ACB of Maine Constitution

Constitution of the American Council of the Blind of Maine

ARTICLE 1. Name

  • 1.1This organization shall be known as the “American Council of the Blind of Maine.”

ARTICLE 2. Objectives

  • 2.1 The purpose of the American Council of the Blind of Maine is to serve for the betterment of the blindness community, which includes those who are either blind or visually impaired (BVI) herein after referred to as BVI. 
  • 2.1.1 Operating exclusively under Internal Revenue Service Code 501 {C}{3} for tax exempt purposes.
  • 2.1.2 By providing a forum for the views of the BVI from all corners of the state and from all walks of life.
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  • 2.1.3 By elevating the educational, social, economic, and cultural levels of the BVI.
  • 2.1.4 By improving recreational and rehabilitation facilities. 
  • 2.1.5 By educating, encouraging and assisting the BVI , especially one who is newly BVI, to develop their full potentials and abilities through the use of braille, assistive technology, mobility skills/training, networking and more.
  • 2.1.6 By broadening recreational opportunities.
  • 2.1.7 By cooperating and collaborating with the public and private institutions and agencies of and for the BVI.
  • 2.1.8 By providing for the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and information relative to matters of concern to the BVI through the annual convention, other public gatherings, and the newsletter and other publications. 
  • 2.1.9 By conducting a program of public education aimed toward improving the understanding of the challenges of blindness and the capabilities of the BVI.
  • 2.1.10 By promoting the sharing of information geared toward understanding economic self-sufficiency for the BVI. 

ARTICLE 3. Membership, Voting, and Dues

  • 3.1 The majority of the membership must be BVI.
  • 3.2 Any person, or organization of the BVI , residing in the state of Maine (with exception of paragraph 3.2.1.2. , below) is eligible to become a Member of this organization upon complying with the provisions hereinafter contained. 
  • 3.2.1 The membership categories of this organization shall be of: voting memberships and non-voting memberships:
  • 3.2.1.1 Voting Members shall be residents of the State of Maine and shall be at least 18 years of age. Life Members in this category are those who have been bestowed the Life Member distinction for their service to the blindness community.
  • 3.2.1.2 Non-voting Members shall be either Associate Members who are not residents of the State of Maine, or, Youth Members who are under the age of 18 years. Life Members in this category are those who have been bestowed the Life Member distinction for their service to the blindness community.
  • 3.3 Affiliation: Any organization having at least ten (10) Members may apply for affiliation with this organization. Such application must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. In order to be approved, this application shall include written and adopted bylaws. To remain in good standing, an affiliate must comply with these requirements at all times.
  • 3.3.1 In order to promote the organization of satellite chapters, it may be necessary to provide start-up funds to those chapters. The amount of this stipend shall be set at three hundred ($300. 00) dollars per new chapter.
  • 3.4 Voting: Each voting Member attending a state convention shall be entitled to one (1) vote.
  • 3.5 Dues: Membership dues will be prescribed in the bylaws of this constitution. 
  • 3.6 Suspension/Expulsion: Any affiliate or Member may be expelled or suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Members present at the annual convention as prescribed in Roberts Rules of Order, Revised. In the proceedings to suspend or expel, the affiliate or Member charged shall have the right to vote.

ARTICLE 4. Officers and Directors

  • 4.1 The officers of this organization shall consist of the President, Vice-President (both of whom shall be BVI), Secretary and Treasurer (who need not be BVI). These officers shall be elected at the annual convention and shall serve a one-year term.
  • 4.2 There shall be 6 (six) Directors who shall serve terms of 3 (three) years. Among the six Directors, there shall be at least one representative from each satellite chapter. These six elected directors will elect one of themselves to act as Chairperson so that this Chairperson can conduct business meetings in the absence of the President and Vice-President. The Chairperson shall be elected to a one-year term at the first board meeting following the annual convention. 
  • 4.2.1 The Officers and Directors shall comprise the ACB of Maine Board of Directors. The majority of the Board of Directors must be BVI.
  • 4.2.2 No Member of the Board of Directors of this organization shall receive compensation for services to the American Council of the Blind of Maine. Board Members may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the execution of their duties.
  • 4.3 Officers and directors shall be elected by the highest number of the votes cast at the annual convention. 

ARTICLE 5. Powers and duties of the Members, Officers, and Directors at the Annual Convention: 

  • 5.1 Any voting Member of this organization may make, and second motions, propose nominations, and serve on Committees. At each Annual Convention, the Members shall determine the time and place of the annual convention for the following year.
  • 5.2 Officers of this organization shall perform the usual functions of their offices as prescribed by Roberts’ Rules of Order, Revised, unless these functions are otherwise provided for in the bylaws of this constitution.
  • 5.3 The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of this organization between conventions, providing that it shall make no policies, decisions, or take any official action in conflict with existing decisions or actions made during the annual convention.
  • 5.4 A meeting of this organization shall be held each fall and is to be known as the annual convention. The Members present shall constitute a quorum to do business.

ARTICLE 6. Procedures 

  • 6.1 This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting of this organization by a two-thirds vote of the Members present, provided that the voting Members have been notified in writing of the proposed changes seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
  • 6.2 Bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of those present and voting at the annual convention.
  • 6.3 Bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of those present at special conventions called for the purpose of bylaw changes, provided that all voting Members have been notified in writing of the proposed changes seven (7) days prior to the convention.

ARTICLE 7. Investments 

  • 7.1 The Board of Directors shall have general charge and management of all business affairs of this organization, consistent with other sections of this constitution. The Board of Directors is authorized to take full control of the funds of this organization with power to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver from time to time any of the securities. Each assignment is to be executed by at least four (4) Members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall invest and reinvest the proceeds of sales and any other available funds in securities which they deem suitable for the organization and which will comply with the laws of Maine.

ARTICLE 8. Death Benefit 

  • 8.1 The death benefit of this organization is a bereavement gift, not an insurance, and is given to the estate of the voting Member of this organization prior to October 1, 1987 and has been suspended for all new Members after this date. The death benefit of this organization is set at TWO HUNDRED-FIFTY DOLLARS ($250. 00), with of right and privilege of the Members on a two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting at any annual convention, to increase or decrease said amount.

ARTICLE 9. Dissolution Clause 

  • 9.1 In the event this organization should dissolve, all remaining assets of the organization, after all commitments are met, will be placed in a trust fund, within the state of Maine with trustees selected by the outgoing Board, should the American Council of the Blind attempt to reorganize a state wide affiliate, in the state of Maine in the future.