Revised February 2019

Download a printable PDF of By Laws, revised February 2019.

Madison County Association of the Blind, Inc.
Incorporated September 21, 1956 BYLAWS Revised February 7,
2019

ARTICLE I (1) – Name
This organization shall be known as the Madison County
Association of the Blind, Incorporated, of Madison County, Illinois,
an affiliate of the Illinois Council of the Blind, Incorporated. Fiscal
year is from May 1st through April 30th

ARTICLE II (2) – Objectives
To promote an improved quality of life for the blind and visually
impaired persons.

ARTICLE III (3) – Membership
SECTION 1 – Regular Membership Any legally blind person of
Madison County or surrounding area, eighteen years of age or older
may apply for membership. Applicant must be present at the time of
returning application.

SECTION 2 Associate Membership Sighted persons with a
demonstrated interest in the legally blind who are eighteen years of
age or older and are accepted by the majority of members in
attendance at any regular meeting. Applicant must be present at the
time of returning application.

SECTION 3 – Life Membership A regular or an associate member,
who has had interest and been active in Madison County Association
of the Blind for 25 Years
SECTION 4 – Honorary Membership Shall be awarded to anyone
who has been recommended by or through an elected officer of the
association and received a majority of the affirmative votes of those
regular and associate members in attendance at the regular meeting.

SECTION 5- Safety a regular or associate member who operates a
wheelchair, walker, crutches or any other device must not place any
member in jeopardy or physical harm. Members must also furnish
their own assistant.

ARTICLE IV (4) – Termination of Membership
Any member may be dropped from the roll of the association for
misconduct, subversive activities, or failure to comply with the
bylaws of the association. Termination of membership shall become
effective when majority of the members in attendance at any regular
meeting votes in the affirmative. The individual may not apply for
reinstatement for 90 days. Persons not paying dues for a period of one
year are automatically terminated.

ARTICLE V (5) – Officers
SECTION 1. The president and vice president of the association must
be legally blind. The secretary and treasurer may be sighted if no
legally blind person qualifies for these offices. Officers shall be
elected for a two-year term and have been members for at least one
year upon taking office. Officers shall take office at the first regular
meeting in June.

SECTION 2. The president shall serve as executive officer of the
association, preside over the meetings of the membership and board of
directors, serve ex officio on all committees, exercise general
supervision over all affairs of the association and perform such duties
as are ordinarily incumbent upon the president. The president shall
appoint all committees and shall represent the association in all
relations with the Illinois Council of the Blind and the American
Council of the Blind. The president shall be the official delegate to the
Illinois Council of the Blind Convention.

SECTION 3. The vice president shall perform such duties as are
ordinarily incumbent upon a vice president, and such other duties as
may be assigned by the president or board of directors.
if the president becomes incapacitated the vice president steps up
immediately to assume the position of president, until the next
election.

SECTION 4. The secretary shall keep and maintain the minutes of all
the meetings, shall call the roll and keep attendance records, shall be
responsible for all correspondence and carry out other duties as are
ordinarily incumbent upon the secretary.

SECTION 5. The treasurer shall keep a financial record, shall
collect dues, shall collect any and all other money due the association,
shall write checks and dispense funds as directed by the president or
by the action of the membership at any regular meeting. The treasurer
shall maintain a month to month balance. The president, treasurer and
vice president shall be authorized to sign checks and negotiable
instruments. The treasurer shall be responsible to give a monthly
report at the meetings as designated by the president.

SECTION 6. The secretary and/or treasurer may designate a sighted
person to assist with printed communication. However, the designated
person must be acceptable and approved by the board of directors.
The individual must be a member and agree to accept all legal
responsibilities of the office to which he or she is assisting.

ARTICLE VI (6) – Directors
There shall be a board of directors consisting of president, immediate
past president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and two members at
large. Elected by the members for a two-year term. The president
cannot vote but for the exception to break a tie.
ARTICLE VII (7) -Election Procedure
SECTION 1. The president shall appoint a nominating committee at
least thirty days (30) prior to election. The committee shall consist of
a chairman and two members. They shall submit the names of a slate
of officers, one candidate for each office for president, vice president,
secretary, treasurer and two board members. This slate shall be
presented to the entire membership at the regular meeting in the
month of April in the year the election is to be held. The committee
shall submit the slate only as a recommendation. After a motion to
receive the slate of candidates, additional nominations may be made
from the floor. The balloting shall be in Braille or ink. Three judges
shall be appointed one who can read Braille, one who can read ink and
the third shall tabulate and read the results. A successful candidate
must receive a majority of votes cast. When a majority of votes have
not been received by one of the candidates, the candidate receiving the
least number of votes shall be dropped from the list and another ballot
taken. The procedure shall be continued until a single candidate
receives a majority.
SECTION 2. Regular and associate members in good standing have
the right to nominate and vote.
SECTION3
The president can vote for themselves, by turning the floor
over to another member. The member in control of the floor
cannot vote for either candidate for the presidential position,
while only the position of president is being voted on.
Thereafter the president receives the floor back, and the
president cannot vote except for to break a tie
SECTION 4 nominations can be made, and accepted by
members in attendance over the telephone, and votes can be
made verbally or silently by texting the vote to the judges.

SECTION 5. In case of an office vacancy, the president shall appoint
a successor to fill that vacancy with the approval of the board of
directors. The appointee shall serve until the next officers’ election.

SECTION 6. Two delegates and two alternative delegates, a first
and a second, shall be elected in April of each year prior to the Illinois
Council of the Blind Convention.

