The NFBI Constitution

CONSTITUTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF IDAHO
AS AMENDED MARCH 1995

ARTICLE I -- NAME
The name of this organization shall be National Federation of the Blind of Idaho.

ARTICLE II -- PURPOSE
The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind of Idaho and 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 Idaho; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together in local chapters and state meetings 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.

ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1 -- ACTIVE MEMBERS
At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind. Active membership shall be of two classifications: Active members who are affiliated with local chapters or divisions and active members who are not affiliated with local chapters or divisions.
1. All active members of local chapters or 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 a majority vote of the active members present and voting at a convention or by action of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2 -- SUPPORTIVE MEMBERS
Any person may be elected to supportive membership in this organization either by the convention or the Board of Directors. Supportive members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. Supportive members shall not pay dues.

SECTION 3 -- 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 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 (in its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision.

ARTICLE IV -- LOCAL CHAPTERS
Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho may apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho 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 Idaho, either in convention assembled or by action of its Board of Directors, shall have approved the Application, it shall issue to the local chapter a Certificate of Acceptance. Each local chapter shall make a written monthly report of its activities to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho. Annually, as soon as possible after January 1, each local chapter shall provide to the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho a current list of its members and their addresses. At the same time, each local Treasurer shall forward to the State Treasurer the state dues for each member of the chapter and a detailed financial report of the chapter for the past year. The fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar year. As new members enter local chapters, their names, addresses and state dues shall be sent without delay to the Treasurer of the state organization. No group shall be accepted as a chapter and no group shall remain a chapter unless at least a majority of its voting members are blind. The President, the Vice President (or Vice Presidents) and at least a majority of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of each local chapter must be blind. The President of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho 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 be held in trust by the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho for a period not to exceed two years. If during that period that chapter is reorganized, all assets shall be returned. At the end of two years (if the chapter has not been reorganized) all assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho. If any local chapter has not held a meeting for six months or more, the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho shall review the status of the chapter and consider dissolution or reorganization.

ARTICLE V -- DIVISIONS
The Board of Directors shall establish procedures for admission of divisions (special interest groups) and shall determine the structure of divisions. The divisions shall, with the approval of the Board, adopt constitutions and determine their membership policies.

ARTICLE VI -- OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
There shall be elected at the regular Annual Convention during each odd-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 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 Vice Presidents must be blind.

ARTICLE VII -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall consist of the five Constitutional Officers and six additional members elected at large, three of whom shall be elected during even-numbered years, and three of whom shall be elected during odd-numbered years. The election of board members shall be conducted in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers.
The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by any four board members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between conventions. At least six board members 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. Should any elected position for any reason be vacated between conventions, with the exception of the offices of President and First Vice President, the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified member to assume the duties of the vacated position for the balance of the term. A majority of the Board of Directors must be blind.

ARTICLE VIII -- MEETINGS

SECTION 1 -- ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
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 fifteen active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business at any Annual Convention.

SECTION 2 -- 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, but at such a special meeting at least fifteen active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business and written notice must have been sent to the membership at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting. A majority of the Board of Directors must be present at any special meeting.

ARTICLE IX -- COMMITTEES

SECTION 1
The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary.

SECTION 2
The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members to be elected by the convention at least one business session before the election.

ARTICLE X -- AFFILIATION
The National Federation of the Blind of Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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 or to expel or reorganize a state affiliate or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate and its local chapters 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 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, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

ARTICLE XI -- DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONVENTION
This organization shall elect each year at least one delegate and at least one 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 in good standing. To the extent of the resources of this organization, the expenses of the delegate and alternate delegates to Conventions of the National Federation of the Blind shall be paid.

ARTICLE XII -- DUES
The dues of the organization shall be at least $1.00 per year, payable in advance. In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution, local chapters shall pay the State dues of their members. Members who are not affiliated with a local chapter shall pay their State 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 XIII -- DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
The funds of the 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 or by an Assistant Treasurer approved by the membership or the Board of Directors.

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.

ARTICLE XV -- DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of this organization, or (for whatever reason) it ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, all assets of the organization 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 this state for a period of two years from the date the 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.

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