Revised September 5, 2015
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Electric City Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind
of
Montana.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Electric City Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana shall be:
- To advance the general welfare of the blind of Great Falls and the surrounding area.
- 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 Great Falls and the surrounding area.
- To operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together
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 a means of joint action and expression.
- To promote the vocational, cultural, and social advancement of the blind.
- To achieve the integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted.
- 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 a majority of the active members of the Electric City Chapter must be blind. Any person may become an active member of the Electric City Chapter by a majority vote of the members present and
voting at any regular business meeting, and shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.
Section Two – Associate Members
Any person may be elected to associate membership in the Electric City Chapter by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting. Associate members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. Associate members shall not pay dues.
Section Three – Affiliation
Membership in the Electric City Chapter automatically establishes membership in the National Federation of the Blind of Montana and the National Federation of the Blind.
Section Four – Expulsion
Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution, or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation, by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business meeting of the Electric City Chapter. The state convention of the NfB of Montana 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 Convention or by the National Board. Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly expelled from this organization 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.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
There shall be elected annually a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected and qualified.
Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members who are present and voting. Election
shall be by voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, or roll call vote unless at least four-fifths of
the active members who are present and voting decide that a secret ballot shall be used. There shall be no proxy voting. If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the name of 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 has received a majority vote from the active members present and voting. The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office. The President, the Vice President, and a majority of the Officers must be blind.
ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Electric City Chapter shall consist of the four (4) constitutional officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by any three (3) of the Board Members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings. At least a majority of the members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by telephone, or by mail or electronic ballot on any questions. A majority of the Board must be blind.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section One – Regular Meetings
The Electric city Chapter shall hold regular meetings at a time and place to be determined by the membership. At least a majority of the active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.
Section Two – Special Meetings
The President of the Electric city Chapter may call a special meeting of the body at any time he/she, or a majority of the Board of Directors, deems such action to be necessary. At such special meeting, at least a majority of the active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the Electric City Chapter deems necessary.
ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION
The Electric City Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana shall be an affiliate of the
National Federation of the Blind of Montana and the National Federation of the Blind, and shall furnish
to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana annually, on or before January 1, a
list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. A copy of the Constitution of the
Electric City Chapter and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent for review to the
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana and the National Federation of the Blind
without delay.
The Electric City Chapter shall not merely be a social organization, but shall formulate programs and
actively work to promote the economic and social betterment of the blind. This organization shall comply
with the provisions of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana and the
provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the Charter of Affiliation issued to state
affiliates by the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the
Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, whether made by the National Convention or
the National Board of Directors, or the State Convention or the State Board of Directors, are binding on
the Electric city Chapter, and the Electric City Chapter shall participate affirmatively in carrying out
such policy decisions.
As a condition of affiliation, it is agreed by the Electric City Chapter that the National Federation of
the Blind, whether by action of the National Convention or the National Board or the State Convention or
the State Board, has the power to expel or discipline an individual member, and to expel or reorganize a
state affiliate or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of the Electric City
Chapter shall belong to the reorganized chapter or, if no reorganization occurs for a period of two
years, to the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, and the former chapter 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 the electric City Chapter, if it
ceases 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.
ARTICLE IX. DUES
The dues of this organization shall be $10.00 (ten) dollars per year, payable in advance. The Chapter
shall forward $5.00 (five) dollars per year to the National Federation of the Blind of Montana for each
member. A life-time membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00. No person may vote who is delinquent
in the payment of his/her dues.
ARTICLE X. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
The funds of the Electric City Chapter shall be deposited in a bank to be selected by the Treasurer, with
the approval of the President. If the members so vote, 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.
ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Electric city Chapter, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be
an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, its assets shall be given to the
National Federation of the Blind of Montana, to be held in trust for a reorganized chapter in Great
Falls. In the event that no chapter is reorganized in Great Fals for a period of two (2) years from the
date this organization ceases to be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, the
assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana.
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Electric City Chapter by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the active members present and voting, provided 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 by the Montanaaffiliate from the National Federation
of the Blind, and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana and the National
Federation of the Blind.