Constitution and Bylaws of the California Council of the Blind, Inc.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS of the
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, INC.
as amended October 19, 2003
Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the California Council of the Blind,
sometimes referred to herein as "the Council," or "CCB."

Article II. Affiliation

Section 2.1 The California Council of the Blind shall be an affiliate of
the American Council of the Blind.

Section 2.2 The California Council of the Blind shall not be subordinate to
any other organization.

Article III. Purposes

The purposes of this organization shall be:

3.1 to promote in every way, individually and collectively, the well being
of blind persons;

3.2 to provide a medium of expression and concerned action;

3.3 to inform all persons who are blind or visually impaired as to their
potentialities and opportunities and to impress upon them their
responsibilities to themselves and to society;

3.4 to awaken the public to the fact that blind individuals are an integral
part of the community, that they have abilities and accomplishments as well
as special needs, and that they want opportunities in all areas to be
contributing members of society; and

3.5 to seek the cooperation and assistance of social, civic, educational
and economic leaders, and to seek the cooperation of local, state, national
and international organizations and agencies working on behalf of the blind
in order to achieve the goals of this organization.

Article IV. Newel Perry Endowment Trust

Section 4.1 The Council hereby provides for the creation of an endowment
fund for the purpose of soliciting and investing funds for use in promoting
the purposes of the Council as set forth in Article III of the
Constitution. The name of the fund shall be the Newel Perry Endowment
Trust. The trust shall be administered by a Board of Trustees comprised of
three trustees.

Section 4.2 Three trustees shall be selected by the Board of Directors of
the California Council of the Blind. Should a trustee resign or be
incapacitated for any reason, such trustee shall be replaced by the
Council Board of Directors.

Section 4.3 The trustees shall serve without compensation. Their duties
shall be to accept, receive and hold, invest and reinvest contributions to
the Newel Perry Endowment Trust, with interest thereon and additions and
accretions thereto, and such other income that might accrue, upon the order
of the Board of Directors of the California Council of the Blind, shall pay
out and distribute the earned income for the purposes set forth in this
Article. The Board of Directors shall not order the expenditure of the
corpus unless a Constitutional amendment is adopted for that purpose which
must be proposed at the regular constituted Convention prior to the regular
constituted Convention at which such amendment is adopted, as provided in
Article XVII, Section 17.1 of this Constitution.

Section 4.4 The trustees shall comply with the provisions of the California
Business and Professions Code regulating charitable solicitations and shall
file such reports as may be necessary to obtain or maintain approval of the
tax exempt status of the Newel Perry Endowment Trust, California Council of
the Blind with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of California
Franchise Tax Board.

Section 4.5 The Council Board of Directors shall determine at any regular
meeting whether any or all of the trustees shall be bonded and in what
amount to guarantee the faithful performance of their duties, or whether
any or all of the trustees shall serve without bond. If the Council Board
of Directors takes no action on this subject, the trustees shall serve
without bond, but if bond is required, then bond premiums shall be paid
from the Newel Perry Endowment Trust funds.

Section 4.6 The trustees shall account to the Council Board of Directors
quarterly, providing such information as the Board shall direct. All
solicitations and investments shall be subject to the approval or
ratification of the Board. No expenditure of trust funds shall be made
unless two trustees shall sign therefor.

Section 4.7 The Board of Trustees, with the approval of the Council Board
of Directors, may adopt such rules and regulations consistent with the
provisions of this Article as they may deem advisable for the
administration of the trust funds.

Section 4.8 In case any funds are donated for a specific purpose within the
meaning or use of these trust funds, the wishes of the donor shall be
respected as far as possible.

Section 4.9 The trustees shall prepare an annual report to the membership
at the Council's annual Fall Convention.

Section 4.10 Upon the dissolution or winding up of the Council, the trust
funds shall be distributed as provided in the Constitution.

Article V. Meetings

Section 5.1 There shall be a regularly scheduled meeting of the California
Council of the Blind semiannually, the time and place to be fixed in
advance by the President or the Convention.

Section 5.2 The President may call a special meeting of the Council at any
time he/she deems such action to be necessary. The President shall notify
the presidents of all organizations affiliated with CCB and the Council's
members at large of the date, time and place of the special meeting at
least fifteen days in advance of such meeting.

