[Rehab] Updated National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals Constitution

Sun Jul 2 23:26:05 UTC 2023

Hello Everyone,

Please find attached and below a board reviewed updated constitution.  We
will review and vote on the approval of the updated language at tomorrow's
annual national division meeting at our national convention.  

: National Division CONSTITUTION OF THE National Association of Blind
Rehabilitation Professionals DIVISION  
OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

Revised, 2021

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be National Association of Blind
Rehabilitation Professionals(and should include the name "National
Federation of the Blind" or "a Division of the National Federation of the
Blind.")

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to serve as a division of the National
Federation of the Blind; to be a vehicle for collective action by the blind
of the nation; to function as a mechanism through which the blind and
interested sighted persons can come together to plan and carry out programs
to improve the quality of life for the blind; 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 focus
attention upon the problems faced by blind people in the Blindness
Rehabilitation profession ; and to take any other action which will improve
the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section One

The members of this organization shall be blind rehabilitation
professionals, and others interested in promoting the purposes of this
organization. The members of this organization are members of the National
Federation of the Blind and shall have the same rights, privileges, and
responsibilities as other members of the National Federation of the Blind.

Section Two

This organization shall be made up primarily of blind people, and it shall
be controlled by the blind. A majority of its voting members must be blind.

Section Three

Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution, for violation
of the policies of the National Federation of the Blind, or for conduct
unbecoming to a member of the Federation, by a majority vote of the active
members present and voting at any regular business session of this
organization, or by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The National
Convention of this organization may reinstate any person who has been
expelled. Any person who feels that they have been unjustly expelled from
this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National
Federation of the Blind, which may (at its discretion) consider the matter
and make a binding decision. Unless the decision to suspend or expel is
reversed by the National Convention or by the Board of Directors of the
National Federation of the Blind, the ruling of suspension or expulsion
shall continue in effect.

Section Four

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 if this organization ceases to be a part of the National Federation of
the Blind (for whatever reason) it shall forfeit the right to use the name
National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant
thereof.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The officers of this organization shall be: President, First Vice
President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The duties of
those officers shall be those customarily associated with their respective
offices. The officers shall be elected every other year by a majority vote
of the members of this organization present and voting at the annual
meeting. There shall be no proxy voting.

Section 2:   There shall be two board directors elected for terms of two
years.  Elections of board directors will occur on alternate terms of those
held by board officers.  

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section One

This organization shall hold its annual meeting at the time and place of the
annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind. The Board of
Directors shall conduct the business of the organization between annual
meetings.

Section Two

The President of this organization may call a special meeting of the body at
any time the President, or most of the Board of Directors, deems such action
to be necessary. At such special meeting at least fifteen (15) members must
be present to constitute a quorum to transact business, and written notice
must have been sent to each member and to the members of the Board of
Directors at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

The President may appoint such committees as the President deems necessary.
The President shall be ex-officio a member of all committees.

ARTICLE VII. DUES

The dues for members of this organization shall be $5.00 per year, payable
in advance, but by or before December 31. No person may vote who is
delinquent in the payment of his/her dues. The dues expire on December 31 of
each year.

ARTICLE VIII. FUNDS AND FINANCING

The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be selected
by the Treasurer with the approval of the President. All financial
obligations of this organization shall be discharged by check or electronic
transaction, issued on order of the President, and signed or approved by the
Treasurer.

ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or (for whatever
reason) it ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind, its
assets shall be transferred to the treasury of the National Federation of
the Blind.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization
by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and
voting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing in
advance to the membership and provided it follows the provisions of the
Charter of Affiliation received by the division from the National Federation
of the Blind. Any amendments to this constitution that are not reviewed,
accepted, and archived by the board of the National Association of Blind
Rehabilitation Professionals and the National Federation of the Blind will
not be considered approved policy of the division in accordance with the
charter of affiliation. Amendments shall be forwarded for approval and
reviewed in a timely fashion.

ARTICLE XI. CODE OF CONDUCT

The National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals Division
shall abide by the National Federation of the Blind Code of Conduct
<https://www.nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct> . All
individuals within the organization, including all attendees at
NFB-sponsored events, are expected to refrain from the unwelcome and harmful
misconduct outlined in the Code, including but not limited to
discrimination, abuse, misuse of power, sexual misconduct, conflict of
interest, fraud, and other forms of misconduct.  

OFFICIAL PLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation
of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind;
to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
Constitution.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: nabrp draft constitution.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 35328 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/rehab_nfbnet.org/attachments/20230702/d3f45786/attachment.doc>