OCTOBER COMMUNITY AT LARGE MEETING TUESDAY

Hello Everyone

The Community At Large Chapter will meet this Tuesday, October 23^rd at 7:00PM.  During this meeting, our business will be to finalize our constitution so that we can receive our charter at the state convention on October 25^th – 28^th in Boulder, Colorado.  We need as many people as possible to help us with the finalization process so if you are available, please try to attend!  Pasted below, you will find the agenda.  You will also find a copy of the proposed constitution.  Please look it over and come prepared with suggested changes.  Changes have been made per the suggestions made during the September meeting.

Best Wishes

National Federation of the Blind

At Large Chapter Meeting Agenda

October 23, 2012

Call In number:   619-326-2700 

Access Code:  3566475#

7:00PM-Round the Phone introductions (Buna Dahal)

7:15PM-8:00PM Community At Large Chapter Constitution Finalization (Jessica Beecham)

8:00PM-Adjournment

CONSTITUTION OF THE AT-LARGE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF COLORADO

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Community At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the Community At-Large Chapter shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind in areas of Colorado in which no NFB chapter exists, to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and to serve as a means of collective action for blind and sighted individuals where no geographic chapters exist. 

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section One - Members

A majority of the members of this organization must be blind.  A resident of the state of Colorado is eligible for membership in this organization so long as they meet one or more of the below requirements:

A.    The prospective member must not have available access to an in person chapter meeting via public transportation.

B.   The prospective member must have a schedule conflict that prevents him or her from attending in person chapter meetings.

C.   The prospective member must have a hardship that prevents them from attending in person chapter meetings.

D.   The prospective member must have special approval from the executive committee to become a member of the At Large chapter.

A person is considered a member once he/she has paid five (5) dollars dues and whose membership has been approved by majority vote of chapter members attending and voting at an official meeting of the chapter.

Section Two - Dues

The amount of the dues paid by members to this organization shall be $5.00 and shall be paid annually in advance.  No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his or her dues

Section Three - Disciplinary Action

Any member may be expelled for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a two/thirds vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of this organization. The annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 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 or she has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado or the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, which may (in its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision; but until or unless the action of discipline or expulsion is reversed by the State or National Board, it shall continue in effect.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

There shall be elected a regular annual meeting each year, a President, a  Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.   The terms of these officers shall begin on the first day of month following elections at the annual in person meeting at Colorado State Convention.    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 V.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the four (5) constitutional officers and one (1) to four (4) additional board members as deemed necessary by the membership.  The board of directors shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as the officers.  Constitutional officers shall serve two year terms and board members shall serve 1 year terms.  The Board shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by all of the Board Members.  The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings.  At least two thirds 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, or mail ballot on any question.  A majority of the Board must be blind.

ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Community At Large Chapter.  

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Section One – Annual Meeting

This organization shall hold at least one in-person meeting to transact business each year.  This meeting shall occur during the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado at a time designated by the Executive Committee.

Section Two – Other Meetings

This organization may hold meetings at other times of the year.  These meetings shall be defined as either a) an in-person gathering at a location specified by the executive committee, b) a telephone conference call scheduled by the executive committee, or c) an online webinar scheduled by the executive committee.  Notification for such meetings shall be sent via e-mail or standard mail at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled date.

Section Three – Quorum

A quorum for transacting business at meetings of this organization shall consist of a minimum of 33 percent of the membership including at least one member of the executive committee.  Only active members present at a meeting may vote.  There shall be no proxy voting.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

The President of the Community At large Chapter may appoint such committees as he or she or the organization deems necessary.  The President of the Community At large Chapter shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the nominating committee.

ARTICLE VII - AFFILIATION

The At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado shall function as a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and shall furnish to the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado annually, on or before January 1, the following: a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers, the portion of dues paid by each member owed to the state affiliate as stipulated in the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, and a detailed financial report for the past year upon request of the state president.

A copy of the Constitution of the At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado without delay.  The fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar year.

This organization shall comply with the provisions of the Constitutions of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and of the National Federation of the Blind.  Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the National Convention, the National Board of Directors, the state convention, or the state Board of Directors) are binding on this organization and its members; and this organization and its 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, the National Board, the state convention, or the state Board) has the power to expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize the local chapter.  In the event of reorganization, the assets of the chapter belong to the reorganized chapter; 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 if this organization ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (for whatever reason), it shall forfeit the right to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

ARTICLE VIII - DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be selected by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Community At Large Chapter with the approval of the President of the Community At large Chapter.  All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged by check or debit card, issued on specific order of the President, and signed by the Secretary/Treasurer.

ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, to be held in trust for a reorganized chapter serving the otherwise unaffiliated members of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado. In the event that no chapter is organized to serve unaffiliated Coloradans for a period of two (2) years from the date this organization ceases to be a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.

If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that time neither the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado nor the National Federation of the Blind is a tax‑exempt organization under the provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code or if the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and the National Federation of the Blind have 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.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at any meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two‑thirds of the members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been circulated in writing or via electronic mail (e-mail) to the members of the organization at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the meeting and provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received from the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and the National Federation of the Blind.