Constitution NFB of Chatham County Chapter

Article I. NAME

  The Name of this organization is National Federation of the Blind of Chatham County

Article II. PURPOSE

  The purpose of the NFB of Chatham County is to serve as a vehicle for the collective action by the blind of Chatham Co. GA; to function as a mechanism through which the blind and the interested sighted persons can work together to improve the condition and standard of living of the blind.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

 Section A. Membership of the NFB of Chatham County shall consist of all persons who pay dues National Federation of the Blind of Georgia. All Members are entitled to attend monthly and vote on all issues that come before the NFB of Chatham County. At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind. 

Section B. Supporting members of the NFB of Chatham County shall have all of the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. Supporting members shall not pay dues.

 Section C. Any member may be expelled or suspended for violation of this constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member, by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business session 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 Board. Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly disciplined or expelled from this organization which feels that it has been unjustly disciplined or reorganized, or expelled 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; but until or unless the action of discipline or expulsion is reversed by the National Board, it shall continue in effect.

Article IV: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

 There shall be elected at during special meeting each even numbered year (every two years), a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The terms of these officers 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. 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 President must be blind.

Article V: MEETINGS 

 This Organization shall hold monthly meetings the time, date and location will be set by membership. A meeting must have half of the membership or at least 15 active members present in order to have a quorum, in order to conduct any organization business. Special meetings or Phone meetings may be called by the President with at least 5 days’ notice to the membership.

Article VI: AFFILIATION

 The National Federation of the Blind of Chatham County shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia and the National Federation of the Blind. shall furnish to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia 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 Chatham County, and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia without delay. The National Federation of the Blind of Chatham County 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. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind and National Federation of the Blind of Georgia are binding on this organization, and members; and this organization 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 or National Federation of the Blind of Georgia has the power to expel or discipline an individual member. In the event of reorganization, the assets of this organization 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 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.

Article VII: DUES 

  The dues of this organization shall be $3.00 per year, payable in advance. A lifetime membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.

Article VIII: 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.  All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged by check, on order of the President, and signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer.

Article IX: DISSOLUTION

  In the event of dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, it’s assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, to be held in trust for a reorganized affiliate. In the event that no affiliate is organized 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 Georgia, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind. If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that 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

Article X: 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 and the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia.   NFB Pledge 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.