Sec. 6.1:
Between conventions and throughout the year in the performance of its duties, CCB shall be governed by its officers and directors.
Sec. 6.2:
The officers of this organization are: The President; the First and the Second Vice-presidents; the Secretary; the Treasurer and the Immediate Past President.
Sec. 6.2.1:
The President and the 2 Vice Presidents shall be legally blind, and 2/3 of the board shall be legally blind.
Sec. 6.3:
All members in good standing are eligible to serve on the board of directors.
Sec. 6.3.1:
The board shall consist of 15 persons, 6 officers and 9 directors.
Sec. 6.3.2:
Candidates interested in running for the board are strongly encouraged to submit a candidate statement no less than 45 days prior to the first day of the Convention. Only candidates who submit a candidate statement will be eligible to participate in a candidate forum, which will occur prior to the first day of convention. During elections, all candidates will have up to 5 minutes to have up to 2 people speak on their behalf.
Sec. 6.4:
All terms of office shall last for two years, commencing on July 1st of the year in which the election was held and ending on June 30.
Sec. 6.4.1:
In the event that the annual Convention in any year does not occur before July 1st, terms of office of current members shall continue until the date of such Convention. New terms shall begin immediately following the election and will end on the date they otherwise would have.
Sec. 6.4.2:
Elections shall be staggered with the President, the Second Vice-president and the Treasurer being elected in even-numbered years, the First Vice-President and the Secretary being elected in odd-numbered years. The board elections shall likewise be staggered so that 4 directors are elected in even-numbered years and 5 directors are elected in odd-numbered years.
Sec. 6.5:
Officers and directors shall not serve more than three consecutive terms in any given office. That person may run again after a one-year absence from that position.
Sec. 6.5.1:
An individual who completes an unexpired term shall not be charged with a term for purposes of term limits.
Sec. 6.6:
In the event that an officer or director vacates their position prior to the scheduled end of their term, the board shall, by majority vote, select a replacement who shall serve for the remainder of the term.
Sec. 6.7:
Officers or directors may be censured, suspended, or removed from the board only under certain circumstances and only after a hearing before the board or membership. The board may censure or suspend a board member for cause but may only remove an officer or director if that person does something illegal or detrimental to the interests of the Council. If a board member is removed at the Convention, then a special election will immediately follow to elect a replacement. Anyone elected under such circumstances will serve out the remainder of the existing term, and this term will not count as a term for purposes of term-limits. If the officer or director is removed between Conventions, the position will remain vacant until the next Convention when it is filled by a regular or special election. A President who is removed from the board will not serve as Immediate Past President.
Sec. 6.7.1:
Reasons an officer or director may be censured suspended or removed are a breach these bylaws or of the written policies established by the board of directors, including:
Sec. 6.7.1.1:
Policy Regarding Expectations, Roles, and Responsibilities for members of the board of directors;
Sec. 6.7.1.2:
Confidentiality Policy;
Sec. 6.7.1.3:
Policy Regarding Conflicts of Interest and Discharge of Duties;
Sec. 6.7.1.4:
Any policies subsequently adopted by the board of directors.
Sec 6.7.2:
Conditions:
Sec. 6.7.2.1:
A censure may be issued for a first-time breach of the bylaws or of existing board policy while suspension or removal may be imposed for what the board deems as an extreme breach or repeated breaches of the bylaws or existing board policy regardless of whether such breach or breaches represent a first-time violation.
Sec. 6.7.2.2:
Officer or director may not be censured, suspended, or removed for behavior such as expressing strong disagreement or arguing for an unpopular position.
Sec. 6.7.3:
Censure:
The board may censure an officer or director at any regularly scheduled board meeting by a two-thirds roll-call vote. When an officer or director is censured he/she shall be given written notice that, should the offending behavior continue, or a separate breach of the bylaws or existing board policy occur, suspension and/or removal may result.
Sec. 6.7.4:
Suspension:
Sec. 6.7.4.1:
The board may suspend an officer or director at any regularly scheduled board meeting for an extreme breach or repeated breaches of the bylaws or existing board policy by a two-thirds roll-call vote. Upon imposition of a suspension, the suspended officer or director forfeits the right to vote as a member of the board, participate in board deliberations or in any other way to be a part of board communications.
Sec. 6.7.4.2:
A suspension must be referred to the membership for ratification at the next scheduled Convention following the board meeting at which such action was taken unless the suspension has already been lifted. Ratification of such suspension is subject to the voting thresholds set forth in article five of these bylaws. In no event shall a suspension be longer than one year from its ratification by the membership.
Sec. 6.7.5:
Removal:
Sec. 6.7.5.1:
In addition to the provisions in section 6.7 of these bylaws, the board of directors may suspend an officer or director, with recommendation for removal, at any regularly scheduled board meeting for an extreme breach or repeated breaches of these bylaws or of existing board policy that, in the opinion of the board, is so egregious as to warrant such removal. A two-thirds roll-call vote of the board will be required for such recommendation.
Sec. 6.7.5.2:
The Convention must receive notice of any impending vote for removal at least 24 hours in advance of such vote.
Sec. 6.7.6:
Causes for Removal of an Officer or Director:
In addition to the causes referenced in section 6.7.1, an officer or director may be removed for one or more of the following causes, or for multiple breaches of the same cause:
Sec. 6.7.6.1:
Failure to attend three-fourths of the scheduled board of directors’ meetings in any 12-month period;
Sec. 6.7.6.2:
A documented breach of ethics or conflict of interest;
Sec. 6.7.6.3:
Employment with the Council;
Sec. 6.7.6.4:
Repeated discourtesy or disrespect toward other board members or members of the Council;
Sec. 6.7.6.5:
Repeated failure to adhere to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Sec. 6.8:
The roles of the officers and directors are those consistent with roles practiced across the nonprofit sector and/or required by law.
Sec. 6.9:
In general, as the leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary responsibilities, the board of directors is responsible for:
Sec. 6.9.1:
Promoting membership development by supporting the work and development of chapters, expanding community partnerships and program expansion; ensuring scrupulous compliance with all government and regulatory requirements; conducting annual board performance reviews; maintaining a relevant conflict of interest and confidentiality policy signed on an annual basis by all board members; and adhering to data security.
Sec. 6.9.2:
All people elected or appointed as officers or directors shall commit to serious and sustained engagement in the work of the organization reflecting the commitment of time, talent, and treasure.
Sec. 6.10:
The board shall establish such standing or special committees as it deems necessary. Standing committees shall exist until and unless terminated by the board, and special committees shall exist for designated periods or pending the completion of the tasks for which they were created.
Sec. 6.10.1:
Standing committees shall initially include, awards, budget and finance, bylaws, governmental affairs, membership, publications, resolutions, resource development, and scholarship.
Sec. 6.10.2:
Committee appointments shall be made by the President. Any board member or any member of the organization in good standing shall be eligible for appointment to a committee.
Sec. 6.10.3:
Nonmembers of the organization may be appointed to special committees under circumstances where their knowledge or expertise not otherwise readily available within the organization are needed, or where in-depth experience not readily available from within organizational ranks is required.
