3: Establish Life Membership
Proposed Change to ACBNY Constitution
Submitted by: Kathy Casey kcasey03@nycap.rr.com 518-462-9487
Purpose: To establish a membership classification of life membership within ACBNY
Justification: ACB already has one and ACBNY should, too.
Affected Article/section: Article IV Membership
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be of the following classifications:
A. Voting member:
Any person eighteen years of age or older who lives or works in New York state, or who
has lived or worked in New York State is eligible to become a voting member.
B. Members at Large:
Any person, eighteen years of age or older, who lives or works in New York State, or
who has lived or worked in New York State, who is not a voting member of any ACBNY
affiliate, may become a member at large. Members at large have the same rights as voting
members. Applications shall be made through the Membership Committee chair.
C. Junior Members:
Persons sixteen or seventeen years of age residing in New York State may become junior
members of ACBNY, but shall not vote. Their names shall not appear on lists sent to the
ACB National Office. They may apply for junior membership either through an ACBNY
affiliate, or directly through the Membership Committee chair.
D. Associate Members:
Any person eighteen years of age or older who is interested in supporting ACBNY may
hold an individual associate membership, but shall not vote, or hold office. Any
individual may apply for associate membership either through an ACBNY affiliate, or
directly through the Membership Committee chair. The names of associate members shall
not appear on lists submitted to the ACB National Office.
E. Organizational Members:
Any Organization within New York State, which is interested in supporting ACBNY,
may hold an organizational membership, but shall not vote. The organization's name shall
not appear on any list sent to the ACB National Office. Organizations shall obtain
membership directly through the Membership Committee chair.
Proposed Changes:
Add a new section after section E which reads:
F. Life member:
1. Any person eligible to become a voting member or member at large is eligible to
become a Life member. Life members have the same rights as voting members. A life
member may be a member of an affiliate of ACBNY. Life members shall be counted
when figuring affiliate voting credentials. Applications for Life membership shall be
made through the Membership Committee chair. The names of Life members shall
appear on lists submitted to the ACB National Office.
2. Dues for life members shall be assessed at half the rate of Life membership in the
American Council of the blind, Inc. at the time of application for said Life membership in
ACBNY, which may be paid in no more than five (5) consecutive annual installments.
Proposed New Language:
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be of the following classifications:
A. Voting member:
Any person eighteen years of age or older who lives or works in New York state, or who
has lived or worked in New York State is eligible to become a voting member.
B. Members at Large:
Any person, eighteen years of age or older, who lives or works in New York State, or
who has lived or worked in New York State, who is not a voting member of any ACBNY
affiliate, may become a member at large. Members at large have the same rights as voting
members. Applications shall be made through the Membership Committee chair.
C. Junior Members:
Persons sixteen or seventeen years of age residing in New York State may become junior
members of ACBNY, but shall not vote. Their names shall not appear on lists sent to the
ACB National Office. They may apply for junior membership either through an ACBNY
affiliate, or directly through the Membership Committee chair.
D. Associate Members:
Any person eighteen years of age or older who is interested in supporting ACBNY may
hold an individual associate membership, but shall not vote, or hold office. Any
individual may apply for associate membership either through an ACBNY affiliate, or
directly through the Membership Committee chair. The names of associate members shall
not appear on lists submitted to the ACB National Office.
E. Organizational Members:
Any Organization within New York State, which is interested in supporting ACBNY,
may hold an organizational membership, but shall not vote. The organization's name shall
not appear on any list sent to the ACB National Office. Organizations shall obtain
membership directly through the Membership Committee chair.
F. Life members:
1. Any person eligible to become a voting member or member at large of ACBNY is
eligible to become a Life member. Life members have the same rights as voting
members. A life member may be a member of an affiliate of ACBNY. Life members
shall be counted when figuring affiliate voting credentials. Applications for Life
membership shall be made through the Membership Committee chair. The names of Life
members shall appear on lists submitted to the ACB National Office.
