Proposal 2025-02 Amend Article III, Section A: Membership, Voting, and Dues

Proposal 2025-02

Amend Article III, Section A: Membership, Voting, and Dues

Purpose: to eliminate the affiliate vote by reclassifying "affiliated organizations" as non-voting members of ACB for all purposes except the nominating committee as provided for in Constitution Article VI, Section D.

Article III Membership, Voting and Dues: A. Membership: Replace the second sentence, which currently reads: Voting members shall be affiliated organizations, their voting members, life members and members at large of the American Council of the Blind.

Proposed language for the second sentence reads: Voting members shall be certified members of affiliated organizations, life members, and members at large of the American Council of the Blind.

Replace the third sentence, which currently reads: Non-voting members shall be the individuals and entities holding sustaining memberships and those persons holding junior memberships, whether at large or joining as junior members of an affiliated organization.

Proposed language for the third sentence reads: Non-voting members shall be those individuals and entities holding sustaining memberships, those persons holding junior memberships, whether at large or joining as junior members of an affiliated organization, and affiliated organizations, except that such organizations are accorded full participatory rights in the nominating committee as provided for in Article VI, Section D.

Article 3A as amended reads:

Article III Membership, Voting and Dues: A. Membership The membership of this organization shall be of two (2) classes, voting and non-voting. Voting members shall be certified members of affiliated organizations, life members, and members at large of the American Council of the Blind. Non-voting members shall be those individuals and entities holding sustaining memberships, those persons holding junior memberships, whether at large or joining as junior members of an affiliated organization, and affiliated organizations, except that such organizations are accorded full participatory rights in the nominating committee as provided for in Article VI, Section D. (End of balloted Proposed Constitutional Amendment.)

Required Conforming Amendments

If this amendment is approved, related sections in the Constitution and Bylaws about the affiliate vote will also be updated to ensure consistency and prevent any contradictions. Based on guidance from our parliamentarian, these updates won't require a separate vote but are provided below for members to review and consider.

Article III Membership, Voting and Dues: C. Voting: Delete the last sentence in Section 1, which reads: In the case of record votes, official delegates from affiliates shall cast the number of votes to which their organizations are entitled as provided for in the Bylaws.

Replace the last sentence in Section 2, which reads: A record vote shall be composed of two (2) distinct components: a secret ballot vote conducted in the manner prescribed in the bylaws, and a roll call of affiliates by which official affiliate delegates shall announce the votes of their respective organizations.

The proposed last sentence of Section 2 reads: A record vote shall be composed of a secret ballot vote conducted in the manner prescribed in the bylaws.

Current language: Article III Membership, Voting and Dues: C. Voting:

1. Each certified member of this organization shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any annual or special meeting, provided that the person was a certified member as of the established record date of such meeting, which shall be thirty (30) days before such meeting, or in the case of the annual conference and convention, the opening session. In the case of record votes, official delegates from affiliates shall cast the number of votes to which their organizations are entitled as provided for in the Bylaws.
2. Voting on all issues at any meeting shall be conducted in one (1) of two (2) ways: rising vote or record vote. For rising votes, "in person" attendees shall stand or raise their hands to indicate their vote; virtual attendees shall cast votes by any protocol provided for by the adopted remote meeting platform or client program. A record vote shall be composed of two (2) distinct components: a secret ballot vote conducted in the manner prescribed in the bylaws, and a roll call of affiliates by which official affiliate delegates shall announce the votes of their respective organizations.

The amended language reads:

Article III Membership, Voting and Dues: C. Voting:

1. Each certified member of this organization shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any annual or special meeting, provided that the person was a certified member as of the established record date of such meeting, which shall be thirty (30) days before such meeting, or in the case of the annual conference and convention, the opening session.
2. Voting on all issues at any meeting shall be conducted in one (1) of two (2) ways: rising vote or record vote. For rising votes, "in person" attendees shall stand or raise their hands to indicate their vote; virtual attendees shall cast votes by any protocol provided for by the adopted remote meeting platform or client program. A record vote shall be composed of a secret ballot vote conducted in the manner prescribed in the bylaws.

Article VII Affiliate Relations: D. 2.: Delete subsection a. and renumber remaining sections.

The section to be deleted reads: a. "reducing the number of delegate votes to which the affiliate would otherwise be entitled at a national conference and convention;

Replace the second sentence in Section D. 3., which reads: The board's determination shall be considered ratified if supported by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) record vote of those present and voting on the appeal, with the sanctioned affiliate having the right to cast the number of votes it would have been entitled to cast in the absence of a sanction."

The proposed second sentence in D. 3. reads: The board's determination shall be considered ratified if supported by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) record vote of those present and voting on the appeal.

Current Language Article VII Affiliate Relations:

D. ...

1. Should the ACB Board determine that efforts to address the affiliate conduct have failed or that there is no longer any reasonable expectation that the continuation of such efforts will be successful, the board may, by a three-fourths (3/4) record vote, impose any sanctions that it deems appropriate including, but not limited to: a. reducing the number of delegate votes to which the affiliate would otherwise be entitled at a national conference and convention; b. refusing to seat an affiliate at a national conference and convention; or c. suspending or revoking an affiliate's charter.

2. Any sanction determined by the board under section D2 of this article shall be considered final unless, within thirty (30) days of such determination, the sanctioned affiliate declares in writing its intention to appeal such determination to the conference and convention, which appeal shall then be scheduled as the first order of business following acceptance of the final report of the Credentials Committee and shall be conducted in the manner applicable to disciplinary proceedings as set forth in the parliamentary authority adopted by this organization. The board's determination shall be considered ratified if supported by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) record vote of those present and voting on the appeal, with the sanctioned affiliate having the right to cast the number of votes it would have been entitled to cast in the absence of a sanction.

The amended language reads:

Article VII Affiliate Relations: D. ...

1. Should the ACB Board determine that efforts to address the affiliate conduct have failed or that there is no longer any reasonable expectation that the continuation of such efforts will be successful, the board may, by a three-fourths (3/4) record vote, impose any sanctions that it deems appropriate including, but not limited to: a. refusing to seat an affiliate at a national conference and convention; or b. suspending or revoking an affiliate's charter.

2. Any sanction determined by the board under section D2 of this article shall be considered final unless, within thirty (30) days of such determination, the sanctioned affiliate declares in writing its intention to appeal such determination to the conference and convention, which appeal shall then be scheduled as the first order of business following acceptance of the final report of the Credentials Committee and shall be conducted in the manner applicable to disciplinary proceedings as set forth in the parliamentary authority adopted by this organization. The board's determination shall be considered ratified if supported by an affirmative two-thirds (2/3) record vote of those present and voting on the appeal.

Article IX Meetings:

Replace the second sentence which reads: A majority of affiliate votes certified and seated at the conference and convention shall constitute a quorum to do business.

The proposed second sentence reads: A majority of the number of affiliates certified and seated at the conference and convention shall constitute a quorum to do business.

Current language:

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