[NFBMO] 2021 Constitutional Amendments

[GeneCoulter at Charter.net]

Below and attached are three proposed constitutional amendments for review
prior to our convention. I would like to thank President Shelia Wright and
President Mark Riccobono for their input.  
Reminder these will be discussed on Friday evening at the Resolutions
committee and also on Saturday during general session and then voted on
Sunday without any discussion.
Thanks 
Gene Coulter

	2021 Constitutional Amendments

Amendment 1:
Add a new Article: 
Article XIV
Code of Conduct

The National Federation of the Blind of Missouri shall abide by the National
Federation of the Blind Code of Conduct. All individuals within the
organization, including all attendees at NFB-sponsored events, are expected
to refrain from the unwelcome and harmful misconduct outlined in the Code,
including but not limited to discrimination, abuse, misuse of power, sexual
misconduct, conflict of interest, fraud, and other forms of misconduct.  

Second Amendment 
Regarding Lifetime  Membership

Amend  Article X to remove sentence about Lifetime membership  in Section B.

New Language:
Section B, Payment: In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution, 
Local chapters shall pay the state dues of their members.  Members who are
not affiliated with the local chapters shall pay their dues before or during
the time of the annual convention.  No person may vote who is delinquent in
the payment of his or her dues.
Old Language:

Section B, Payment: In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution, 
Local chapters shall pay the state dues of their members.  Members who are
not affiliated with the local chapters shall pay their dues before or during
the time of the annual convention.  A lifetime membership may be secured for
a fee of one hundred dollars ($100).  No person may vote who is delinquent in
the payment of his or her dues.

Third Amendment:

The purpose of this amendment is three-fold. First, making the deadlines for
chapters and divisions the same for dues and reports. Second, adding
provision forbidding chapters and divisions from being 501c3. Third,
providing that divisions have either State President or Treasure be a signer
on their bank account. 
New Language:
Article IV
Local Chapters and Divisions.

Section B, Divisions:
Any organized group of special interests wishing to become a division of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri may form a special interest
group and after meeting regularly for two years may apply to become a
division by applying for a charter by submitting to the President of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri a copy of its constitution and a
list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. When the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri either in convention assembled
or by action of its Board of Directors shall have approved the application,
it shall issue to the division a Certificate of Charter.  *Annually, on or
before February1, each division shall provide to the Recording Secretary and
to the Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri, a
current list of its members and their addresses  On or before February 1 of
each year, and each division shall forward to the State Treasurer a detailed
financial report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year.*  The
fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar year.  As new members
enter a division, their names and addresses shall be sent, without delay, to
the Recording Secretary of the state organization.  The President of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri shall be an ex-officio member of
each division.  In the event of the dissolution of a division, or if (for
whatever reason) a division ceases to be a part of this organization, its
assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of
Missouri.  Divisions shall not pay affiliate dues for their members, except
in the case where a person has not already had dues paid by themselves or a
local chapter. In such a case dues must be paid at our annual state
convention and immediately forwarded to the State Affiliate Treasurer.  The
affiliate shall have the power to dissolve any division that is not regularly
meeting or fails to meet at any state convention. Any Division may establish
their own bank account provided that either the State Affiliate Treasurer or
President is an authorized signer.

Section C Division and Chapter Status
No chapter, division, or group of the affiliate shall either seek, apply for,
or receive Internal Revenue Service 501c3 status without prior approval of
the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
and the President of the National Federation of the Blind.
 
Old Language:
Article IV
Local Chapters and Divisions.

Section A 

Section B, Divisions:
Any organized group of special interests wishing to become a division of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri may form a special interest
group and after meeting regularly for two years may apply to become a
division by applying for a charter by submitting to the President of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri a copy of its constitution and a
list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. When the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri either in convention assembled
or by action of its Board of Directors shall have approved the application,
it shall issue to the division a Certificate of Charter.  Annually, within
fifteen days of the end of the State Affiliate Convention, each division
shall provide to the Recording Secretary and to the Treasurer of the National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri, a current list of its members and their
addresses.  On or before February 1 of each year, each division shall forward
to the State Treasurer a detailed financial report of its activities for the
preceding fiscal year.  The fiscal year of this organization shall be the
calendar year.  As new members enter a division, their names and addresses
shall be sent, without delay, to the Recording Secretary of the state
organization.  The President of the National Federation of the Blind of
Missouri shall be an ex-officio member of each division.  In the event of the
dissolution of a division, or if (for whatever reason) a division ceases to
be a part of this organization, its assets shall become the property of the
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri.  Divisions shall not pay
affiliate dues for their members, except in the case where a person has not
already had dues paid by themselves or a local chapter. In such a case dues
must be paid at our annual state convention and immediately forwarded to the
State Affiliate Treasurer.  The affiliate shall have the power to dissolve
any division that is not regularly meeting or fails to meet at any state
convention.

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