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THE NEW JERSEY SCIENCE
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND OPERATING POLICIES www.njsta.org
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be THE NEW JERSEY SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Inc., hereinafter referred to as the ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II
Objective
The objective of the ASSOCIATION shall be to contribute to the learning and teaching of science at all educational levels.
Progress toward this objective shall be made through the conducting of meetings, activities, research into problems of science education, and in such other ways as the Executive Committee may from time to time approve.
The ASSOCIATION is organized exclusively for educational, scientific and charitable purposes for the furtherance of science education in compliance
with Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1.
Eligibility - Any person who is interested in promoting the objective of the ASSOCIATION is eligible for membership.
Section 2.
Membership is maintained by the payment of annual dues as prescribed in the Operating Policies.
Section 3.
Classes of Membership in the ASSOCIATION
shall be:
REGULAR - any person who meets the eligibility requirements in Section
1.
STUDENT - any full time undergraduate student.
HONORARY - may be attained by any person who has been
a dues paying member of the ASSOCIATION for the 5 year period preceding his retirement.
Transfer to this class of membership shall be effected upon application, in writing,
to the Treasurer of the ASSOCIATION. Payment of dues is optional for this class
of membership.
COURTESY – may be any person, or person representing a group of persons, meeting the membership eligibility of the Association and not currently a member, and when so directed by the President.
This class of membership shall be limited to a maximum of 10 memberships and shall be effective for a maximum of one year.
This class of membership shall have a waiver of dues, no voting privileges and will include those mentioned in the Operating Policies under SPECIAL MAILINGS.
ILC - any person indicated by the Industrial Liaison Committee Chairperson as representing a supportive business and approved by the Executive Board. This membership does not include voting privileges.
Section 4.
No part of the income of the ASSOCIATION shall inure to the benefit of, or distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persona except that the ASSOCIATION
shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof, no substantial part of the activities of the ASSOCIATION shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the ASSOCIATION shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. (Outlined in the
Operating Policies).
ARTICLE IV
Administration and Duties
Section 1.
Eligibility - All elected and appointed officials shall be members in good standing.
Section 2. Elective
Offices - There shall be elected annually a President-Elect, who shall automatically become President the next year; a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and three regional Vice-Presidents (for the northern, central, and southern geographical areas, as outlined in the Operating Policies).
Section 3.
Executive Board - The elected Officers, the Retiring President, the appointed officials, the Trustees, and the Chairpersons of standing and special committees constitute
the Executive Board.
Section 4.
Trustees - The five most recent Past Presidents shall be the Trustees of the Corporation.
Section 5.
Special Committees - Chairpersons of special
committees shall be appointed by the President.
Section 6.
Tenure and Succession of Office
Section 6A.
Tenure of Office - The President shall serve not more than one consecutive term except as specified in Article IV, Section 6B.
The President-Elect shall succeed to the Presidency.
Other elected and appointed personnel may be re-nominated and reelected or
continue as provided in Sections 2 and 6 above and in the Operating Policies.
Section 6B.
Succession of Office - In the event of dereliction
of duty, resignation, or incapacity or
death of an officer of the ASSOCIATION, this succession procedure shall be followed:
a. President
- The Retiring President shall assume the office of President for the remainder
of the unexpired term which shall include the term of office as Retired President
which the President being replaced would normally have served.
b. Retiring President - The Immediate Past President shall assume the duties of the Retiring President for the remainder of the unexpired term. The immediate Past President is the individual who most recently has relinquished the office of Retiring President.
c.
President-Elect - The remaining elected officers
shall assume the responsibility for filling this office in the most appropriate
manner.
d.
In the event of the simultaneous death, resignation, or incapacity of two or more officers of the ASSOCIATION, the remaining elected officers shall assume the responsibility for filling the offices in the most appropriate manner.
e.
In the event of a vacancy in another office, the President shall select a replacement and submit the appointment for approval by the Executive Board.
e.
In the event of a vacancy of a Trustee, the President shall appoint the first available Past President who has completed his/her term as trustee.
f.
In the event of the dereliction of duty, resignation, incapacity or death of a member(s)
of the Executive Board, the President shall assume the responsibility for filling
the office(s) in the most appropriate manner.
Section 8. Duties
a.
President - shall preside at the general meetings of the ASSOCIATION; shall supervise regular and regional meetings; shall appoint all liaison personnel; shall submit a written annual report of his/her administration and file the same with
the Recording Secretary and Historian, and shall be responsible for contacts between
the ASSOCIATION and others interested in science education. The President shall
attend all functions of the ASSOCIATION or designate another elected officer to
attend in his/her place.
b.
President-Elect - shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, shall succeed to the presidency, shall be a member of the Executive Board, shall arrange the program for the NJEA Convention that is held during his/her
term. Shall preside at all Board meetings that the President is unable to attend.
c.
Retiring President - shall serve as the chairperson
of the Nominating Committee, shall act in an advisory capacity to the President,
and shall assume other responsibilities as assigned by the President.
d.
