[Ohio-talk] Fw: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions

Paul Dressell pmdbmd at fuse.net
Fri Oct 28 17:54:50 UTC 2011 

There has been discussion on the Chapter Presidents' List about the part 
that youngsters should take in meetings. The following comments from David 
Evans (Florida) seem particularly germaine to this as well as other issues. 
It is worth sharing. Paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list" <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions


>
> Dear all,
>
> As a Chapter President for approximately 20 years and a past State board 
> member for 8 years, I would say this.
> Your chapter constitution is the Law, rules and regulator of your chapter. 
> You need to follow what it says in the running of your chapter.
> If your constitution says that all paid up members, in good standing, may 
> vote, this would include children.
> You can set limits on this by setting age limits
> in your constitution, so that parents can not use their vote to "double" 
> their influence in elections, but you need to state it right up front, in 
> your chapter constitution or you could be violating the present 
> constitution.  I suggest the age of 16, but you can make it what you want. 
> Having children take part in chapter voting and respecting them builds 
> good members and future chapter leaders.
> You can have a constitution review from time to time and make revisions to 
> it as voted upon by the members.  there is a process for revising your 
> constitution that states that you must have 2 readings of the proposed 
> revisions, at two separate chapter business meetings before a vote is 
> taken and the revisions passed on to the Board of Directors for your State 
> Affiliate for approval.
> Then upon receiving that approval it can be adopted for use.
> It must not be in conflict with either the State or the National 
> Constitutions.
> You can use it to set the amount of yearly chapter dues, how much you 
> might give to the State or National affiliates, to set term limits on 
> officers and much more.
> As long as it does not conflict with the state or national constitutions 
> and is not illegal, you can do it.
> A chapter president or board can not just make up its own rules which are 
> not supported by the constitution or good legal practices.
> For example, what if a officer dies or resigns in the middle of a term of 
> office?
> You can hold a special elections to fill that post, or wait until the next 
> regular elections, otherwise the president has the power to appoint a 
> chapter member to the post, to fill out that term until the next regular 
> elections of that position.
> I suggest that you have it in have it in your constitution that the 
> election of half of your board and officers take place each year and have 
> the positions staggered so that your chapter is never electing a whole new 
> slate of officers and board members at the same time.  This will help to 
> ensure that you always have someone with some experience as officers and 
> board members.
> You always need to have an odd number of officers and board members to 
> prevent ties in voting on issues.
> If there is an issue that can not be resolved by the board, bring it to a 
> vote of the chapter membership or as your state board for help in its 
> resolution.
> If there is an issue that is one that is stirring up allot of bad feelings 
> among your chapter members, it might be wise to table it and ask for 
> advise from your state board or the national office.  Do not let bad 
> feelings fester or they can destroy your chapter.
> Be calm and diplomatic.  Be willing to compromise a little and try to 
> respect the feelings and views of others.
> Do not let anything degenerate in to name calling or the name calling of 
> others.  Stop the meeting and give everyone some time to calm down and 
> regain control of themselves.  Then start out by stating that everyone 
> must show respect for others , and there points of view, or the meeting 
> will be adjourned until a future date and time.  Fighting and negativity 
> can destroy your chapter and drive members away.  Nib it in the bud.
>
> David Evans, President
> Palm beach County Chapter, Florida
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kellye Thurman" <gogetm00 at aol.com>
> To: "NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list" 
> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 12:07 AM
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions
>
>
>> That is our opportunity, our younger kids (under 18) do not sit & pay 
>> attention in chapter, they typically run around at events & are allowed 
>> to vote. The chapter will decide, but I thought I would check to see how 
>> other chapters handled. I hate re-inventing wheels haha! Thank you for 
>> your input! It helps greatly!
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Oct 20, 2011, at 10:43 PM, "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Why do they have to be high school age.  Even in mid school, the kids 
>>> have a
>>> student government and serve on a board, President, vice president,
>>> secretary and treasurer.  Much like our board, I don't think that 
>>> children
>>> should be able to be on our boards but having a say whether something 
>>> should
>>> or should not be done in our chapter seems okay to me.  My daughter has 
>>> been
>>> attending meeting with me for about 4 years now, she listens to the 
>>> issues,
>>> she gets into some of the discussions and she helps out at each and 
>>> every
>>> meeting and fund raiser we have.  She is no doubt a true NFBer.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nickie Pearl
>>> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 6:31 AM
>>> To: NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list
>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions
>>>
>>> Kelly,
>>>    I have some dues paying members who live out in the state and never
>>> attend a chapter meeting or events.  They are on our membership list and
>>> occasionally make it to a state convention.  We add them to our mailing 
>>> list
>>>
>>> so they receive our quarterly newsletter. I hear from them time to time 
>>> but
>>> not on a regular basis.   If someone wants to be a member but never show 
>>> up,
>>>
>>> that's their prerogative! Our dues are only $2 a year, we do not use 
>>> dues as
>>>
>>> a fundraiser  or anything.
>>> You bring up a good point about kids.  We have many members who have 
>>> kids
>>> and the kids are at alot of our activities, but dues for kids have never
>>> been brought up.  If it ever were brought up, I'd have to vote for a 
>>> high
>>> school age.
>>>
>>> Have a great day!
>>> Nickie Pearl
>>> Louisville Ky
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- 
>>> From: Kellye Thurman
>>>     Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 7:57 AM
>>> To: NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list
>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions
>>>
>>> Great thank you! We have some children that are between the ages of 
>>> 10-18,
>>> and a member in Oklahoma that has family here in Arkansas, but she does 
>>> not
>>> attend chapter or events... so it has raised some hard feelings in the
>>> chapter. I thought I would see how other chapters handle :)
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Oct 17, 2011, at 4:54 AM, "Michelle Clark" <mcikeyc at aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Kelly,
>>>>
>>>> In the Chapter in which I am President, a dues paying member is 
>>>> considered
>>>> active.  We have youth in our  chapter as well. If they are paying
>>>> members,
>>>> they are allowed to vote as they currently are all at least 17 years 
>>>> old.
>>>>
>>>> Michelle Clark
>>>> President
>>>> National Harbor Chapter
>>>> National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kellye 
>>>> Thurman
>>>> Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2011 8:37 PM
>>>> To: Chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [Chapter-presidents] Chapter Constitutions
>>>>
>>>> Good Evening All - I am new to this distribution list and am enjoying
>>>> seeing
>>>> your advice & experience!
>>>>
>>>> I am reaching out to you to keep from re-inventing the wheel. I am a
>>>> president with only a year under my belt. The chapter has asked me two
>>>> questions about voting & membership.
>>>>
>>>> Do you allow children to vote in your chapter & if not , what age do 
>>>> you
>>>> allow them to vote?
>>>>
>>>> How do you determine what an "active" member is in your chapter?
>>>>
>>>> I appreciate your feedback in advance!
>>>>
>>>> Kellye Thurman
>>>> NFB of Northwest Arkansas
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>>
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>
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