AS AMENDED NOVEMBER 2017

ARTICLE I—Name

The name of this organization shall be the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware.

ARTICLE II—Purpose

The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind of Delaware and the nation; to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind; to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of Delaware; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together in local chapters and state meetings to plan and carry out programs to improve the quality of life of the blind; to provide a means of collective action for parents of blind children; to forward the interests of blind students and provide them with means of joint action and expression; to promote the vocational, cultural, educational, and social advancement of the blind-to achieve the integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted, and to take any other action which will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.

ARTICLE III—Membership

SECTION ONE: ACTIVE MEMBERS

At least the majority of active members of this organization must be blind. Active membership shall be of two (2) classifications; active members who are affiliated with local chapters or divisions and active members who are not affiliated with local chapters or divisions.

1. All active members of local chapters or divisions shall automatically become active members of this organization, with the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
2. Any person who is not affiliated with a local chapter or division may become an active member of this organization by receiving a majority vote of the active members who are present and voting at a Convention or by complying with requirements established by the Board of Directors.

SECTION TWO: SUPPORTING MEMBERS

Any member may become a supporting member of this organization through procedures established by the Convention or the Board of Directors. Supporting members shall have all of the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. Supporting members shall not pay dues.

SECTION THREE: DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any member may be expelled; and any chapter or division may be expelled, suspended, or reorganized for violation of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member, chapter, or division of the Federation by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business session of this organization or by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The State Convention of this organization may reinstate any person who has been expelled unless such expulsion has been confirmed by the National Convention or by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, in which event the person may not be reinstated except by the National Board. Any person who feels he or she has been disciplined or expelled from this organization, or any chapter or division which feels that it has been unjustly disciplined, reorganized, or expelled, may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind which may (in its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision; but until or unless the action of discipline, reorganization, or expulsion is reversed by the National Board, it shall continue in effect.

ARTICLE IV—Local Chapters

Any organized group desiring to become a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware shall apply for affiliation by submitting to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware a copy of its Constitution and a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. When the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware either in Convention assembled or by action of its Board of Directors, shall have approved the application, it shall issue to the local chapter a certificate of acceptance. Annually, on or before January 1, each local chapter shall provide the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware with a current list of its members and their addresses. At the same time, each local Treasurer shall forward to the State Treasurer the State dues for each person in the chapter. As new members enter the local chapters, their names and addresses and State dues shall be sent without delay to the State Secretary and State Treasurer. Upon request, a local chapter shall also provide the State President with a list of the names and addresses of the chapter members and with a detailed financial report of the chapter for the past year. The fiscal year of this organization shall be the calendar year. No group shall be accepted as a chapter, and no group shall remain a chapter, unless a majority of its voting members are blind. The President, Vice President, and at least a majority of its Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the local chapter must be blind. The President of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware shall be ex officio—a member of each local chapter. In the event of the dissolution of a local chapter, or if, for whatever reason, a local chapter ceases to be a part of this organization, its assets shall become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware and it shall forthwith cease to use the name, National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

ARTICLE V—Divisions

The Board of Directors shall establish procedures for admission of Divisions and shall determine the structure of these Divisions. The Divisions, shall, with the approval of the Board, adopt Constitutions and determine their membership policies.

ARTICLE VI—Officers and Their Duties

SECTION ONE: OFFICERS

There shall be elected at the regular annual Convention during each even-numbered year, a President, First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the Convention at which they are elected and qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members who are present and voting. There shall be no proxy voting. If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the person receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list of nominees and a second ballot shall be taken. This procedure shall continue until one of the nominees receives a majority vote.

SECTION TWO: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

PRESIDENT:

The President shall preside over all meetings of this organization and committees of which he or she is Chairman; shall authorize all expenditures from the treasury of the affiliate in accordance with the implementation of the policies established by the State Convention and the Board of Directors; shall appoint all committees, except the Board of Directors; shall fill all vacancies on the Board of Directors by appointment to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of office; and shall be responsible for the implementation and administration of the policies adopted by the National Convention and the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT:

The First Vice President, in the absence of the President, shall perform all of the duties of the President. The First Vice President may be called upon by the President for such assistance as he or she deems necessary.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT:

The Second Vice President, in the absence of the President and First Vice President, shall perform all of the duties of the President. The Second Vice President may be called upon by the President for such assistance at he or she deems necessary.

SECRETARY:

The Secretary-shall record and report the minutes of all meetings of this organization and its Board. He or she shall deliver in good order all the records pertaining to the office to his or her successor. He or she shall carry on the correspondence of this organization and shall send out all notices as required under the provisions of this Constitution. An Assistance Secretary may be appointed by the President, to assist the Secretary, as he or she deems necessary.