Section 5.3 At least one third of the delegates or their alternates and at
least fifty individual voting members must be present and voting to
constitute a quorum to transact Council business.

Section 5.4 Each such meeting shall be known as the Convention of the
California Council of the Blind.

Article VI. Supreme Authority

Section 6.1 The California Council of the Blind in Convention assembled
shall be the supreme authority of this organization.

Section 6.2 No provision of this Constitution shall be construed so as to
diminish the authority of the Convention to act as the supreme authority of
the California Council of the Blind.

Article VII. Membership

Section 7.1 Any resident of the State of California who has attained the
age of sixteen years is eligible to become a Voting Member of the
California Council of the Blind upon compliance with the provisions set
forth in this Constitution and the Council Bylaws. The age requirement
shall not be applied retroactively.

Section 7.2 The California Council of the Blind shall have five classes of
members:

7.2.1 Chapter Members: All members of CCB chapters shall be members of the
California Council of the Blind.

7.2.2 Membership at Large: Any person who does not reside within reasonable
traveling distance of the meeting place of a Council chapter or for other
good cause cannot actively join his/her local Council chapter may become a
Member at Large. Determination of such eligibility shall be made by the CCB
President, subject to review by the Board of Directors.

7.2.3 Life Members: Any person who is eligible to vote in CCB elections
and who has paid Life Membership dues in the amount set forth in the
Council Bylaws shall be a Life Member of CCB. If a life member resigns or
is expelled, the Life Membership Dues shall be refunded and his/her Life
Membership shall be revoked.

7.2.4 Honorary Permanent Member: The Council shall have a single Honorary
permanent member, the founder and long time President of the Council, Dr.
Newel Perry, now deceased.

7.2.5 Sustaining Members: Upon payment of dues as prescribed in the Council
Bylaws, any group or individual may become a Sustaining Member of the Council.

Section 7.3 All members except the Honorary permanent member shall pay dues
in accordance with this Constitution and the Council Bylaws.

Section 7.4 Except as provided in this Constitution, Chapter Members,
Members at Large and Life Members shall be deemed "Voting Members" and
shall have the right to present motions, speak on the floor of the
Convention, vote, serve on Council committees and hold Council office. The
majority of the voting membership shall be legally blind.

Section 7.5 Sustaining Members shall have all the rights of membership
conferred upon the Chapter Members, Members at Large and Life Members
except that Sustaining Members shall not have the right to vote and may not
hold office in the Council or any of its Chapters.

Section 7.6 Except as provided in this Constitution, a chapter or member
may be suspended only by a majority vote or expelled only by a two thirds
vote of the Convention after a hearing as prescribed in Robert's Rules of
Order. In the proceedings to suspend or expel, the chapter or member
charged shall have the right to vote.

Article VIII. Chapter Affiliation

Section 8.1 Any organized group of ten or more individuals, a majority of
whom are blind, may apply for affiliation with the California Council of
the Blind.

Section 8.2 To apply for affiliation with the California Council of the
Blind, the group desiring to be affiliated shall submit to the President
and Treasurer of the Council a copy of its Constitution and a list of the
names and addresses of its members. The officers of the group shall be
indicated on the list. If the Council either in Convention assembled or by
action of the Board of Directors approves the affiliation, the Council
President shall issue to the accepted group a certificate of affiliation.

Section 8.3 A chapter's privileges and duties as an affiliate of the
California Council of the Blind shall be as set forth in this Constitution
and the Council Bylaws. Any chapter not retaining at least ten members for
two consecutive years shall be deemed inactive and shall lose its privilege
to vote at the Council convention. At this time, the Board of directors may
consider the withdrawal of the chapter's charter. All members of such a
chapter shall retain their privileges of membership in the Council and
shall become Members-at-large in the case of withdrawal of charter.

Section 8.4 No group shall remain an affiliate of the Council unless at
least a majority of its voting members are blind.

Section 8.5 The Council President shall be an ex officio member of each
affiliated chapter.

Section 8.6 Each chapter of the Council shall notify the Council President
of election results in writing after each chapter election or after any
change of officers in such chapter.

Section 8.7 Each chapter of the Council shall send annually to the
President and the Treasurer of the Council a list of the names and
addresses of its members.

Section 8.8 Each chapter shall collect and pay to the Council Treasurer,
care of the CCB office, the annual dues assessed by the Council according
to the provisions set forth in this Constitution and the Council Bylaws.

