American Council of the Blind of Nebraska
Constitution and Bylaws (as revised April 19, 2008)

CONSTITUTION

Article I. NAME
This organization shall be known as the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska.

ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to foster and promote the social, vocational, political and economic betterment of the visually impaired.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any person who is interested in the promotion of the purposes of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska may become a member by presenting himself or herself to any officer of the Executive Council or to any officer of any chapter and pay the annual dues as provided by the Bylaws Amended August 13, 1994.

Section 2. A majority of the voting membership shall be visually impaired.

ARTICLE IV. Local Chapters
Any group of members of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska in good standing may organize a local chapter as prescribed in the Bylaws. Amended April 23, 2005.

ARTICLE V. DUES
Dues shall be payable in such amount and in such manner as the Bylaws shall provide.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCES
Section 1. RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. All money received by this organization from dues, and other sources shall be paid into a general fund and disbursements therefrom shall not be made without the approval of the Executive Council.

Section 2. SPECIAL FUNDS. The Executive Council shall establish and maintain special accounts for funds derived from inheritances, gifts and endowments which are identified For specific projects, programs or activities; or from mutual trust activities in participation with any other individuals, groups or organizations for which proceeds are specifically identified for community service or betterment projects. These accounts shall be under the control and supervision of the Executive Council.

Section 3. BUDGET AND FINANCE. Each year the Budget and Finance Committee, consisting of at least the President and the Treasurer will prepare and recommend if circumstances require, to the Executive Council, a budget of the financial needs of the organization and shall supervise the finances of any and all activities conducted by the membership. Amended August 22, 1992.

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. The Executive council shall consist of the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and a representative from each of the affiliate chapters. The Executive Council may be expanded as prescribed in the Bylaws of this organization. Amended August 13, 1994

Section 2. A meeting of the Executive Council shall be held at least quarterly as specified by the Bylaws. Said meeting may be by conference telecommunication. Any other such meetings may be held in such manner. Amended August 13, 1994.

Section 3. A quorum shall be more than half of the existing Executive Council members.

Section 4. The duties of the Executive Council shall be:

• To approve Committee chairpersons appointed by the President.
  
• To supervise funds and accounts of the organization.
  
• To generally direct and supervise the operation of this organization between annual conventions.

ARTICLE VIII. OFFICERS
Section 1. TITLES OF OFFICERS. The officers of this organization shall be:

• President.
  
• Vice-President.
  
• Recording Secretary.
  
• Treasurer.
  
• Corresponding Secretary.

Section 2. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS. The duties of the officers shall be set forth in the Bylaws of the organization.

ARTICLE IX. ELECTIONS
Section 1. The officers shall be elected at the annual convention of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska by the general membership in accordance with the method of voting as prescribed in Article XII. Each term of office shall be for two (2) years. A term of office shall be defined as a period of more than one (1) year. Amended April 19, 2008.

Section 2. Repealed August 13, 1994.

Section 3. At the initial election, the President, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. Repealed August 13, 1994.

Section 4. At the initial election, the Vice President and the Recording Secretary shall be elected for a term of one (1) year and thereafter to be elected for a term of two (2) years.

ARTICLE X. ADOPTION OF BYLAWS
The Bylaws shall be adopted and amended by majority vote of the membership, present and voting, at the annual convention.

ARTICLE XI. PROXY VOTING
Proxy voting is hereby repealed. Repealed August 22, 1992.

ARTICLE XII. VOTING
Section 1. The election of all officers of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska shall be by secret ballot. Adopted August 13, 1994.

Section 2. The method of voting for the officers shall be by use of a slate and stylus, Braille writer, typewriter, pen or pencil. Any member unable to cast a vote by these methods may request a person of choice to mark his or her ballot. Adopted August 13, 1994.

Section 3. A person may vote by absentee ballot by giving such ballot in writing, executed by the absentee voter, to a member in good standing to present such absentee ballot in accordance with the directions of such ballot. Such ballot shall set forth the candidate for whom the ballot is to be cast and/or the item of business the absentee voter wishes to cast a ballot upon. No member shall be permitted to present more than one absentee ballot. Adopted August 13, 1994.

