>
>
>You won’t want to miss the chance to vote on our 
>policies and in our elections. Along with your 
>registration form, you can return the enclosed 
>slip with any needed changes (including your 
>telephone number and e-mail address) and $5 in 
>the enclosed envelope. You can also pay your 
>dues online via the registration form even if 
>you cannot attend the convention. If you do not 
>receive a dues slip in the envelope, then your 
>dues are already paid through June 1, 2021.
>
>Here is an added bonus: if the convention votes 
>to pass the bylaws amendment and the motion that 
>accompanies it, everyone whose membership would 
>normally expire in June 2021 (that's you if you 
>renew your membership this year) will get an 
>extra six months of membership. See the attached 
>amendments and motion for more details. (The 
>text of the file is also pasted below my signature.)
>
>Please join us for the 2020 Semiannual 
>Convention of the National Federation of the 
>Blind of Minnesota. We need your energy and your 
>ideas. Together, we will continue to spread the 
>truth that blindness is not what holds us back, 
>and forge a bright future for blind people of 
>all ages
in our state and everywhere.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ryan Strunk, President
>National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
><mailto:president at nfbmn.org>president at nfbmn.org
>www.nfb.org
><http://www.nfbmn.org>www.nfbmn.org
>(612) 872-9363
>Live the life you Want.
>
>
>Bylaws Amendments
>for Consideration at Spring Convention
>May 2, 2020
>
>
>Summary of Proposed Bylaws Amendments
>
>
>
>This proposed set of amendments to the bylaws of 
>the National Federation of the Blind of 
>Minnesota is focused on membership to address a 
>request made to all state affiliates of the 
>National Federation of the Blind. The primary 
>purpose of the amendments is to shift the 
>beginning and end of the membership year of the 
>NFB of Minnesota from June 1–May 31 to January 
>1–December 31. This change would bring our 
>membership year into alignment with that of 
>other states and of our national membership 
>information system. This will also help us to 
>streamline our nationwide efforts on membership on-boarding and retention.
>
>Other aspects of these proposed amendments will 
>remove references to membership classifications, 
>which have not been in practice for years, and 
>update/clarify the process of submission of 
>membership dues so that what is written in the 
>bylaws matches current practice and greatest efficiency.
>
>
>
>Separate but Related Proposal
>
>
>
>If the bylaws amendments are adopted by the 
>convention in May with the change of the 
>membership year to January–December, then the 
>following motion is proposed for consideration 
>by the convention after the amendments are 
>adopted. The intent is to provide for a clear, 
>smooth transition to a new membership year, with 
>members who renew now staying current through 
>the end of the new 2021 membership year.
>
>
>
>Move the following:
>
>    * That membership dues paid to the National 
> Federation of the Blind of Minnesota between 
> March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 be applied 
> to the membership year ending December 31, 2021.
>    * That membership dues that were paid in 
> advance for coverage of the year ending June 
> 2021 be applied to the membership year ending December 2021.
>
>
>
>Details of The Proposed Bylaw Changes:
>
>
>
>
>
>Change #1
>
>
>
>Article I, Section 2 is deleted. This change 
>eliminates references to "associate members" and 
>leaves only one classification of membership.
>
>The section to be deleted reads as follows:
>
>[Begin deleted Article I, Section 2]
>Section 2. Classifications.
>
>Membership in this organization shall be of two 
>classifications: regular membership and associate membership.
>
>1.   At least a majority of the regular members 
>of this organization must be blind. Regular 
>members of this organization have the right to 
>vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
>2.   Associate members shall have all the rights 
>and privileges of regular members except that they may not vote or hold office.
>[End of deleted Article I, Section 2)
>
>
>
>Change #2
>
>
>
>Article I, Section 1 is amended by inserting the 
>language from item 1 of the deleted Section 2 
>(about the rights of membership) between the two 
>existing paragraphs of Section 1, but with the 
>word "regular" omitted. The amended Section 1 will read as follows:
>
>
>[Begin amended Article I, Section 1]
>Section 1. Qualifications.
