Constitution Of The At-Large Chapter of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Maryland

ADOPTED MARCH 21, 2017

ARTICLE I - NAME

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

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the At-Large Chapter shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind in areas of Maryland in which no NFB chapter exists, in the state as a whole, and in the nation; to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind not represented by geographic chapters; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can 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 One - Members

A resident of the state of Maryland may become a member of this organization ONLY if it is determined that he or she is unable to attend meetings of an active geographic chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Eligibility for membership in this organization shall be determined by the Affiliate Board of Directors in consultation with the At Large Chapter President. Any person may apply for membership to this chapter by asking the members of the chapter for such membership, by submitting dues to the treasurer of the chapter, and by being accepted as a member by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the meeting of this chapter which is occurring at the time of the submission of the request for membership. A majority of the members of this organization must be blind.

Section Two - Dues

The amount of the dues paid by members to this organization shall be $5.00 and shall be paid annually before the in person meeting held at the annual State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. 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 majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of this organization. The board of directors of the affiliate or the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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 Maryland 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 annually a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The terms of these offices shall begin upon the close of the meeting at which they were elected and qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of those active members present and voting. There shall be no proxy ballots. If a nominee does not receive a majority of the votes on the first ballot, the nominee who received the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list, and another ballot taken. This procedure shall continue until a majority vote has been achieved. The duties of each officer shall be those customarily associated with that office. The President and Vice President must be blind, and a majority of the officers must be blind.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Section One – Annual Business 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 Maryland at a time designated by the President, with the approval of the Affiliate President.

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 agreed upon by the membership, or b) a telephone conference call scheduled by the President. All members shall be notified in advance of the date and time of each meeting.

Section Three – Quorum

A quorum for transacting business at meetings of this organization shall consist of a minimum of 25% members in good standing. Only members in good standing present at a meeting may vote. There shall be no proxy voting.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

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

ARTICLE VII - AFFILIATION

The At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland shall function as a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and shall, in accordance with the state constitution, furnish the following to the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland:

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 Maryland, 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 Maryland and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland (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 the established bank account of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.  All financial transactions shall be discharged by check or other draft, issued on the order of the President and the Treasurer to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

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 Maryland, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, to be held in trust for a reorganized chapter serving the otherwise unaffiliated members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. In the event that no chapter is organized to serve unaffiliated blind of Maryland 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 Maryland, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that time neither the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and the National Federation of the Blind.