CONSTITUTION
Kentucky Council of the Blind Next Generation
Adopted: November 14 2014
ARTICLE I – NAME:
The name of this organization is the Kentucky Council of the Blind Next Generation, hereinafter known as KCB Next Generation.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE:
The purpose of this organization shall be
A. To explore ways in which members, both as individuals and as a group, can contribute to the economic, social and civic well-being of the community;
B. To the public better understand the capabilities of people who are blind and visually impaired;
C. To work for improved quality education for people who are blind and visually impaired;
D. To address issues related to the unemployment and underemployment of people who are blind and visually impaired;
E. To represent the blind and visually impaired on advocacy issues affecting their interests;
F. To provide programs and activities designed to increase interaction between the visually impaired, their sighted peers and family members;
G. To work for the expansion and improvement of rehabilitation programs for the visually impaired;
H. To distribute information on resources and opportunities available to the blind and visually impaired.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION:
A. KCB Next Generation is a chapter of the Kentucky Council of the Blind, which is a state affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.
B. The membership of KCB Next Generation shall be of two (2) classes, At Large Members and Support Members.
1. At-large members: Anyone who is between the ages of eighteen and forty (18-40 years), may become an at-large member of KCB Next Generation. At-large members are required to pay annual membership dues (if established), of an amount and at such time as determined by the General Assembly. At -large members may participate in all activities of the organization, and shall have the right to vote and to hold office. At-large members who turn 40 within the calendar year shall maintain the rights and privileges of an at-large member until the conclusion of the next Kentucky Council of the Blind Annual Convention.
2. Supporting members: The General Assembly may establish, as it deems appropriate, supporting members. Anyone who is the age of forty (40 years) or older may become a supporting member of KCB Next Generation. Supporting members may participate in all activities of the organization and shall pay dues as established by the General Assembly (if applicable), but shall not have the right to hold office or chair committees. Supporting members shall maintain the right to vote and to serve as members of committees.
C. Blind and visually impaired individuals shall at all times constitute a majority of the at-large membership and supporting membership of KCB Next Generation. At-large members shall at all times constitute a majority of the membership of KCB Next Generation.
D. Expulsion of any member may be affected by a two-thirds majority of those members present and voting at a General Assembly meeting. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot after a proper hearing, first before the Board of Directors and then before the General Assembly.
ARTICLE IV: GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
A. Regular meetings of the General Assembly shall be held quarterly for the purpose of conducting the business of the organization, with the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.
B. The General Assembly shall be the ultimate authority within this organization on all matters except those delegated elsewhere in this Constitution to the final authority or discretion of the Officers, Board of Directors, or standing committees.
C. Special membership meetings and activities may be scheduled by the Board of Directors.
D. Notice of all meetings and activities shall be given to the membership not less than 14 days prior to the meeting or event.
ARTICLE V: PROCEDURES:
A. All matters of business shall be conducted according to the most recent revision of Robert’s Rules of Order, except where otherwise provided for in this Constitution.
B. Quorums:
1. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a meeting of the Board.
C. Elections:
The Nominating Committee will submit a list of candidates, as provided elsewhere in this Constitution. All elections are open for nomination of candidates from the floor. Candidates must either be present at the time of the election, or must indicate in writing in advance their willingness to serve.
Candidates shall be given the opportunity to state their intentions for seeking office before the general assembly prior to voting.
Election for any office for which two or more candidates are nominated must be conducted by secret ballot.
Elections shall take place annually at the Kentucky Council of the Blind Annual Convention in the frequency established in Article VI Section E.
Terms of office shall begin at the conclusion of the Kentucky Council of the Blind Annual Convention.
C. The fiscal year of KCB Next Generation is January 1 through December 31.
ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following:
1. Four (4) officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. Two (2) voting directors and one (1) Ex officio non-voting director who shall serve as the KCB Board Chapter Representative which shall be appointed by the President;
3. The Immediate Past President;
4. Ex officio non-voting members, as established elsewhere in this Constitution.
B. The Board of Directors is the governing body of this organization between meetings of the General Assembly. The Board may adopt resolutions on behalf of the organization. The Board may take no action that is contrary to the decided policy of the General Assembly. A report of all actions taken by the Board must be presented in writing and read before the next meeting of the General Assembly.
