About Us

Houston Council of the Blind
Constitution and Bylaws
Revised July, 2006

ARTICLE I

NAME: The name of this organization shall be HOUSTON COUNCIL OF THE BLIND.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE: The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to strive for the betterment of our total community:

  1. By representation of visually impaired people through the Houston Council of the Blind.
  2. By providing a forum for the views of the visually impaired of the area served by the Houston Council of the Blind from all walks of life.
  3. By elevating the social, economic, and cultural level of the visually impaired.
  4. By improving education and rehabilitation facilities.
  5. By broadening vocational opportunities.
  6. By encouraging and assisting the visually impaired, especially the newly visually impaired, to develop their abilities and [potentialities] potential and to assume their responsible place in the community.
  7. By cooperating with public and private institutions and agencies of, and for the visually impaired.
  8. By providing for the free exchange of ideas opinions, and information relative to matters of concern to visually impaired people and to the public.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP, VOTING AND DUES: Any person residing in the area served by the Houston Council of the Blind is eligible to become a member of this organization upon complying with the provisions hereinafter contained in the bylaws.

  1. Definition of "visually impaired": This organization uses the words "visually impaired" to signify not only those who are legally blind, as defined in the state codes, but also those who are within the definition for use of Library of Congress Talking Books and for those who are within the Post Office Regulations for use of the free matter mailing privilege: "Free matter is for the use of the blind or other persons who cannot use or read conventionally printed material because of a physical impairment, who are certified by competent authority as unable to read normal reading material.
  2. Membership: The membership of this organization shall be of two classes, voting and non-voting.
    1. Voting members of the Houston Council of the Blind shall be members in good standing and at least 18 years of age.
    2. Non-voting members shall be individuals and organizations holding sustaining memberships (or junior members who are between 12 and 17 years of age.)
  3. Dues: Dues shall be paid on an annual calendar basis and the amount of dues shall be as set forth in the bylaws.
  4. Suspension and Expulsion: Any member may be expelled or suspended by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting. In the proceedings to expel or suspend, the member charged shall have the right to vote.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS:

  1. The officers of this chapter shall consist of a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer to be elected for a term of one year by a simple majority of the members present and voting.
  2. All officers must be visually impaired as defined above, except the Secretary and the Treasurer who may be sighted.
  3. The Houston Council of the Blind shall have a Board of Directors consisting of its duly elected officers of the chapter, the immediate past president of the chapter, and three other Directors who are members in good standing.
  4. No officer with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer of this organization shall be elected for more than three consecutive full terms. However, all officers must stand for election annually.
  5. No officer shall receive compensation for services to the Houston Council of the Blind. The officer may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the exercise of duties. No employee of the Houston Council of the Blind shall be eligible for election to any office in this organization.
  6. In the absence or death of any officer or director, the vacancy so created shall be filled as provided in the bylaws.

ARTICLE V

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:

  1. Nominations and elections of Officers and Directors shall be held annually in the month of November and the newly elected officials shall be installed at the December meeting and will take office in January of the next year.
  2. Directors will serve for a single 3-year term. In the event of a resignation or the death of a sitting Director, the President will appoint a replacement to serve until the next elections are held, and at this time that position must be filled by electing the director for the balance of the three-year term. One Director will be elected each year in accordance with the Bylaws which will define the starting procedures for these offices. A Director may serve for more than one term after being out of office for at least one year.

ARTICLE VI

QUORUM AND MEETING:

  1. A quorum shall consist of at least twenty (20) members in good standing.
  2. Meetings shall be held monthly at a time and location specified in the bylaws.
  3. Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern all proceedings except as otherwise provided in this constitution and bylaws

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS:

  1. This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting after having been submitted in writing, to the members at least sixty (60) days prior to the voting on said amendments, or by having first been read at two (2) consecutive open meetings.
  2. Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a simple majority vote.

ARTICLE VIII

This Constitution and the Bylaws hereunder shall not be in conflict with the Constitution of the American Council of the Blind of Texas ("ACBT") or the American Council of the Blind ("ACB").

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION OF CHAPTER AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

In the event of dissolution of this organization, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all of the liabilities of the organization, shall distribute all of the assets of this corporation to the ACBT, or to any successor organization of the ACBT, or in the event of the prior dissolution of the ACBT, to one or more other nonprofit organizations or nonprofit corporations within the State of Texas having purposes similar to those of this organization, serving persons who are blind or visually impaired, and qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision(s) of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Houston Council of the Blind
BYLAWS
Revised July 2006

BYLAW I

MEMBERS: Any person who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years and is a resident of the area served by this Chapter may apply for membership. However, no member of any other chapter of ACBT may have membership in this Chapter. A majority of the members must be visually impaired.

BYLAW II

VOTING AND DUES:

  1. Voting rights of members shall be limited to those in good standing. Dues received after October 1 shall be considered dues for the following calendar year;
  2. Members who have not paid their dues by January 1 of the following year are delinquent and not eligible to vote;
  3. Dues for members shall be set by the Chapter for the calendar year, a portion of which goes to the American Council of the Blind of Texas for State and National dues;
  4. Sustaining members shall be interested persons and/or organizations who make a financial contribution to this Chapter but they will not have voting rights; (and)
  5. Junior members have no voting rights and pay no dues.

