BYLAWS
MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Last Reviewed & Updated
October, 2021
By MCBVI Bylaws Committee
Chairperson, Casey Dutmer
Past Chair, Wayne Lepiors
Adopted October, 1973
Amended October, 1984
Amended October, 1993
Amended October, 2001
Amended October, 2002
Amended October, 2003
Amended October 3, 2004
Amended November 4, 2007
Amended September 28, 2008
Amended September 16, 2012
Amended September 28, 2014
Amended September 27, 2015
Amended October 8, 2016
Last Amended October 15, 2021
Preamble
The Michigan Association of Workers of the Blind, a Michigan
non-profit corporation, originally incorporated in 1916, and the
Michigan Federation of the Blind. A Michigan non-profit
corporation, originally incorporated in 1957, because of their
common interests, are uniting to form a new corporation to be
called, Michigan Association of the Blind, Inc., a Michigan non-
profit corporation.
Since we believe that persons who, through the loss of sight,
are brought together by a close bond of unity and brotherhood in
desiring to become incorporated as a non-profit corporation
pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 284 of the Public Act of
1972, we do hereby make, execute, and adopt this as
follows:
ARTICLE I. INCORPORATION
A. Name
The name of this corporation is, Michigan Council Of The Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
B. Purpose
The purpose of the Michigan Council Of The Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. is to encourage and promote the economic,
educational, social and cultural levels, of persons with (visual
acuities 20/70 or less).
C. Non-Profit Status
1. This corporation will, at all times, operate so as to
maintain tax exempt status within the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service Code as herein provided.
2. No part of the activities of this corporation shall
consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to
influence legislation or participating in, or intervening in
(including publication or distribution of statements) any political
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Not
withstanding any of the provisions hereof, this corporation shall
not conduct or carry on any activity not permitted to be conducted
or carried on by any organization which is tax exempt, or by any
organization, donations to which are tax deductible income, to the
extent of the law as provided by the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code and other applicable legislation and regulations as
they now exist or may hereafter be amended.
3. Not withstanding anything else herein to the contrary, provided the corporation is hereby prohibited from engaging in any act of self-dealing, as defined in Internal Revenue Code, Section
no. 4942 (D) and all amendments thereto, from retaining any access
business holdings, as defined in Internal Revenue Code, Section No. 4943(C) and all amendments thereto, so as to jeopardize the carrying
out of the charitable purposes contemplated herein, and from making
any taxable expenditures, as defined in Internal Revenue Code, Section No. 4945(D) and all amendments thereto.
4. The corporation shall not apply accumulation of income in
any manner which may subject it to denial of exemption as provided
in Section No. 504 of the United States Internal Revenue Code as now enacted or as it may, hereafter be amended.
5. If, at any time, the corporation shall cease to carry out
the purposes set forth in these articles of incorporation, all assets and property held by it, shall, after the payment of its
liabilities, be paid over to an organization which, itself, has
similar purposes and has established an appropriate tax exempt
status under Section no. 501 (C) (3) of the United States Internal
Revenue Code as now enacted or as it may, hereafter, be amended and
has established an appropriate tax exempt status under Section No. 501 (c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code as now
enacted or as it may, hereafter, be amended.
6. Notwithstanding, anything else herein to the contrary provided, the income of the trust for each taxable year thereafter shall be distributed at such time and in such manner as not to subject the same to tax under the Internal Revenue Code, Section No. 4942, and all amendments thereto.
ARTICLE II. LOCATION
The principal office or place of business of this council
shall be the resident city of the treasurer.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
A. Executive Committee
The executive committee of this council consisting of seven (7) elected officers and of the immediate past president shall transact
all business of this council arising between meetings of the Board
of Directors.