[Ohio-talk] THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF OHIO

Fri Oct 26 09:11:40 UTC 2018

		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.
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. 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.

Richard Payne,  President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
937-396-5573or 937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back

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