2. Dues for life members shall be assessed at half the rate of Life membership in the
American Council of the blind, Inc. at the time of application for said Life membership in
ACBNY, which may be paid in no more than five (5) consecutive annual installments.
Affected Article/section: Article V Yearly Dues
Original Language:
Article V. Yearly Dues
Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors, provided this rate is higher than the dues
charged by ACB National. Dues amounts may vary according to type of membership.
Each affiliate, member at large, organizational member, and associate and junior member
not belonging to an affiliate shall submit the required dues to the Treasurer. This must be
done at least thirty days prior to the date on which dues must be received by the ACB
National Office. An alphabetical list of voting members shall be sent along with these
dues. This list shall also be sent to the Membership Committee chair. The Treasurer shall
notify each affiliate, member at large, organizational member, and associate and junior
member not belonging to an affiliate that dues, and where applicable membership lists,
must be sent. This notification shall be sent in writing at least thirty days before the State
dues submission date.
A list of the names and addresses of those receiving dues notification shall be provided to
the Treasurer by the Membership Committee chair at least thirty days before notices are
due.
Proposed Changes:
Add
“, except for Life members,”
after “Dues” and before “shall be set”
And
Add
“and Life member”
where “affiliate, member at large, organizational member, and associate and junior
member not belonging to an affiliate” appears.
Proposed New Language:
Article V. Yearly Dues
Dues, except for Life members, shall be set by the Board of Directors, provided this rate
is higher than the dues charged by ACB National. Dues amounts may vary according to
type of membership. Each affiliate, member at large, organizational member, and
associate and junior member not belonging to an affiliate and Life member shall submit
the required dues to the Treasurer. This must be done at least thirty days prior to the date
on which dues must be received by the ACB National Office. An alphabetical list of
voting members shall be sent along with these dues. This list shall also be sent to the
Membership Committee chair. The Treasurer shall notify each affiliate, member at large,
organizational member, and associate and junior member not belonging to an affiliate and
Life member that dues, and where applicable membership lists, must be sent. This
notification shall be sent in writing at least thirty days before the State dues submission
date.
A list of the names and addresses of those receiving dues notification shall be provided to
the Treasurer by the Membership Committee chair at least thirty days before notices are
due.
Affected Article/section: Article IX Standing Committees section I
Original Language:
I. Membership Committee:
This committee shall consist of a chair and three members to be appointed by the
President. The Membership Committee chair shall be charged with the responsibility of
maintaining a roll of the members of each affiliate, the members at large, organizational
members, and junior and associate members not belonging to an affiliate.
During the course of the year, each affiliate shall provide the Membership Committee
chair with changes, additions to and deletions from its membership roster.
The Membership Committee chair shall furnish the Newsletter Editor with an up-to-date
roster of all ACBNY members, and shall furnish the Treasurer with a list of all members
at large, organizational members, and junior and associate members who are not
members of affiliates.
The Membership Committee members shall assist the Membership Committee chair in
performing these functions, and shall be responsible for recruiting and helping affiliates
recruit new members and communicating whenever possible with former members,
encouraging them to rejoin.
Proposed Changes:
Add
“and Life member”
where “affiliate, member at large, organizational member, and associate and junior
member not belonging to an affiliate” appears.
Proposed New Language:
I. Membership Committee:
This committee shall consist of a chair and three members to be appointed by the
President. The Membership Committee chair shall be charged with the responsibility of
maintaining a roll of the members of each affiliate, the members at large, organizational
members, and junior and associate members not belonging to an affiliate and Life
members. During the course of the year, each affiliate shall provide the Membership
Committee chair with changes, additions to and deletions from its membership roster.
The Membership Committee chair shall furnish the Newsletter Editor with an up-to-date
roster of all ACBNY members, and shall furnish the Treasurer with a list of all members
at large, organizational members, and junior and associate members who are not
members of affiliates and Life members.
The Membership Committee members shall assist the Membership Committee chair in
performing these functions, and shall be responsible for recruiting and helping affiliates
recruit new members and communicating whenever possible with former members,
encouraging them to rejoin.
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