Section 4. All ballots shall contain the name of the office for which it is to be cast and said ballots shall not be destroyed until the lection has been completed. In case of a disputed vote, the ballots shall be given to an impartial committee of three for the purpose of a recount. . All ballots must be retained until the membership is satisfied that the election was conducted in a manner that was fair to all candidates. Adopted April 29, 2007

ARTICLE XIII. RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Section 1. Any officer may resign from office by notifying the President in writing. The Executive Council may, thereafter, in its discretion, elect a person to serve in said vacant office until the next annual convention of this organization. Adopted August 13, 1994.

Section 2. Any officer may be removed from office for good and sufficient cause shown as specified by the Bylaws by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the Executive Council, but, in no event, shall a vote to remove an officer be taken until after such officer has been given notice and opportunity to appear and answer said charges. Following a vote to remove an officer, the Executive Council may, thereafter, in its discretion, elect a person to serve in said vacant office until the next annual convention of this organization. Adopted August 13, 1994.

Section 3. At the next annual convention of this organization, the membership may, if necessary, elect a person to complete the term for which the resigned or removed officer was originally elected. Adopted August 13, 1994.

ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members, present at any general meeting of which notice of said amendment or repeal is mailed to all members at their last known address, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the general meeting. When two or more members reside at the same address and in the same residential unit, full compliance with this article will be conclusively presumed if the envelope in which the notices are mailed is addressed to each member residing in the residential unit and a sufficient number of notices are contained in the envelope for each member. The membership list to be used for mailing said notices shall be the list mailed to the National Office of the American Council of the Blind in Washington, DC, which represents the total membership of the Nebraska affiliate. An individual becoming a member of the organization within the thirty (30) day period specified in this article may not invoke the thirty day clause in an effort to defeat or defer action on an amendment or repeal, but shall be entitled to receive a copy of the amendment or amendments prior to the time the same is to be voted upon by the membership. April 23, 2005.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. It shall be the duty and the responsibility of each member to endeavor to participate in this organization's efforts to fulfill its purpose in accordance with Article II of the Constitution and as further specified in Sections 2 and 3 of this Article. Repealed August 13, 1994.

Section 2. An active membership shall be one whose dues are paid. Such active member shall be entitled to a vote in the proceedings of this organization. (Amendment adopted Annual Convention June 21, 1986)

Section 3. MEMBERS AT LARGE: Any person who has reached the age of 18 years and who is not a certified member of a chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska may apply for membership-at-large.  Such applications shall be made to the Treasurer using the approved application form and shall be accompanied by the first year’s dues of Ten dollars ($10.00) per member. (Adopted April 19, 2008.

Section 4. Associate members in this organization is hereby repealed; however, any person holding an associate membership may continue in such status indefinitely. The dues of such associate member shall remain at one-half of the dues of the active member. Those holding such membership shall not be entitled to vote but may sit on any committee of this organization. Amended August 14, 1994

Section 5. The type membership that one maintains shall be designated by oneself making the application for said membership. Repealed August 13, 1994.

ARTICLE II. AFFILIATION
A local chapter shall have five (5) or more members in good standing of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska, which chapter has regular meetings and has elected officers, said Organization may apply to the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska's Executive Council for recognition as an affiliate chapter and, upon approval by said Council and ratification by the next annual convention, shall become entitled to elect one of its members to serve on the Executive Council as a voting member. The Constitution and Bylaws of the chapter shall not conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska. (Adopted August 22, 1992)

ARTICLE III. DUES
Section 1 (A). Except as provided in Article I, Section 3 of these Bylaws, annual dues for membership in this organization shall be the amount of $5.00 more than American Council of the Blind affiliate dues per capita for each fiscal year. Amended April 29, 2007.

Section 1 (B). Chapters' dues and membership list must be submitted to the Treasurer no later than February 25 of the current year. Membership dues received after February 25 of the current year should be submitted in a timely manner. Adopted April 29, 2007

Section 2. Fiscal year for this organization shall commence on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December. Amended April 29, 2007.

