[Riverside-San-Bernardino] Riverside San Bernardino Chapter's Constitution. Please read.
Carmen Weatherly
cweatherly101 at gmail.com
Thu Nov 12 21:33:47 UTC 2020
Riverside/San Bernardino Chapter
Constitution
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the National Federation of the
Blind of California Riverside/San Bernardino Chapter
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the general
welfare of the blind of California, the Riverside San Bernardino
chapter and the Nation and to function as an integral part
of the National Federation of the Blind. The National Federation of
the Blind of California (Riverside/San Bernardino Chapter) is
organized exclusively for charitable
purposes within
the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section One. Active Members
At least a majority of the active members of this organization must
be blind. Active membership shall be of two classifications: active
members who
are affiliated with chapters, and active members who are not
affiliated with chapters i.e. members at large.
1. All active members of chapters shall automatically become active
members of this organization, with the right to vote in Convention,
serve on committees,
speak on the floor, and hold office by paying there annual chapter
dues of 10 dollars.
2. Any person who is not affiliated with a chapter may become an
active member of this organization, by a majority vote of the active
members present
and voting at a Convention or by action of the Board of Directors. Pg. 10
Section Two. Members at Large.
Any person may be elected to supporting membership in this
organization by the Convention, the Board of Directors, or by a
chapter. Members
at large shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except
that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of
Directors.
Section Three. Expulsion
Any member may be expelled for misconduct or for activities unbecoming
to a member of this organization by a two-thirds vote of the active
members present
and voting at any regular business session of this organization or by
a two-thirds of the Board of Directors. The Convention of the
National Federation
of the Blind of California or the Board of Directors of this
organization may reinstate any person who 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 may
not be reinstated
except by the National Convention or by the National Board. Any
person who feels that he or she has 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.
ARTICLE IV. CHAPTERS Include Dues.
Any organized group desiring to become a chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of California shall apply for affiliation by
submitting to the
President of the National Federation of the Blind of California a
copy of its Constitution and a list of its members and elected
officers. When the
National Federation of the Blind of California, either in Convention
assembled or by action of its Board of Directors, shall have approved
the application,
it shall issue to the chapter a charter of affiliation. Annually, on
or before January 1, each
chapter shall provide to the Secretary of the National
Federation of the Blind of California a current list of names,
addresses, and telephone numbers of its members. As new members
enter chapters, their
names, addresses and telephone numbers shall be sent without delay to
the Secretary of the NFB of California. No group shall be accepted
as a chapter
and no group shall remain a chapter unless at least a majority of its
voting members are blind. The President, Vice-President (or
Vice-Presidents) and
at least a majority of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors
of the chapter must be blind. The President of the National
Federation of the Blind
of California shall be an ex officio member of each chapter. In the
event of the dissolution of a chapter, or if (for whatever reason) a
chapter ceases
to be part of this organization, its assets shall become the property
of the National Federation of the Blind of California.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
There shall be elected at the annual convention during each even
numbered year, a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-
President, a Secretary,
and a Treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the
close of the convention at which they are elected and qualified.
Officers shall be
elected by a majority vote of the active members who are present and
voting. There shall be no proxy voting. If no nominee receives a
majority vote
on the first ballot, the name of the person receiving the fewest
votes shall be dropped from the list of nominees and a second ballot
shall be taken.
This procedure shall continue until one of the nominees has received
a majority vote from the active members present and voting. The
President and
Vice-Presidents must be blind. The duties of each officer shall be
those ordinarily associated with his or her office.
ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five
constitutional officers and seven additional members, three of whom
shall be elected
for two-year terms at the annual convention during even numbered
years and four of whom shall be elected for two-year terms at the
annual convention
during odd numbered years. At the meeting at which this Constitution
is adopted, four of the seven Directors shall be elected for one-year
terms and
the remaining three shall be elected for two-year terms. The seven
Directors shall be elected in the same manner as that prescribed for
the election
of officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or on
written call by any five of the Board Members. The Board shall
advise the President
and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between
Conventions. At least seven members of the Board must be present at
any meeting to
constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled
by mail ballot on any question or may meet by conference telephone.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section One. Annual Conventions
This organization shall hold an annual convention, the exact time and
place of which shall be fixed by the President and/or his or her
designee or, if
this is not possible, by the Board of Directors. At least fifteen
active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact
business at any
annual convention.
