La Center Education Association
Many hands make for light work!
Constitution
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ La Center Education Association Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the La Center Education Association, Washington Education Association and the National Education Association, hereafter referred to as the Association. Section 2. The Association shall be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Washington. The purpose of the Association shall be to represent all members in bargaining, grievances, and in all matters relating to terms and conditions of employment with the La Center School District, #101. The Association shall affiliate with the Washington Education Association and the National Education Association. Section 1. All certificated employees who meet the active membership requirements of the Washington Education Association and National Education Association may, upon payment of dues as herein provided, become active members of this Association with full rights and privileges of membership. Section 2. Active members of this Association shall also be members of the Washington Education Association and the National Education Association. Section 3. Except for nonpayment of dues and assessments, no member shall be fined, censured, suspended, expelled, or otherwise disciplined, except as provided in the WEA Constitution and Bylaws. Section 4. All members of the Association shall have equal rights and privileges within the Association which include: a. to nominate candidates, b. to vote in elections or on referenda of this Association, c. to hold office, e. attend membership meetings. Section 5. Unless otherwise expressly provided by law, persons who tender agency shop fees shall have no rights or privileges within this Association. Section 1. Association members and agency shop fee persons shall pay dues/fees as established in the Bylaws. The dues shall be payable within sixty (60) days of September 1 or date of employment, or through monthly payroll deductions. Section 2. The Association may levy special assessments on its membership as provided in the Bylaws. Section 1. The officers of the Association shall consist of a president, president-elect/vice president, secretary, treasurer and past president. PRESIDENT Stipend: $850.00 Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Set agenda and conduct monthly meetings. 2) Handle all Association correspondence. 3) Be a member of the negotiations team. 4) Delegate responsibilities to board members as necessary. 5) Post and/or pass out appropriate correspondence to members. 6) Attend meetings of the La Center School Board (responsible for sending a representative if unable to attend). 7) Assist members as needed regarding issues related to bargaining agreement. 8) Attend and conduct all meetings of the LCEA and the Executive Board. PAST PRESIDENT Stipend: $200.00 Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Assist president as needed. 2) Attend all meetings of the LCEA and the Executive Board. PRESIDENT-ELECT Stipend: $200.00 Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Attend UniServ meetings. 2) Organize and serve on the scholarship selection committee. 3) Be available to meet with the LCEA President on a regular basis. 4) Assist president as needed. 5) Attend meetings of the La Center School Board. 6) Attend all meetings of the LCEA and the Executive Board. SECRETARY Stipend: $250.00 Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Develop a list at the beginning of the school year of all members according to building/FTE status. Keep this list updated throughout the school year as new members are hired. 2) Attend all meetings of the LCEA and the Executive Board. 3) Take minutes at each meeting. 4) Publish minutes after each meeting and distribute to all members. 5) Contact new members to enroll or update. TREASURER Stipend: $250.00 Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Keep accurate and up-to-date balances of the checking and savings accounts. 2) Pay all bills. 3) Check the post office box weekly. 4) Supply financial reports at regular meetings. 5) Make all deposits. 6) Manage insurance pooling as needed throughout the school year. NEGOTIATING TEAM Stipend: $150.00 ( to be divided among members) Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Attend bargaining training as needed or offered. 2) Poll the membership for contract concerns/potential bargaining items. 3) Conduct the bargaining process with the superintendent (writing proposals, prioritizing, strategizing, actual bargaining). 4) Present settlement to the membership for ratification. 5) Work with the district to prepare the final printed agreement for distribution to the BUILDING REPRESENTATIVES Stipend: None Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Attend all meetings of the LCEA and the Executive Board. 2) Assist building members with meetings and concerns. 3) Meet with administration and staff as needs arise. 4) Distribute and collect building information related to Association business. 5) Contact and inform all building members about current meetings and issues. 6) Be the first line of contact for building members who have Association concerns. Section 2. Nominations of officers shall be closed on the last working day of April following notice to all members and an open period for nominations. Specific requirements concerning this notice and this open period shall be contained in the Bylaws. The election shall be held not less than fifteen (15) nor more than thirty (30) days after nominations have been closed. Section 3. The term of office for officers shall be one year, beginning July 1. There is no limitation of successive terms. Section 4. In the event of vacancy in the office of president, the president-elect/vice president shall become president for the balance of the term. Section 5. The duties of officers shall be as provided in the Bylaws. Section 6. An elected officer may be removed from office for cause by a recall election which may be initiated by the general membership. A general membership meeting will be scheduled prior to the recall election within thirty (30) days after receipt of the recall petition. Following the general membership meeting, the recall election shall be by secret ballot of the entire membership. The Executive Board shall notify in writing any officer who has been recommended for recall. Section 1. The Executive Board shall be comprised of the officers and building representatives as outlined in the Bylaws. Section 2. The Executive Board shall be the body through which the general administrative and executive functions of the Association shall be carried out. Section 3. Building representatives shall be elected as set forth in the Bylaws. Section 4. The specific duties of the building representatives and of the Executive Board shall be provided in the Bylaws. Section 5. A building representative may be recalled in the same manner as is outlined above in Article VI, Section 6. Section 6. The Bylaws shall guarantee and set forth procedures for ethnic-minority representation on the Executive Board proportionate to the Association's ethnic-minority membership. Section 7. Except for the office of the president, vacancies on the Executive Board shall be filled as follows: a) if six (6) months or more remain in the term, then by special election; and b) if less than six (6) months remains, then by appointment of the Executive Board. A majority vote of the membership present and voting at any duly authorized meeting shall determine the policies and actions of the Association except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and Bylaws. The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order governs this organization in all parliamentary situations that are not provided for in the law or in its charter, constitution, bylaws or adopted rules. Proposals to amend this Constitution may be made by the Executive Board or by petition of ten percent of the membership. This Constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority secret ballot vote of the members voting. Notice of this election and the proposed amendment(s) shall have been delivered to each member at least twenty (20) days in advance. Voting, at the discretion of the Executive Board, may be part of an annual or special meeting or through other established election procedures. Amendments shall become effective immediately unless otherwise provided. