Constitution & Bylaws

Mitten Phone Chapter Constitution and Bylaws

(Adopted May 23, 2020)

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be Mitten Phone Chapter.

Article II. Purpose

The Mitten Phone Chapter shall meet by phone conference to inform, educate, encourage, support and promote the concerns and issues faced by the blind and visually impaired.

Article III. Affiliation

The Mitten Phone Chapter shall be an affiliated chapter of the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI) which is the Michigan affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Inc. (ACB).

Article IV. Membership

A. Eligibility
Membership in the Mitten Phone Chapter shall be comprised of blind and visually impaired persons and friends of blind and visually impaired persons who have attained eighteen (18) years of age. Membership is open to all regardless of residency. The majority of the active members of this Chapter must be blind or visually impaired. All active members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office as long as they are eighteen (18) years of age or older and members in good standing.

B. Disciplinary Action
1. Anyone whose conduct is detrimental to the Mitten Phone Chapter shall be suspended for a fixed period, or permanently removed from membership, to be determined by a minimum ¾ majority vote of the Board of Directors. Any member charged with misconduct shall receive from the Board of Directors written or electronic notice of the charges against him or her, and shall have ten (10) days to challenge such charges prior to a meeting of the Board of Directors called by the President.
2. Any officer, board member or committee chair charged with neglect of duties or other misconduct shall be suspended for a fixed period or removed from office, to be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present and voting at a meeting called by the President. If the President is charged with neglect of duties or other misconduct, any other eligible board of directors member may call the meeting. Any officer charged with neglect of duties or other misconduct shall receive from the Board of Directors written or electronic notice of the charges against him or her, and shall have ten (10) days to challenge such charges prior to a meeting of the general membership called by the President, or by any other eligible board of directors member if the President is charged with neglect of duties or other misconduct.

Article V. Dues

Annual dues for the Mitten Phone Chapter shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) and shall be payable by January 15. The dues shall be dispersed as follows: five dollars ($5.00) for the American Council of the Blind Inc. And five dollars ($5.00) for the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Inc. And ten dollars ($10.00) shall remain in the Mitten Phone Chapter.
The dues for the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the dues for the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI) shall be sent by the Chapter treasurer to the MCBVI treasurer prior to February 15 along with a contact information list of Chapter members. Members belonging to more than one chapter must designate which is their primary chapter.

Article VI. Location

The business address of this Chapter shall be the residence of the Treasurer.

Article VII. Officers

A. Board of Directors
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers cannot serve as chapter delegates or as alternate delegates to the MCBVI Board of Directors.
2. The Board of Directors shall have power to act for this Chapter in all administrative matters requiring action when this Chapter is not in session, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

B. Vacancies
1. In the event of the death, resignation, suspension, removal or disability of any officer of the Chapter, except the President, the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified member of this Chapter to fill such vacancy for the unexpired portion of such official term, or until such disability may be removed.
2. In the event of the death, resignation, suspension, removal or disability of any Chapter delegate or alternate, the President with the approval of the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified person for that position for the remainder of the unexpired term, or until such disability may be removed.

C. General Duties
1. President
The President must be blind or visually impaired. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the membership; see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; appoint committees not provided for in these Bylaws; and be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the Nominations Committee.
2. Vice President
The Vice President must be blind or visually impaired. The Vice President shall attend all board meetings and membership business meetings; perform the duties of the President during the absence or disability of the President and succeed to that office upon the resignation, suspension, removal or death of the President; and perform such other duties that may be delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3. Secretary
The Secretary shall attend all board meetings and membership business meetings; preserve all records belonging to the Chapter including minutes of the proceedings of all such meetings; give all notices required by statutes, Bylaws, or resolutions and be responsible for all other correspondence relative to the Chapter; keep files of all such statutes and forward all records to the incoming Secretary at the expiration of his or her term of office; and perform such other duties that may be delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
4. Treasurer
a. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amounts as the Board of Directors shall determine from time to time, the premiums on such bonds to be paid by this Chapter, and the bonds to be deposited with the President.
b. The Treasurer shall attend all board meetings and membership business meetings; the Treasurer shall carry out all financial transactions for the Chapter; insure that all officers complete accurate records and reports of their proceedings, and from time to time submit such records of the same as may be required by law or by order of this Chapter or by its Board of Directors; see that any annual reports submitted by this Chapter, by the President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be kept on file as a part of the permanent records of this Chapter for a period of seven (7) years, unless otherwise provided by law; make a full report to the Board of Directors at board meetings and/or upon request by the Board; organize and maintain a file of all transactions and forward such records to the incoming Treasurer upon the expiration of his or her term of office; perform the duties of the organization’s Fiscal Officer such as maintain and provide statements and reports Whenever required by this Chapter; submit all accounts, vouchers, or any other papers to any board member for examination, comparison, or correction. The Treasurer shall also enable this Chapter to submit its financial accounts to the President and Board within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the term of office.