Section Two. Special Meetings
The President of the 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 action
to be necessary, but at such special meeting at least fifteen active
members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business
and written
notice must have been sent to the members of the Board and all
chapters at least fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section Three: Automatic Removal
If an officer or board member of the NFB of California misses two
consecutive board meetings, the officer or board member position
requires an affirmative
vote to be reinstated by the board.
ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES
The President may appoint such committees as he or she or the
organization deems necessary.
ARTICLE IX. AFFILIATION
The National Federation of the Blind Riverside/San Bernardino Chapter
of California shall be an
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish
to the state President of
the National Federation of the Blind annually, on or before January
1, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected
officers. A copy
of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind
Riverside/San Bernardino chapter of
California and of all amendments to the Constitution shall also be
sent to the state President
of the National Federation of the Blind of California. The National
Federation of
the Blind Riverside/San Bernardino chapter of California shall not
merely be a social organization but
shall formulate
programs and actively work to promote the economic and social
betterment of the blind. The organization shall comply with the
provisions of the Constitution
of the National Federation of the Blind of California. Policy
decisions of the
National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the National
Convention or the National
Board) has the power to expel or discipline any member, chapter,
State affiliate or division; and to remove officers and reorganize
State affiliates.
In the event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate and its
chapters 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 this organization or any of its chapters which
cease to be part of the National Federation of the Blind (for
whatever reason) shall
forthwith forfeit the right to use the name National Federation of
the Blind, or any variant thereof.
ARTICLE X. DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION
OF THE BLIND CONVENTION
The organization shall elect each year at least one delegate and at
least one alternate delegate to attend the Convention of the National
Federation
of the Blind. No person shall be elected as delegate or alternate
delegate unless he or she is an active member in good standing. To
the extent of
the resources of the organization, the expenses of delegates and
alternate delegates to Conventions of the National Federation of the
Blind shall be
paid.
ARTICLE XI. DUES
In accordance with Article IV and V of the Constitution, chapters
shall set the dues for their members. The dues for members joining
the Riverside/San Bernardino Chapter shell be 10 dollars annually.
Members who are not affiliated
with a chapter
shall pay membership-at-large dues of $15.00 before January 1 of each
year. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his or
her dues.
ARTICLE XII. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be
selected by the Treasurer with the approval of the President and the
Secretary. The
Treasurer shall be bonded. All financial obligations of the
organization shall be discharged by check issued on written order of
the President and signed
by the Treasurer.
ARTICLE XIII. DISSOLUTION
The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to
charitable purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this
organization shall
ever inure to the benefit of any private individual. In the event of
the dissolution of this organization, or (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 California. In the event that no affiliate is organized
in California for a period of two 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, a
nonprofit organization,
having tax exemption under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954. In the event that the National Federation of the Blind
is not in
existence at this time and after paying or adequately providing for
the debts of the National Federation of the Blind of California, the
remaining assets
shall be distributed to an organization with similar purposes which
has received 501(c) (3) certification from the Internal Revenue
Service in a manner
as may be directed by decree of the Superior Court of the county in
which the organization has its principal office, upon petition
therefore by the Attorney
General or by a person concerned in the liquidation, in a proceeding
to which the Attorney General is a party.
ARTICLE XIV. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this
organization shall not carry on any other activities not permit to be
carried on (a) by an
organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision
of any future
United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization
contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c) (2) of the
Internal Revenue
Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United
States Internal Revenue Law). No substantial part of the activities
of this organization
shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to
influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate or
intervene in
any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of
statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office.
ARTICLE XV. 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 signed by five active
members in good standing, submitted in writing, and read at a business
session on the
day before the vote on the amendment.
June 2013
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