C. The majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors must be legally blind. The President and Vice President must be legally blind.
D. No member of the Board of Directors shall receive compensation for services to KCB Next Generation. Board members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the exercise of the duties of their offices.
E. Terms of office shall be for two years. Officers shall be elected by the General Assembly in Even-numbered years and directors in odd-numbered years. No person may hold the same office for more than two (2) full consecutive terms. All members of the Board of Directors must be members in good standing of the organization throughout their terms of office.
F. Should a vacancy occur in any Board position, except for the office of President, the Board of Directors may elect an individual to serve in the position until the next General Assembly meeting. Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice President shall succeed to the office of President and will serve until the next regular meeting of the General Assembly. The General Assembly will elect a successor to complete a partial term of office, providing that nominations and elections are conducted as stipulated elsewhere in this Constitution.
G. Board meetings are subject to call by the President, or shall be called upon written request of a majority of the voting members of the Board. Regular meetings shall be convened at least once each calendar quarter.
H. Any member of the Board of Directors who misses at least three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board. Said member will be notified in writing at least fourteen (14) days in advance of such pending action, and will be given the opportunity to be heard by the Board prior to any such action.
Members of the Board of Directors who turn age 40 while serving a term in office shall be allowed to complete their term in office and shall maintain the rights of an at-large member until their term has concluded.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES:
A. The following committees, consisting of at three members each, a majority of whom are blind or visually impaired, shall be appointed by the President:
1. Constitution and Bylaws/Resolutions: This committee will receive all proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws and will, in consultation with the submitter, prepare proposals for presentation to the membership, as provided in Article VIII of this Constitution. This committee will receive, write and/or edit resolutions related to the organization and to the blind and visually impaired. Resolutions may be presented to the Board of Directors or to the General Assembly for consideration. Upon passage, all resolutions will be distributed to the membership in writing.
2. Nominating: This committee shall compile a slate of candidates for the offices to be filled by election by the General Assembly. This slate of candidates shall be published to the entire membership not less than fourteen days prior to the General Assembly meeting, and shall consist of each candidate’s name, address, interests etc.
3. Activities and Projects: This committee will plan and conduct activities and events for the organization. Such activities may be of interest to the general membership, or may be designed to appeal to a specific segment of the membership. Activities may be planned in cooperation with other committees or with other KCB chapters.
B. The President may appoint other committees as deemed appropriate, and may appoint chapter representatives to statewide committees of the Kentucky Council of the Blind as requested by KCB.
C. Committee chairpersons will serve as ex officio members of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS:
A. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting, provided that:
1. a quorum consisting of twenty (20) per cent of the membership is present;
2. both the original and amending language, together with the name of the submitter and the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, has been published to the membership in writing not less than fourteen (14) business days prior to the meeting;
3. both the original and amending language is read in its entirety on the floor of the meeting at the time of its consideration.
B. Bylaws may be adopted and amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a simple majority vote of those present and voting, provided that such amendments comply with all other requirements set forth in this Constitution.
Bylaws
Adopted: March 8, 2020
Bylaw 1: Membership Dues: Dues for at-large members shall be ten dollars ($10.00), and dues for supporting members shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per fiscal year. Members who pay dues between September 1 and December 31 of a given year shall be considered paid through December 31 of the following year.
Bylaw 2: Collection of membership information: At-large and supporting members shall be required to furnish the following information to the Board of Directors or their designee as a condition of membership:
A. First name, middle initial, last name, current residential address, phone number, e-mail, and date of birth.
B. Visual status (blind/visually impaired, fully sighted).
C. Preferred KCB newsletter format.
D. Preferred Braille Forum format.
BYLAW III: AMENDMENTS:
A. These Bylaws may be amended by a simple majority of those present and voting at any regular meeting of the membership at which a quorum is present, provided that:
1. both the original and amending language, together with the name of the submitter and the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, has been published to the membership in writing not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting;
2. both the original and amending language is read in its entirety on the floor of the meeting at the time of its consideration.
B. Effective Date: Amendments to these Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon adoption unless:
1. The amendment itself, or by proviso attached thereto, contains language specifying another effective date; or
2. The amendment, by its terms, specifies that it becomes effective upon the occurrence of a future event or circumstance.
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