[NFBA-Phoenix] Constitution

[Ben J. Bloomgren]

This looks really good so far.


Ben


On 3/6/2017 21:32, Tanner Gers via NFBA-Phoenix wrote:
>
> Besides the articles of affiliation, disbursement of funds, 
> dissolution, and amendments, here are the proposed changes to the 
> constitution we are working on. Again, this is the entire document and 
> does not reflect changes within the aforementioned articles.
>
> Phoenix Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
>
> Revised Constitution
>
> February --, 2017
>
> ARTICLE I. NAME
>
> The name of this organization shall be the Phoenix Chapter of the 
> National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
>
> ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
>
> The purpose of the Phoenix Chapter of the National Federation of the 
> Blind of Arizona shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind 
> of the Phoenix area, of the state of Arizona and of the nation; to 
> function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind; 
> to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of the 
> Arizona; to operate 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 of the blind; to provide a 
> means of collective action for parents of blind children; to forward 
> the interests of blind students and provide them with a means of joint 
> action and expression; 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; and to take any other 
> action which will improve the overall condition and standard of living 
> of the blind. Blind is defined as an individual with a visual 
> impairment ranging from legal blindness to total blindness.
>
> ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
>
> Section One - Active Members
>
> At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be 
> blind. Any person may become an active member of this organization by 
> paying annual dues of $5, receiving a majority vote of the members 
> present and voting at any regular business meeting, and shall have the 
> right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold 
> office. An active member is a dues paying member who attends and or 
> participates in 6 events in a rolling 12-month calander year with 
> special considerations given to those actively participating in 
> committees supporting the Phoenix chapter of the National Federation 
> of the Blind of Arizona. Events are defined as and include all 
> chapter, Affiliate or national meetings and events, conference calls, 
> social gatherings, fund-raisers, and other official gatherings of the 
> Phoenix chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona. 
> Any member who does not satisfy the 6 events in a 12-month rolling 
> calendar year will be moved to Associate Member status, will not be 
> considered an “Active Member,” and thereby will not count toward the 
> official membership roster, nor affect the Phoenix chapter’s ability 
> to hold quarum. To reestablish active membership status, a member must 
> reach the goal of participating in 6 events within a 12 month rolling 
> calendar year.
>
> Section Two - Associate Members
>
> Any person may be elected to associate membership in this organization 
> by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular 
> business meeting, or shifted to associate membership if they are 
> unable to attend 6 events within the past 365 days. Associate members 
> shall have all the rights and privileges of active members within this 
> chapter, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the 
> Board of Directors. Associate members shall not pay dues.
>
> Section Three - Honorary Life-Time Membership
>
> An Honorary Life-Time Membership may be granted to an Active Member of 
> the Phoenix Chapter that exhibits extraordinary dedication and 
> commitment to promoting the policies and programs of the 
> organization.  Honorary Life-Time Membership status may be granted 
> upon three-fourths vote of the Active Members present and voting at 
> any regular business meeting.  An Honorary Life-Time member shall 
> exercise all the rights of Active Members without being assessed the 
> responsibility of paying annual dues or attending 6 events in a 
> rolling calendar year to maintain status.  $1.00 (one dollar) from the 
> Phoenix Chapter treasury shall be forwarded to the treasurer of the 
> NFBA each year on behalf of this member.  Any member receiving this 
> distinct recognition shall retain it for Life except in the event 
> their actions meet the criteria for expulsion.
>
> Section Four - Affiliation
>
> Membership in this organization automatically establishes membership 
> in the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona and the National 
> Federation of the Blind.
>
> Section Five - Expulsion
>
> Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution 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 meeting 
> of this organization. The state convention 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/she 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. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
>
> There shall be elected in February on even numbered years 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 
> meeting at which they are elected and qualified. Officers shall be 
> elected by a majority vote of the active members who are present and 
> voting. When 2 or more nominees are up for election, elections shall 
> be by secret ballot only. Nominees must be present at the meeting in 
> which elections are being conducted. Voters may vote in an election 
> remotely or telephonically, but their vote will be recognized as a 
> voice vote. 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 duties of each officer shall be those 
> ordinarily associated with that office. The President, the Vice 
> President, and a majority of the Officers must be blind.
>
> No later than November of odd numbered years, the president of this 
> organization shall establish a Nominating Committee that will consist 
