American  Council  of the  Blind
of
Minnesota

BYLAWS OF THE
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
OF MINNESOTA, INC.

Amended Through October 2001

ARTICLE 1: NAME

The name of the organization shall be the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota and shall be referred to hereinafter as the Council.

ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE

The purpose of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota is to strive for the welfare of the total community—

A. Through a representative State organization primarily of blind people.
B. By providing a forum for the views of the blind locally, state-wide and nationally.
C. By elevating the social, economic and cultural level of the blind.
D. By improving educational and rehabilitation facilities.
E. By broadening vocational opportunities.
F. By encouraging and assisting the blind, especially the newly blind, to develop their abilities and potentialities and assume their responsible place in the community.
G. By cooperating with public and private agencies, organizations of and for the blind, community groups and individuals.
H. By providing for the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information relative to matters of concern to blind people.
I. By conducting a program of public education aimed towards improving the understanding of the problems of blindness and of the capabilities of blind people.
J. The purposes of this Council shall be exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501-c3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
K. No substantial part of the activities of the Council shall be the carrying on of propaganda, and the Council shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any political candidate for public office.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERS

SECTION 1

The primary authority shall be in the membership in convention assembled.

SECTION 2

Membership shall be open to all persons who are interested in the purposes and programs of this Council.

SECTION 3

A blind person or a sighted husband, wife, parent, child or other persons having direct interest in work for or by the blind shall file an application in writing, stating his or her desire to become a member; and, he or she shall become a member when such application is approved by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4

Annual membership dues shall be as determined by the board of directors and approved by the general membership. Junior members shall pay one dollar ($1.00) a person. Dues for the first year for members joining after March 31 of any year shall be reduced pro rata on a quarterly basis. Dues shall be paid to the treasurer at the beginning of each calendar year, or when joining.

SECTION 5

No sighted person shall be admitted to membership if, after such admission a majority of the members will not be legally blind. But the application from such a sighted person shall be accepted for an associate membership with all the rights, duties and obligations of other members except that, such a member shall have no right to vote and will not be eligible to hold office. Associate members shall be admitted to full membership in the order they have been admitted as associate members, when and as, the ratio between sighted and legally blind members permits. Persons under eighteen (18) years of age may join individually as Junior members with the rights of other members. They may assume duties and obligations based on the capabilities of the individual but shall not have the right to vote or be eligible to hold office.

SECTION 6

The membership of a person may be terminated when he or she persists in violating the Bylaws or in other actions contrary to the best interests. Such termination of membership shall be only after a hearing before the Board of Directors and recommendation by the Board of Directors and approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present and voting at a quarterly meeting.

SECTION 7

No part of the net earnings of the Council shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, directors, officers or other private persons; except that, the Council shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

SECTION 1

Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, there shall be regular quarterly business meetings of the membership on the fourth Saturday of January, April, July and October.

SECTION 2

Officers and Directors shall be elected during the second quarterly meeting (April) of each calendar year. The Board of Directors shall, between May 1 and June 30 of each calendar year, designate a date for the annual convention of the membership, if applicable.

SECTION 3

The President, or a majority of the Board of Directors, may call a special meeting of the membership at a time and place specified in the notice of such meeting.

SECTION 4

Notice of the time and place of a meeting shall be given to each member in good standing not less than ten (10) days prior to any regular meeting of the membership.

SECTION 5

Written notice of the time and place of each special meeting shall be given by mail to each member in good standing not less than five (5) days prior to such special meeting.

SECTION 6

Fifteen (15) registered members at a meeting of the member ship shall constitute a quorum to do business.

SECTION 7

Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern each meeting except as otherwise herein provided or specifically provided by the members at a meeting.

SECTION 8

The period of duration of Council existence shall be perpetual, but in the event of the dissolution of the Council, any remaining assets shall be distributed to the American Council of the Blind. If at the time of such dissolution, the American Council of the Blind qualifies as an exempt organization under Section 501-C3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and if the American Council of the Blind is not in existence or does not so qualify as an exempt organization, any remaining assets shall be distributed to organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational or scientific purposes as at the time qualify as an exempt organization under Section 501-C3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 1

The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota shall have the following officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and shall have five (5) directors, the nine (9) of whom shall constitute the Board of Directors. These Officers and Directors shall be elected at the quarterly meeting per ARTICLE 4, SECTION 2, for terms of two (2) years. The President, Treasurer and three (3) Directors shall be elected in odd number years, and the Vice-President, Secretary and two (2) Directors shall be elected in even number years.

