[Ohio-talk] NFB Ohio Constitution

Tue Apr 15 04:46:11 UTC 2014

Woops, I spoke too soon.  I could bring up this one.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Duffy" <peduffy63 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2014 10:49 AM
Subject: [Ohio-talk] NFB Ohio Constitution

> Attached and pasted Belo you will find the Constitution of the National 
> Federation of the Blind Of Ohio
>
> 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 twothirds 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 notforprofit 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 twothirds 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.
>
>
>
>
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