Section 8.9 Each chapter shall elect a delegate who is a current voting
member of the chapter to attend Council conventions and cast the chapter's
vote. The chapter may also elect an alternate delegate who is a current
voting member of the chapter. The chapter shall provide its delegate and
alternate delegate with a credential. Such credential must be submitted to
the Council President and Treasurer at least thirty days prior to each CCB
Convention. No credential of a delegate or alternate delegate may be
accepted unless the annual dues of the chapter seeking to be represented
are paid. This section is subject to the provisions set forth in the
Council Bylaws.

Section 8.10 An individual may join more than one chapter and may enjoy all
privileges of membership in all chapters he/she joins except that each
chapter member of the Council shall be counted only in one chapter for the
purpose of counting the votes at Council Conventions, shall pay Council
dues through only one chapter and may cast only one vote each for a
delegate and alternate delegate to Council Conventions. Therefore, any
individual who has joined more than one chapter shall inform the chapters'
Presidents of which chapter he/she desires to be counted in for the purpose
of representation at Council conventions and for assessment of Council dues.

Section 8.11 Each chapter of the California Council of the Blind shall be
allowed to establish its own requirements for membership in that chapter
except that such requirements shall be consistent with the provisions of
this Constitution and the Constitution of the American Council of the Blind.

Section 8.12 When an affiliated chapter violates its own Constitution, this
Constitution or that of the American Council of the Blind, the Board of
Directors may by majority vote suspend the chapter until the next regular
Council Convention. The Convention shall then vote to expel the chapter,
continue the suspension or reinstate the chapter, unless the chapter has
been reinstated by the Board of Directors prior to the Convention. An
affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the voting membership present
and voting shall be required to expel a chapter. A majority vote shall be
sufficient to continue the suspension or to reinstate the chapter.

Section 8.13 No chapter shall expend any of its funds for any purposes
inconsistent with the provisions of the California Charitable Trust
statutes or of the Internal Revenue Code under which those funds were
collected.

Section 8.14 The Constitution of each affiliated chapter shall provide that
upon its dissolution, liquidation, or abandonment, the property of the
chapter shall not inure to the benefit of any person but, unless otherwise
stipulated in accordance with the laws of the State of California, shall,
after providing for the chapter's debts and obligations, be distributed to
the California Council of the Blind.

Article IX. Statewide Affiliates

Section 9.1 In addition to the Chapters authorized by Article VIII, which
are local in nature, Statewide Affiliates may be organized which have at
least ten members and the purposes of which are similar to and not in
conflict with those of the California Council of the Blind. A Statewide
Affiliate is bound together by a common interest rather than by
geographical proximity. Such a statewide affiliate shall have the duties,
rights and privileges of all other affiliates as described in Article VIII.

Section 9.2 All members of statewide affiliates of the California Council
of the Blind shall be deemed members of CCB. Such members shall also be
eligible to become members of local chapters without regard to their
membership in statewide affiliates. Dues and voting strength of the
statewide affiliates shall not be reconed on a per capita basis.

Article X. Board of Directors Composition

Section 10.1 The Board of Directors of the California Council of the Blind
shall consist of five officers, 9 directors, and the immediate past
President. The officers of the Council shall be President, First Vice
President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 10.2 The President of the Council shall serve as Chair of the Board
of Directors.

Section 10.3 At least two thirds of the members of the Board of Directors
shall be blind. The President and the Vice Presidents shall be blind.

Section 10.4 All officers and directors shall be elected for two-year
terms, subject, however, to the provisions set forth in this Article. The
President, First Vice President, Treasurer and four directors shall be
elected at the Fall Convention of each even numbered year. The Second Vice
President, the Secretary and 5 directors shall be elected at the Fall
Convention of each odd numbered year. The terms of officers and directors
shall commence January 1 of the year following the adjournment of the
Convention at which their election occurs.

Section 10.5 All voting members who are in good standing and who are not
employed by the California Council of the Blind shall be eligible to hold a
position on the Board of Directors.

Section 10.6 An officer or director of the Council who has served four
consecutive terms in the same position shall be barred from holding that
position for a period of four years from the date the fourth term expires.