Election shall be by a simple majority vote of those present and voting, and no Officer or Director shall serve more than two (2) consecutive two (2) year terms in the same office. The outgoing President may remain on the Board of Directors for one (1) year with the right to participate in discussion but without the right to vote. The membership may also elect one or more special advisors with designated duties. Any advisor so elected shall serve for a one (1) year term and shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors with the right to participate in discussion but without the right to vote.

SECTION 2

Prior to each election, the Board of Directors shall appoint a nominating committee of three (3) members, not more than one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Board of Directors. This nominating committee shall submit a list of nominees for each office and directorship to the Secretary in time to send a list of such nominees to each member with the notice of the quarterly meeting during which elections will be held (reference ARTICLE 4, SECTION 2).

SECTION 3

The Board of Directors shall meet in regular open meetings at such times and places as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the Board. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors. Notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors, whether regular or special, shall be given orally or in writing so that they reach the members of the Board of Directors at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time the Board is to meet. The failure to give such notice shall not invalidate any action taken by the majority of all the members of the Board of Directors, and the attendance by the majority of the members of the Board at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of such notice.

SECTION 4

The Board of Directors shall be charged with the responsibility to:

A. Carry out the policies and programs adopted by the membership in meetings assembled.
B. Formulate policies and programs as needed in order to conduct business that may arise between meetings.
C. Facilitate The efficient functioning of all Officers and committee chair persons.
D. Plan all regular meetings and all special meetings which may be called.
E. Manage all business affairs of the Council.

SECTION 5

The Board of Directors shall have the authority to perform any function which may be incidental to implementing the policies and programs of the members adopted at membership meetings.

SECTION 6

Any vacancy which may occur on the Board between elections shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7

The President, Vice-President and the majority of the Board of Directors shall be legally blind.

SECTION 8

The President shall be the chief administrative official and shall be charged with the responsibility to:

A. Carry out the policies and programs of the Board of Directors.
B. Preside over all meetings of the members and all meetings of the Board of Directors.
C. Make appointments of committees, committee chair persons and other representatives.
D. Represent the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota when ever necessary or desirable.

SECTION 9

The Vice-President shall act as President in the event of the absence of, or disability of the President, and shall perform other duties prescribed by the members and the Board of Directors.

SECTION 10

The Secretary shall keep a record of all procedures of meetings of members and minutes of all the Board of Directors meetings, shall be in charge of all correspondence and records, and shall give all notices required by these Bylaws.

SECTION 11

The Treasurer:

A. Shall be the custodian of all moneys and commercial papers.
B. May be bonded for such an amount as the Board of Directors may determine.
C. Shall keep an accurate written record of each financial transaction.
D. Shall make a complete financial report at the quarterly meeting in January and each special meeting and to the Board of Directors.
E. All financial records shall be open to any member in good standing.
F. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer.
G. The Treasurer shall supply the Secretary with a list of paid-up members at each meeting of the members.

SECTION 12

At the end of each year, and before the first quarterly meeting in the next calendar year, the Board of Directors shall provide for auditing of the Treasurer's books by a disinterested person or persons.

SECTION 13

All Officers and Directors shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

SECTION 14

The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota shall have the following standing committees: Membership Committee, Legislative Committee, Budget Committee, and Projects Committee. Other committees may be appointed when and as the need arises. The chair person of a committee shall be appointed by the President for one (1) two (2) year term and shall select at least two (2) persons from the members to serve on the committee, and one (1) of them shall be a member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 6: MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1

The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota and shall be affiliated with the American Council of the Blind.

SECTION 2

The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota shall not discriminate in any way in admitting persons to membership or shall not discriminate in any of its other activities because of race, color, religion, national origin or sex.

SECTION 3

These Bylaws shall become operative January 15, 1972.

ARTICLE 7: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at any regular meeting of the members and at no other time. The proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be read at the meeting before action is taken thereon.

SECTION 2

Any amendments to these Bylaws shall be recorded, including the date and place of the adoption of such amendments.

Passed and adopted October, 2001 at Minneapolis Minnesota

Marian Haslerud Secretary

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