(Third revision)

---

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Blues Legion

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Society shall function as a nonprofit association whose purpose is to preserve, embrace, and expand blues dancing by:

[[more opportunities to dance/enjoy dancing]]
• Promoting and teaching blues dancing to a larger community.
• Fostering dance competence and excellence in the community.
• Providing financial stability and legitimacy for blues events that pursue the Society's goals.
• Fostering communication between the groups involved with organizing and promoting blues events.
• Learning and sharing the history of blues music and dancing.

ARTICLE IV - ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The organization must:

1. act in a manner consistent with it's mission, vision and values
2. be open/transparent in its operations
3. act in service of the membership

ARTICLE V - MISSION STATEMENT

[[putting the purpose into words..]]

• Supporting open and inclusive environments for people to learn, teach, and enjoy blues dancing
• Building a strong, cooperative blues dancing community
• Providing stability, legitimacy, and resources for blues dancing events

ARTICLE V - VALUES

We are an open organization dedicated to supporting Blues Dancing by:

• Building the Blues Dancing community through inclusion and leadership
• Establishing trust by being transparent and accountable
• Creating commitment with empowerment and collaboration
• Enabling growth of our members, our organization, and our dance

ARTICLE VI - VISION

[[open, fun, excellence, (biggest)?]] We will nurture and create the biggest [[[baddest]] and friendliest blues dancing scene in the world.

ARTICLE VII - TRANSPARENCY / COMMUNICATION

The organization must disclose and publish the following items in a generally accessible public location (such as the organization website):

• Constitution, bylaws, associated rulings and historical changes thereof
• Policies and procedures
• Scheduled meetings and events
• Projects that are financially and/or officially supported by the organization
• Meeting minutes
• Financial information, minimally satisfied by annual profit/loss and account statements
• Board roster and election results
• Membership statistics

The organization must have the membership list available upon request at meetings for member perusal.

The organization must give thirty days public notice for any elections/referendums at which members can vote.

This level of transparency is crucial to the mission and values of the organization and will not be compromised.

ARTICLE VIII - MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS

[[[REGULAR MEETINGS]]] Sec. 1. The Society shall be inclusive and open to all persons engaged in Blues dancing within the bounds of the Society's territory. The bylaws will prescribe [[[optional]]] membership dues and duration with the intent of making membership accessible to all.

Sec. 2. All "active members" are considered "voting members" and will have a right to vote on all elective matters regarding the Society.

Sec. 3. The Board of Directors will be elected by the "voting members" in regular, posted elections, as specified in the bylaws.

Sec. 4. The bylaws may allow for deferring/waiving of specific membership dues for local area instructors, promoters and organizational volunteers.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by a popular vote of the voting members. They may be proposed by the Board of Directors or through petition by duly established members.

Sec. 1A. The Board of Directors may create a referundum for constitutional change through a vote of at least two-thirds of those present at a regularly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors, provided this number is no less than one-third of total number of the Board of Directors.

Sec. 1B. The members may create a referundum for constitutional change through a petition signed by at least one-third percent of the total number of voting members as listed in the official membership records, but in no case shall the number be less than twenty.

Sec. 2. A vote of at least three-fifths of all votes cast, provided the total number of those voting is not less than one-fifth of the total number of voting members, in favor of an amendment is necessary for adoption. Voting members shall be notified as soon as practical and shall be given reasonable time to participate in the voting process.

Sec. 3. Amendments to this Constitution shall take effect thirty days after adoption, but if by amendment Officers and Officers-elect are changed in status or the number of Directors is reduced, each Officer and each Director shall continue to serve until the term expires.

---