ARTICLE VIII (8) – Meetings
SECTION 1. Regular meetings shall be held the first Thursday of the
month. The president has the right to call a special meeting of the
entire membership when he/she deems it necessary in the best interest
of the membership.4SECTION 2. Special meetings for special events
shall be submitted to a vote of the membership at the regular meeting
if and when possible.

SECTION 3. A special meeting may also be called for any purpose
with a written signature of two elected officers and any other three (3)
regular or associate members. This request must be served to the
entire membership at least five (5) days before the requested meeting
date.
Section 4 aboard meeting should be held a minimum of 4 times a year,
one per each quarter of the year. Additional board meetings can be
held if necessary.

ARTICLE IX (9) – Revenue
section 1 the amount of the annual dues is set by the Illinois council of
the blind at the annual conventions. The dollar amount in parenthesis
will be announced at our next regular meeting and immediately be
changed. The initiation fee, late fees, and other fee amounts shall be
1/5 of the amount of the dues and shall also be placed in parenthesis
and changed as the dues amount changes. The
Annual membership dues currently are ($20.) with a ($4.) Initiation
fee for new and reinstated membership. Each regular or associate
member shall pay his/her dues at the January meeting. After the
March meeting the member is delinquent and a ($4.) Penalty will be
added. Members not in good standing because of dues may be
reinstated by the payment of full membership and a penalty of ($4).

SECTION 2. Members who are not in good standing for being
delinquent in dues shall not be entitled to benefits unless they are
reinstated 30 days prior to any event and would be expected to pay
full amount of the event, the same as a non-member.

SECTION 3. Contributions and fund raising will be part of the general
revenue of the association unless otherwise specified.

SECTION 4. All dues and special assessments must cover the entire
membership equally. No discrimination shall be given to a regular or
associate member.

SECTION 5. Charges to special events, regardless of the event,
whether they be transportation, entertainment, food or expenses shall
be determined by a vote of the membership.
SECTION 6. All expenditures authorized and made by the
membership or the Board of Directors shall be documented by
itemized bills or receipts when submitted for payment to the treasurer.
These shall include but is not limited to: meals, lodging,
transportation, emergencies, memorials, and supplies.

ARTICLE X (10) – Affiliate Dues
The association shall pay the affiliate dues as required to the Illinois
Council for the Blind (ICB) yearly.

ARTICLE XI (11) – Incorporation the Madison County Association
of the Blind, Inc., of the State of Illinois is incorporated for the
purpose of meeting the affiliate standard of the ICB. It is a not-for-
profit corporation and as such pays an annual corporation fee to the
State of Illinois. The association shall have all the powers granted by
the general not-for-profit corporation act of the State of Illinois,
particularly those enumerated in Section 103.10 of said act.

ARTICLE XII (12) – Privileges of Officers and Members
SECTION 1. The president has the right to authorize the expenditure
by the treasurer of not more than $50.00 for any emergency needs
with the consent of the Board of Directors. if more funds are
needed, a collection can be taken by the membership, or
more funds can be granted, with the approval of the board of
directors.

SECTION 2. Gifts, grants and contributions made in the name of the
association from whatever source become part of the assets of the
association.

Section3 Any nonmember, that should help in our fund-raising events,
should be invited to our Christmas party, and have their dinner paid
for by the organization, if funds are available.

SECTION 4 any member who would like to attend and have
their rooms paid for at the conventions of the Illinois council
of the blind, can and will participate in a special fund-raising
event.

ARTICLE XIII (13) – Memorial Fund
SECTION 1. There shall be a $50 memorial fund available for the
members, their spouses, parents, children, step-parents, and step-
children. Immediate family including brothers and
sisters. if additional funds are needed, a collection can be taken by
the membership, or more funds can be granted, with the approval of
the board of directors.
SECTION 2. Plants, flowers, or fruit will be sent to a member that is
sick, or injured in the hospital three (3) consecutive days. Not to
exceed $50 for one time a year for each member. if additional funds
are needed, a collection can be taken by the membership, or more
funds can be granted, with the approval of the board of directors.
ARTICLE XIV (14) – Conventions
SECTION 1. The annual ICB convention shall be attended by the
president who is the official delegate and two elected delegates. If
either elected delegate is unable to attend, the first alternate delegate
will attend in his/her place. The second alternate delegate will fill the
second vacancy. If the president is unable to attend, the vice president
will fill that vacancy.
SECTION 2. Transportation, food, lodging and registration shall be
provided for only the three designated delegates attending the
convention, and the drivers, when applicable. not to exceed $75 per
delegate, and drivers. for the5 meals at the convention. If a donated
vehicle is not available, the most economical transportation will be
used. A single room rate shall be provided to each delegate as a
lodging allowance if funds are available. Delegates can share their
room. If the room rate changes, if there are more people that share the
room, the members will pay the difference in cost.
SECTION 3. All receipts for expenses paid are to be turned in to the
treasurer upon return from the convention.
SECTION 4. A report of the convention activities shall be given by
the delegates to the membership at the next regular meeting following
the convention.

ARTICLE XV (15) – Amendments
SECTION 1. Amendments to these bylaws may be recommended as
the membership deems necessary. Amendments must be submitted in
writing and read at two (2) consecutive meetings of the association.
The vote on the amendment may be taken after the second reading.
SECTION 2. The secretary shall incorporate the amendments into the
bylaws in the appropriate places immediately after the vote approving
them so that the bylaws will always be current. Copies of the latest
bylaws should then be available for the membership at the next
regular meeting.