Greater Louisville Constitution

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville. It shall be a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the Greater Louisville chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind of the Greater Louisville area, of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 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 Greater Louisville area; 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 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 One—Active Members: At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind. Members that are current, by having paid dues, will have the right to vote, hold office, serve on committees, and speak on the floor.

Section Two–Affiliation: Membership in this organization automatically establishes membership in the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky and the National Federation of the Blind.

Section Three–Expulsion: Any member maybe 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 (at its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision.

Article IV. Officers and their duties.

Section One–Election of Officers: There shall be elected annually a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The terms of these offices 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. Election shall be voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, roll call vote, or secret ballot by 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, the Vice President, and a majority of the officers must be blind.

Section Two–Replacement of Office: Should the President, for any reason, be unable to complete his/her term of office, the Vice President shall assume his/her duties. Replacement of the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Board Members shall be by appointment of the President with approval of the majority of the board.

Article V. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the four (4) 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 the officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or at the agreed upon call of any three (3) 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 text message, telephone, mail, or e-mail ballot on any question. A majority of the Board must be blind.

Article VI. Meetings

Section One—Regular Meeting: This organization shall hold regular meetings at a time and place to be determined by the membership. Thirty percent (30%) of the members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

Section Two—Special Meeting: 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 thirty percent (30%) of active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business, and written notice in the form of mail, email, or text must have been sent to the membership and to the members of the Board of Directors at least two (2) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Article VII. Committees

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

Article VIII. Affiliation

The Greater Louisville Chapter shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky and the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, annually, before January 1st, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. A copy of the Constitution of the Greater Louisville Chapter and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent for review to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky and the National Federation of the Blind without delay. The Greater Louisville 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky (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 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 Kentucky. 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 five dollars per year, payable before January 1. The chapter shall forward, with its annual membership list to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, one dollar ($1) 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. Dues, contributions, and other funds shall be deposited within ten (10) banking days. 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 Kentucky, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky to be held in trust for reorganizing a 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 Kentucky, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

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 Kentucky 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.