White Cane Day Abilene

Tuesday, October 11

8:00 AM - Rally on City Hall Steps at 555 Walnut Street

• Speeches by a number of local, blind leaders and advocates for the blind
• Petition available for review & signing - WIA-FLSA Petition to Eliminate Subminimum Wages
• Applications for the NFB Free White Cane Program will be available

8:30 City Council Session Starts in Council Chambers of 2nd Floor

• The Council and attendees will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Jordan Shiflett, a blind 5th Grader attending AISD
• White Cane Day Proclamation – Mayor Norm Archibald to Mary Kindrick, NFB Abilene Chapter President
• Many blind persons are expected to be in attendance including educators, students, service providers, advocates, and supporters

Saturday, October 15

10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Frontier Texas Adventure - 625 North First Street Abilene, Texas 79601

• Special Admission Prices for the blind & visually impaired.
• This is one of the Nation’s Top 5 Interactive Museums.
• The blind or visually impaired visitor will be able to enjoy tactile experiences with many of the exhibits.

Educational Seminar

You are cordially invited to participate in our Educational Seminar for the Blind and Visually impaired, on Saturday 8th October, 2011, at the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, 3940 Capital Avenue, Dallas. This event will begin at 10:00AM and go until 4:00PM. Refreshments will be served.

• At 11:00AM the Texas State Library for the Blind will provide an overview on the features of its new digital talking book player, as well as an introduction to downloading material from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website. You are Encouraged to bring your digital talking book players.
• Light lunch from 12:30-1:15PM.
• Crystal Vision, INC. will display and demonstrate the latest technology
• The Dallas County Board of Elections will demonstrate and train us on the accessible audio voting machines used in the county. An accessible Blind Voter’s Guide will be available.
• The Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind will update us on its services.
• National Federation of the Blind Newsline is a free electronic service that gives any blind, visually impaired, or print disabled person access to newspapers, magazines, job listings, and TV listings,24 hours a day, 7 days a week using a touch tone telephone, on a Web, or by download to a digital talking book player or MP3 playing device.

Please make plans to attend. This promises to be a fun filled event.
For further information, you may call:

Do not miss it!

Brought to you by the Dallas Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas.

Houston Constitution

Table of contents

• ARTICAL I: NAME


• ARTICAL II: PURPOSE


• ARTICAL III: MEMBERSHIP
• SECTION ONE: ACTIVE MEMBERS


• SECTION TWO: ASSOCIATE MEMBERS


• SECTION THREE: AFFILIATION


• SECTION FOUR: EXPULSION

• ARTICAL IV: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES


• ARTIVAL V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS


• ARTICAL VI: MEMBERSHIP
• SECTION ONE: REGULAR MEETINGS


• SECTION TWO: SPECIAL MEETINGS

• ARTICAL VII:COMMITTEES




• ARTICAL VIII: AFFILIATION


• ARTICAL IX: DUES


• ARTICAL X: DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS


• ARTICAL XI DISSOLUTION


• ARTICAL XII AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be The National Federation of the Blind of Texas Houston Chapter.

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ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of The National Federation of the Blind of Texas Houston Chapter
shall be to advance the general welfare of the blind of the Harris County area, of the state of Texas, and of the nation; to function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind; to serve as a vehicle for collective action by the blind of the Harris County area; to operate as a mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come together to plan and carry out programs to improve the quality of life of the blind; to provide a means of collective action for parents of blind children; to forward the interests of blind students and provide them with a means of joint action and expression; to promote the vocational, cultural, and social advancement of the blind; to achieve the integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted; and to take any other action which will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.

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ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION ONE - ACTIVE MEMBERS

At least a majority of the active members of this organization must be blind. Any person may become an active member of this organization by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting, and shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, speak on the floor, and hold office.

SECTION TWO ? ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Any person may be elected to associate membership in this organization by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting. Associate members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except that they may not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. Associate members shall not pay dues.

SECTION THREE - AFFILIATION

Membership in this organization automatically establishes membership in the
National Federation of the Blind of Texas, and the National Federation of the Blind.

SECTION FOUR - EXPULSION

Any member may be expelled for violation of this Constitution or for conduct unbecoming to a member of the Federation by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at any regular business meeting of this organization. The state convention of this organization may reinstate any person who has been expelled unless such expulsion has been confirmed by the National Convention or by the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, in which event the person may not be reinstated except by the National Convention or by the National Board. Any person who feels that he/she has been unjustly expelled from this organization may appeal to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, which may (in its discretion) consider the matter and make a binding decision.

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ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

There shall be elected, every two years, a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The terms of these officers shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected and qualified. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members who are present and voting. Election shall be by voice vote, standing vote, show of hands, or roll call vote unless at least four-fifths of the active members who are present and voting decide that a secret ballot shall be used. There shall be no proxy voting. If no nominee receives a majority vote on the first ballot, the name of the person receiving the fewest votes shall be dropped from the list of nominees, and a second ballot shall be taken. This procedure shall continue until one of the nominees has received a majority vote from the active members present and voting. The duties of each officer shall be those ordinarily associated with that office. The President, the first Vice President, and a majority of the Officers must be blind.

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ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of the five (5) constitutional officers and two (2) additional members. The two (2) Board Members shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of officers. The Board shall meet at the call of the President or on written call signed by any three (3) of the Board Members. The Board shall advise the President and shall have charge of the affairs of the organization between meetings. At least a majority of the members of the Board must be present at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business. The Board may be polled by telephone or mail ballot on any questions. A majority of the Board must be blind.

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ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

SECTION ONE - REGULAR MEETINGS

This organization shall hold regular meetings at a time and place to be determined by the membership. At least four (4) active members (an officer plus three (3) or more members) must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

SECTION TWO - SPECIAL MEETINGS

The President of this organization may call a special meeting of the body at any time he/she, or a majority of the Board of Directors, deems such action to be necessary. At such a special meeting, at least four (4) active members must be present to constitute a quorum to transact business.

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ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

The President may appoint such committees as he/she or the organization deems necessary.

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ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION

The National Federation of the Blind of Texas Houston Chapter shall be an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas, and the National Federation of the Blind, and shall furnish to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas annually, on or before January 1, a list of the names and addresses of its members and elected officers. A copy of the Constitution of the Houston Chapter and of all amendments to the Constitution shall be sent for review to the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas and the National Federation of the Blind without delay.

The Houston Chapter shall not merely be a social organization, but shall formulate programs and actively work to promote the economic and social betterment of the blind.
This organization shall comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas and the provisions of the contract appearing on the back of the Charter of Affiliation issued to state affiliates by the National Federation of the Blind. Policy decisions of the National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Texas (whether made by the National Convention or the National Board of Directors or the State Convention or the State Board of Directors) are binding on this organization, and this organization shall participate affirmatively in carrying out such policy decisions. As a condition of affiliation, it is agreed by this organization that the National Federation of the Blind (whether by action of the National Convention or the National Board or the State Convention or State Board) has the power to expel or discipline an individual member and to expel or reorganize a state affiliate or local chapter. In the event of reorganization, the assets of this organization shall belong to the reorganized chapter or if no reorganization occurs for a period of two years, to the National Federation of the Blind of Texas , and the former chapter shall dissolve and cease to exist. The name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof is the property of the National Federation of the Blind; and this organization, if it ceases to be a part of the National Federation of the Blind, (for whatever reason) shall forfeit the right to use the name National Federation of the Blind, Federation of the Blind, or any variant thereof.

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ARTICLE IX. DUES

The dues of this organization shall be $5 per member per year, payable in advance. A lifetime membership may be secured for a fee of $100.00. No person may vote who is delinquent in the payment of his/her dues. The Chapter shall forward $30 per year to the National Federation of the Blind of Texas.

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ARTICLE X. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

The funds of this organization shall be deposited in a bank to be selected by the Treasurer with the approval of the President. If the members so vote; the Treasurer shall be bonded. All financial obligations of this organization shall be issued on written (including electronic) order of the President.

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ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

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

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ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and voting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing and read at a previous business session and provided it is in compliance with the provisions of the Charter of Affiliation received by the state affiliate from the National Federation of the Blind and with the policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas and the National Federation of the Blind.

NFB of Texas BELL Camp

2-week Summer Camp for Blind Elementary Students!