Tri-state Library Users Constitution

Tri-State Library Users

Constitution

Adopted March 19, 2011

Amended November 12, 2016

Article I – Name:

The name of this organization shall be the Tri-State Library Users, hereinafter referred to as TLU.

Article II – Purpose:

The purpose of TLU is

  1. to promote the use of National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped services, public libraries, and other sources of accessible reading materials; and
  2. to encourage literacy through education, history, discussion, and leisure programs and activities.

Article III – Membership, Affiliation and Dues:

  1. Membership in the Tri-state Library Users is open to blind, visually impaired and sighted individuals. Blind and visually impaired persons must at all times constitute a majority of the membership. Each individual member of TLU has the right to cast one vote at meetings and to hold office.
  2. The General Assembly of TLU may establish supporting and honorary memberships. Supporting and honorary members may participate in all activities of the organization, but shall not have the right to vote or to hold office.
  3. All members are required to pay dues of an amount and at such time as determined by the General Assembly.
  4. The Tri-state Library Users is a chapter of the Library Users of America and of the Kentucky Council of the Blind. TLU must meet minimum membership and reporting requirements of both KCB and LUA.
  5. Expulsion of any member may be affected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members present and voting at a General Assembly meeting. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot after a proper hearing, first before the Board of Directors and then before the General Assembly.

Article IV – Membership Meetings:

  1. The membership is the ruling body of the Tri-State Library Users. TLU will hold at least one membership meeting each calendar quarter with the times, dates and locations to be set by the Board.
  2. An annual General Assembly meeting for the purpose of electing officers and conducting other organization business will occur in conjunction with the annual conference of the Kentucky Council of the Blind.
  3. Special membership meetings may be called with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board and with a ten (10) day notice of such meetings distributed to the membership.

Article Very – Board of Directors:

  1. The Board of Directors shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and two (2) directors elected by the membership at the annual membership meeting. Officers shall be elected in odd-numbered years, and directors shall be elected in even-numbered years.
  2. Officers and Directors shall serve twoe-year terms with a limit of two (2) consecutive terms in any one position. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer are not subject to term limits.
  3. Duties:
      1. The president will preside at meetings, appoint committees and committee chairs, serve as ex officio member of committees, represent TLU when appropriate, countersign checks with the Treasurer, and otherwise perform tasks usually assigned to the office.
      2. The Vice President will preside at meetings when the President is not available, serve on committees as appointed by the President, and otherwise perform tasks as assigned to the office.

    The Secretary will take minutes of all meetings of the organization, maintain correspondence records, and otherwise perform tasks as assigned to the office.

  4. The Treasurer will collect dues, maintain membership records, receive funds from various income sources, deposit funds in the organization’s bank account, pay bills upon receipt of proper invoices or as directed by the Board of Directors, countersign checks with the President, give financial reports at organizational meetings, and otherwise perform duties as assigned to the office.
  5. The Directors will attend Board meetings, serve on committees as assigned by the President, provide advice to the officers and membership, and otherwise perform tasks as assigned to the office.
  • The President shall appoint a chapter representative to serve on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Council of the Blind.
  • All Board members must be members in good standing of the Tri-state Library Users at the time of their election and throughout their terms of office.
  • The President and Vice President of TLU must be legally blind, and the majority of the Board of Directors must be legally blind.
  • The Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization between membership meetings. The Board of Directors may take no action that is contrary to the direction of the membership.
  • The TLU Board of Directors will meet at least once each quarter, with the times, dates and locations to be determined by the Board and announced to the membership.
  • All meetings of the TLU Board of Directors are open except when sensitive financial issues or personnel matters require a closed executive session. Upon the conclusion of such session, the President shall announce any decisions resulting from the meeting.

Article VI – Committees:

TLU standing committees will include fund-raising, activity, by-laws and nominating committees. Other committees may be established as determined by the president, Board of Directors, and/or membership.

Article VII – Procedures:

  1. In the absence of provisions stated in this Constitution, all proceedings of this organization shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, current revision.
  2. The fiscal year of the Tri-State Library Users will be January 1 to December 31.
  3. Elections:
    1. The Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates for each election. 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. Quorums:
    1. At least five (5) members of TLU whose dues are current must be present for the conduct of business at a general membership meeting of the organization.
    2. A majority of the members of the TLU Board must be present for the conduct of business at a meeting of the TLU Board of Directors.

Article VIII – Amendments:

Amendments to this Constitution may be made at the annual meeting of TLU with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present and voting, provided that the amendment be submitted to the Bylaws Committee twenty (20) days in advance and distributed in writing to the membership ten (10) days in advance of the annual meeting.

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