Sec. 8.1:
CCB affiliation consists of local or regional chapters, and of statewide special interest affiliates.
Sec. 8.1.1:
An individual may join more than one chapter, exercising full rights of membership and voting in each, except that only one chapter will pay dues to CCB for a person who has joined more than one chapter. 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 Conventions and for assessment of CCB dues. At-large members who join a chapter give up their at-large status.
Sec. 8.2:
Formation:
Sec. 8.2.1:
Any group of ten or more individuals, a majority of whom are blind, as determined by self-declaration, may apply for affiliation as a chapter or special interest affiliate of the California Council of the Blind.
Sec. 8.2.2:
To be accepted for affiliation as a CCB chapter or special interest affiliate, and to remain in good standing, the group shall:
Sec. 8.2.2.1:
Submit to the CCB office such information and documentation at such time and in such manner as the Council may require;
Sec. 8.2.2.2:
Provide such certifications and commitments as the Council may deem necessary, including the timely provision of membership, activity and financial information, and full cooperation in all matters bearing upon legal compliance.
Sec. 8.3:
Existing chapters and special interest affiliates which have already incorporated themselves under the laws of the State of California and/or which have obtained their own Federal/State tax exemption certificates will be permitted to maintain those statuses, except that if either status lapses, the chapter or special interest affiliate may not renew it and will instead operate under CCB's corporate and tax-exempt umbrella.
Sec. 8.3.1:
New chapters or special interest affiliates seeking affiliation with CCB will operate under CCB's corporate tax-exempt certificate unless they already have their own.
Sec. 8.4:
privileges, including a chapter or special interest affiliate's right to vote at the Convention and to participate in organizational funding and program initiatives, and including all benefits, opportunities and responsibilities of membership shall extend to all chapters and special interest affiliates in good standing and subject to such rules as the Council may adopt.
Sec. 8.4.1:
Any chapter or special interest affiliate not retaining ⠁⠞ least ten members (a majority of whom are blind by self-declaration) for two consecutive years shall be deemed inactive and may be subject to a withdrawal of its charter upon the vote of the CCB board of directors or by the membership at an annual Convention. For purposes of determining chapter or special interest affiliate membership, the CCB President, who is an ex officio member of all chapters and special interest affiliates, shall not be counted except for any chapters or special interest affiliates where the President has paid dues for that chapter or special interest affiliate.
Sec. 8.4.2:
No funds in the possession or under the ownership or control of any chapter shall inure to the benefit of any individual. In the event of the dissolution or inactivation of any chapter or special interest affiliate, including dissolution as a result of membership decline, its funds and other property shall revert, after payment of its debts and obligations, to the CCB except where a different distribution is required by law.
Sec. 8.4.3:
All chapters and special interest affiliates shall adopt the Council's non-inurement requirement in its bylaws or other governing documents, and each chapter and special interest affiliate shall adopt and implement the Council's conflict of interest policy. In furtherance of this policy, all chapter and special interest affiliate officers shall sign and pledge adherence to this policy upon assuming office.
Sec. 8.5:
Voting Strength:
Sec. 8.5.1:
On all matters coming before the annual Convention of the CCB, each chapter shall have a minimum of 5 votes. Once the chapter has more than 25 home-chapter members, its number of votes will be determined by dividing the total number of members by 5 and rounding to the nearest whole number. Therefore, a chapter with 27 or fewer members has 5 votes, 28 to 32 members 6 votes, 33 to 37 members 7 votes, etc.
Sec. 8.5.2:
All special interest affiliates shall have 5 votes regardless of their number of members.
Sec. 8.5.3:
If a delegate or alternate delegate is not present or otherwise available to cast the chapter or special interest affiliate's vote, the chapter or special interest affiliate's vote shall not be cast. However, each individual chapter or special interest affiliate member in attendance shall retain his/her right to vote as an individual.
Sec. 8.6:
Each chapter or special interest affiliate shall collect dues annually from its members, in an amount to be determined by the chapter or special interest affiliate.
Sec. 8.6.1:
Each chapter or special interest affiliate shall annually pay such portion of member dues or such other funds as may be required to the Council office. Such amount is currently $15 for each home-chapter member for chapters and a $75 flat fee for each special interest affiliate.
Sec. 8.7:
When a chapter or special interest affiliate violates these bylaws the board of directors may, by majority vote, suspend the chapter or special interest affiliate for a period no longer than until the next regular Council Convention. The Convention shall then vote on disciplining the chapter or special interest affiliate, with all options ranging from full reinstatement to expulsion open to it, as it sees fit, subject to the limitations and percentage threshold requirements set forth in article five on voting.
