State Convention

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Article 1 - Name
Article 2 - Mission
Article 3 - Members
Article 4 - Officers and Their Duties
Article 5 - Board of Directors
Article 6 - Meetings
Article 7 - Committees
Article 8 - Affiliation
Article 9 - Dues
Article 10 - Disbursement of Funds
Article 11 - Dissolution
Article 12 - Amendments
Pledge

THE CONSTITUTION OF

THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS

OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF KENTUCKY

Enacted September 6, 2003

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ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be Kentucky Association of Blind Students.

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ARTICLE II – MISSION

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the educational welfare of secondary and post-secondary blind students of Kentucky and of the nation, to provide information and guidance to younger blind students, and to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

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ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

To comply with the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky and the National Federation of the Blind, a good faith effort shall be made by this organization to maintain a membership consisting of a majority of blind members.

Section One:

A. All Active Student Members that are currently enrolled or have been enrolled within the previous year shall have the right to hold office, vote, serve on committees, and speak on the floor.

B. All Active Non-Student Members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, and speak on the floor.

C. Any person may request and receive Associate Member status at an annual business meeting or through an officer of KABS. 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 Two:

A. Any person may become an active member of this Organization by regularly attending local meetings and actively participating in KABS.

B. Any member may have their status changed by making a request to the appropriate KABS Officer.

Section Three -- 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 Four -- Expulsion

Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business session of this organization. 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 of Kentucky.

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ARTICLE IV -- OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section One—Elections of Officers

There shall be elected annually, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two Board Members. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the State Convention at which they are elected. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of Active Student and Active Non-Student members who are present and voting. Voting may take place by voice, counting of hands, or secret ballad as deemed necessary by those 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 Active Student and Active Non-Student Members present and voting. The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office.

Section Two--Replacement of Officers

Should the President, for any reason, be unable to complete his/her term of office, his/her duties shall be assumed by the Vice President. Replacement of the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Board Members shall be by appointment of the President.

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ARTICLE V -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the four (4) constitutional officers and two at-large Members of the Board of Directors. The Board shall meet at least two (2) times a year. Special meetings may be held at the call of the President or on written call signed by any four (4) of the board members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings. At least three (3) members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by telephone, email or mail ballot on any question.

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ARTICLE VI -- MEETINGS

Section One -- Regular Meetings

This organization shall meet annually at the state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

Section Two -- Other Meetings

The President may call other meetings of the membership at any time he/she or a majority of the Board of Directors deems necessary. At such special meeting at least thirty-three and one-third (33-1/3) percent of the voting members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

Section Three -- State of the Division Address

At the annual meeting, the sitting President of the Kentucky Association of Blind Students shall give a "State of the Division" address, reporting on the membership and activities of the Division over the past year.

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ARTICLE VII -- COMMITTEES

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

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ARTICLE VIII -- AFFILIATION

The Kentucky Association of Blind Students shall be an affiliate of the National Association of Blind Students and a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. This organization shall furnish to the President of the National Association of Blind Students and the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, August 1st, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. Further, a complete financial report showing all financial transactions for the previous calendar year shall be furnished to the State President on August 1^st for appropriate accounting purposes and to comply with 501(c)(3) requirements and for Internal Revenue Service purposes. A copy of the Constitution of the Kentucky Association of Blind Students and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky immediately upon adoption.

The Kentucky Association of Blind Students shall not merely be a social organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the educational, 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. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky (whether made by the State or National Convention or the State or National Board of Directors) are binding on this organization and this organization shall participate affirmatively in carrying out 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 State or National Convention or the State or National Board) 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 this organization 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. 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.

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ARTICLE IX -- DUES

The dues of this organization shall be $2.00 per year payable by July 1st. The division shall promptly forward $1.00 per year to the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky for each member. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues.

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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. All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged on written order by the President and signed by the Treasurer, or in his/her absence or incapacity, the President may sign such check(s). The Treasurer shall give a financial report at the Annual Business Meeting of this organization.

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ARTICLE XI -- DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a division 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 a reorganized chapter. In the event no chapter is organized in the area for a period of two (2) years from the date this organization ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

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ARTICLE XII -- AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present and voting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and read at a previous regular 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 of Kentucky.

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NFB PLEDGE

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts 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.