SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

For purposes of this document, the term "blind" shall refer to all persons who are legally blind or visually impaired.

1. NAME: The name of this organization is the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind, otherwise referred to herein as the SCKCB.
2. PURPOSE: The purpose of this organization shall be:
   1. To work for a better public understanding of the multiplicity of capabilities and aspirations of people who are blind;
   2. To work for a better quality of education for all blind Kentuckians;
   3. To support broad employment opportunities for persons who are blind, and to actively address issues related to the unemployment and underemployment of blind people;
   4. To represent persons who are blind on legislative, administrative, and regulatory issues affecting their interests;
   5. To act as an advocate for the rights of blind people;
   6. To provide programs and activities designed to increase socialization between persons who are blind, their sighted peers and family members;
   7. To work for the expansion and improvement of rehabilitation programs for people who are blind;
   8. To distribute information on resources and opportunities available to blind people;
3. AFFILIATION: The South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind is an independent entity, which is philosophically aligned with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
4. MEMBERSHIP:
   1. The membership of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind shall be of two (2) types, Regular Members and Honorary Members:
      1. Regular Member: Anyone who is at least 16 years of age may become a Regular Member of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind. Regular Members are required to pay annual membership dues of an amount and at such time as determined by a recommendation from the Executive Board of the SCKCB and ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership present and voting, providing a quorum has been established. Regular Members may participate in all activities of the organization, and shall have the right to vote and to hold office.
      2. Honorary Members: The Executive Board of the SCKCB may establish, as it deems appropriate, Honorary Memberships. Honorary Members may participate in all activities of the organization and may pay dues as established by a recommendation from the Executive Board of the SCKCB and ratified by a two-thirds supporting vote of the SCKCB's membership present and voting, providing there is a quorum. Honorary members shall not have the right to vote or hold office.
      3. Blind individuals shall at all times constitute a majority of the voting membership of the SCKCB.
      4. Expulsion of any member may be accomplished by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present, providing a quorum is established. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot after a proper hearing, first before the Executive Board of the SCKCB and then before a quorum of the voting membership.
5. Offices and the Executive Board
   1. The offices of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind shall be:
      1. President
      2. Vice President
      3. Secretary
      4. Treasurer
      5. Program Director
   2. The President and Vice President must be legally blind or visually impaired.
   3. Terms of office shall be for two years, and all officers must be members in good standing of the organization throughout their terms of office.
   4. Removal of an officer from office. An officer may be removed from his/her office for inactivity, failure to perform his/her duties, engaging in unethical, illegal, or disreputable behavior that might risk damaging the image of the SCKCB.
      1. Inactivity shall be defined as missing three or more consecutive regularly scheduled meetings without giving just cause to at least one other member of the Executive Board by phone, e-mail, in person, or regular U.S. postal mail. If found guilty of inactivity by a majority of the Executive Board, the charges must then be reported to the SCKCB membership, along with substantiating documentation and/or testimony. A motion to remove the inactive officer must be made and seconded by the membership and passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, providing a quorum is present at the time of the vote.
      2. Illegal behavior shall be defined as any behavior of which he/she is found guilty in violation of city, county, state, or federal law. Any officer charged with such an unlawful act will be immediately suspended from his/her office until the officer being charged with such illegal act, or acts, is found to be guilty or not guilty by a court of law. If not guilty, he/she may resume his/her office with the SCKCB. If found guilty by a court of law, the offending officer shall be removed immediately from his/her office without need of any other action by the SCKCB's Executive Board or the SCKCB's membership.
      3. Failure to perform his/her duties, unethical or disreputable behavior shall be defined on a case-by-case bases by either majority of the remaining SCKCB Executive Board or no less than any two SCKCB members who are not members of the Executive Board. The charges must then be reported to the SCKCB's membership, along with substantiating documentation and/or testimony. A motion to remove the officer in question must be made and seconded by the membership and passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, providing a quorum is present at the time of the vote.
      4. The removal of any officer shall be considered as a vacancy, and such vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Section E that follows in these bylaws.
   5. If a vacancy occurs in any officer position, except for the office of President or Vice President, the Executive Board may elect an individual to serve in the position for The remainder of that officer's term. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall serve as the President for the remaining term and until the next regular election of officers. The vacated position of Vice President shall be filled by a special election at the next regular meeting of the membership. Such an election shall be conducted as provided for elsewhere in this document.
   6. The Executive Board of the organization shall be made up of the organization's officers: the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Program Director.
   7. The Executive Board is the governing body of this organization between regular meetings of the organization. The Executive Board may adopt resolutions and take action on behalf of the organization. The Board may take no action that is contrary to the decided policy of the organization's Regular membership. A report of all actions taken by the Board must be recorded in writing and read at the next regular meeting of the membership.
   8. No member of the Executive Board shall receive compensation for services to the SCKCB. Board members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the exercise of the duties of their offices.
6. Regular, Special Meetings and Quorums
   1. Regular meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the SCKCB's President. Regular meetings shall be no more frequent than once per month, but at least once per quarter or every three months.
   2. Special meetings shall be call from time to time as deemed necessary by either the SCKCB's President, the Executive Board, or a majority of the voting members.
   3. Notice of all regular and special meetings shall be communicated to the membership not less than five (5) days prior to the meeting. Communications may be accomplished either by or any combination of: telephone, postal mail, or e-mail. It shall be the Secretary's responsibility to notify the organization's members of such meetings.
   4. Quorums:
      1. One-third of the total voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a regular or special meeting of the organization
      2. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a meeting of the Board.
   5. Elections:
      1. Elections of the Organization's officers shall be held annually, or as needed, on or about the anniversary date of the organization's inception, September 4.
      2. The election for the President and Treasurer shall be held on even numbered years, and the Vice President and Secretary on odd numbered years.
      3. All elections are open for nomination of candidates from the floor. Candidates must either be present at the time of the election, or must otherwise indicate their willingness to serve in the office to which they are being nominated.
      4. Election for any office for which two or more candidates are nominated must be conducted by secret ballot.
7. Procedures:
   1. All matters of business shall be conducted according to the most recent revision of Robert's Rules of Order, except here otherwise provided for in these bylaws or unless suspension of which is accepted by a majority vote of the members attending the meeting.
8. Committees:
   1. The President or the Executive Board may create committees as deemed necessary to accomplish the tasks of the organization.
9. Dissolution of Organization:
   1. If the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind is dissolved for any reason, the assets of the organization shall become the property of the American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201, which is a 501C(3) tax exempt organization. If the American Council of the Blind, for whatever reason, no longer exists or loses its 501C(3) exemption, the assets of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind, upon its disolution, shall then become the property of The American Foundation for the Blind, Inc., 2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10121, which is a not-for-profit corporation, and is exempt from federal taxes under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
10. Amendments:
    1. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Regular Members present, providing a quorum is established, and at any two consecutive regular meetings of the organization's membership, provided that both the original and amending language, together with the name of the submitter and the recommendation of the Executive Board has been published to the membership in writing not less than five (5) days prior to the initial meeting in which such changes are to be considered, and further provided that both the original and amending language is read in its entirety on the floor of each of the Regular meetings at the time of its consideration