Constitution of the Oregon Association of Blind Students
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this Organization shall be the "Oregon Association of Blind
Students."
ARTICLE II: ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTER
This organization shall be chartered as a State Chapter of the National
Association of Blind Students and as a Division of the National Federation of
the Blind of Oregon.
ARTICLE III: PURPOSE
The purpose of this Organization shall be to promote educational opportunities
and the general well being of the blind of this nation and the state to
function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section One: Active Members
At least a majority of the active members of this Organization must be students
who are blind.
1. All active members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees,
speak on the floor, and hold office.
2. Any person may become an active member of this Organization upon
application and payment of dues to the Treasurer of this Organization.
Section Two: Associate Members
Any person may apply for and receive Associate membership status at an annual
business meeting or through an officer of this Organization. Associate Members
shall have all the rights and privileges of Active Members, except that they
may not vote or hold office. Associate Members do not pay dues.
Section Three: Expulsion
Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for behavior
unbecoming to a member of the National Federation of the Blind, by a majority
vote of the members present and voting at an annual business meeting or by a
two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The annual business meeting 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 of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. Any person who
feels he/she has been unjustly expelled from the organization may appeal to the
state board of directors at the annual state convention. If the appeal is
denied by the state board, the party may further appeal to the national board
of directors, who may, at their discretion, reinstate a member.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section One: Elections
There shall be elected at the regular annual business meeting, a President, a
Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer. The terms of their offices shall
begin at the close of the annual business meeting at which they are elected and
qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all 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 least votes will
be removed from the list of nominees and a second ballot recorded. This
procedure shall continue until one candidate receives a simple majority of the
votes. All officers must be students who are blind and planning to attend an
educational program in the academic year following election.
Section Two: Duties
The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that
office.
ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of this Organization shall consist of Three
Constitutional Officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or
on written call, signed by a majority of the Board Members. The Board shall
advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of this Organization
between meetings. At least a majority of the Board must be present to
constitute a quorum to transact business. The board may be polled by telephone,
mail, or electronic ballot on any question. The Board of Directors must consist
of students who are blind.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section One: Annual Business Meetings
The Organization shall hold an annual business meeting the time and place of
which shall coincide with the time and place of the State Convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of Oregon. At least twenty-five percent of the
active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.
Section Two: Special Meetings
The President of this Organization may call a special meeting any time she/he
or a majority of the Board of Directors deems such action to be necessary. At
such special meetings at least twenty-five percent of the active members must
be present to transact business. To call such a meeting, notice must be given
to the Board of Directors at least ten days prior to the date of such special
meeting.
ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES
The President may create such committees, as she/he or the Organization deems
necessary.
ARTICLE IX: AFFILIATION
The Oregon Association of Blind Students shall be an affiliate of the National
Association of Blind Students and the National Federation of the Blind of
Oregon, which are, in turn, affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind.
The Oregon Association of Blind Students shall furnish to the President of the
National Association of Blind Students and the President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Oregon annually or before January First, a list of
the names and addresses of the members who are elected officers of this
Organization. A copy of the Constitution of the Oregon Association of Blind
Students, and all Amendments thereto, shall be sent to the President of the
National Association of Blind Students and to the President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Oregon, without delay.
The Oregon Association of Blind Students shall not merely be a social
organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the
academic and social betterment of the blind. This Organization shall comply
with the provisions of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind
and with the provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the Charter of
Affiliation issued to the 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 Board of Directors, are binding on this
Organization and this Organization shall participate and act 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 the
decision is made by the Convention or the Board of Directors, has the power to
expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state
affiliate or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the
affiliate and the chapters belong to the reorganized affiliate, and the former
affiliate shall dissolve and cease to exist. The Oregon Association of Blind
Students or any variant thereof, is the property of the National Federation of
the Blind, and this Organization, upon the event of disaffiliation with the
National federation of the Blind, for whatever reason, shall forfeit the right
to use the name Oregon Association of Blind Students or any variant thereof.
ARTICLE X: DUES
The dues of this Organization shall be set at annual business meetings and
shall be payable at annual business meetings. No person may vote who is
delinquent in the payment of dues.
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. All financial transactions
shall be discharged by check or other draft, issued on the order of the
President, and signed by the Treasurer or the President.
ARTICLE XII: DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of this Organization, or if, for any reason, it
ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, assets shall
be given to the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, to be held in trust
for a reorganized student organization. In the event that no student group is
reorganized within a period of two years from the date of dissolution, the
assets may be deposited along with the general funds of the National Federation
of the Blind of Oregon, to be used for the purposes of that Organization.
ARTICLE XIII: 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 that it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of
Affiliation issued by the National Federation of the Blind and the policies of
the National Federation of the Blind. Amendments may also be acted upon at
special meetings.
This revised constitution was approved and adopted by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the active members present and voting at the annual Convention T. Joseph Carter, President of the Oregon Association of Blind Students on February 21,2009