NFB of Nebraska Constitution

CONSTITUTION NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF NEBRASKA (As Amended, October 25, 2009) ARTICLE I. NAME The name of this organization shall be the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted and to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind. 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 as follows: active members who are affiliated with local chapters, active members who are not affiliated with local chapters, and active members who are affiliated with divisions. 1. All active members of local chapters shall automatically become active members of this organization, with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office. 2. Any person who is not affiliated with a local 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. 3. All active members affiliated with divisions shall automatically become active members of this organization, with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office. Section Two--Expulsion Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation 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 vote of the Board of Directors. 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 consider the matter and make a binding decision. ARTICLE IV. LOCAL CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS Section One--General Requirements Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter or a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska a copy of its Constitution and a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. When the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska, either in Convention assembled or by action of its Board of Directors, shall have approved the application, it shall issue to the local chapter or division a Certificate of Acceptance. Annually, each local chapter and each division shall provide to the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska a current list of its members and their addresses. At the same time, each local Treasurer and each division Treasurer shall forward to the state Treasurer the state dues for each member and a detailed financial report for the past year. The fiscal year of this organization shall be October 1 through September 30. As new members enter local chapters or divisions, their names and addresses shall be sent without delay to the Secretary of the state organization and their state dues shall be sent without delay to the Treasurer of the state organization. The President of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska shall be ex officio a member of each local chapter and division. In the event of the dissolution of a local chapter or division, or if (for whatever reason) the local chapter or division ceases to be a part of this organization, its assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska. Section Two--Local Chapters No group shall be accepted as a chapter and no group shall remain a chapter unless a majority of its voting members are blind. The President, the Vice President (or Vice Presidents), and at least a majority of the officers or Board of Directors of the local chapter must be blind. Section Three--Divisions The Board of Directors shall determine the structure of divisions. Divisions shall, with the approval of the Board, determine their membership policies. ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES There shall be elected at the regular 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 duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office. The President and the Vice Presidents must be blind. ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five (5) Constitutional officers, and six (6) additional members. The fie (5) Constitutional officers shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the annual Convention during even numbered years. The six (6) additional board members shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the annual Convention during odd numbered years. Board members 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 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. At least six (6) members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by telephone or mail ballot on any question. A majority of the Board must be blind. ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS Section One--Annual Convention This organization shall hold an annual Convention, the time and place of which shall be fixed by the membership, or, if this is not possible, by the Board of Directors. At least twenty-five (25) active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business at any annual Convention. Section Two--Special Meetings 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. At such special meeting at least twenty-five (25) active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business; and written notice must have been sent by registered mail to the President of each local chapter, to the President of each division, and to the members of the Board of Directors at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary. ARTICLE IX. AFFILIATION The National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the 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 of Nebraska and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind without delay. The National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska 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 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 (whether made by the National Convention or the National 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) has the power to expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state affiliate, local chapter, or division. 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 this organization or any of its local chapters or 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 X. DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONVENTION This organization shall elect each year at least one (1) delegate and at least one (1) alternate delegate to attend the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. No person shall be elected as a delegate or alternate delegate unless he/she is an active member of this organization in good standing. To the extent of the resources of this organization, the expenses of delegates and alternate delegates to the Conventions of the National Federation of the Blind shall be paid. ARTICLE XI. DUES The dues of this organization shall be $5.00 per year payable in advance. In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution, local chapters and divisions shall pay the state dues of their members. Members who are not affiliated with local chapters or divisions shall pay their dues before or during the time of the annual Convention. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/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. The Treasurer shall be bonded. All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged by check, issued on order of the President, and signed by the Treasurer. ARTICLE XIII. DISSOLUTION 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 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 XIV. 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 from the National Federation of the Blind and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind.