PREAMBLE

We the people of the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind gather in the city of Atlanta, in the State of Georgia, in the month of July, in the year of 2000 to begin serving blind and visually impaired people who have an interest in entering into the entertainment field. Our definition of performing arts includes actors, singers, musicians, record producers, recording engineers, managers, entertainment lawyers and administrators, dancers, poets, voice over specialists, broadcasters, magitions and stand up comedians.

Article I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind, hereinafter referred to as the Division.

Article II: PURPOSE

The general purpose of the Division is to serve as a promotional and networking resource to help members achieve their artistic and financial goals within the entertainment field. We seek to raise awareness of blind entertainers of all genres in the general media through sponsoring live performances and projects. We will communicate the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind through all our artistic endeavors.

Article III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Division shall consist of blind or visually impaired members of the National Federation of the Blind with an active or professional interest in the entertainment community. Yearly dues of no less than $5.00 US are required to participate in division activities and elections.

Article IV: MEETINGS

A general membership meeting at NFB conventions must be held every year. Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of a majority of the Leadership Committee. Three active members and two officers must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business.

Article V: OFFICERS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Section 1. The officers of the division shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and such other appointed officers as approved by the Leadership Committee. Each officer's term runs for 2 years with no term limit, with the exception of the Treasurer as described in Section 5. Failure to meet the requirements set forth as officers can result in a removal by a unanimous vote from the leadership committee.
  
  
• Section 2. The President has a primary duty to oversee the operations of the Division and is responsible for the conduct of the Division's activities in a manner that will assure the accomplishment of the Division's purposes, subject to the policy guidance of the Leadership Committee. They will present and implement projects that contribute to the positive progression of the division. He/she will make appointments to other leadership posts and create additional posts where necessary. The president will serve as the general advocate, representative and negotiator for the division and will be the divisions' official liaison to outside entities in the interest of the division.
  
  
• Section 3. The Vice President serves as an assistant to the president, and is the chief presidential adviser. They will help present and implement projects that contribute to the positive progression of the division. The Vice President will also serve as a general advocate, representative and negotiator for the division and will be a liaison to outside entities in the interest of the division. They will serve as acting president if the president cannot be present at national conventions.
  
  
• Section 4. The Secretary is the chief record keeper. They must keep track of general business at both general membership and leadership meetings. If the Secretary cannot be present, any available member of the leadership committee can take on that roll, but must report their notes back to the secretary. The secretary will then provide reports on the progress of the division to the email newsgroup moderator for transmission and will also present them at general membership meetings. They must keep track of projects, changes in constitutional rules and other statistical data. Back up records should be kept, and must be available to the leadership committee upon request.
  
  
• Section 5. The Treasurer is the chief money manager and will be appointed, rather than elected, by the President or Vice President and approved by the leadership committee. The Treasurer shall maintain the Division's financial records, prepare annual budgets, and report regularly to the Leadership Committee on the financial status of the Division. He/She will also present a financial report to the general membership at the annual meeting. The Division bank account must be maintained at a national bank chain and will be held in the name of the Treasurer and one additional name from the Leadership Committee. The treasurer is required to track the profit and expense for Division fundraising ventures including logging sales for the Division table at national conventions, and clearing invoices with outside entities. Approval of all expenses and reimbursement requests shall require the joint approval of the Treasurer and the President. All expense and reimbursement requests should be submitted first to the Treasurer, who will review them in terms of the spending guidelines established by the Leadership Committee. There is no limit on how long a treasurer can serve, however, due to the importance of this office to the financial well being of the division, any unusual activity by the treasurer must be reported and addressed as soon as possible.
  
  

  Article VI: OFFICER ELECTIONS

  Elections of officers will be held on even numbered years at the Division general meeting during the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Any general member in good dues standing can run for office but cannot hold any other elective office at the same time. Members running for office who cannot be present for elections must inform Division leadership of their intention to be in the race. Nominations will be accepted during the general division meeting and a simple majority vote will be held for each position that is up for election. Votes will be tallied and confirmed by leadership members at the meeting.

Article VII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Section 1. The Division Board of Directors functions as a unit of no more than six (6) people who serve as advisers to the elected leadership committee. It consists no more than three (3) elected and three (3) appointed members. As members of the leadership committee, board members can make recommendations, have voting power, and help suggest and decide on Division activities.
  
  
• Section 2. Elections. Any general member in good dues standing (except the treasurer) can run for the three (3) elective positions, but cannot hold any other elective office at the same time. Elections for these spots will be held during even numbered years at the Division general meeting during the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Members running for the Board who cannot be present for elections must inform Division leadership of their intention to be in the race. Nominations will be accepted during the general division meeting and a simple majority vote will be held for each position that is up for election. Votes will be tallied and confirmed by leadership members at the meeting.
  
  
• Section 3. Appointment. The President or Vice President can make appointments to the board, subject to the approval of the leadership committee. Appointed board members serve as experts in the various fields of performing arts who can offer the Division a direct connection into their profession. It is recommended that appointed board members refrain from holding other division leadership positions at the same time. The president can replace these appointed positions at any time subject to the approval of the leadership committee.

Article VIII: OTHER DIVISION ROLES

• Section 1. The positions set forth in this article are not leadership committee positions, and therefore a leadership member can hold them in addition to their office. These spots can be appointed or re-appointed by the president with a majority vote of approval from the leadership at any time if it is in the best interest of the division.
  
  
• Section 2. The Web Master will edit, maintain and update the official website for the division. It is not mandatory that the division have a web site, however, it is strongly recommended. He/She should be a Division member, however, if no qualified members are available, the leadership can look outside the Division to fill the position.
  
  
• Section 3. The Moderator maintains the online email membership groups and mailing lists. He/She should be a Division member, however, if no qualified members are available, the leadership can look outside the Division to fill the position.
  
  
• Section 4. Members will make their best effort to attend general meetings and positively represent the Division as a whole. Members also agree to report any address changes to the Secretary or Moderator.

Article IX: VACANCY

The President, in consultation with the Leadership Committee, shall be empowered to appoint an alternative in case of a vacancy in an office or board position between conventions. Special elections may be called following the announcement of the vacancy by the President.

Article X: AFFILIATION

The Division shall be an active division of the National Federation of the Blind and shall furnish to the president of the National Federation of the Blind annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. A copy of the Division constitution, and of all amendments to the constitution, shall be sent to the president of the National Federation of the Blind without delay upon adoption. This organization shall comply with the provisions of the constitution of the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind (whether made by the national convention or the national board of directors) are binding on this organization. This organization shall participate affirmatively in carrying out such policy decisions.

Article XI, DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this division, or if (for whatever reason) it ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind, its assets shall be given to the National Federation of the Blind to be held in trust for a reorganized division. In the event that no division is reorganized for a period of two (2) years from the date this organization ceases to be a division of the National Federation of the Blind, the assets become the property of the National Federation of the Blind.

Article XII: AMENDMENT

This Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the membership by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the active members present and voting.