KCCLV Constitution

Kentucky Council of

Citizens with Low Vision

March, 2017

Amended November 4, 2020

ARTICLE I – NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision Inc., hereafter referred to as KCCLV.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE:

The Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. KCCLV will support and conduct educational and informational activities to increase public awareness of visual impairment and to assist individuals in adjusting to vision loss.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION:

  1. The Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision is a chapter of both Kentucky Council of the Blind and the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International.
  2. Membership of KCCLV shall be of two (2) classes, voting and non-voting.
    1. Anyone who is at least 16 years of age and who resides within the state of Kentucky, or within a 25-mile radius of the state, or who has once been a resident of the state of Kentucky, may become a member of KCCLV. Annual members shall pay membership dues each year of an amount and at such time as determined by vote of the membership. Annual members may participate in all activities of the organization, and shall have the right to vote and to hold office.
    2. The membership may establish, as it deems appropriate, classes of supporting, sustaining and honorary memberships. Members in these classes may participate in all activities of the organization and shall pay dues as established by the membership, but shall not have the right to vote or to hold office.
  3. Low vision individuals shall at all times constitute a majority of the voting membership of the Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision.
  4. Expulsion of any member may be affected by a two-thirds majority of those members present and voting at a regular meeting of the membership. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot after a proper hearing, first before the Board of Directors and then before the membership.

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS:

  1. All meetings of this organization shall be open to all members, except where executive sessions are required under Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition.
  2. Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least quarterly for the purpose of conducting the business of the organization, with the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.
  3. There shall be an annual meeting of the membership, to be held in conjunction with the annual convention of the Kentucky Council of the Blind, for the election of officers and directors and other important business.
  4. No actions may be taken that are in direct conflict of local, state, or federal law.
  5. The membership meetings shall be the ultimate authority within this organization on all matters except those delegated elsewhere in this Constitution to the final authority or discretion of the Officers, Board of Directors, or standing committees.
  6. Special membership meetings and activities may be scheduled by the Board of Directors.
  7. Notice of all meetings and activities shall be given to the membership in large print, audio and electronic formats not less than ten business (10) days prior to the meeting or event.

ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

  1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following:
    1. Four (4) officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer;
    2. Two (2) directors;
    3. The Immediate Past President; and
    4. Ex officio non-voting members, as established elsewhere in this Constitution.
  2. The Board of Directors is the governing body of this organization between membership meetings. The Board may adopt resolutions on behalf of the organization. The Board may take no action that is contrary to the decided policy of the membership. A report of all actions taken by the Board must be presented in writing and read before the next meeting of the membership.
  3. The majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors must be low vision. The President and Vice President must be low vision.
  4. No member of the Board of Directors shall receive compensation for services to the Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision. Board members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the exercise of the duties of their offices.
  5. Terms of office shall be for two years. Officers shall be elected by the membership in odd-numbered years and directors in even-numbered years. No person may hold the same office for more than two (2) full consecutive terms, except for the offices of secretary and treasurer. All members of the Board of Directors must be members in good standing of the organization throughout their terms of office.
  6. Should a vacancy occur in any Board position, except for the office of President, the Board of Directors may elect an individual to serve in the position until the next annual membership meeting. Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice President shall succeed to the office of President and will serve until the next annual membership meeting. The membership will elect a successor to complete a partial term of office, providing that nominations and elections are conducted as stipulated elsewhere in this Constitution.
  7. Board meetings are subject to call by the President, or shall be called upon written request of a majority of the voting members of the Board. Regular meetings shall be convened at least once each calendar quarter.
  8. Any member of the Board of Directors who misses at least three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board. Said member will be notified in writing at least ten (10) business days in advance of such pending action, and will be given the opportunity to be heard by the Board prior to any such action.

ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES:

The President may appoint committees. The President shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.

  1. The following committees, consisting of at least three members each, a majority of whom are low vision, shall be appointed by the President:
    1. Membership: This committee shall conduct membership campaigns designed to attract new members, retain current members, encourage former members to renew their memberships, and assist in locating individuals who have moved and for whom no forwarding addresses are available.
    2. Fundraising and Budget: This committee shall be responsible for the raising of funds to be used by the organization, and for developing an annual budget. All fund-raising activities must be submitted to, and approved by, the Board of Directors prior to being initiated by the committee.
    3. Nominating: This committee shall compile a slate of candidates for the offices to be filled by election by the annual meeting. The slate shall be published to the membership in large print, audio and electronic formats not less than ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting, and shall consist of each candidate’s name, address, interests etc.
    4. Public Relations: This committee will be responsible for the composition and distribution of newsletters, press releases, and other similar materials designed to publicize the work of the organization.
    5. Activities and projects: This committee will plan and conduct educational, informational, and peer support activities for the organization. Such activities may be of interest to the general membership, or may be designed to appeal to a specific segment of the membership. Activities may be planned in cooperation with other committees.
    6. Advocacy: This committee will assist individuals with issues related to discrimination, obtaining appropriate services, and other concerns.
    7. Constitution/Bylaws: This committee will receive all proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws and will, in consultation with the submitter, prepare proposals for presentation to the membership, as provided elsewhere in this Constitution.
  2. The President may appoint any other committees as deemed appropriate.
  3. Committee chairpersons will serve as ex officio non-voting members of the Board of Directors.

    ARTICLE VII – PROCEDURES:

        1. All matters of business shall be conducted according to the most recent revision of Robert’s Rules of Order, except where otherwise provided for in this Constitution.
        2. Quorums:
          1. Fifteen (15) per cent of the membership shall constitute a quorum for conducting business at the regular membership meetings, provided that at least five (5) members are present and voting.
          2. At least ten (10) per cent of the total voting membership of the organization shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a special meeting of the organization, provided that at least five (5) members are present and voting.
          3. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a meeting of the Board.
        3. Elections:
          1. The Nominating Committee will submit a list of candidates, as provided elsewhere in this Constitution. All elections are open for nomination of candidates from the floor. Candidates must either be present at the time of the election, or must indicate in writing in advance their willingness to serve. Upon nomination, the candidate must state his/her name, address, and interests.
          2. Election for any office for which two or more candidates are nominated must be conducted by secret ballot.
        4. The fiscal year of the Kentucky Council of Citizens with Low Vision is January 1 through December 31.

    ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS:

      1. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting, provided that:
        1. a quorum is present; and
        2. both the original and amending language, together with the name of the submitter, has been published to the membership in large print, audio and electronic formats not less than ten (10) business days prior to the meeting.
      2. Both the original and amending language must be read in its entirety on the floor of the meeting at the time of its consideration.
      3. Bylaws may be adopted and amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a simple majority vote of those present and voting, provided that such amendments comply with all other requirements set forth in this Constitution.
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