[Nyagdu] Proposed revised constitution

[Margo and Arrow]

Tracy, thanks so much.  I'm going to send this to marion to make sure he 
peruses it.  Carl also wants to see the Constitution and I'll forward this 
again to our members to make sure they see it.  Looks good.

Margo and Arrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
To: <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 9:41 AM
Subject: [Nyagdu] Proposed revised constitution


I am pasting below the proposed revised NYAGDU constitution.  I changed
the name, per Amendment 2, changed Amendment 2 to show the old name, and
inserted the National Association of Guide Dog Users in the places I
thought it appropriate, mainly in the Membership and Affiliation sections.
Have a look and see what you think.
Tracy

                NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
                 OF NEW YORK STATE INCORPORATED,
                NEW YORK ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS


ARTICLE I:  NAME

The name of this organization shall be the National Federation of
the Blind of New York State Incorporated, New York Association of Guide
Dog Users.


ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to function as a division of the
National Federation of the Blind of New York State, Inc., and to
serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind dog guide
users of this state and nation; to educate both blind and sighted
people that it is respectable to be a dog guide user; to
promote effective and responsible use of dog guides; to
disseminate accurate information about dog guides and dog guide
users; to function as a mechanism through which blind dog guide
users and other interested persons can come together to plan and
carry out programs to improve the quality of life for blind dog
guide users; to promote the vocational, cultural, and social
advancement of blind dog guide users; to achieve the integration
of blind dog guide users into society on a basis of equality with
the sighted; and to take any other action which will improve the
overall condition and standard of living of blind dog guide
users, according to the philosophy and policy of the National
Federation of the Blind.


ARTICLE III:  MEMBERSHIP

Section A.  At least a majority of the membership of this
organization shall consist of blind dog guide users.  Provided
this condition is met, any person interested in furthering the
purposes of the organization and willing to abide by this
Constitution may become a member.

Section B.  To become a voting member of this organization, a
member must have paid all current dues as established by the
annual Division meeting at the State Convention, and be of
sixteen years of age or older.

Section C.  Non-voting members shall consist of junior members
under the age of sixteen, and persons granted honorary membership
by a majority of the members present and voting at any regular
membership meeting. Non-voting members are not required to pay
dues.


ARTICLE IV:  OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section A.  The officers of this organization shall be:  (1)
President; (2) Vice President; (3) Secretary; and (4) Treasurer.
They shall be elected at the Division meeting at the State
Convention, during odd-numbered years by a majority vote of the
members present and voting.  Officers shall serve for two-year
terms.  Voting by proxy is prohibited.  Only blind members may be
elected to serve as officers.  Further,
the person elected must use a dog guide as his/her primary means
of mobility, or be on a waiting list for a new dog guide, after
having retired a previous guide.  A person on a waiting list for
his/her first dog may not serve as President or Vice President.

If the President is unable to complete his/her term of office for
any reason, the Vice President shall become President and a Vice President
will be appointed by the board to serve until the next annual meeting,
when a special election will be held to elect a vice president.  In the
case of any other vacancies, an election shall be held at the next regular
meeting to fill offices vacated. Officers elected to fill a vacancy shall
serve out the remainder of the current term.
     Section B. This organization shall have a Board of Directors,
consisting of the four officers.


      ARTICLE V:  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MEMBERSHIP, THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND PRESIDENT

   Section A: Powers and duties of the membership. This organization shall
meet at least once yearly, at the State Convention. At least two
officers, one of whom must be the 
president or vice president, and five additional members are required to
be present in order to transact business at the annual Division meeting.
The membership is the supreme authority 
of the organization.  As such, it has final authority with respect to all
issues of policy in accordance with the policies and decisions of the
National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of
New York State Incorporated, and the National Association of Guide Dog
Users.
Its decisions must be made after opportunity has been 
afforded for full and fair discussion.  Members in attendance may 
participate in all Division discussions as a matter of right. Any member
may make or second motions, propose nominations, and serve on committees.
Section B:  Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors.  The function of
the Board of directors as the governing body of this organization between
meetings is to make policies when necessary and not in conflict with the
policies adopted by the National Federation of the Blind, the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated, and the National
Association of Guide Dog Users.  Policy decisions which can reasonably be
postponed until the next Division meeting shall not be made by the Board
of Directors.  It shall have power to 
deal with organizational problems presented to it by any member.
It shall make a good faith effort to resolve any problems or disputes.
The Board shall meet at the call of the President or at the request of
three of its members.  The President or Vice President must preside at any
Board meeting and at least a majority of the board must be present to
constitute a quorum to transact business.