Section 10.7 If a vacancy occurs in the office of President during the
period between regular Conventions the First and Second Vice Presidents
shall serve as President and Vice President respectively until the next
regularly scheduled Convention at which time the office of President shall
be filled by election. After the election the First and Second Vice
Presidents shall resume their respective duties as First and Second Vice
Presidents except in the event that one or the other should be elected
President. In that case the vacated position shall be filled by election at
the same Convention.

Section 10.8 Should the office of Secretary or Treasurer become vacant
during the period between regularly scheduled Conventions, the President
shall fill the position by appointment. The appointee shall take office
immediately upon designation by the President and shall remain in office
until the next regularly scheduled Council Convention at which time a
Council member shall be elected to fill the position vacated.

Section 10.9 Vacancies in all other Board of Directors positions, except
immediate past President, shall be filled by election at the Convention
during which they occur or if they occur between Conventions, then they
shall be filled by election at the regularly scheduled Convention
immediately following their occurrence.

Section 10.10 A Council member elected to fill any position vacated by any
officer or director shall serve for the unexpired term of that officer or
director. The period during which a Council member fills an unexpired term
as an officer or director shall not be deemed a term of office as defined
in Section 10.4 of this Article.

Section 10.11 The Convention may remove any officer or director of the
Council between elections only by a two thirds vote of the Council members
in Convention assembled. The Convention must receive notice of the
impending vote to remove at least 24 hours in advance of such vote. If any
officer or director should be so removed, a replacement may be elected by a
simple majority vote as in the case of the regular elections. The
replacement shall serve for the unexpired term of the removed officer or
director. A President so removed shall not serve as immediate past President.

Section 10.12 Officers and directors shall be elected to office by a simple
majority vote.

Article XI. Board of Directors Duties

Section 11.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution or in the
Council Bylaws, the duties of the officers and directors of the California
Council of the Blind shall be those customarily associated with their
respective offices.

Section 11.2 The Board of Directors shall be the policy making body of the
Council between Conventions. It shall advise the President and approve any
policy decisions. It shall have charge of affairs of the organization
between Conventions with respect to matters not otherwise within the
responsibilities of the President as set forth in this Constitution and the
Council Bylaws.

Section 11.3 The Board of Directors shall meet during the regularly
scheduled Conventions of the Council as well as at the call of the
President or upon written call signed by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 11.4 Two thirds of the Board of Directors must be present and
voting in order to constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be required at any
meeting in which any Council business is conducted.

Section 11.5 The Board of Directors may be polled by mail or by telephone
conference during which the votes cast by the Board of Directors shall be
duly noted.

Section 11.6 The President of the California Council of the Blind shall be
in charge of the management of the Council's daily affairs and shall have
the authority to hire and fire staff members. However, professional staff
may be terminated only after consultation with the entire Board of Directors.

Section 11.7 The President or his/her designee shall represent the Council
in matters relating to each organization with which the Council is formally
affiliated.

Section 11.8 The President with the concurrence of the Board of Directors
shall select a Council member who shall serve as Parliamentarian at all
Council meetings and whose decisions respecting parliamentary processes
shall be final except that at no time shall a ruling of the Parliamentarian
take precedence over the Supreme Authority of the Convention. Members of
the Board of Directors shall not be barred from serving as Parliamentarian.

Section 11.9 The funds of the Council shall be deposited in a bank(s) to be
chosen by the President and the Treasurer.

Section 11.10 The President and the Treasurer shall be bonded.

Section 11.11 On or before January 1 of each year the Treasurer shall
notify all affiliated organizations, Sustaining Members, and Members at
Large of the annual dues owed by them to the Council. The treasurer shall
prepare a list of paid up members to be given to the President at least
forty-five days in advance of the regularly scheduled Spring Convention.
Members may submit amendments to the lists to the Treasurer up to thirty
days prior to the regularly scheduled Fall Convention.

Section 11.12 The Treasurer shall report the Council's annual financial
position to the Council membership assembled at each Fall Convention. The
Treasurer shall also provide reports of the Council's current financial
affairs to the President or to the Board of Directors within thirty days
after receipt of a written request thereof by the President or the Board of
Directors.