ARTICLE IV. COMPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The Executive Council shall be composed of at least sixty percent (60%) visually impaired persons.

ARTICLE V. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Section 1. President. The President shall do his or her utmost in promoting the best interest of the organization. He or she shall direct the business affairs of the organization as chairperson of the Executive Council. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all general meetings of the organization and of the Executive Council: to sign records; to maintain general Supervision over the organization and the officers and employees thereof; and to perform all such other duties as are necessarily incumbent to said office. He or she shall devote such time and attention to the business and affairs of the organization as the proper performance of the above duties may make necessary.
  
• Section 2. Vice President. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President.
  
• Section 3. Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of all proceedings and record the same, and to mail copies thereof to each member of the Executive Council within thirty days of the proceeding for which the minutes were taken and maintain all such minutes and other records of the organization in a permanent form. The Recording Secretary shall give notice of all meetings and perform all other duties as the office may require. Amended August 14, 1994.
  
• Section 4 (A). Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all assets and money of the organization and shall pay the expenses of the organization when properly authorized and documented.  In the absence of the President, then the Vice-President shall approve payment of the same. Adopted April 29, 2007
  
• Section 4 (B). The Treasurer will present a financial report at each meeting of the Executive Council and at the annual State Convention. Adopted April 29, 2007
• Section 4 (C ). The Treasurer will be responsible for the preparation of Internal Revenue Service Form 990 in its entirety. He or She will submit the same by May 15th after the close of the fiscal year, to the Internal Revenue Service. Adopted April 29, 2007
• Section 4 (D). The Treasurer will, at the discretion of the Executive Council, co-operate with the Auditing Committee, by submitting all financial records of the organization for an annual audit. At the discretion of Executive Council, the annual audit may be compiled by either an Internal Audit Committee or by a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of Nebraska. Adopted April 29, 2007
• Section 4 (E). The Treasurer shall be bonded as required by Executive Council Order. Amended April 29, 2007
• Section 5. Corresponding secretary. The Corresponding
  Secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence of the organization and shall perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE VI. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
The President, vice-President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary and other members of the Executive Council may be removed from office for the following grounds:

• Failure to attend at least three consecutive meetings of the Executive council without just cause;
  
• To fail to pay dues or to otherwise maintain membership in this organization;
  
• To fail to perform the duties of office in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of this organization;
  
• To perform the duties of office in a manner that is detrimental to the purposes and objectives of this organization;
  
• Personal conduct which brings discredit upon this organization;
  
Conviction for any felony. Adopted August 14, 1994

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be at least an annual convention of this organization.

Section 2. The annual convention shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, annual audit and any other business that may arise.

Section 3. A general membership meeting may be called at any time by one-third (1 /3) of the total membership.

Section 4. The month and the location of the annual convention shall be set by the attending membership at the previous annual convention. The Secretary shall notify the membership at least sixty (60) days in advance of said convention.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, Revised, shall be parliamentary authority on all matters not covered by the BYLAWS of this organization.

ARTICLE IX. MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Meetings of the Executive Council shall be held quarterly on the third Saturday of October, January, April, and June; provided, however, that such meetings may be rescheduled or held by conference telecommunication in case of inclement weather or other emergency. Adopted August 14, 1994.

ARTICLE X. STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. The standing committees of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska shall be:

• Membership;
  
• Convention and Constitution and Bylaws;
  
• Budget and finance;
  
• Legislation and advocacy;
  
• Publications, publicity and public relations;
  
• Betty Hofmann national convention Trust Account fund
  
• Audit. (amended April 23, 2005)
  

Section 2. Special committees may be established by the Executive Council or the annual convention as from time to time may be necessary in order to achieve the purposes and objectives of this organization. Adopt August 14, 1994

Article XI, Volunteers: The American Council of the Blind of Nebraska is a volunteer organization and its members are not entitled to any compensation for services rendered on its behalf. Adopted April 29, 2007

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