First Vice-President - shall be responsible for arranging the Spring Meeting, and any special general membership meetings.
e.
Second Vice-President - shall coordinate all periodical publications, publicity and public relations.
f.
Recording
Secretary - shall keep minutes of Executive Board meetings and of the general meetings of the ASSOCIATION, shall receive and file reports and programs of area, sectional, regular, and special meetings of the ASSOCIATION.
g.
Corresponding Secretary - shall handle the general
correspondence of the ASSOCIATION as directed by the President.
h.
Treasurer - shall receive monies, shall keep a continuous
and complete record of the finances of the ASSOCIATION, shall pay bills as budgeted
and authorized by the Executive Board. He/she shall prepare and present an annual budget to the Executive Board at the September Executive Board meeting. He/she shall
be a member of the Membership Committee.
i.
Regional Vice-Presidents and Assistant Regional Vice-Presidents - shall promote membership within their geographic area, may appoint county representatives and coordinate the activities of the county representatives (as described in the Operating Policies), shall arrange the programs for their area meetings with the assistance of the section chairperson, and shall perform such other duties as the President may assign.
j.
Assistant Second Vice-President is responsible for coordination of the programs of publications, publicity, and public relations under the direction of the Second Vice-President.
k.
Newsletter Editor is responsible for the publication of the newsletter throughout the school year.
l.
Historian - shall maintain the Archives of the ASSOCIATION located in Rutgers University Library,
m.
Membership Chairperson(s) - shall promote membership at all functions and
meetings
of the ASSOCIATION and maintain a membership list and handle membership dues collection.
n.
Members-at-Large - shall serve on the Executive Board and shall perform such
other
duties as the President and Executive Board may assign.
o.
Executive Board - shall meet at least eight times during the year, shall have general charge of the affairs of the ASSOCIATION, shall permit sections to affiliate separately if they so desire, shall assist in arranging programs, tours, etcetera, shall act on bills and expense or budget matters, and shall conduct such other business not otherwise provided for in the Constitution and Operating Policies. In the event of an emergency cancellation of a regular monthly meeting of the Executive Board, the President-Elect, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Retiring President and any other officers the President may have previously appointed shall have the authority to conduct, vote upon and enact any business of the ASSOCIATION that should not wait until the next regular meeting of the Executive Board.
p.
All elected officers and committee chairpersons shall turn over to their successors the file of records and correspondence pertaining to their activities, and submit to the Recording Secretary two copies of their annual report.
q.
All Executive Board meetings shall be open to the membership on a non-voting basis.
The President may invite guests.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section 1.
General - The standing committees of the ASSOCIATION shall be the Industrial Liaison, Membership, Nominating, Audit, Awards and Presentations,
Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award and Budget committees. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons with the recommendation of the Nominating committee.
Section 2. Nominating Committee - shall be
composed of 5 to 9 members, including the retiring president (as chair), president-elect, membership chair and active trustees. Members of the committee are ineligible to
be considered for office. The committee
must present to the president a list of candidates for announcement at the spring
general membership meeting.
Section 3.
Audit Committee - shall inspect the records of the Treasurer and shall file a report, in writing, with the Recording Secretary at the completion of the term. The President shall appoint one member from the Executive Board and two from the membership.
Section 4.
Industrial Liaison Committee - will establish and maintain communication and cooperation between the ASSOCIATION and science related industries in
Section 5.
Awards and Presentation Committee - shall be responsible for nominating recipients of all awards designated in the Operating Policies and/or by the Executive Board.
Section 6.
Membership Committee - shall be composed of the Membership Chairperson, the Treasurer, and at least one member from each of the three regions. The committee shall initiate, organize and coordinate activities to promote membership at all functions and meetings of the ASSOCIATION.
Section 7.
Special Committees - the President may appoint such special committees as may be deemed advisable. Special committees shall report to the President on request or at such time as their work is complete.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1.
There shall be only two regular membership meetings, one in the Spring and one in
the Fall.
Section 2.
Special membership meetings may be arranged by the President or upon recommendation
of the Executive Board.
Section 3.
Copies of agenda, programs and reports of all membership meetings shall be filed with the Recording Secretary and Historian.
ARTICLE VII
Elections
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of nominations for elective office. The election slate will have two nominees
for each office. The membership chair
shall prepare and mail the ballots to the membership at least four weeks prior to the date at which the officers are to
assume office and inform the membership that the ballots must be returned with postmarks no later than ten days before this date.
A minimum of three members of the Nominating Committee shall tally the votes. The Nominating Committee chair shall
announce the results at the fall general membership meeting.
Section 2.
Potential candidates for office may petition for nomination from December 1 through
April 1 as outlined in the Operating Policies.
Section 3.
