[Nfb-krafters-korner] Constitution NFB Krafters Division

[blindhands at aol.com]

Constitution

National Federation of the Blind Krafters Division Article 1.  name: The
name of this organization shall be National Federation of the Blind Krafters
Division

Article 2.  Purpose: The National Federation of the Blind Krafters Division
shall function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind.
It strives to promote the common and professional asperations and success of
the blind in developing crafts by sharing the spirit and techniques of other
blind crafters across the nation.  This organization shares the vision that
blindness is no obstacle to the enjoyment or profitability of imaginative,
hand-made creations.

Article 3.  Membership.  Section One--Active Members: At least a majority of
the active members of this organization must be blind.  Active membership
shall be of two classifications: active members who are affiliated with
local and state divisions and active members who are not affiliated with
local and state divisions.  A.  All active  members of local and state
divisions shall automatically become active members of this organization
with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold
office.  B.  Any person who is not affiliated with a local or state division
may become an active member of this organization by receiving a majority
vote of the active members present and voting at a regular meeting or by
complying with requirements established at a regular meeting of the Board of
Directors.  Section Two--Supporting Members.  Any person may become a
supporting member of this organization through procedures established by the
membership or the Board of Directors.  Supporting members shall have all the
rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold
office or serve on the Board of Directors.  Supporting members shall not pay
dues.  Section Three--Disciplinary Action Any member may be expelled, and
any state Division may be expelled, suspended or reorganized for violation
of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member or division of
the Federation by a majority vote of the active members present and voting
at any regular business meeting of this organization, or by a two-thirds
vote of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors or the membership
may re-instate any person who has been expelled unless such expulsion has
been confirmed by the National Convention or the Board of Directors of the
National Federation of the Blind, in which event the person may not be
reinstated except by the National Board.  Any person who feels that he/she
has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization or any
state division that feels that it has been unjustly disciplined,
reorganized, or expelled may appeal to the Board of Directors of the
National Federation of the Blind which may (in its discretion) consider the
matter and make a binding decision; but until or unless the action of
discipline, reorganization or expulsion is reversed by the National Board,
it shall continue in effect.

Article 4.  State Divisions.  Any organized group desiring to become a local
or state Division of the National Federation of the Blind Krafters Division
shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of the National
Federation of the Blind Krafters Division a copy of its Constitution and a
list of the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses (when
available)  of its members and elected officers.  When the National
Federation of the Blind Krafters Division, either in regular meeting or by
action of its Board of Directors, shall have approved the application, it
shall issue to the State or Local Division a Certificate of Acceptance.
Annually, on or before January 1, each Local or State Division shall provide
to the Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind Krafters Division a
current list of its members, their names, addresses, phone numbers, and
email addresses (when available), and their national dues.  Upon request the
Local or State Division shall also provide to the NFB Krafters Division
President a list of the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses
(when available) of local and state division members and a financial report
for the preceding year.  The fiscal year of this organization shall be the
calendar year.  As new members enter Local and State Divisions, their names,
addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (when available) and National
Division  dues shall be sent without delay to the national organization.  No
group shall be accepted as a State Division and no group shall remain a
State Division unless a majority of its voting members are blind.  The
President, the Vice President(s), and at least a majority of the Board of
Directors of the State Division must be blind.  The President of the NFB
Krafters Division shall be ex officio a member of each State Division.  In
the event of the dissolution of the State Division, or if (for whatever
reason) a State Division ceases to be a part of this organization, its
assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind
Krafters Division; and it shall forthwith cease to use the name National
Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind or any variant thereof.

Article V.  Officers and Their Duties.  There shall be elected at the
regular annual meeting during each even-numbered year: President, First Vice
President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The two-year
terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the meeting at which
they are elected and qualified.  Officers shall be elected by a majority
vote of the active members present and voting.  There shall be no proxy
voting.  If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the
name of the person receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list
of nominees, and a secodd ballot shall be taken.  This procedure shall
continue until one of the nominees has received a majority vote from the
active members present and voting.  The duties of each officer shall be
those ordinarily associated with that office.  The President and the Vice
Presidents must be blind.