Section 11.13 All financial obligations of the Council shall be discharged
by check issued on the written order of the President and signed by the
Treasurer. If the Treasurer should become incapacitated or otherwise
unavailable, then another officer of the Council other than the authorizing
officer may sign checks during the period of the Treasurer's incapacity or
unavailability. If, in emergency, the authorizing agent finds it necessary
to authorize and sign any check(s), he/she shall report all such
transactions to the board of directors immediately.

Article XII. Committees

The California Council of the Blind shall have Standing Committees and
other committees as provided in the Council Bylaws.

Article XIII. Voting

Section 13.1 Any individual Voting Member attending a Convention of the
California Council of the Blind shall have one vote.

Section 13.2 The delegate or alternate delegate of each chapter of the
Council shall cast the number of votes to which his/her chapter is
entitled, the number of which shall be provided by the Council Bylaws. The
chapters' votes shall be publicly cast by the delegate or alternate
delegate in the event of a roll call vote.

Section 13.3 In the event of a roll call vote, the individual vote,
excluding officers and directors, shall be taken first, followed by the
delegate vote, after which each officer and director shall be called by
name and shall cast his/her individual vote publicly. However, officers and
directors will not be required to vote publicly in elections.

Section 13.4 Members of the Council whose dues are in arrears shall not be
entitled to vote.

Section 13.5 In all matters except for elections, roll call votes shall not
be required unless otherwise provided in the Council Bylaws.

Section 13.6 All Council elections shall be held by voice vote if there is
only one nominee.

Section 13.7 Voting by proxy shall be prohibited.

Section 13.8 No provision in this Constitution or the Council Bylaws shall
be construed so as to prevent a Board member from being elected as a
chapter's delegate or alternate delegate.

Section 13.9 No person may serve simultaneously as a delegate or alternate
delegate from more than one chapter or statewide affiliate.

Article XIV. Dues

Section 14.1 Dues shall be paid on a calendar year basis and shall, if
unpaid, be deemed delinquent on or after March 1 of the year due.

Section 14.2 The dues of chapter members shall be paid through their
respective chapters. The dues owed by each chapter shall be calculated on a
per capita basis.

Section 14.3 The amount of dues shall be set forth in the Council Bylaws.

Section 14.4 Any individual or Council chapter whose dues are delinquent
six months or more shall lose all rights and privileges of membership and
shall be required to reapply as new members.

Article XV. Fund Raising by Chapters

Section 15.1 Chapters affiliated with the California Council of the Blind
shall not engage in any fund raising activities which the Board of
Directors of the Council deems to be in conflict with or detrimental to the
Council or its fund raising activities.

Section 15.2 The President of the Council shall be notified in full detail
at least thirty days in advance of the beginning date of any proposed fund
raising activity involving public solicitation. The President may waive the
thirty day requirement when extenuating circumstances exist. If the
President finds that such proposed fund raising activities would be
detrimental to the Council or its fund raising activities, the matter shall
be referred to the Board of Directors. The decision of the Board of
Directors shall be binding.

Section 15.3 In order to assist chapters in planning their fund raising
activities, the Council President shall notify chapters regarding fund
raising activities in their areas as soon as possible.

Section 15.4 The funds raised by any chapter belong to that chapter for its
use. However, as a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, each chapter has
an obligation to report its fund raising activities to the appropriate
agencies of state and federal government. Thus, if a chapter does not have
its own tax-exempt status, it must raise funds as a part of and under the
tax-exempt status of CCB. The fore, each such chapter shall annually report
to the CCB treasurer no later than December 31 the nature of its fund
raising projects during the year together with the amounts of the proceeds
realized and the expenses incurred in connection with such projects.

Section 15.5 Any violation of this Article shall be considered adequate
grounds for the immediate suspension of the offending chapter or
individual(s) by the Board of Directors.

Article XVI. Bylaws

All specific enactments of the Council passed by a majority vote at any
Convention of the Council shall constitute the Bylaws of the Council when
so designated by the Convention. Amendments to the Bylaws shall be adopted
by a majority vote.

Article XVII. Constitutional Amendments

Section 17.1 This Constitution may be amended at any regular Convention of
the Council by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the members who are
present and voting. The proposed amendment shall have been introduced at
the previous regular Convention of the Council and it shall have been
presented in writing to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

Section 17.2 This Constitution may also be amended at any regular Council
Convention by an affirmative vote of three fourths of the members who are
present and voting provided that the proposed amendment shall have been
presented in writing to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and that it
shall have been presented to the Council Convention at least one day prior
to the day on which the final action is taken.

