[Ohio-talk] constitution 2013

Tue Nov 12 13:24:30 UTC 2013

Pasted below you will find the constitution that we adopted at our most recent convention. If anyone would like hard copies of this in either Braille or print let me know. My personal email address is shelbiah1 at gmail.com. Be certain that I have a mailing address when you make a request. 

Shelbi

                                                        THE CONSTITUTION OF

                                                    THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF OHIO

                                                                            Adopted November 6, 1987

                                                                           Amended November 7, 1998

            Amended November 3, 2013

                                                              ARTICLE I. NAME

            The name of this organization is The Ohio Council of the Blind Inc. It shall do business under the trade name of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

                                                          ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

            The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is to serve as a vehicle for collective action for the blind of the state; to function as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted people can come together in local and statewide meetings to plan and carry out programs to improve the quality of life for the blind; to provide a means of collective action for parents of blind children; to promote the vocational, cultural, and social advancement of the blind; to achieve the integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted; to take other action which will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind; to act as the Ohio affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind; and to support the National Federation of the Blind financially to the greatest extent possible.

                                                     ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section A. Admission to Membership

            At least a majority of the members of this organization must be blind. All members in good standing of local chapters or of divisions are automatically members of this organization with the right to vote, serve on committees, and speak on the floor.

Section B. Expulsion

            Any member, local chapter, or division may after an opportunity is presented for a hearing be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a majority of the members present and voting at any regular business session of this organization, or by a two‑thirds vote of the board of directors. If the action is to be taken by the board, there must be good cause, and a good faith effort must have been made to try to resolve the problem by discussion and negotiation.

            The state Convention may reinstate any person, chapter, or division that 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, chapter, or division may not be reinstated except by the National Convention or by the national board. Any person who believes that he or she or the chapter or division of which he or she is a member has been 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 AND DIVISIONS

Section A. Admission of Local Chapters and Divisions

            Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter or division of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio a copy of its constitution and a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of its members and elected officers. When the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio either in Convention assembled or by action of its board of directors shall have approved the application, it shall issue a charter of affiliation to the local chapter or division. Annually, on or before January 1, each local chapter or division shall provide to the secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio a current list of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, ???and email addresses when applicable??? of its members. At the same time the treasurer shall forward to the treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio the state dues for each member of the group. Upon written request by the president, a detailed financial report for the past year shall be provided within thirty (30 days). Each local chapter or division is charged a flat tax of $10. The financial year of this organization shall be the calendar year. As new members enter the local chapter or division, ? ???their names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses when applicable??? shall be sent without delay to the secretary of the state organization. ???delete the following and their state dues shall be sent without delay to the treasurer of the state organization.???

Section B. Requirements for Affiliation

            No group shall be accepted as a chapter or division and no group shall remain a chapter or division unless a majority of its voting members are blind, except in the case of the Parents Division. The president, the vice president (or vice presidents), and at least a majority of the group's executive committee or board of directors, except in the case of the Parents Division, must be blind. In the Parents Division sighted members may assume any position of leadership. The president of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall be ex officio a member of each local chapter and division.

Section C. Dissolution of Local Chapters and Divisions

            In the event of the dissolution of a local chapter or division, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, unless there is mutual agreement between the parties to do otherwise, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio to be held in trust for a reorganized local chapter or division. If no chapter or division is reorganized in the area for a period of two years from the date of dissolution, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

                                       ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section A. Officers

            There shall be elected at the regular annual convention during each even- numbered year a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the convention at which they are elected. Officers shall be elected by a majority of the members who are present and voting. There shall be no proxy voting. All of the officers except the treasurer must be blind.

                                         ARTICLE VI. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

            ???The board of directors of this organization shall consist of the four (4) constitutional officers and seven (7) additional members. One (1) of the board members shall be elected at the annual convention in even-numbered years, and six (6) shall be elected at the annual convention during odd-numbered years. The seven (7) board members shall be elected in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. The board shall meet not less than twice a year, at the call of the president or on written call signed by any three (3) of the board members. The board shall advise the president and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between conventions. Six (6) members of the board shall constitute a quorum for transacting business at any meeting. The board may be polled by telephone, email, or mail ballot on any question. All of the board must be blind except that the treasurer and one (1) member of the Parents of Blind Children Division may be elected to the board even if they are sighted.

            ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

            Section A. Annual Convention

            This organization shall hold an annual convention, the time and place of which shall be fixed by the board of directors. Forty (40) members in good standing and representation from two thirds of the chapters and divisions must be present to constitute a quorum for transacting business at any annual convention.

            Section B. Special Meetings

            The president of this organization may call a special meeting of the body at any time he or she, or a majority of the board of directors, deems such a meeting necessary. At such a special meeting forty (40) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for transacting business, ???and representation from two thirds of the chapters and divisions must be present.??? Written ???or email notice must have been sent to the presidents of each local chapter and division and to each member of the board of directors at least ten (10) business days before the date of the meeting, and recipients of email notices must be requested to acknowledge receipt of the notice so that alternate methods of notification can be tried.??? Only business mentioned in the call of a special meeting can be transacted at such a meeting.

            ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION

            The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. ???delete the following and shall furnish to the president of the National Federation of the Blind annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of its members and elected officers.?? A copy of the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and of all amendments shall be sent to the president of the National Federation of the Blind without delay.

            The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio shall not merely be a social organization but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the economic and social betterment of the blind. This organization shall comply with the provisions of the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind and with the provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the charter of affiliation issued to state affiliates by the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions (whether made by the National Convention or the National Federation of the Blind's board of directors) are binding upon 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 National Convention or the national board) has the power to expel or discipline any individual member and to expel or reorganize this state affiliate or any of its local chapters or divisions. If the action is to be taken by the board, there must be good cause, and a good faith effort must have been made to try to resolve the problem by discussion and negotiation. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate and its local chapters and divisions 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 the organization or any of its local chapters and divisions 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, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

            ARTICLE IX. DUES

            Local chapters and divisions shall pay the state dues of their members annually. No one may vote whose dues have not been paid.

            ARTICLE X. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

            The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a not‑for‑profit corporation under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)3. The funds of the 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 this organization shall be discharged by check, issued on ???written??? order of the president and signed by the treasurer.

            ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

            In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or if (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 (2) 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 XII. AMENDMENTS

            This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two‑thirds of the members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing ???or by email??? and read at a previous business session and provided that it is in compliance with the charter of affiliation received from the National Federation of the Blind and the policies and constitution of the National Federation of the Blind.