Heartland Council of the
Blind
Affiliate of OCB
Constitution
of the
Heartland Council of the Blind
April 5, 2001
Article I
Name and Purpose
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Heartland
Council of the Blind, hereinafter referred to as the HCB.
Section 2. Incorporation. The HCB shall be incorporated under the laws
of the State of Oklahoma.
Section 3. Affiliation. HCB shall be chartered as a local chapter of
the Oklahoma Council of the Blind (OCB.)
Section 4. Purpose. The purpose of HCB shall be to enhance the quality
of life for all individuals who are blind or visually impaired residing in the
central Oklahoma area. HCB shall at all times adhere to the purposes and
guidelines of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind.
Article II
Membership
Section 1. The primary authority of this organization shall rest in
the membership of the Heartland Council of the Blind.
Section 2. The membership of HCB shall be comprised of all persons who
have paid dues and support the goals and purposes of this organization. The
minimum age to be a voting member shall be sixteen (16) years of age.
Section 3. Each member of the Heartland Council of the Blind
automatically becomes a member of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind.
Section 4. Each member shall pay annual dues to be determined by the
membership, payable in September of each year with one dollar ($1) going to the
Oklahoma Council of the Blind.
Section 5. In order to participate in any election of officers of this
organization, members must pay dues any time prior to the election.
Section 6. No profit shall inure to any member of this organization;
however, members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses relating directly to
the functions and activities of this organization.
Article III
Meetings
Section 1. The time and place of meetings shall be determined by the
Executive Board, except annual elections, which shall be held during the
September meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings of this organization may be called by the
President, a majority of the Executive Board or fifty-one percent (51%) of all
paid voting members.
Section 3. At least a seven (7) day notice of all meetings shall be
given to the membership.
Section 4. At all general meetings, a quorum of the membership to
transact business shall be six (6) members, three (3) of whom must be officers.
Section 5. A quorum of the Executive Board to transact business for
the organization shall be three (3) of the five officers.
Section 6. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all
meetings, except when otherwise provided herein.
Article IV
Officers and Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board of this organization shall be comprised
of the following five officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
and Public Information Director. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote
at the annual meeting in September. Officers are elected for a one (1) year
term which shall commence immediately upon election.
Section 2. The duties of the Executive Board shall include:
A. Implementing the purposes and programs of this organization;
B. The efficient functioning of all officers and committee
chairpersons;
C. Managing all business affairs of the organization, including the
adoption of an annual budget and execution of the same; and
D. Filling vacancies on the Executive Board when they occur between
annual meetings.
Section 3. A majority of the Executive Board shall be legally blind.
Section 4. The President shall be the chief administrative official of
the organization and shall be charged with the following responsibilities:
A. Implementing the policies and programs of the organization and the
Executive Board;
B. Presiding over all meetings of the organization and the Executive
Board;
C. Appointing appropriate committees;
D. Representing HCB as one of the official delegates at meetings of
the Oklahoma Council of the Blind; and
E. Appointing members to represent HCB at public functions and in all
other official capacities.
Section 5. The Vice-President shall act in the absence or disability
of the President.
Section 6. The Secretary shall be responsible for:
A. Keeping an accurate written record of all meetings of the
organization and the Executive Board;
B. Maintaining an accurate list of all members;
C. Handling correspondence of the organization.
Section 7. The Treasurer, who may be bonded, shall be responsible for:
A. Maintaining all commercial papers of the organization;
B. Maintaining an accurate written record of all financial
transactions of the organization, which shall be open to any member with prior
written notice of at least three (3) days;
C. Providing a complete financial report to the membership at all
meetings and to the Executive Board upon request;
D. Collecting membership dues; and
E. Assisting the secretary in maintaining an accurate list of all
members.
Section 8. The Public Information Director shall be responsible for:
A. Contacting the media to promote a positive image of the
organization and of persons who are blind or visually impaired; and
B. Announcing meetings of the membership to the media and to the blind
community in the central Oklahoma area.
Section 9. The HCB Nominating Committee shall be appointed at least
ninety (90) days prior to the annual membership meeting in September. The
Nominating Committee report shall be given at the meeting prior to the annual
meeting.
Article V
Constitution, Amendments,
Dissolution
Section 1. This Constitution becomes operative immediately upon
adoption by the membership.
Section 2. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to the
constitution committee which will be responsible for mailing all proposed
amendments, in writing, at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the annual
membership meeting in September. This Constitution may be amended by fifty one
per cent (51%) of the membership at the annual membership meeting in September
and at no other time.
Section 3. In the case of dissolution of the HCB, all assets of the
organization will be disbursed to the Oklahoma Council of the Blind after all
existing financial obligations have been met.
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