Article XVIII. Parliamentary Procedures

Any situation not covered by this Constitution or the Council Bylaws
adopted under it shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rules
of Order.

Article XIX. Dissolution of the Council

The California Council of the Blind is organized pursuant to the general
nonprofit corporation laws of the State of California. The property of the
Council is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and in the event of
liquidation, dissolution or abandonment of the Council, after providing for
the debts and obligations thereof, the remaining assets will not inure to
the benefit of any private person but will be dispersed to the American
Council of the Blind. However, should such dispersal not be possible, these
assets will be disposed of in such manner as may be dictated by a decree of
the Superior Court of the county in which the Council's Agent for Service
of Process is located. Upon petition therefore by the Attorney General or
any person concerned with the liquidation, dissolution or abandonment in
proceedings to which the Attorney General shall be a party with special
emphasis given, unless otherwise stipulated in accordance with the laws of
the State of California, to contribute such assets to another California
charitable organization having similar or identical goals as does this
organization.

BYLAWS

Article I. Committees

Section 1.1 The California Council of the Blind shall have seven Standing
Committees:

1.1.1 Finance and Budget
1.1.2 Constitution and Bylaws
1.1.3 Fund Raising
1.1.4 Governmental Affairs
1.1.5 Membership
1.1.6 Publications
1.1.7 Personnel.
Section 1.2 The Council President shall appoint a Finance and Budget
Committee and designate its chair immediately upon taking office.

Section 1.3 The Finance and Budget Committee shall arrange for an annual
independent audit of the Council's books. It shall also conduct a regular
annual review of the Council's books and provide a summary of the Council's
financial condition to the Board of Directors, along with any
recommendations it may have upon completing such review. Such a summary
shall also be provided to the Board of Directors by the Finance and Budget
Committee upon written request therefor.

Section 1.4 The Finance and Budget Committee shall present an annual budget
to the Board of Directors for its adoption.

Section 1.5 The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall be available to any
member who wishes to propose amendments. It shall be responsible for
sending notices of pending amendments and changes adopted to voting
members. It shall initiate changes that it believes will make the Council
more democratic and effective.

Section 1.6 The Fund Raising Committee shall seek and select methods of
increasing the Council's income. Its decisions shall be subject to the
approval of the Board of Directors. It shall be responsible for carrying
out fund raising activities which have been given such approval.

Section 1.7 The Governmental Affairs Committee shall review legislation
affecting the blind and shall prepare a summary of such legislation for
distribution to the Council members.

Section 1.8 The Membership Committee shall actively seek new members and
assist in the organization of new chapters. It shall also serve as a
hospitality committee during Council Conventions when needed.

Section 1.9 The Publications Committee shall be responsible for Council
publications distributed in Braille, recorded or print format both within
and outside the organization, including: brochures, pamphlets, speeches,
articles, position papers, the Council's magazine, and any special
publications.

Section 1.10. The Personnel Committee shall be responsible for advising
the president and board of directors on personnel matters. They shall be
responsible for preparing job descriptions, preparing an employee handbook,
and performing any other personnel related duties requested by the president.

Section 1.11. In addition, there shall be the following convention
committees: resolutions, nominating, and credentials. The Council
President shall appoint a Resolutions Committee sixty days before each
Council Convention. Council members shall be asked to submit resolutions in
writing thirty days in advance of the Convention. The Resolutions Committee
shall assign a number to each proposed resolution and it shall present each
proposal to the Convention.

Section 1.12. The Council shall have a Nominations Committee which shall
nominate candidates for positions on the Board of Directors. The
Nominations Committee shall consist of a voting member selected from each
chapter and each statewide affiliate.

Section 1.13. The Council President shall appoint the Chairperson who shall
preside over meetings of the Nominations Committee. The Chairperson shall
not vote unless he/she has also been selected by a chapter or statewide
affiliate as a member of the Nominations Committee.

Section 1.14. At the Spring Convention, during the Credentials Report, the
delegates shall announce their representative on the Nominations Committee.
No member of the Nominations Committee shall represent more than one
chapter or statewide affiliate. No employee of the Council shall serve on
the Nominations Committee. Membership on the Nominations Committee shall
not preclude members from being nominated by the Nominations Committee or
from the floor.

