Georgia Council of the Blind Lions


Constitution

Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be Georgia Council of Blind Lions, herein to be referred to as GCBL, and shall be affiliated with the American Council of Blind Lions, a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, and shall be a special interest affiliate of the Georgia Council of the Blind (GCB).

Article II. Purpose
The purpose of GCBL shall be:
A. To promote accessibility and/or reasonable accommodations for the members of blind Lions serving as Lions in the State of Georgia.
B. To promote fellowship and support among blind and visually impaired Georgia Lions.
C. To encourage Lions Clubs in Georgia to actively recruit blind and visually impaired individuals into their clubs.
D. To work to increase knowledge of Lions International leadership in Georgia about the ability of blind individuals and the potential of blind people to join and serve as Lions in the Lions International Clubs in Georgia.

Article III. Membership and Voting
A. Any person Twenty-one years of age or older may become a member of GCBL upon compliance with the provisions and requirements of this constitution and such bylaws as may be adopted.
B. All members in good standing shall have the right to cast their individual votes at any meeting of the membership.

Article IV. Officers and Directors
A. The officers of GCBL shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, two Board Members. One (1) new board member shall be elected for each twenty-five (25) new members gained.
B. All officers shall be elected for terms of two (2) years, with new term beginning when the election is held during the state convention of the Georgia Council of the Blind in even numbered years. Except for the Secretary and Treasurer, no officer shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
C. The office of President and Vice President must be represented by individuals who are legally blind.
D. The officers shall perform the usual duties of their office as provided for in the Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, unless otherwise provided for by this constitution or such bylaws as may be enacted.
E. The officers and directors shall constitute the board of directors and shall be the governing body of GCBL between meetings of the membership. Board meetings may be held in person or by telephone. A majority of the board, including two (2) Blind Lions, shall constitute a quorum to transact business at such meetings.
F. All elections shall be by a majority vote of the members present and voting.

Article V. Meetings
A. GCBL shall hold two meetings during the year, as explained in the GCBL Bylaws. One-third (1/3) of the members shall constitute a quorum to transact business at any regular or special meeting.
B. The President or a majority of the board of directors may call a special meeting with at least two (2) weeks notice being given to the membership.

Article VI. Committees
The President may appoint all members of committees within the organization unless otherwise instructed by the membership or the Board of Directors.

Article VII. Affiliation
The GCBL affiliate of the Georgia Council of the Blind shall have one (1) representative on the GCB Board of Directors who shall be appointed in the same manner as the local chapter affiliates. If the president of the GCBL affiliate is also an executive officer of GCB, the affiliate or its president shall designate another legally blind person to represent the affiliate on the GCB board (as explained in ARTICLE V, Section 4., of the GCB BYLAWS). To qualify as an affiliate, (1) it must be associated with the American Council of the Blind and its special interest affiliate; and (2) it must pay dues to the GCB, such dues being determined by the Board of Directors of that organization. The special interest affiliate is expected to abide by the same guidelines as local chapters, set forth in Article IV, Paragraph E., of the GCB Constitution.

Article VIII. Vacancies:
If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice President, or occurs in another office of the organization, the Board of Directors shall appoint a person to continue in that office until the next scheduled election.

Article IX. Dissolution
Upon a vote of dissolution by 85% of the active membership and after paying all of its debts and obligations, all remaining funds shall revert to Georgia Council of the Blind. If that organization no longer exists, all funds shall revert to the American Council of the Blind.

Article X. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members attending a regular or special meeting, provided that proposed amendment shall have been mailed or emailed to the membership not less than thirty days prior to the meeting in which final action is to be taken. Georgia Council of Blind Lions

By-laws

Article I. Membership
A. Active members of GCBL shall be sighted or blind members of a Lions international club in Georgia. Active members shall have the right to vote, hold office, serve on the GCBL Board, serve on the GCB Board when applicable, and to serve as delegates to the ACB national convention.
B. Associate members of GCBL shall be sighted or blind members of a Lions international club or Leo club in Georgia. Associate members shall have the right to vote and to serve on committees of the local organization. They shall not have the right to hold office or to be delegates to the state or national conventions.

Article II. Dues
A. The annual dues for active members of this organization shall be twenty dollars ($20.00); five dollars ($5.00) will be retained by the Georgia Council of Blind Lions (GCBL) Chapter and fifteen dollars ($15.00) will be forwarded to American Council of Blind Lions, the national special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.
B. Associate members shall pay annual dues of five dollars ($5.00) to be retained by the GCBL.
C. Annual dues shall be payable each January, and shall cover that calendar year through December 31. These dues shall be determined from time to time by a majority vote of the membership of GCBL at any regular meeting.

Article III. Finances
A. The President and the Treasurer shall be responsible for the selection of a bank where GCBL bank accounts shall be established.
B. The Treasurer may issue checks upon the request of the President.
C. Either the President or the Treasurer may sign checks on behalf of the organization.
D. The Treasurer and/or the President shall not spend more than fifty dollars ($50.00) without the approval of the Board of Directors or the membership.

Article IV. Meetings
Regular meetings of GCBL shall be held two (2) times a year: The first meeting shall be held at the State Convention of the Georgia Lions, usually held in May or June; and the second meeting shall be held during the GCB State Conference-Convention at the Lions’ breakfast.

ARTICLE V. CONVENTION DELEGATES
A. Each year, at the first meeting of this organization, a delegate shall be selected to serve with the President at the annual convention of American Council of Blind Lions. An alternate delegate shall be selected in case one of the other delegates cannot attend.
B. Each year, at the first meeting of this organization, a delegate shall be selected to serve with the President at the annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. An alternate delegate shall be selected in case one of the other delegates cannot attend.

Article VI. Removal
Any GCBL member may be removed from membership of this organization upon recommendation of a majority vote of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at a regular or special business meeting. Such member shall be accorded an opportunity to be heard prior to final action by the organization. Among the causes of removal shall be failure to comply with the Constitution and Bylaws of this organization, and/or questionable conduct or behavior not in conformance with the purpose of this organization.

Article VII. Amendments
All proposed amendments for the Bylaws shall be approved by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendments shall have been presented in writing, signed by at least three (3) members, and that they shall have been received at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting in which final action is to be taken.