Article VI.  Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors of this
organization shall consist of the five constitutional officers and two
additional members who shall be elected for two-year terms in odd-numbered
years.  At the organizational meeting in 2008 the two Board Members shall be
elected for one-year terms.  Board members shall be elected in the same
manner as that prescribed for the election of officers.  The Board shall
meet at the call of the President or by request of any 3 Board members.  The
Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the
organization between meetings.  At least 4 members of the Board of Directors
must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business.
The Board may be polled by telephone, mail ballot, or by email on any
question.  A majority of the Board must be blind.

Article VII--Meetings.  Section One--REGULAR meetings This organization
shall hold annual meetings at the time and place of the Convention of the
National Federation of the Blind.  At least ten active members must be
present to constitute a quorum to transact business at any meeting.  Members
may be polled by telephone, mail ballot, or by email on any question, except
elections and Constitutional Amendments.  Section Two.  Special Meetings.
The president of this organization may call a special meeting of the body at
any time he/she or a majority of the Board of Directors deems such action to
be desirable.  Notice of special meetings must be sent by mail and/or email
to the membership at least ten days before the meeting.

Article VIII.  Committees.  The President may appoint such committees as
he/she or the organization deems necessary.  The President shall be ex
officio a member of all committees.

Article Ix.  Affiliation.  The National Federation of the Blind Krafters
Division shall be a Division of the National Federation of the Blind.  A
copy of the Constitution of the NFB Krafters Division and of all amendments
to the Constitution  shall be sent without delay to the President of the
National Federation of the Blind for approval.  The NATIONAL Federation of
the Blind Krafters Division shall not merely be a social organization, but
shall actively work to formulate programs for crafters and to promote the
economic and social betterment of the blind.  This organization and its
local and state Divisions shall comply with the provisions of the
Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind.  Policy decisions of
the National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the National
Convention or the National Board of Directors) are binding on this
organization, its Local and State Divisions and members.  This organization,
its Local and State Divisions and members shall participate affirmatively in
carrying out policy decisions.  As a condition of affiliation, it is agreed
by this organization that the NATIONAL Federation of the Blind (whether by
action of the national organization or the national Board) has the power to
expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a Local
or State  Division.  In the event of reorganization, the assets of the
Division and its State Divisions belong to the reorganized Division; and the
former Division shall dissolve and cease to exist.  The name National
Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind or any variant thereof is
the property of the National Federation of the Blind and this organization
or any of its Local or State Divisions which ceases to be a part of the
National Federation of the Blind (for whatever reason) shall forfeit the
right to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the
Blind or any variant thereof.  The President of the National Federation of
the Blind shall ex officio be a member of this organization and each of its
Local and State Divisions.

Article X.  Dues.  The dues of this organization shall be determined by the
membership.  Dues shall be paid annually.  State Divisions shall pay dues
for their members.  Members who are not affiliated with State Divisions
shall pay their dues before or during annual meetings.  No person may vote
who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.

Article XI.  Disbursement of Funds.  The funds of this organization shall be
deposited in a bank to be selected by the Treasurer with the approval of the
President.  All financial obligations of this organization shall be paid by
check issued on order of the President and signed by the Treasurer or by an
assistant Treasurer with the approval of the membership or the Board of
Directors.

Article XII.  Dissolution.  In the event of the dissolution of this
organization or if (for whatever reason  it ceases to be a part of the
National Federation of the Blind) its assets shall be given to the National
Federation of the Blind to be held in trust for a reorganized Division.  In
the event that no Division is organized for a period of two years from the
date this Division ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the
Blind, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the
Blind.  If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that
time the National Federation of the Blind is no longer a tax-exempt
organization under the provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code or if
the National Federation of the Blind has been dissolved, all assets of this
organization shall be given to an organization with similar purposes which
has received tax-exempt certification from the federal Internal Revenue
Service.

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 the proposed amendment has been
submitted in writing to the membership at least ten days before the meeting
and provided it is in compliance with the Articles of Affiliation of the
National Federation of the Blind. 
 THE END