Iowa Council of the United Blind

CONSTITUTION

Article I

Name

The name of this organization shall be Iowa Council of the United Blind, Inc.

Article II

Purpose

The purpose of the Iowa Council of the United Blind shall be to promote in every way, individually and collectively, the general well-being of the blind of Iowa and the nation.

(A) By providing a medium of expression and concerned action.

(B) By informing blind persons as to their potentialities and opportunities, and by impressing upon them their responsibilities to themselves and to society.

(C) By making the public aware of the fact that blind individuals are an integral part of the community – that they have abilities and accomplishments, as well as special needs, and that they desire opportunities in all areas to be contributing members of society.

(D) By seeking the cooperation and assistance of social, civic, educational and economic leaders, and by seeking the cooperation and providing substantive, meaningful input to local, state, national and international organizations and agencies working on behalf of the blind in order to achieve the goals of this organization.

Article III

National Affiliation

The Iowa Council of the United Blind, Inc. shall be the Iowa affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, Inc.

Article IV

Membership

Membership in this organization shall be composed of blind persons and friends of blind persons, who have attained age sixteen.

(A) 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, and active members who are not affiliated with local chapters. All active members of local chapters shall automatically become members of this organization with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office. Any person who is not affiliated with a local chapter may become an active member of this organization by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at any convention, providing his or her dues have been paid to the treasurer ten days prior to the commencement of the convention.

(B) Associate Members: Any person may be elected to associate membership in this organization.  Associate members have all the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office or serve on the board of directors.  Associate members shall pay the same dues as active members.

(C) Suspension or Expulsion: Any person may be suspended or expelled for misconduct or neglect of duties by a two-thirds vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business meeting

(D) of the organization, after a fair hearing as prescribed in ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED. Any member or members whose suspension or expulsion is being considered shall have the right to vote on that issue.

Article V

Local Chapters

Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter of this organization shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of this organization a copy of its constitution and a list of the names of its members and elected officers. When this organization in convention assembled shall have approved the application, it shall issue to the local chapter a Certificate of Acceptance.  Annually, on or before January 1, each local chapter shall provide to the secretary of this organization 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 in the chapter.  As new members enter local chapters, their names and addresses shall be sent without delay to the Secretary of the state organization, and their 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 the local chapter must be blind.  The President of the state organization shall be an ex-officio member of each local chapter.

Article VI

Dues

Dues of this organization shall be five dollars ($5.00) per year more than the per capita dues for affiliate members of the American Council of the Blind, Inc. and shall be payable in advance in accordance with Article V 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 dues before or during the time of the annual convention.  Lifetime membership may be secured for a fee of one hundred dollars ($100).  All persons above age sixteen (16) attending the annual convention and participating in its activities shall be asked to pay a registration fee which has been set by the membership or Board of Directors.

Article VII

Officers, their duties, and their election

There shall be elected at the regular annual convention during each even-numbered year, a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the convention at which they are elected. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members present and voting.  There shall be no proxy voting.  In the event there are more than two nominations, for a specific office, and if no nominee receives a majority vote on a ballot, the person receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list of nominees, and another vote shall be taken. This procedure should continue until one of the nominees receives a majority vote from the active members present and voting.  Voting shall be by a standing count unless otherwise decided by a majority of the active members present and voting.  The President and the Vice Presidents must be blind.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all business meetings of the annual convention and Board of Directors. It shall also be the duty of the President to guide the affairs of the organization between conventions, carrying out the directives of the membership and Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the First Vice President to assume the office of President in the event the President resigns or becomes incapacitated, and such other duties as may be assigned by the President. It shall be the duty of the Second Vice President to assume the duties of the First Vice President in the event this position becomes vacant.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep minutes of all business meetings of the convention and Board of Directors.  Additionally, the Secretary should handle all correspondence as directed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to manage the finances of the organization in accordance with procedures as outlined elsewhere in this Constitution.  Other duties of each office shall be those ordinarily associated with the position and as provided by ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED. In the event that an office becomes vacant between conventions, the Board of Directors shall fill the position on an interim basis until an election can be held by the membership.

Article VIII

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five constitutional officers, the most Immediate Past President, who is willing to serve, and eight additional elected Directors serving staggered two year terms.  Four of these Directors shall be elected for two-year terms at the annual convention during even-numbered years, and four shall be elected for two-year terms at the annual convention during odd-numbered years.  The eight Directors shall be elected in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of Officers. No more than two individuals from any one family shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors. (Family is constituted by spouse, child, parents or significant other.)  The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by a majority of the Board members.  The Board of Directors shall advise the President and shall be in charge of the affairs of the organization between annual conventions. At least eight members of the Board of Directors must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board of Directors may be polled by telephone or mail ballot on any question, with a written record of such votes being maintained by the Secretary In the event one of the eight elected Board positions becomes vacant, the Board of Directors, at their discretion, may appoint an interim Director to serve until the next convention. 

Article IX

Meetings

(A) 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 must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business at any annual convention.

(B) 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 special meetings, at least twenty-five (25) 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 (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.

(C) In the absence of provisions contained in this Constitution or By-laws, all proceedings of this organization shall be governed by ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED.

Article X

Committees

(A) Nominating Committee:  Nominations for officers and Board members shall be made by a Nominating Committee consisting of five (5) persons elected by a majority of the active members present and voting at the first business meeting of the annual convention, and a non-voting chairperson appointed by the President.  No member of the President’s family shall serve on this committee. The Nominating Committee shall report at the time of the election the name of the candidate for each position to be filled. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

(B) Other Committees:  The President may appoint such other committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary.

Article XI

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. The President’s signature shall be on record with the bank or banks. 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.  In the event of dissolution, all assets of this organization shall be given to an organization with similar purposes which has received a Section 501(c)(3) Certification by the Internal Revenue Service.

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, providing the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and read at a previous business meeting.

Revised May 2008

If you have further questions about the Iowa Council of the United Blind, you may contact us at:

Iowa Council of the United Blind

Robert Spangler

P.O. Box 188

Vinton, Iowa 52349

Copyright © 2008, Iowa Council of the United Blind