D. MCBVI Delegates
1. Chapter delegates shall serve as the Chapter representatives at all MCBVI board meetings, be responsible for helping to make decisions regarding the operation of the affiliate and act as a liaison between the Chapter and the MCBVI Board.
2. The Chapter Alternate Delegate shall attend MCBVI board meetings and represent the Chapter when the designated delegate is unavailable to attend. The Alternate Delegate shall be responsible for helping to make decisions regarding the operation of the affiliate, and to act as a liaison between the Chapter and the MCBVI Board.

E. Terms of Office
1. The Mitten Phone Chapter shall conduct elections annually via phone vote in November for the offices of President and Secretary in even numbered years and for Vice President and Treasurer in odd numbered years. Newly elected officers shall assume their duties January 1 of the upcoming year. All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all qualified members.
2. The President shall be elected for a term of two years, no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same office.
3. The Vice President shall be elected for terms of two years, no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same office.
4. The Secretary shall be elected for terms of two years, no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same office.
5. The Treasurer shall be elected for terms of two years, no more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same office.
6. The Delegate and Alternate Delegate shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. They shall serve for a term of two years, no more than three (3) consecutive terms.

Each January, the Mitten Phone Chapter Secretary shall submit to the MCBVI Secretary, with a copy to the Mitten Phone Chapter President, the contact information for the Delegate and Alternate Delegate, who shall each serve a two-year term. The Delegate and Alternate Delegate must each be a primary member of the Michigan Mitten Phone Chapter.

Article VIII. Meetings

A. The Mitten Phone Chapter shall hold a minimum of four (4) business meetings annually. A calendar of meetings and events of the Mitten Phone Chapter shall be posted and updated regularly at https://michiganmittens.net/meeting-and-events/.
A special meeting may be called by the President or Board of Directors in order to address a particular issue brought to the attention of the Chapter president or board of directors. Members shall be notified of such a meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting. The discussion shall be limited to the topic being addressed.
B. Quorum
Three officers shall constitute a quorum for transacting official business. Any voting taking place at a regular business meeting of the Mitten Phone Chapter shall pass with a majority of the eligible members present and voting.
C. In the absence of provisions contained in this Constitution or Bylaws, all proceedings of the Mitten Phone Chapter shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised.

Article IX Committees

A. Standing Committees
1. Communications Committee
This committee maintains the Mitten Phone Chapter web site and listserv.
2. Nominations and Elections Committee
The President shall appoint a minimum of two (2) qualified members to develop a list of qualified candidates for election and conduct the phone elections in November.

B. The President shall appoint such other committees as he/she deems necessary for the operation of the Chapter.

Article X Disbursement of Funds

All disbursements of funds by the Mitten Phone Chapter, other than routine expenditures, shall be done with approval of the Board of Directors. In the event of the dissolution of the Mitten Phone Chapter, all remaining funds after bills have been paid shall be sent to Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, or to any other organization serving blind and visually impaired persons, with approval of the Board of Directors.

Article XI Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting of the Mitten Phone Chapter by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the active members present and voting provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in written or electronic format a minimum of ten (10) days prior to voting.

Henceforth, this Constitution shall be reviewed every five (5) years by a committee appointed by the president.