THE FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND CONSTITUTION


Adopted June, 1977
Amended 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992
Revised 1994
Amended 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003


TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I, Name
ARTICLE II, Purpose
ARTICLE III, Membership
ARTICLE IV, Voting
ARTICLE V, Dues and Assessments
ARTICLE VI, Officers and Board of Directors
ARTICLE VII, Meetings
ARTICLE VIII, Committees
ARTICLE IX, Amendments
ARTICLE X, FCB and Chapter Properties
ARTICLE XI, Procedures


ARTICLE I, Name

The name of this organization shall be Florida Council of the Blind Inc., referred to as FCB.


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ARTICLE II, Purpose

The purpose of the FCB is to strive for the betterment of the total community by:

A. Conducting a program of public education which promotes understanding among blind people, employers, state and local officials and the community at large;

B. Providing a forum for the views of all blind people in the state;

C. Advocating for social, economic, and cultural opportunities for blind people;

D. Improving educational and rehabilitational facilities;

E. Broadening vocational opportunities;

F. Encouraging and assisting blind people, especially the newly blind, to develop their abilities and potentialities, and to assume their responsible place in the community;

G. Cooperating with the public and private institutions and agencies of and for blind people;

H. Providing for the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information relative to matters of concern to blind people through periodic publications.


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ARTICLE III, Membership

A. Any person or organization of the blind may become a member of FCB upon complying with the provisions specified here and in Article I of the By-Laws.

B. Any person may apply to become a member-at-large, provided he/she meets the qualifications set forth in the By-Laws.

C. Any organization having at least five (5) members, the majority of whom are blind, may apply for affiliation.

D. Applications for chapter affiliation must be approved by the FCB Board of Directors. Applications for member-at-large must be approved by the FCB Membership Secretary.


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ARTICLE IV, Voting

A. At Annual Conventions, each chapter member represented by a delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote, as set forth in the By-Laws (Article II).

B. At Annual Conventions, each member-at-large in attendance, shall be entitled to one (1) vote.


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ARTICLE V, Dues and Assessments

Dues and Assessments shall be paid on an annual basis as set forth in the By-Laws.


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ARTICLE VI, Officers and Board of Directors

A. Officers shall be:
President
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary

B. There shall be one (1) FCB Board representative elected from each chapter.

C. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Convention in even numbered years for two-year terms. The President and Vice Presidents shall not serve in the same office for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. There shall be no limitation on the number of consecutive terms the Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Secretary may serve.

D. The Board consists of the Officers, Immediate Past President, and one (1) representative from each chapter.

E. All members of the FCB Board of Directors shall be legally blind.

F. A simple majority of the Board present and voting constitutes a quorum.

G. The Board shall be the governing body of FCB between conventions, provided that it shall make no policy decisions and take no official action in conflict with existing decisions or actions of the Convention.

H. Affairs of the FCB shall be managed by the Executive Committee between Board meetings subject to Provisions of Article VI, Section G.


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ARTICLE VII, Meetings

A regular meeting of FCB shall be held once a year, and shall be known as the Annual Convention. A majority of all delegates certified and present at the Convention shall constitute a quorum.


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ARTICLE VIII, Committees

Standing Committees shall be:
Access
Archives
Awards
Budget and Finance
Constitution and By-Laws
Education and Leadership
Employment
Executive
Membership
Public Relations
Publications
Resolutions
Technology


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ARTICLE IX, Amendments

A. Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be included in the Convention Call. Adoption requires a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the delegates present and voting at the business meeting.

B. To qualify for publication in the Convention Call, the proposed amendments to this Constitution must be approved by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee or by resolution of three (3) chapters.

C. By-Laws may be amended by a simple majority of the delegates present, provided the proposed amendment is presented to the Convention at least one (1) day prior to its consideration.


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ARTICLE X, FCB and Chapter Properties

A. All chapter assets, real and personal, shall be held in both the name of the Florida Council of the Blind and the Chapter.

B. Upon dissolution of any chapter, all properties will revert to the FCB.

C. Upon dissolution of the FCB, all assets, after payment of financial obligations, may be transferred to the American Council of the Blind or another organization of or for the blind as designated.


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ARTICLE XI, Procedures

In the absence of provisions in the Constitution and By-Laws, all procedures of FCB shall be Governed by the latest revision of ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.


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