     Section C. Powers and Duties of the President.   the President is the
principal administrative officer of this organization.  In this
capacity his/her duties consist of:
carrying out policies adopted by the membership; conducting the day-to-day
management of the affairs of the Division; authorizing expenditures from
the treasury in accordance with the policies established by the
membership; appointing all committees; coordinating all activities of the
Division, including the work of other officers and of committees; and
taking all administrative actions necessary and proper to accomplish the 
purposes of the organization.

    Article VI: Committees
     The president may appoint such committees as s/he deems necessary.
The president shall serve as an ex officio member of all committees.
The president may establish regional committees to organize and carry
out division projects consistent with the policies of the state
division.


     ARTICLE VII: AFFILIATION
     This organization is a Division of the National Federation of the
Blind of New York State Incorporated, and also of the National
Association of Guide Dog Users.  Accordingly, this organization shall
comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the National
Federation of the Blind and that of the National Federation of the
Blind of New York State Incorporated.  This organization shall abide
by policies established by the National Federation of the Blind,
National Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated, and
the National Association of Guide Dog Users.
     At least thirty days prior to the State Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated, this
organization shall provide to the Secretary of the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated the names and
addresses of its members.  On or before January 1 of each year, the
secretary of this organization shall provide a list of the names of
the current division officers to the president of the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated.  Copies of
all amendments to the constitution of this organization shall be sent
without delay to the President of the National Federation of the
Blind of New York State 
Incorporated, and to the president of the National Association of Guide
Dog Users.
     On or before January 1 of each year, the treasurer of this 
organization shall submit a detailed financial report to the treasurer of
the National Federation of the Blind of New York State Incorporated,
setting forth all assets of the organization including, but not limited
to, checking accounts, savings accounts, liquid accounts, certificates of
deposit, stocks and bonds, and real and personal property.  This report
must also detail all income and fund­raising activities, as well as set
forth all outstanding liabilities of the division.
     This division shall not indulge in attacks upon the 
Officers, Board Members, leaders, or members of the Federation or upon the
organization itself outside the organization, and must not allow its
officers or    members to indulge in such attacks.
This requirement shall not be interpreted to interfere with the right of
its officers, or its members, to carry on a political campaign inside the
Federation for election to office or to achieve policy changes.
     This division may not join or support, or allow its officers or
members to join or support, any temporary or permanent organization
inside the Federation which has not received the sanction and
approval of the Federation.
     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 an individual member and to expel and/or reorganize a
state affiliate or local chapter or 
division of an affiliate, and the former affiliate or local chapter or
division shall dissolve and cease to exist.
     The name NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, FEDERATION OF THE BLIND or
any variant thereof are the property of the National Federation of
the Blind; and any affiliate, local chapter or state division of an
affiliate which ceases to be part of the National Federation of the
Blind (for whatever reason) shall forthwith forfeit the right to use
the name NATIONAL FEDERATION 
OF THE BLIND, FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, or any variant their of.


     ARTICLE IX: DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
     The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank or other
financial institution to be selected by the Treasurer, with the
approval of the President.  All financial obligations of this
organization shall be discharged by check issued by written order of
the President and signed by the President or Treasurer.


     ARTICLE X: DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
     Any member of this organization may be suspended, expelled, or
otherwise disciplined for misconduct or for activity unbecoming to a
member of the National Federation of the Blind by a      two-thirds
vote of the Board of Directors or by a majority  of the members
present and voting at a regular meeting of the membership, provided
that notice of such action was given at least 30 days prior to the
meeting.     No member may be suspended or expelled except for good
cause and after a good faith effort has been made to try to resolve
the problem by discussion and negotiation. If a dispute arises as to
whether their was "good cause" or whether a "good faith effort" was
made, the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind
of New York State Incorporated shall have the power to make final
disposition of the matter; but until or unless the action is reversed
by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of
New York State Incorporated, or the Convention, the ruling of the
membership shall continue in effect.


     ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION
     In the event of dissolution, all assets of the organization shall be
given to the National Federation of the Blind of New York State
Incorporated.


     ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS
     This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the
organization by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members
present and voting; provided that the proposed amendment has been
presented to the Board of Directors in writing prior to the meeting
at which the amendment is to be considered.

 Amendment I
We will abolish the position of Treasurer, and cease to collect dues, and
the funds we now have on hand shall be made available to the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State to use as a scholarship for a
guide dog user to attend a state convention.


Amendment II
The name of this organization shall be the New York Association of Guide
Dog Users, replacing the old name of the New York State Division of Dog
Guide Enthusiasts.




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