[nfbmi-talk] CONSTITUTION

[Larry Posont]

CONSTITUTION
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MICHIGAN


ARTICLE I-NAME


The name of this organization shall be The National Federation of the
Blind of Michigan.


ARTICLE II-PURPOSE


The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the general
welfare of the blind of said State and the Nation and to function as
an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind.


ARTICLE III-MEMBERSHIP


SECTION 1.- 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 chapters and active members who
are not affiliated with local chapters.

 1.	All active members of local chapters shall automatically become
members of this organization with the right to vote, serve on
committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
 2.	Any person who is not affiliated with a local chapter may become
an active member of this organization by a majority vote of the active
members present and voting at a convention or by action of the Board
of Directors.

SECTION 2.--ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Any person may be elected to associate membership in this organization
either by the convention or the Board of Directors. Associate members
shall have all of the rights and privileges of active members except,
they may not vote, or hold office.  Associate members shall not pay
dues.

SECTION 3.--EXPULSION

Any member may be expelled for misconduct or for violation of this
Constitution by a two-thirds vote of the active members present and
voting at any regular business session of this organization, or by a
two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The State Convention of
this organization may reinstate any person who has been expelled
unless such expulsion has been confirmed by the National Convention or
by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind in
which event the person may not be reinstated, except by the "National
Convention or by the National Board. Any person who feels unjustly
expelled from this organization 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

ARTICLE IV-LOCAL CHAPTERS


Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Michigan, shall apply for affiliation by
submitting to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan a copy of its Constitution and a list of   names and
addresses of its members and elected officers. When the National
Federation of the Blind of Michigan, either in an assembled
convention, or in action of its Board of Directors, shall approve the
application, it shall issue to the local chapter a certificate of
acceptance. Annually, on or before January 1, each local chapter shall
provide to the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan, a current list of its members names and addresses. At the
same time each local Treasurer shall forward the State dues of each
member of the chapter and a detailed financial report of the chapter
for the past year. The fiscal year for this organization shall be the
calendar year. As new members enter the local chapters, their names
and addresses shall be sent without delay to the Secretary of the
State organization, and their State dues will be sent without delay to
the Treasurer of the State organization. No group shall be accepted as
a chapter, and no group shall remain a chapter unless a majority of
its voting members are blind. The President and Vice-president(s) and
at least a majority of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors,
of the local chapter must be blind. The President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Michigan shall be an ex-officio member of
each local chapter, dissolution of a local chapter or, if for whatever
reason the local chapter ceases to be part of this organization, its
assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the
Blind of Michigan.

ARTICLE V-OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES


There shall be elected, at the Annual Convention, during each even
numbered year, a President, a first Vice-President, a Second
Vice-President, a Secretary and a treasurer.   The terms of these
officers shall begin at the close of the Convention of which they are
elected by a majority vote of the active members who are 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 the active members
present and voting. The duties of each officer shall be those
ordinarily associated with that office. The President and
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 four additional members who will be
elected during odd numbered years, and who will serve two-year terms.
 The four Directors shall be elected in the same manner as prescribed
for the election of officers.   The Board shall meet at the call of
their President, or by written call signed by any three of the Board
members.   The Board shall advise the President, and have charge of
the affairs of this organization between Conventions.   At least five
members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a
quorum to transact business.   The Board may be polled by telephone or
mail ballot on any question. A majority of the Board of Directors must
be blind.   Each local chapter shall elect a representative who shall
have the right to speak from the floor, and to raise issues before the
Board.


ARTICLE VII-MEETINGS


SECTION 1.--ANNUAL CONVENTION

This organization shall hold an Annual Convention--the time and place
of which to be fixed by the membership, or if this is not possible, by
the Board of Directors.   At least fifteen active members must be
present to constitute a quorum to transact business at the Annual
Convention,

SECTION 2.--SPECIAL MEETINGS

The President of this organization may call a special meeting of the
Board at any time. The President or a majority of the Board of
Directors deems such action to be necessary, but at such special
meetings at least fifteen active members must be present to constitute
a quorum to transact business. Written notice must be sent to the
membership at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting. At such
special meetings, only business stated on the agenda sent to the
members shall be transacted.

ARTICLE IX-AFFILIATION


The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan shall be an affiliate
of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the
President of the National Federation of the Blind annually, on or
before January 1, a list of names and addresses of its members and
elected officers. A copy of the Constitution of the National
Federation of the Blind of Michigan, and all amendments to the
Constitution shall also be sent to the President of the National
Federation of the Blind.

The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan shall not merely be a
social organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to
promote the economic and social betterment of the blind. The
organization shall comply with the provision 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 and this
organization must participate affirmatively in the carrying out of
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 National Convention or the National Board, has the power
to expel or discipline a member, local chapter, or affiliate. In the
event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate and its local
chapters belong to the reorganized affiliate and the former affiliate
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
and any of its local chapters which cease 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 X-DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONVENT ION


The organization shall elect each year at least one delegate and at
least one alternate delegate to attend the Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind. No person shall be elected as delegate or
alternate delegate unless he or she is an active member in good
standing. To the extent of the resources of the organization the
expenses of delegates to the Convention of the National Federation of
the Blind shall be paid.


ARTICLE XI-DUES


The dues of the organization shall be one dollar per year payable in
advance accordance with Article VI of the Constitution. Local chapters
shall State dues of their members. Members who are not affiliated with
local chapters shall pay their dues before or during the time of the
annual Convention. A lifetime membership may be purchased for one
hundred dollars. No person may vote if he or she is delinquent in the
payment of their dues.


ARTICLE XII-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. The
Treasurer shall be bonded. All financial obligations of the
organization shall be charged by check issued on order of the
President and signed by the Treasurer.


ARTICLE XIII-DISSOLUT ION


In the event of dissolution of this organization, or for whatever
reason it ceases to be an affiliate 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 affiliate in the State. In
the event that no affiliate is reorganized in the State for a period
of two years from the date this organization ceases to be an affiliate
of the National Federation of the Blind, the assets become the
property of the National Federation of the Blind.


ARTICLE XIV-AMENDMENTS


This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this
organization by an affirmative of two thirds of the active members
present and voting provided that the proposed amendment has been
submitted in writing and read at a previous business session. Article
II-Purpose, and Article IX-Affiliation, may not be amended.