Constitution

Presented and adopted December 5, 1992

Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be the San Mateo County Council of the Blind.

Article II Purpose

The purposes of this organization is as follows:

1. To provide a forum for the blind community in the San Mateo County area to discuss and take action upon timely, and relevant issues of concern to them;

2. To make the public aware of the fact that blind individuals are an integral part of the community, that they have abilities and accomplishments as well as special needs, and that they want opportunities in all areas to be contributing members of society:

3. To expand blind persons' awareness of their potential, their rights, and their responsibilities to themselves and to society:

4. To promote the independence, education, employment, and transportation needs, of the blind and visually impaired in the San Mateo county area:

5. To participate in community affairs and activities to promote programs for the welfare of blind and other persons:

6. This organization shall be an affiliation of the California Council of the Blind, and through it, with the America California Council of the Blind, participating fully in those organizations and the achievement of their goals.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Any person who is at least sixteen years of age and has attended two consecutive meetings of this chapter, who currently lives in California is eligible for membership in this organization.

Section 2. A majority of the membership of the organization shall consist of legally blind persons.

Section 3. All members must pay annual dues in the amount of $10.00 per year payable in February of each calendar year. Members will be notified in advance. If dues are not paid in the manner specified by this organization, a member ceases to be in good standing. The payment of dues immediately and automatically returns a member to good standing.

Section 4. Any member in good standing has the right to vote at any membership meeting of the organization and all other rights and privileges of membership as provided in this constitution.

Article IV. Officers and Board Of Directors

Section I. The Board of Directors of this organization shall be composed of the following: The President, First Vice‑President, Second Vice‑President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Any Current member in good standing is eligible for election to the Board of Directors except that the President and the Vice‑Presidents must be legally blind.

Section 2. Each officer shall serve for a two‑year term and may not serve more than three terms consecutively

Section 3. The duties of each officer shall be those usually ascribed to the position.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President or at the written call of any two of the other Board members. The Board shall act for the organization between membership meetings in a manner consistent with the policies set by the general membership.

Article V. Meetings

Section 1. The organization shall meet at least six times annually. The time and place of each meeting will be set by the assembled membership before the close of the previous Meeting.

Section 2. One meeting each year shall be designated as the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held as the February regularly scheduled meeting of each calendar year. At this meeting, election of the board of Directors and CCB Convention delegates will be held, and other major business will be considered. Annual dues shall be payable at the annual meeting. Notice of the Annual Meeting must be provided by the Secretary before the meeting.

Section 3. The President or any five members may call a special meeting of the organization. A fifteen‑day notice of the time and place must be given to the membership. Oral or written notice is considered adequate.

Article VI. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this constitution shall be presented in writing and read to the membership at a meeting previous to the meeting at which the members shall vote. A two‑thirds vote of the members present and voting shall be required for adoption. A copy of all amendments to this constitution shall be forwarded, by the Secretary, to the State Office of the California Council of the Blind.

Article VII. Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. Any situation not covered by this Constitution, or by the Constitutions and/or By‑Laws of the California Council of the Blind or the American Council of the Blind, shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Article VIII. Committees

Section 1. The San Mateo County Council of the Blind shall have four Standing Committees: a. fundraising, b. governmental affairs. C membership D volunteers

Section 2. The President may establish other committees as needed to further the Chapter's purposes, and the President shall be a member of all standing committees except the nominating committee.

Article IX. Dissolution

Section I The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes. and in the event of liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment of this organization, after providing for the debts and the obligations thereof, the remaining assets will not inure to the benefit of any private person, but will be dispersed to the California Council of the Blind, to the American Council of the blind, or to another organization with similar or identical goals and legal status, in that order of preference.