BYLAW III

DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
  1. The duties of the President shall be:
    1. To serve as executive head of this Chapter;
    2. To enforce the provisions of the Constitution, Bylaws, and written Resolutions and Policies adopted by the members;
    3. To appoint committees annually or as deemed necessary with the consent of the members so appointed, as may be necessary for the successful operation of the Chapter;
    4. To exercise all of the duties usually performed by such executive officer;
    5. To serve as Ex-officio member of all committees;
    6. In a proper case, and for failure to perform duties, remove any member of such committee and appoint a successor;
    7. To be responsible for the supervision of all employees;
    8. To appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms and a Parliamentarian (as required);
    9. To appoint a sighted assistant to the secretary and/or Treasurer when deemed necessary; and
    10. To co-sign checks.
  2. The duties of the First Vice-President shall be:
    1. To have full authority to perform all duties of the President during the President's absence;
    2. To serve as chapter representative on the ACBT Board of Directors.
      1. As prescribed by the Constitution of the American Council of the Blind of Texas; and
      2. To report and forward all information pertaining to the American Council of the Blind of Texas to the local chapter, officers, and/or membership.
    3. To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the President;
    4. To fill the vacancy created by the death or resignation of the President, to assume duties and responsibilities of the President, and to continue in that office for the remainder of the term.
  3. The duties of the Second Vice-President shall be:
    1. To have full authority to perform all duties of the First Vice- President during the absence of the First Vice-President;
    2. To serve as chairman of the Finance and Budget Committees as well as the Fund Raising Committee and to cosign all checks when not cosigned by the President;
    3. To perform such other duties as may from time to time be designated by the President; and
    4. To fill the vacancy created by the death or resignation of the First Vice-President.
  4. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
    1. To maintain a list of all the members;
    2. To keep a record of all proceedings;
    3. To be responsible for all written material; (and)
    4. To surrender all records to successor or to any other authorized recipient.
  5. The duties of the Treasurer:
    1. To serve as custodian of all funds and to serve as an advisor to the Finance and Budget Committee and the Fund Raising Committee;
    2. To keep accurate records of all financial transactions;
    3. To deposit all funds received in a bank designated by the officers;
    4. To sign any instrument disbursing money along with designated co-signer, as required;
    5. To submit books for inspection to any officer of this Chapter or to any group of three (3) members demanding such inspection at any and all reasonable times. The request must be in writing and the financial records are subject to the care and control of the Treasurer;
    6. To submit books to any auditor designated by the President;
    7. To perform such other duties as may from time to time be designated by the President;
    8. To forward to the Secretary names of all members as dues are received;
    9. To furnish all financial reports at each meeting; and
    10. At end of term, to surrender all funds, books and records to successor.
  6. Duties of Directors:
    1. Attend Board meetings and offer counsel when appropriate; and
    2. Perform other duties as directed by the President.

BYLAW IV

The Officers and the Board of Directors shall be bonded, at the Council's expense, when funds reach (one thousand dollars) $1,000.00.

BYLAW V

NOMINATIONS:

  1. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee no later than the August meeting and the committee shall report at the October meeting;
  2. Nominations may be made from the floor during the elections. However, the nominee must have agreed to serve if elected; (and)
  3. All nominees and persons making nominations must be members in good standing.

BYLAW VI

MEETINGS: Regular Chapter meetings shall be held on the first (1st) Sunday of each month, but if the first Sunday of the month falls on a holiday, then the meeting may be held the second Sunday of the month, the time and place to be determined by the membership.

BYLAW VII

VACANCIES: Vacancies of officers shall be filled in the following manner:

  1. The President shall be succeeded by the First Vice President;
  2. The First Vice President shall be succeeded by the Second Vice President; and
  3. A vacancy in any office except that of the President and First Vice President shall be filled at the next regular meeting by the nominating procedure prescribed and shall be for the unexpired term.
  4. Directors' Positions:
    1. Initially all three Directors' positions will be elected as follows:

      Position 1 will be elected for a term of one (1) year and may stand for reelection immediately after the expiration of this term.

      Position 2 will be elected for two (2) years and may stand for reelection after that term.

      Position 3 will be elected for a three (3) year term and must be out of office for one year before running for a Director position again.

    2. Thereafter, one Director position will be elected annually in accordance with other provisions of this document.

BYLAW VIII

FISCAL YEAR: For accounting and tax purposes, the fiscal year of the Houston Council of the Blind shall end the last day of February each year.

BYLAW IX

STANDING COMMITTEES:

  1. Constitution and Bylaws
  2. Resolutions
  3. Finance and Budget
  4. Fund Raising
  5. Legislative
  6. Membership and Credentials
  7. Publicity and Public Relations
  8. Telephone
  9. Transportation
  10. Programs and Special Needs
  11. Entertainment & Refreshments
  12. Scholarship & Mentoring

BYLAW X

Resolutions serve to clarify policies or to further enhance the implementation of policies used to conduct non-profit business by The Houston Council of the Blind.

BYLAW XI

The President and Treasurer of The Houston Council of the Blind may spend up to seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per month to conduct business on behalf of The Houston Council of the Blind without prior permission from the membership or the Board of Directors. Such expenditures must be reported to the membership at the next regular business meeting.

BYLAW XII

With respect to the drafting or endorsing of checks by officers of The Houston Council of the Blind, if two signatures are required, then no two officers related within three degrees of separation by blood or marriage may perform this duty.