> of a chair person and three (3) additional members. The chair person 
> will not vote, unless there is a tie that needs to be broken. The role 
> of this committee is to nominate members of the chapter as prospective 
> officials slated for election in February of the following even 
> numbered year. In January, the Nominating Committee chair will present 
> a nomination report to the membership at the January chapter meeting.
>
> ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
>
> The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five 
> (5) constitutional officers and two (2) additional members. The two 
> (2) Board Members shall be elected at the same time and in the same 
> manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. The Board 
> shall meet at the call of the President or on call by any four (4) of 
> the Board Members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have 
> charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings. At least a 
> majority of the members of the Board must be present at any meeting to 
> constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by 
> telephone, e-mail, through any digital device, or mail ballot on any 
> questions. A majority of the Board must be blind.
>
> ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
>
> This organization shall hold regular meetings at a time and place to 
> be determined by the membership. At least one third (1/3) of active 
> members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business. 
> The President of this organization may call a special meeting of the 
> body at any time he/she, or a majority of the Board of Directors deems 
> such action to be necessary. In the instance of not being able to hold 
> quorum, and timely business needs to be conducted, four (4) board 
> members may meet separate from the general membership in-person or 
> electronicly, to vote on the said timely business. If the majority of 
> board members are unable to hold quorum and vote on timely business, 
> business affairs will be tabled until the next general meeting or the 
> majority of the board can hold quorum.
>
> ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
>
> The President may establish such committees as he/she deems necessary, 
> and committee chairs may appoint members to said committees. The core 
> committees of the Phoenix chapter include, but are not limited to 
> Membership, Fundraising, Social, and Nominating committees. The 
> president of this organization will also appoint members of this 
> chapter to represent this chapter on state committees.
>
> ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION
>
> The Phoenix Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona 
> shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of 
> Arizona and the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to 
> the President and the Treasurer of the National Federation of the 
> Blind of Arizona annually, thirty days prior to the state convention a 
> list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. A 
> copy of the Constitution of the Phoenix Chapter and of all amendments 
> to the Constitution shall be sent for review to the President of the 
> National Federation of the Blind of Arizona and the National 
> Federation of the Blind without delay. The Phoenix Chapter 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 of Arizona and 
> 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 of the National Federation of the Blind 
> and the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona (whether made by 
> the National Convention or the National Board of Directors or the 
> State Convention or the State Board of Directors) are binding on 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 or the State Convention or State Board) has the power to expel 
> or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state 
> affiliate or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets 
> of this organization shall belong to the reorganized chapter or if no 
> reorganization occurs for a period of two years, to the National 
> Federation of the Blind of Arizona and the former chapter 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, if it 
> ceases 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
>
> The dues of this organization shall be $5 per year and are payable in 
> advance. In order to be eligible to vote in the February elections, 
> dues must be received by the end of the day on the day of the January 
> chapter meeting. The Chapter shall forward $1 per year to the National 
> Federation of the Blind of Arizona for each member. No person may vote 
> who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.
>
> ARTICLE X. 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. If the 
> members so vote, 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 of Arizona its assets shall be given to the 
> National Federation of the Blind of Arizona to be held in trust for a 
> reorganized chapter in the area. In the event that no chapter is 
> reorganized in the area for a period of two (2) years from the date 
> this organization ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation 
> of the Blind of Arizona the assets become the property of the National 
> Federation of the Blind of Arizona.
>
> ARTICLE XII. 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 and read at a previous business session and 
> provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of 
> Affiliation received by the state affiliate from the National 
> Federation of the Blind and with the policies of the National 
> Federation of the Blind of Arizona and the National Federation of the 
> Blind.
>
> OFFICIAL PLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
> I pledge to participate actively in the effort 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.
>
>
>
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