[Nfbktad] Proposed Changes to TAD Constitution for Calendar Year 2014

[testephens at independenceplaceky.org]

Greetings TAD members, 

Please review the proposed changes by the Tad board to the TAD constitution
below. These are the changes to the TAD Constitution  

 

* Adding one additional board seat. That position is Program Manager. This
person will be responsible for taking the lead on formulating and
implementing future blindness related assistive technology training agendas
and forums for TAD members. In addition, the Program Manager will spearhead
future training events with regard to blindness related assistive technology
for members in our community as well as other communities where there are
individuals with visual impairments.

 

* There was an amendment to the TAD Constitution last year by which we
thought to collect dues at the business meeting after the meeting. Upon
second review, our board members feel it would be more efficient to collect
at the beginning of the TAD board meeting.

 

Please review the TAD Constitution in its entirety, directly below with
proposed changes.

 

Thank you,

 

 

Todd

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE 

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE DIVISION

A DIVISION OF THE 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF KENTUCKY

 

Enacted September 10, 2006

Second Revision July 30, 2014

 

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this organization shall be Technology Assistance Division.

 

ARTICLE II: Mission

The purpose of this organization shall be to develop a network of
knowledgeable and supportive individuals willing to provide and to share
appropriate, blind related assistive technology resources and services with
its members. TAD will provide a forum for its members to share information,
and to support one another in a world of ever-evolving technology.

The Technology Assistance Division of NFBKY will: 1) collaborate and network
with AT professionals who are experts in the field of current and future
technology. 2. Present to its members both new and existing assistive
technology through training seminars and workshops, whenever possible.

 

ARTICLE III: Membership

To comply with the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of
Kentucky and the National Federation of the Blind, a good faith effort shall
be made by this organization to maintain a membership consisting of a
majority of blind members.

 

Section I-Members

Members that are current by having paid dues during the designated time
frame, as outlined in Article IX Dues, will have the right to vote, hold
office, serve on committees, and speak on the floor (or by other electronic
means). 

 

Section II-Affiliation

Membership in this organization automatically establishes membership in the
National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky and the National Federation of
the Blind. 

 

Section III-Expulsion

Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for conduct
unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
active members.  Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly expelled
from this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. 

 

ARTICLE IV: Officers

Section I-Officers and Their Duties

The elected Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President,
Treasurer, Secretary, Program Manager, Communications Manager and Board
Member.

 

Section II-Election of Officers

There shall be elected annually, a President, a Vice President, A treasurer,
A Secretary, A Program manager, a Communications Manager, and a Board
Member.  The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the State
Convention at which they are elected.  Officers shall be elected by a
majority vote of Active members who are present and voting.  Voting may take
place by voice, counting of hands, or secret ballot as deemed necessary by
those 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
second ballot shall be taken.  This procedure shall continue until one of
the nominees has received a majority vote from Active Members present and
voting.  The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated
with that office

 

Section III-Replacement of Officers

Should the President, for any reason, be unable to complete his/her term of
office, his/her duties shall be assumed by the Vice President.  Replacement
of the Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Manager, or
Board member shall be by a 2/3 vote of the Board.

 

ARTICLE V: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the four (4)
constitutional officers, a Program Manager, a Communications Manager and a
Board member.  The Board shall meet at least two (2) times a year.  Special
meetings may be held at the call of the President or on written call signed
by any six (6) members of the board.  The Board shall advise the President
and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings.
At least four (4) members of the Board must be present at any meeting to
constitute a quorum to transact business.  The Board may be polled by
telephone, email, any electronic polling/internet or mail ballot on any
question. 

 

ARTICLE VI: Meetings

Section I-Annual Convention

This organization shall meet annually at the state convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

 

Section II-Special Meetings

The President may call other meetings of the membership at any time he/she
or a majority of the Board of Directors deems necessary.  At such special
meetings at least thirty-three and one-third (33-1/3) percent of the voting
members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business. 

 

Section III-State of the Division Address

At the annual meeting, the sitting President shall give a "State of the
Division" address, reporting on the membership and activities of the
Division over the past year. 

 

ARTICLE VII: Committees

Section I-The President may appoint such committees, as he/she or the
organization deems necessary.

 

Section II-Non-Members may sit on a committee and vote in committee matters
but may not chair the committee.

 

ARTICLE VIII: Affiliation

The Technology Assistance Division shall be a division of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.  This organization shall furnish to the
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, by August 1,
a list of the names and addresses of its elected officers, and the names and
addresses of its members.  Furthermore, a complete financial report showing
all financial transactions for the previous calendar year shall be furnished
to the State President on August 1 for appropriate accounting purposes and
to comply with 501 (c) (3) requirements and for Internal Revenue Service
purposes.  A copy of the Constitution of the Technology Assistance Division
and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of
the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky immediately upon adoption. 

 

The Technology Assistance Division shall not merely be a social
organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the
sharing of technology related information for the blind.  This organization
shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.  Policy decisions of the National
Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky
(whether made by the State or National Convention or the State or National
Board of Directors) are binding on this organization and this organization
shall participate 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 by action of the State or National
Convention or the State or National Board) has the power to expel or
discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize the division.  In
the event of reorganization, the assets of this organization belong to the
reorganized division; and the former division shall dissolve and cease to
exist.   The name National Federation of the Blind or any variant thereof is
the property of the National Federation of the Blind.  This organization, if
it 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 or any variant thereof. 

 

ARTICLE IX: Dues

The dues of this organization shall be $5.00 per year payable in full at the
state convention. Dues may also be accepted during the fiscal year; however,
will never be pro-rated. To comply with: 501(c)(3) regulations, the Internal
Revenue Service, and to comply with standard accounting policies and
procedures , no dues will be accepted during the window after June 1st and
prior to the TAD Board Meeting held at the State Convention.

Only those members who have paid dues in the time frame)previous KY State
Convention to the close of business(June 1 of the next calendar year) will
be entitled to vote, hold office, serve on committees, and speak on the
floor (or by other electronic means in the present TAD Board Elections and
Board Meeting.

Dues collected at the State Convention will always be collected at the
beginning of the TAD Board Business Meeting.

The division shall forward $1.00 per year to the National Federation of the
Blind of Kentucky for each member no later than August 1.  No person may
vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.

 

ARTICLE X: 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 Board.  All financial obligations
of this organization shall be discharged on written order by the President
and Board and signed by the Treasurer and President until such time that an
amendment is added to return check signing to the Treasurer, or in his/her
absence or incapacity, the President.  The Treasurer shall give a financial
report at the Annual Business Meeting of this organization. 

 

ARTICLE XI: Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever
reason) it ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind
of Kentucky, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the
Blind of Kentucky to be held in trust for a reorganized division.  In the
event no division is organized in the area for a period of two (2) years
from the date this organization ceases to be a division of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, the assets become the property of the
National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. 

 

ARTICLE XII: Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote taken at the
annual business meeting or special meeting through voting via an electronic,
provided the amendment has been posted to the official listserv of this
organization one month prior to the vote, and provided it is in compliance
with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received from the National
Federation of the Blind and with the policies of the National Federation of
the Blind of Kentucky.

 

 

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