[Mi-abs] MABS Constitution

[Elizabeth Mohnke]

Michigan Association of Blind Students Constitution

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Association of Blind Students.

ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTER
This organization shall be chartered as a state chapter of the National Association of Blind Students and as a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan.

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote educational opportunities and the general well being of blind students in this nation and the state and to function as an integral part of the National Association of Blind Students and the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind students.

1. All active members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.

2. Any person may become an active member of this organization upon application and payment of dues to the treasurer.

3.  Expulsion
Any member may be expelled for violation of this constitution or for behavior unbecoming to a member of the National Federation of the Blind, by a majority vote of the members present and voting at an annual business meeting or by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors. The annual business meeting of this organization may reinstate any person who has been expelled, unless such expulsion has been confirmed by the state convention, the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, 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 Convention or board of directors that confirmed the expulsion.  Any person who feels he or she has been unjustly expelled from the organization may appeal to the state board of directors or the annual state convention. If the appeal is denied by the state board [or the state convention], the party may further appeal to the national board of directors, who may, at their discretion, reinstate a member.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section One: Elections
There shall be elected at the regular annual business meeting a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and four board members. The terms of their offices shall begin at the close of the annual business meeting at which they are elected and qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all members 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 will be removed from the list of nominees and a second ballot recorded. This procedure shall continue until one candidate receives a simple majority of the votes. The president and vice presidents must be blind students and planning to attend a full-time educational program in the academic year following election.

Section Two: Duties
The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office.

ARTICLE VI - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors of this organization shall consist of the four constitutional officers and four at-large members. The board shall meet at the call of the president or on written call signed by a majority of the board members. The board shall advise the president and shall have charge of the affairs of this organization between meetings. At least a majority of the board must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business. The board may be polled by telephone, email, or mail ballot on any question. A majority of the board of directors must be blind students.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section One: Annual Business Meetings
The organization shall hold an annual business meeting, the time and place of which shall coincide with the time and place of the state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. At least twenty-five percent of the active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

Section Two: Special Meetings
The president of this organization may call a special meeting any time she or he or a majority of the board of directors deems such action to be necessary.
At such special meetings at least twenty-five percent of the active members must be present to transact business. To call such a meeting, notice must be given to the board of directors at least ten days prior to the date of such special meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
The president may create such committees as she or he or the organization deems necessary.  Any decisions made within a committee meeting must have at least two-thirds vote of the membership of that committee, and must be approved by the board of directors of this organization.

ARTICLE IX - AFFILIATION
The Michigan Association of Blind Students shall be an affiliate of the National Association of Blind Students and the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, which are, in turn, affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind. The Michigan Association of Blind Students shall furnish to the president of the National Association of Blind Students and the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan annually or before the Michigan state convention a list of the names and addresses of the members and elected officers of this organization. A copy of the constitution of the Michigan Association of Blind Students and all amendments thereto shall be sent to the president of the National Association of Blind Students, the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, and the president of the National Federation of the Blind without delay.
The Michigan Association of Blind Students shall not merely be a social organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the academic and social betterment of blind students and the blind generally. This organization shall comply with the provisions of the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, and the provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the charter of affiliation issued to it by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind, whether made by the National Convention or its board of directors or by the state convention or the affiliate’s board of directors, are binding on this organization, and this organization shall participate and act 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 the decision be made by the Convention or the board of directors, has the power to expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state affiliate, division, or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate, division, or chapter belong to the reorganized affiliate, division, or local chapter, and the former affiliate, division, or chapter shall dissolve and cease to exist. Michigan Association of Blind Students, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Student Division, and any variant thereof, are the property of the National Federation of the Blind, and this organization, upon the event of disaffiliation with the National federation of the Blind, for whatever reason, shall forfeit the right to use the name Michigan Association of Blind Students, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Student Division, or any variant thereof.

ARTICLE X - DUES
The dues of this organization shall be set at annual business meetings and shall be payable at annual business meetings. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of dues.

ARTICLE XI - 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. All financial transactions shall be discharged by check or other draft, issued on the order of the president, and signed by the treasurer or the president. 

ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of this organization or if, for any reason, it ceases to be an 
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, to be held in trust for a reorganized student organization. In the event that no student group is reorganized within a period of two years from the date of dissolution, the assets may be deposited with the general funds of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, to be used for the purposes of that organization.

ARTICLE XIII - 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 that the amendment is in compliance with the provisions of the charter of affiliation issued by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan and the policies of the National Federation of the Blind. Amendments may also be acted upon at special meetings.

Last updated and revised on November 6, 2011