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There’s only a week left to register for the semiannual convention.<br>
Don’t want the details? Register Here:
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/semiannual">www.nfbmn.org/semiannual</a><br>
<br>
Want details? Read on.<br>
Dear Members and Friends of the NFB of Minnesota,<br>
<br>
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
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org/semiannual">www.nfbmn.org/semiannual</a> 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!<br>
<br><br>
<h1><b>The 2020 Semiannual Convention will take place on Saturday, May 2
from 9 AM to 12 PM. </b></h1><br><br>
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. <br>
<br>
Our agenda will include holding our annual election of delegates to our
National Convention, calling for pledges to the tenBroek Fund, and
<b>voting on the attached proposed amendments to our bylaws</b> 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.<br>
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. <b>Please submit the
enclosed registration form by mail (or submit it online) no later than
April 27.<br>
</b> <br><br>
<h1><b>This is also the time to pay membership dues.</b></h1><br><br>
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.<br>
<br>
<b>Here is an added bonus:</b> 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.)<br>
<br>
Please join us for the 2020 Semiannual Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. <b>We need your energy and your
ideas. </b>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.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Ryan Strunk, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:president@nfbmn.org">president@nfbmn.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/" eudora="autourl">www.nfb.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbmn.org">www.nfbmn.org</a><br>
(612) 872-9363<br>
Live the life you Want.<br>
<br><br>
Bylaws Amendments <br>
for Consideration at Spring Convention<br>
May 2, 2020<br><br>
<h1><b>Summary of Proposed Bylaws Amendments</b></h1><br><br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br><br>
<h1><b>Separate but Related Proposal</b></h1><br><br>
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.<br>
<br><br>
<br>
Move the following:<br>
<ol>
<li>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.
<li>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.
</ol> <br><br>
<h1><b>Details of The Proposed Bylaw Changes:</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Change #1</b></h2><br><br>
Article I, Section 2 is deleted. This change eliminates references to
"associate members" and leaves only one classification of
membership.<br>
<br>
The section to be deleted reads as follows:<br>
<br>
[Begin deleted Article I, Section 2]<br>
<u>Section 2. Classifications.<br>
</u> <br>
Membership in this organization shall be of two classifications: regular
membership and associate membership.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
2. Associate members shall have all the rights and privileges
of regular members except that they may not vote or hold office.<br>
[End of deleted Article I, Section 2)<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Change #2</b></h2><br><br>
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:<br><br>
<br>
[Begin amended <a name="_Hlk36383249"></a>Article I, Section 1]<br>
<u>Section 1. Qualifications.<br>
</u>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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
[End of amended Article I, Section 1]<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Change #3</b></h2><br><br>
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.<br>
<br>
The amended Section 2 (formerly Section 3) reads as follows:<br>
<br>
<a name="_Hlk36383750"></a>[Begin amended Article I, Section 2]<br>
<u>Section 2. Members of Local Chapters.<br>
</u> <br>
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.<br>
[End of amended Article I, Section 2]<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Change #4</b></h2><br><br>
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). <br>
<br>
The amended Section 3 (formerly Section 4) reads as follows:<br>
<br>
[Begin amended <a name="_Hlk36383852"></a>Article I, Section 3] <br>
<u>Section 3. Members at Large.<br>
</u> <br>
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.<br>
[End of amended Article I, Section 3]<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Change #5</b></h2><br><br>
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:<br>
<br>
<a name="_Hlk36384063"></a>[Begin amended Article II, Section 2]<br>
<u>Section 2. Chapter Reports<br>
</u>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.<br>
[End of amended Article II, Section 2]<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Change #6</b></h2><br><br>
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:<br>
<br>
[Begin amended Article X]<br>
<u>Article X: DUES<br>
</u> <br>
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.<br>
[End of amended Article X]</blockquote><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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