Section 1.15. The Nominations Committee shall meet in executive session
during the Spring Convention and shall submit its report regarding the
nominations during that Convention. The Nominations Committee shall verify
that nominees are members in good standing and that they are available as
candidates.

Section 1.16. The Council President shall appoint a Credentials Committee
of three members prior to each Council Convention. The Committee shall
confirm to the Convention the names of all representatives and voting
members in good standing.

Section 1.17. Under extenuating circumstances, the Credentials Committee
may accept the credential of a Council affiliate's delegate and alternate
delegate up to the time of the Committee's regular meeting prior to each
Council Convention, notwithstanding the provision set forth in Article
VIII, Section 8.9 of the Council's Constitution.

Section 1.18. The Council President shall be an ex officio member of all
Council Committees except the Nominations Committee. The President shall
not be a member of the Nominations Committee.

Section 1.19. Employees of the California Council of the Blind shall not be
eligible to serve on Council committees.

Section 1.20 If the President receives a written complaint that a chapter
is violating its own constitution or bylaws, or the constitution or bylaws
of either the California Council of the Blind, or the American Council of
the Blind, and the President believes that this complaint is not frivolous,
the President shall:

1.20.1 notify the President of the chapter, by way of a letter, of the
nature of the complaint, explaining the procedure which will be followed by
the Board of Directors in evaluating the complaint;

1.20.2 appoint a committee to investigate and determine the validity of the
complaint and report its findings to the Board of Directors of the
California Council of the Blind.

Section 1.21 The President of the Council may establish other committees as
needed to further the Council's purposes. The President may appoint the
members of such committees and designate their chairs. The President may
not remove a committee member over his/her objection without the approval
of the Board of Directors.

Article II. Voting

Section 2.1 Each chapter of the California Council of the Blind shall be
entitled to five votes plus one additional vote for each five members in
excess of twenty-five members. If the last increment of five members
constitutes a major fraction of that number, the chapter shall be entitled
to an additional vote consistent with the voting formula detailed in this
section.
However, no chapter shall be entitled to more than twenty-five votes.

Section 2.2 Should a chapter fall below the ten member minimum requirement
as specified for chapter affiliation in Article VIII,
Section 8.1 of the Council's Constitution, the chapter may lose its chapter
vote, but no individual member shall lose his/her individual vote.

Section 2.3 In the event of a roll call vote, the names of chapter
delegates or their alternates shall be called and they shall cast the
chapters' votes orally.

Section 2.4 Except in elections, the votes of individual members shall be
ascertained by a division of the house. In elections, individual members
shall cast their votes by secret ballot.

Section 2.5 Except in elections, a roll call vote shall not be required
unless a minimum of 20 Voting Members request it.

ARTICLE III. Dues

Section 3.1 The annual dues to the Council from each affiliated chapter
shall be three dollars multiplied by the number of members declaring that
chapter as their home chapter except those members who are life members of
the California Council of the Blind.

Section 3.2 The annual dues to the Council from each Statewide Affiliate
shall be fifty dollars regardless of the size of its membership.

Section 3.3 The dues to the Council from each Member at Large shall be ten
dollars per year.

Section 3.4 Individuals who are Sustaining Members of the Council shall pay
annual dues to the Council in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
Organizations which are Sustaining Members of the Council shall pay annual
dues to the Council in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00). Individual
Sustaining Members who have not attained the age of sixteen years, however,
shall be required to pay annual dues to the Council in the amount of one
dollar ($1.00).

Section 3.5 Any voting member who has paid Life Membership dues in the
amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) shall be a Life Member of the
Council. Such dues may be paid in a lump sum or in five or fewer annual
payments. When Life Membership dues are paid in installments, the potential
Life Member shall continue to pay regular annual dues in addition to the
installments until the Life Membership is fully paid.

Section 3.6 The Treasurer shall deposit all funds derived from the payment
of Life Membership dues and the principal amount of that deposit shall not
be expended for any purpose until the death of the Life member. From the
interest accrued in the account of Life Membership payments, the Treasurer
shall pay the California Council of the Blind dues that the Life
Member's home chapter would have paid at the time the Life Membership was
established. Any other interest derived from the Life Membership account
shall be paid into the general fund of the California Council of the Blind.

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