>Any blind or sighted person who has demonstrated 
>a constructive interest in the goals and 
>policies of the National Federation of the Blind 
>is eligible for membership in the organization.
>
>At least a majority of the members of this 
>organization must be blind. Members of this 
>organization have the right to vote, serve on 
>committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
>
>Members and applicants for membership must not 
>indulge in attacks upon the officers, Board 
>members, leaders, or members of the National 
>Federation of the Blind or its affiliates 
>outside of the organization. This requirement 
>shall not be interpreted to interfere with the 
>right of a member to carry on a political 
>campaign within the organization for election to 
>office, or to achieve policy changes. No member 
>may join or support any temporary or permanent 
>organization inside the Federation that has not 
>received the sanction and approval of the 
>membership and/or the Board of Directors.
>[End of amended Article I, Section 1]
>
>
>
>Change #3
>
>
>
>Article I, Section 3 is re-numbered to Section 
>2, and the words "regular" and "associate" are 
>stricken from the language wherever they occur in reference to members.
>
>The amended Section 2 (formerly Section 3) reads as follows:
>
>[Begin amended Article I, Section 2]
>Section 2. Members of Local Chapters.
>
>All members of local chapters shall 
>automatically become members of this 
>organization. Persons may become members of 
>local chapters by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the 
>chapter members present and voting at a regular chapter meeting.
>[End of amended Article I, Section 2]
>
>
>
>Change #4
>
>
>
>Article I, Section 4 is re-numbered to Section 
>3, and the words "regular" and "associate" are 
>stricken from the language wherever they occur 
>in reference to members. (Note that "regular 
>meeting" in this case refers to what we think of as a convention).
>
>The amended Section 3 (formerly Section 4) reads as follows:
>
>[Begin amended Article I, Section 3]
>Section 3. Members at Large.
>
>Any person who is not affiliated with a local 
>chapter may become a member at large of this 
>organization by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the 
>members present and voting at a regular meeting 
>or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.
>[End of amended Article I, Section 3]
>
>
>
>Change #5
>
>
>
>Article II, Section 2 is amended so that (1) the 
>date of the report is shifted from August to 
>March; (2) the provision for the chapter to send 
>a list of names and addresses each year­which 
>was a good idea a long time ago but hasn't been 
>handled that way for decades­is eliminated; (3) 
>the dues are submitted to the Treasurer rather 
>than the Secretary for greater efficiency; and 
>(4) it is made clear that members can submit 
>dues directly to the state (as is the usual 
>practice today) as well as through the chapter 
>to the state (as the bylaws have stated). The amended section reads as follows:
>
>[Begin amended Article II, Section 2]
>Section 2. Chapter Reports
>Annually, on or before March 1, the president or 
>secretary of each local chapter shall provide to 
>the Treasurer of NFBM any state dues collected 
>by the chapter, along with the names and 
>addresses of the members who paid. As new 
>members enter local chapters, their names, 
>addresses and state dues shall be sent without 
>delay to the Treasurer of NFBM, either by the 
>member directly or by the chapter.
>[End of amended Article II, Section 2]
>
>
>
>Change #6
>
>
>
>In the first sentence of Article X, the month is 
>changed from June to January. The second 
>sentence is changed to reflect that members 
>typically send their dues directly to the state 
>treasurer but that dues can also be collected by 
>the chapter and forwarded. The amended article reads as follows:
>
>[Begin amended Article X]
>Article X: DUES
>
>The membership dues of this corporation shall be 
>determined by a majority vote of the regular 
>members present and voting at a regular meeting, 
>payable on or before January 1. In accordance 
>with Article II of these Bylaws, members may 
>submit dues directly to the state treasurer, and 
>local chapters shall forward any members' dues 
>collected by the chapter to the state treasurer. 
>Any member who fails to pay dues shall remain in 
>good standing for a period of sixty (60) days, 
>during which time notice of expiration of 
>membership shall be sent by the secretary. At 
>the end of this grace period, persons delinquent 
>in the payment of their dues shall be dropped from membership.
>[End of amended Article X]


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