TREASURER:

The Treasurer shall be responsible for collection, of all funds, and for the deposit thereof in the name of this organization in a sound financial institution; shall make payment by check drawn upon the account of this organization of all bills approved, by the Board of Directors and on written order of the President; shall keep a record of the financial affairs of this organization and shall present a written report thereof at each regular meeting and at each Board meeting; and shall maintain a roster of active members. An Assistant Treasurer may be appointed by the President to assist the Treasurer as he or she deems necessary.

ARTICLE VII—Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five (5) Constitutional officers, and two (2) additional members from each chapter, one of whom shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the annual Convention during even-numbered years, and one of whom shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the annual Convention during the odd-numbered years. The Board members shall be elected in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by any six (6) of the Board members. Written notice must have been sent to all Board members at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between Conventions. All matters which require voting at any board meeting must be resolves by a majority vote of the board members present. The Board may be polled by telephone or mail ballot on any question. A majority of the Board must be blind. Any vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by appointment of the President. These appointees shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of office.

ARTICLE VIII—Meetings

SECTION ONE: ANNUAL CONVENTION

This organization shall hold an annual Convention, the time and place of which shall be fixed by the membership or (if the membership so desires) by the Board of Directors or the President. All matters at any annual Convention which require voting must be resolved by a majority vote of the active members present.

SECTION TWO: SPECIAL MEETINGS

The President of this organization may call a special meeting of the body at any time he or she, or a majority of the Board of Directors, deems such action to be necessary. At such special meetings, all matters which require voting must be resolved by a majority vote of the active members present. Written notice must have been sent to the President of each local Chapter and Division and to the members of the Board of Directors at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE IX—Committees

The President may appoint such committees as he or she or the organization may deem necessary. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees.

ARTICLE X—Affiliation

The National Federation of the Blind of Delaware shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the President of the National Federation of the Blind annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names and addresses of its members and its elected officers. A copy of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Delaware and of all amendments made to this Constitution shall be sent to the President of the National Federation of the Blind without delay. The National Federation of the Blind of Delaware shall not be merely a social organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the economic and social betterment of the blind. This organization, its chapters, and divisions, shall comply with the provision of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind (either made by the National Convention or the National Board of Directors) are binding on this organization, its chapters, divisions, and members; and this organization, its chapters, divisions, and members shall participate affirmatively in carrying out such policy decisions. As a condition of affiliation, it is agreed by this organization that the National Federation of the Blind (whether by action of the National Convention or the National Board) has the power to expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a State affiliate, local chapter, or division. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the affiliate and its local chapters and divisions belong to the reorganized affiliate, and the former affiliate, its chapters, and divisions shall dissolve and cease to exist. The name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof is the property of the National Federation of the Blind; and this organization or any of its chapters or divisions which cease to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind (for whatever reason), shall forfeit the right to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof. The President of the National Federation of the Blind shall ex officio be a member of this organization and each of its local chapters and divisions.

ARTICLE XI—Delegates to the National Federation of the Blind Convention

This Organization shall elect each year at its’ Convention at least one (1) delegate and at least one (1) alternate delegate to attend the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. No person shall be elected as a delegate or an alternate delegate unless he or she is an active member of this organization in good standing. To the extent of the resources of this organization, the expenses of the delegates and alternate delegates to the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind shall be paid.

ARTICLE XII—Dues

The dues of this Organization shall be $1.00 per year, payable in advance. In accordance with Article IV of this Constitution, local chapters shall pay the dues of their members. Members who are not affiliated with local chapters shall pay before or during the Annual Convention. A lifetime membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his or her dues.

ARTICLE XIII—Disbursement of Funds

The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be selected by the Treasurer with the approval of the President. The Treasurer shall be bonded. All financial obligations of this organization shall be discharged by check, issued on written order of the President and signed by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Treasurer.

ARTICLE XIV—Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of this organization, or if (for whatever reason), it ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind, to be held in trust for a reorganized affiliate in the State. In the event that no affiliate is reorganized in the State for a two (2) year period from the date this organization ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind. If the dissolution of this organization should occur and if at that time the National Federation of the Blind is no longer a tax-exempt organization under the provisions of the Federal Internal Revenue Code or if the National Federation of the Blind has been dissolved all assets of this organization shall be given to an organization with similar purposes which has received tax-exempt certification from the Internal Revenue Service.

ARTICLE XV—Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and voting provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and read at a previous business session and provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received from the National Federation of the Blind.