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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