ARTICLE I – Name

Section 1 – Name:  The organization shall be known as the Tarleton Central-Texas-ATPE

Section 2 – Purpose: The local unit is organized for the following purposes: To further education as a service and as a profession through support of public schools in the Tarleton Central-Texas School district; to promote activities, services, and training for all educators; and to develop and maintain high standards of professional ethics among all professional educators.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Definitions:   Where used herein, the following terms mean:

            “Member” Those persons who have paid the prescribed state and local unit ATPE membership dues for the current membership year and who have not otherwise had their membership suspended.

Section 2 – Membership:  Any educator or person interested in public education who believes in and will support the purposes of this organization shall be eligible for membership.

Section 3 – Membership Year:  The membership year shall be from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.

Section 4 – Classes of Members:  The association shall have six (6) classes of members.  The classes and their qualifications are:

1. Professional – Those educators who are employed in Texas in a certain capacity (as defined yearly by the board of Directors) by a public school district, institution of higher education, Regional Education Service Center, State Board of Educator Certification or the Texas Education Agency, or who are life members.
2. Retired – Those persons who are retired from an active position in the public education profession for at least ten years and who receive, have received, or are eligible to receive a benefit from a recognized pension program.
3. Associate – Those paraprofessionals and support persons who are employed in Texas in a certain capacity (as defined yearly by the board of Directors) by a public school district, institution of higher education, Regional Education Service Center, State Board of Educator Certification or the Texas Education Agency.
4. Teacher Trainee – Those students enrolled in a teacher education program in an accredited college or university who will be engaged in student teaching and/or field experience in Texas during the calendar year of membership.
5. Public – Those persons other than the foregoing who are interested in public education.
6. College Student – Individuals enrolled in an accredited college or university who will not be involved in the student teaching experience.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

Section 1 – Officers: The officers of the local unit shall be a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and other officers deemed necessary and elected by the local unit.  No two elected offices may be held simultaneously by the same person.  All officers shall be members of the Association of Texas Professional Educators.

Section 2 – Executive Committee: The officers shall collectively constitute the Executive Committee, having the duties as hereinafter prescribed.  A majority of the total executive committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 3 – Election and Term of Office: The president shall automatically succeed to the office of immediate past president.  Each spring the president may appoint a nominating committee for the express purpose of receiving from the local membership a slate of candidates for each office.  Additionally, nominations may be submitted from the floor prior to voting during the election meeting. Ten (10) days notice shall be given to all members prior to a local unit meeting held for the purpose of elections.  The officers of the local unit shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the local members present and voting during the election meeting.  An election may be conducted by mail, e-mail or other means established by the Nomination/Election Committee provided the nominating committee’s process, as described by the bylaws, is followed.  Each officer shall be elected for a one-year term of office but shall hold office until his/her successor has been duly elected and qualified.  All classes of members are eligible to be officers.

Section 4 – Vacancies:  A vacancy in the office of the president shall be filled by succession of the vice president to the office of president for the remainder of the term.  A vacancy in any other office (except president) may be filled by the Executive Committee for the unexpired portion of the term.

Section 5 – Terms:  All officers shall take office on June 1 of the year of their election.

Section 6 – Duties of Officers: Officers shall have and exercise the following duties:

a)     President – The president shall preside at all meetings.  In general he/she shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be necessary for the growth of the local unit. The president will select and certify to the secretary of ATPE the names of the local unit state convention delegates and alternates no less than 30 days prior to  the date of the state convention.

b)     Vice President – In the absence of the president, the vice president shall perform the duties of the president.  The vice president shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the president.

c)      Secretary – The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and activities of the local unit, and shall give all notices to members in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.

d)     Treasurer – The treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for monies, dues, from and payable to any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in a financial institution as determined by the Executive Committee.  He/she shall keep the Executive Committee and the members apprised of the financial condition of the local unit.

e) Historian - The historian shall become knowledgeable of the history of T-CTChapter of ATPE, organize historical documents and news clippings. Record the history of the chapter photographically and produce a scrapbook of the chapter's activities.

ARTICLE IV – LOCAL UNIT

Section 1 – Local Dues:  All members of the local unit shall pay $10.00 local dues in addition to the prescribed state association fees.

Section 2 – Local Functions:  The functions of the local unit shall be:

a)     To enroll members in the association

b)     To select delegates to the annual House of Delegates as provided by the established local unit and state association procedures

c)      To promote activities consistent with the purpose of ATPE.

Section 3 – Meetings:  Local units shall conduct meetings as necessary.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1 – Standing Committees:        Local units may establish one or more of the following standing committees:

                                    a) Bylaws                               e) Public Information

                                    b) Legislative                         f) Resolutions

                                    c) Membership                      g) Services

                                    d) Nomination/Election

Section 2 – Duties of Standing Committees: The standing committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a)     Bylaws – To recommend appropriate amendments to the Articles of incorporation and/or bylaws of the local unit or the state association and to forward a copy of the local unit bylaws to the state office each time they are amended.

b)     Legislative – To promote legislation endorsed (or opposed) by the local unit or state association and to coordinate appropriate activities involving legislation, such as monitoring legislative issues that would affect local unit members.

c)      Membership – To promote the growth of the local unit through the use of state ATPE recruitment information, development of local materials and implementation of recruitment programs on the campus and district level.

d)     Nomination/Election – To receive nominations for officers and recommended, for approval by the Executive Committee, election rules to govern the nomination and election of officers; such rules shall be presented to the Executive Committee or to the date necessary to give notice as provided in Art. III. Sec. 3 to govern local unit elections.  To recommend, for approval, by the Executive Committee, rules to govern the selection of convention delegates.

e)     Public Information – To recommend to local executive committee methods that would increase public awareness of the local unit’s goals, objectives and accomplishments.

f)        Resolutions – To review and/or propose resolutions to be considered by the local unit and the ATPE State House of Delegates.

g)     Services – To design all programs involving local services but not limited to local service and discount programs.

Section 3 – Appointment: The membership of standing committees shall be appointed by the president from among local unit members in such numbers as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE VI – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Procedure:  Unless otherwise specifically provided, the proceedings of the local unit shall adhere to standards of procedure established in Robert’s Rules of Order, as the current edition now provides, or as it may be hereinafter updated.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Section 1 – Authority to Amend: These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws may be adopted by a majority present at any local unit meeting, provided proper notice of the intention to alter, amend or repeal these bylaws or to adopt new bylaws at such meeting has been given to all members at least 30 days in advance. (In the event of any change, these bylaws should be amended and a copy will be sent to state office.)

Signed Bylaws