All elected officers shall assume office immediately upon the announcement of the results of the election at the fall general
membership meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Any amendment to this Constitution shall be made by the following procedure:
a. A motion shall be made from the floor at a regular Executive Board meeting and shall be seconded to introduce it. Upon approval of the motion, the amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Recording Secretary. The text of the proposed amendment shall be mailed to the membership no later than one month prior to the next membership meeting.
b. Voting will be by mail. The ballots should be returned to the Corresponding Secretary. All ballots must be mailed to members within 10 days following the membership meeting and received by the Secretary no later than 30 days after the meeting.
c. For adoption of the proposed amendment, a majority of votes cast must be favorable.
ARTICLE IX
Order of Meetings: Quorums
Section 1.
The President shall determine the agenda for meetings.
Section 2.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed.
Section 3.
At either of the two regular membership meetings of the ASSOCIATION, those members
present at the appointed time and place shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4.
At any special membership meeting of the ASSOCIATION, ten percent of the membership
shall
constitute a quorum.
Section 5.
Approval of any motion before the ASSOCIATION shall require only a simple majority.
Section 6.
Ten percent of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE X
Operating Policies
The Executive Board shall establish the Operating Policies. Such Operating Policies shall be introduced at a regularly scheduled Executive Board meeting and shall take effect upon approval by a simple majority vote at the next two regularly scheduled Executive Board meetings. Following introduction, the general membership shall be advised of any proposed changes in the Operating Policies for possible comment, through an official mailing of the organization.
ARTICLE XI
Dissolution
Upon the dissolution of the ASSOCIATION, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the ASSOCIATION, dispose of all of the assets of the ASSOCIATION exclusively for the purpose of the ASSOCIATION in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1954 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine.
ARTICLE XII
Adoption
This Constitution shall be effective upon approval by:
1.
The Executive Board
2.
The Membership; with a majority of the votes cast being favorable.
Effective:
July 1, 1978
Amended: 1979, 1982, 1986, and April 1996, October 2005
Approved and Reprinted 1987, 1997
Amended and Approved:
May 2005
Amended and Approved: November 2006 OPERATING POLICIES
Operating Policies
Approved, 1986
Revised January
1996
Revised April
1999
Revised November
2003
Revised
February 2006
GENERAL DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
1. The President
shall preside at the general meetings of the ASSOCIATION: shall be a member, ex
officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee and shall act as chairperson
of the Executive Board.
2. The President
may call special meetings as required; shall oversee regular and regional meetings,
shall appoint chairpersons of standing and special committees and section chairpersons;
shall submit a written annual report of his/her administration and file same with
the Recording Secretary; and shall have full charge of the regular annual Fall Meeting.
3. The President
shall be responsible for contacts between the Association and others interested
in science education.
4. The President
will appoint a liaison to NJEA, NJSELA, and the NJ Academy of Science.
5. The President
will send a formal invitation to all NJSTA statewide meetings to the Commissioner
of Education or his/her designee.
6. The President
will appoint a liaison to the Department of Education. Formal contact with the Commissioner
will be made by the President. The President may designate others to contact the
State Department in his/her place.
7. The President
will serve on the Steering Committee of the New Jersey Science Convention.
8. The President
will file the annual report (list of new officers) of the ASSOCIATION with the New
Jersey Secretary of State within thirty
(30) days of the annual meeting at the convention. A copy will be transmitted to
the historian for inclusion in the Archives of the ASSOCIATION at
9. The President
shall appoint the Nominating Committee at the November Board meeting.
10. The President shall secure a meeting place for the
Executive Board for the following year.
11. The President
shall confirm that the contracted accountant has performed an audit of the financial
records
by October
1st and present a report at the annual Convention.
12. The President shall be exempt from paying any and
all fees in connection with any activity solely sponsored by the ASSOCIATION.
13. The President or his/her designee shall attend the
NSTA Annual National Conference on Science Education with the ASSOCIATION paying
for transportation,
14. The President’s transportation to the STANYS and PSTA
conventions will be paid.
15. The President or the President’s designee will attend
all District IV CAG meetings sponsored by the NSTA District Director. All housing,
transportation and meal expenses will be paid by the ASSOCIATION at the specific
city government per diem rate.
16. The President
shall attend the summer CAGS meeting of the NSTA and the Association shall pay for
transportation, housing and meal expenses at the specific city government per diem
rate.
17. The President will give the Officers Meeting reports
and make all recommendations requiring a vote except for the budget of the ASSOCIATION.
18. The following
officials shall be appointed by the President:
Historian, Awards and Presentations Committee Chairperson, Industrial Liaison
Chairperson, Membership Chairperson, Assistant Second Vice-President, Newsletter
Editor, Webmaster, three Regional Assistant Vice Presidents, Elementary Science
Saturday Chairperson, Super Science Weekend Chairperson, Merck State Science Day
Liaison, NJ Science Olympiad Liaison and Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for each
of the following sections: Physics;
Chemistry; Biology; Earth Science; Elementary Science; Environmental Science; Middle
School Science; Science, Technology and Society; College Liaison; Members at Large
and others as appropriate.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
1. The President-Elect shall be an ex officio member of
all committees, shall succeed to the Presidency and shall be a
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