The name of this organization is Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB).
The purpose of BSCB is to serve as a democratic vehicle for collective and political action by blind persons so that they may promote the full social, economic, and cultural integration of blind persons into their respective communities, this state, and the nation.
BSCB is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). It shall work in good faith to implement the philosophy and policies of ACB.
Any person is eligible to become a member of BSCB upon compliance with the membership provisions contained herein:
A. Members of BSCB shall include the members of its chapters and any persons admitted as members-at-large and all BSCB life members.
B. A majority of members of BSCB must be blind.
C. Each member of BSCB attending a general membership meeting shall be entitled to one vote. There shall be no proxy voting.
D. All members shall have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of membership, and shall be bound by this Constitution and By-Laws.
A. Any qualified organization, with similar purpose and with at least 7 (seven) members wishing to become a chapter of BSCB shall apply to the Board of Directors. Such application must be approved by a majority of the Board.
B. An organization wishing to become a chapter of BSCB must be recognized as conducting business principally in Massachusetts. The following 3 (three) conditions must be met: A majority of the members must be blind. A majority of the Executive Board must be blind. The President and Vice-President must be blind.
C. Each chapter shall be bound by this Constitution and By-Laws.
D. In applying for affiliation, a chapter must provide the following:
1. A complete address list of members, indicating which, if any, are sighted members.
2. A complete list of the chapter's officers.
3. Copies of any Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and/or By-Laws.
4. Appropriate per capita dues to cover membership for all members except BSCB life members.
A. Dues shall be paid on an annual basis except by BSCB life members.
B. The dues for members of chapters shall be paid on a per capita basis except for BSCB life members.
C. The amount of all dues shall be as set forth in the By-Laws.
D. Any member receiving notice from the Treasurer of failure to pay dues for 2 (two) years shall be automatically suspended from this organization. This calculation shall begin with the year 2003 (two thousand and three).
A. The officers of this organization shall be as follows: a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President. A majority of Board members, including the President and Vice Presidents, must be blind. The term of office for all officers shall be 2 (two) years. Officers shall be elected in even numbered years at the Annual Convention of the organization. Should the Immediate Past President also be elected to another office or Board position, that person may hold both positions, but shall have one vote.
B. In addition to the 6 (six) officers, this organization shall elect 4 (four) members to the Board of Directors. They shall have two-year terms and be elected in odd numbered years at the Annual Convention of the organization. A majority of Board members must be blind.
C. The officers and directors of this organization shall constitute the Board of Directors. Board members shall assume their duties immediately following the convention at which they were elected.
D. No Board member of this organization shall be elected to more than 3 (three) consecutive terms to the same office. Partial terms do not count against these 3 (three) terms.
E. Members of the Board of Directors shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties. No member of BSCB who is employed by the organization, may serve on the Board of Directors.
F. All officers and directors shall be elected by a majority vote at the Annual Convention of the organization.
G. If the President is unable to complete his/her term of office, the First Vice-President shall assume the office of President, and an election shall be held by the Board to fill the position of First Vice-President. This person will serve until the next convention. It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to fill any other vacancies which may occur on the Board between conventions.
Meetings of this organization shall be held at least once a year, with one of these meetings being designated as the Annual Convention. A majority of all members registered and attending the convention, or 10 (ten) percent of the total membership, whichever is greater, shall constitute a quorum to do business.
Any chapter or member may be suspended, expelled, or otherwise disciplined by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors. Such a vote may be taken only after a good faith effort by the Board to resolve the conflict has been unsuccessful. The member or chapter shall be given at least 30 (thirty) days notice of a scheduled Board hearing where the situation will be discussed. The member or chapter may appeal the decision of the Board to the membership at a general membership meeting within 365 (three hundred and sixty-five) days from the date of the original decision. Notification shall be sent to the chapter or member 30 (thirty) days prior to the scheduled meeting, where the appeal may be presented before the membership. The member or chapter shall be granted 30 (thirty) minutes to present their appeal to the membership, who may sustain or overturn the Board's decision by a majority vote. The members of the chapter, or individual member, shall be eligible to vote on their own behalf.
All proceedings of BSCB shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Current Edition.
A. This Constitution may be amended at any convention of this organization by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting according to procedures contained herein, provided that:
1. Any proposed amendment must be submitted, in writing to the Secretary, not less than 60 (sixty) days prior to the opening date of the convention. A synopsis of each amendment will be prepared by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee Chair and shall be submitted to the membership in the convention announcement mailing. Any member wishing to receive the full text of an amendment may notify the Secretary to request a copy.
2. In the event a proposed amendment does not meet the aforementioned procedure, it may be considered if a two-thirds majority of the members vote to consider the issue.
3. Proposed amendments shall be read to the assembled convention 2 (two) times before final action is taken.
4. The By-Laws may be amended at any convention of this organization by a majority vote, provided that such amendments are submitted, in writing to the Secretary, no later than the opening of the convention, and read to the members before the time of final action.
Upon the dissolution of this organization, all money and assets shall be turned over to the American Council of the Blind or to an organization with a similar purpose.
A. Dues for members-at-large shall be 12 (twelve) dollars annually and must be paid to the Treasurer, no later than February 15th of each year in order that these members shall have the right to vote.
B. Dues for life members of BSCB shall be 250 (two hundred and fifty) dollars paid on a one-time basis.
C Per capita dues, in the amount of 7 (seven) dollars, for each individual member of a chapter except any BSCB life member, must be paid to the Treasurer, accompanied by a complete address list, no later than February 15th of each year in order that these members shall have the right to vote.
D. On January 1st the Treasurer shall notify all chapters, in writing, of the forthcoming deadline for receipt of annual dues and lists.
A. The President shall appoint a statewide membership Chairperson. Each chapter shall select a representative to serve on the Membership Committee.
B. The President shall appoint 90 (ninety) days prior to each Annual Convention a Chairperson and at least 3 (three) additional members, as a Resolutions Committee. This committee shall receive and prepare resolutions to be considered by the membership. All resolutions must be reported to the convention, with or without a committee recommendation. Resolutions shall be submitted to the Resolutions Committee not less than 15 (fifteen) days before the date of the Annual Convention. Proposed resolutions shall be read to the assembled convention 2 (two) times before final action is taken. A resolution which does not meet the above submission criteria may still be considered by the convention, if two-thirds of the members present and voting at the first reading vote to do so.
C. The President shall appoint a Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, no later than 120 (one hundred and twenty) days before the date of the Annual Convention. Each chapter shall select a representative to serve on the committee within 90 (ninety) days of the convention. The chair of the committee shall not vote unless there is a tie. No member of the Nominating Committee may appear on the Nominating Committee slate. All meetings of the Nominating Committee shall be closed to non-committee members.
D. The President shall appoint a Legislative Representative, who shall act as the Chairperson of the Legislative Committee. The President shall also appoint at least 3 (three) additional members to serve on the committee. The Legislative Representative shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
E. The President shall appoint the Editor of the newsletter, with Board confirmation, and the Editor shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
F. The President shall be a non-voting member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.