Revised and approved at the 29th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
October 5, 1997
Belleville, Illinois
Transcribed 1997 by
John Hemphill
Helping Hands Ministries
1779 Spaulding SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616)975-3762
CONTENTS
ARTICLE I: NAME
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE IV: LOCAL CHAPTERS
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES
ARTICLE IX: AFFILIATION
ARTICLE X: DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND CONVENTION
ARTICLE XI: DUES
ARTICLE XII: DISBURSEMENTS OF FUNDS
ARTICLE XIII: DISSOLUTION
ARTICLE XIV: AMENDMENTS
The name of the organization is National Federation of the Blind of Illinois.
The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is to serve as a vehicle for collective action for the blind of Illinois, to function as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together in local and state meetings to plan and carry out programs to improve the quality of life for the blind to provide a means of collective action for parents of blind children, to advance the interests of blind students and provide them with a means of joint action and expression, to promote the vocational, cultural and social advances of the blind, to achieve the integrity 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 standards of living for the blind, and to cooperate with the National Federation of the Blind and its activities.
Section One: Active Membership. At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind, with the exception of the chapter for parents of blind children. Active members shall be of two classifications, active members who are affiliated with local chapters or divisions and active members not affiliated with local chapters or divisions:
1. All active members of local chapters and divisions, 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 or division, may become an active member of this organization by receiving a majority vote of the active members present and voting at a convention, or by complying with requirements established by the Board of Directors.
Section Two: Disciplinary Action. Any member may be expelled, and any chapter or division may be expelled, suspended, or reorganized for violation of this constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member, chapter, or division of the Federation by a majority 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 Board.
Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization, or any chapter or division which feels that it has been unjustly disciplined, reorganized, or expelled may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, which may (at its discretion) consider the matter and make binding decision, but until or unless the action of discipline, reorganization, or expulsion is reversed by the National Board, it shall continue in effect.
Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President a copy of its constitution and a list of names and addresses of its members and elected officers. Then, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, either in convention assembled or by action of its board of directors, shall review the application. If approved, it shall issue, to the local Chapter, a Certificate of Acceptance.
Annually, on or before November 1, each local chapter shall provide to the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, a current list of its members, their names and addresses. As new members enter local chapters, their names and addresses shall be sent, without delay, to the Secretary of the state organization.
Upon request, a local chapter shall provide the state President with a detailed financial report of the chapter for the past year. The financial year of this organization shall be August 1 to July 31.
No group shall be accepted as a chapter and no group shall remain a chapter unless a majority of the active members are blind, with the exception of the chapter for parents of blind children. The President, the Vice President or Vice Presidents, and at least a majority of the board of directors of the local chapter must be blind.
The President of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois shall be ex officio a member of each local chapter.
In the event of the dissolution of a local chapter, or if (for whatever reason) the local chapter ceases to be a part of this organization, its assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, and it shall forthwith cease to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.
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 members present and voting. There shall be no proxy voting. If no nominee from the list of nominees received a majority vote, the person with the least number of 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 members present and voting. Voting shall be decided by a majority of the active members present and voting.
The President and the Vice Presidents must be blind. The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with the offices.
Elections, Powers and Duties: The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five constitutional officers and four additional members, two of whom shall be elected for two year terms at the annual convention during odd numbered years and two of whom shall be elected at annual conventions during even numbered years. A majority of the Board members must be blind.
The Board of 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 signed by any three of the Board members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between conventions. At least five 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 or by mail ballot on any question.
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, representing more than one local chapter, must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.
Section Two: Special Meetings. The President of the organization may call a special meeting of the organization at any time he/she or a majority of the Board deems it necessary, but at such special meetings at least twenty-five (25) active members, from more than one local chapter, must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business. Written notice must be sent to the President of each local chapter and division and to the members of the Board of Directors at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.
The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees.
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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 names and address of its members and elected officers. A copy of the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and all amendments to it shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind.
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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, its chapters, and divisions, shall comply with the provisions of the constitution of 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, its chapters, divisions, and members, and this organization, its chapters, divisions, and members, 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, its chapters, and divisions 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 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. The President of the National Federation of the Blind shall ex officio be a member of this organization and each of its local chapters and divisions.
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 unless he or 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 convention of the National Federation of the Blind shall be paid.
The dues of the organization shall be two dollars ($2.00) per year. Members of each local chapter shall pay their dues to the local chapter Treasurer. Members who are not affiliated with a local chapter shall pay dues to the state Treasurer before or during the time of the annual convention. A lifetime membership may be secured for a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his or her dues.
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 the organization shall be discharged by check issued on written order of the President and signed by the Treasurer, or by an Assistant Treasurer approved by the membership or by the Board of Directors.
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, 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 organized 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.
If the dissolution of this organization should occur and at the time the National Federation of the Blind is no longer a tax-exempt organization under the provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code or if the National Federation of the Blind has been dissolved, all assets of this organization shall be given to an organization with similar purposes which has received tax-exempt certification from the federal Internal Revenue Service.
This constitution may be amended at any regular convention of this organization by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the active members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment or amendments are 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.
If you have questions about this web site, please contact the Webmaster