[nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution

Fri Jun 17 19:13:20 UTC 2011

Hi George,

 I think you bring up some interesting points.
 in the end,  I woudl strongly advise to bring this concern directly
to the board- in this case the president of  nabs;  Arielle Silverman.
  Her E-mail is  nabs.president at gmail.com
  best of luck!

On 6/17/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
> article IV states:
>
> "There will be no proxy votes"
>
> However, if we have paid our dues we should be able to vote. Even if we
> aren't able to go to convention.
>
> That's why I'm proposing the amendment below, which would strengthen the
> underlying organization by allowing those unable to attend the convention to
> vote, while restricting this to only members who pay the $5 either online
> before the vote or who have been registered in the database as contributing
> members.
>
>
> So the idea is that when you vote online, you're name or address or
> something would be put threw a database. If you've paid, the computer will
> validate the vote, if not, it'll simply ask you to pay the $5, and the
> language I'm proposing would allow for such an addition to our system.
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 17, 2011, at 2:31 PM, Tina Thomas wrote:
>
>> Hello Jorge- Can you clarify the article in the student's constitution
>> that
>> you feel violates membership rights.
>> Tina
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Jorge Paez
>> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 9:53 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution
>>
>> I understand,
>> which is why that particular article violates our membership rights.
>> That is exactly what I'm trying to get fixed.
>>
>>
>> On Jun 17, 2011, at 12:41 PM, Darian Smith wrote:
>>
>>> George,
>>> in the constitution, the language states  clearly that there is to be
>>> no "proxy voting".  I have pasted the language for your review.
>>> "Officers and board members   shall be elected
>>> by a majority vote of the members of this Association present and
>>> voting. All officers and board   members must be in school for one
>>> year following their
>>> election. There shall be no proxy votes."
>>>
>>>
>>> As the constitution of this division, and of our national  body
>>> prohibits  this,  we are indeed not in violation of our constitution.
>>> The constitution odes  provide for an   amendment to be  submitted
>>> for  consideration and review by the  membership.
>>> The text of  this provision follows:"This constitution may be amended
>>> at any regular meeting of the   Association by an affirmative vote of
>>> two-thirds of the active   members present and voting,
>>> provided the amendment has ben   submitted to the President in
>>> writing, at least one day in   advance of the regular meeting.
>>> "
>>>
>>> Marsha,
>>> Nothing prohibits a student from runningin an election if they are
>>> not present- in fact this has  happen before.  It's really a matter of
>>> if the people present  believe the   individual seeking an office
>>> would  end up working  out better  for the organization than the
>>> people who are  currently in the room and seeking that same office.
>>>
>>> I hope this was helpful,
>>> darian
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 6/17/11, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> In theory this is a good suggestion. But lets be realistic here. This
>> would
>>>> be a complicated process of tallying the votes. If the students were to
>> do
>>>> this, the general convention would want this too. Its sad that those who
>>>> can't be there can't vote, but that is where those who can't be there,
>>>> should get involved to elect those who they feel would do the best job
>>>> possible.
>>>>
>>>> Say if you were to have a online way to take votes, how are you going to
>>>> distinguish from those who are really not going to those who are going
>>>> to
>>>> convention but who want to vote and add votes to a particular person
>>>> running.
>>>>
>>>> Now correct me someone if I am wrong, isn't it true that you can run,
>>>> not
>>>> necessarily be there, and be elected? Or must you be present? Different
>>>> divisions do this differently.
>>>>
>>>> Marsha
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>>>> Of Jorge Paez
>>>> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 11:57 AM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] proposition for amendment to constitution
>>>>
>>>> Hello all:
>>>> I want to propose the following amendment to the constitution, to
>>>> article
>>>> IV.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Voting
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Due to the fact that there are people who will not be present at the
>>>> convention due to issues beyond the membership's control, but who have
>> paid
>>>> dues and do therefore, retain their right to vote, the NATIONAL
>> ASSOCIATION
>>>> OF THE BLIND shall henceforth recognize
>>>> these members by allowing them to vote, in such methods as are legal and
>> of
>>>> good practice, in all elections pertaining to the business of this
>>>> organization.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> end of amendment.
>>>>
>>>> The defense I put forth for this amendment is simple: if we are to be a
>>>> democratic organization, and if we are truly the "voice of the Nation's
>>>> blind" we must realize there are students who will not be able to attend
>> but
>>>> who have paid dues, and these students must be recognized and given the
>>>> chance to vote in elections. If not, we are violating our own
>> constitution
>>>> as article IV is doing as of this writing, by eliminating those members
>> who
>>>> cannot attend convention, and therein setting only a certain portion of
>> the
>>>> student membership to vote.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jorge
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Darian Smith
>>>
>>> "My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it."
>>>
>>> - Shaquille O'Neal
>>>
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-- 
Darian Smith

“My secret?  See it, and stay focused on it.”

— Shaquille O'Neal