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ La Center Education Association All members of the recognized bargaining unit are eligible for local association membership. Section 1. Association members and agency shop fee payers shall pay dues fees in the amount of four (4) dollars per month for local dues. Section 2. Special provisions may be made for members of other locals transferring into this local during the membership year. Section 3. Special assessments may be levied by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active membership, provided they include a termination of the special assessment in either dollar amounts or a specific date. Section 1. There shall be at least three Executive Board meetings per year. All Executive Board meetings shall be called by the president with at least two days written notice or by a majority of the Executive Board with at least two days written notice. Section 2. The president shall call at least two (2) meetings of the general membership each year. One shall be in September for the purpose of adopting the budget and another shall be in May for the purpose of nominating and electing officers and representatives. Section 3. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the president and/or the Executive Board or within five days of the receipt of a petition to the president signed by one-third (1/3) of the members. Section 4. All meetings of the membership, except emergency special meetings, shall be announced by a written or electronic notice to each member at least three days in advance of said meeting. Section 5. The Executive Board, by a majority vote, may call an emergency meeting of any governance body at any time. Section 1. The president shall: a. preside at all official meetings and shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with the office, b. appoint and/or discharge all committee members with the approval of the Executive Board and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees or designate someone to do so, c. charge committees with their duties, d. represent the Association at meetings with school district management, and e. If after taking office, the new Executive Board does not have ethnic-minority representation at least proportionate to the total ethnic-minority member ratio, the president shall call an election within thirty (30) days for the purpose of electing ethnic-minority member(s) to bring the Executive Board into compliance. Section 2. The president-elect shall assist the president and shall act in the absence of the president. Section 3. The secretary shall: a. handle all correspondence for the Association; b. notify the appropriate members as to the time and place of the Executive Board and membership meetings within the time limits set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws; c. keep accurate minutes of all Executive Board and membership meetings, distribute copies of Executive Board minutes to Executive Board members following meetings, distribute minutes of general membership meetings to all members within thirty (30) days following meetings; d. maintain the records and files of the Association; and e. distribute copies of all proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws. Section 4. The treasurer shall: a. oversee the collection, transmittal, and disbursement of dues; b. deposit all monies in a bank in the name of the Association; c. notify the Association of the name of the bank in which dues are deposited; d. hold all funds and disburse them accordingly upon the submission of vouchers approved by the president; e. sign all checks along with either the president or president elect; f. prepare an annual financial report which shall be distributed once each year to Executive Board members and one to each work site; g. report at each membership meeting; h. prepare the books for an audit; and i. file the appropriate federal and state forms. Section 5. The past president shall prepare and submit an annual report of the Association activities to the September annual meeting following his/her term of office. The duties of the General Membership shall consist of the following: a. establish Association policies and objectives, b. establish guidelines and hear continuing reports on bargaining, c. adopt the annual budget, d. approve or ratify the establishment of paid positions in the Association, e. approve or ratify the establishment of committees not established in the Bylaws, f. adopt rules and agenda for its meetings, and g. enact such other measures as may be necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the Association which are not in conflict with this Constitution and the Bylaws. Section 1. Between meetings of the general membership, the Executive Board shall conduct and manage the affairs and business of the Association, including interpretation of this Constitution and Bylaws. Section 2. The Executive Board shall see that the budget is prepared and submitted for approval at the September meeting of the membership. Section 3. The Executive Board shall implement motions and resolutions approved by the membership and put into operation other measures consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws and policies of the Association. It shall fix the time and place and shall make all necessary arrangements for annual and special meetings. Section 4. With the exception of committees established by the membership, the Executive Board shall approve the appointment and discharge of all standing and special committee members, shall approve the creation of all special committees, and shall review the activities of all committees. Section 1. Area representatives shall be elected by the members located at each work site on the basis of one (1) area representative for every work site. Each work site shall be guaranteed at least one (1) area representative. At the beginning of each membership year, the Executive Board shall be responsible for developing a list of the membership at each work site. Section 2. A vacancy in the position of area representative shall be filled by a special election by those members located on the respective work site affected by the vacancy within thirty (30) working days. Section 3. Term of office shall be for two (2) years and commence on July 1. Section 4. The Executive Board shall annually review the number of area representative positions and the jurisdiction of the area representatives and shall recommend to the membership at the annual meeting in September any changes that are necessary to provide area representatives consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws. Article VIII—Nominations and Election of Officers, Building Representatives, and WEA and NEA Delegates Section 1. The president, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a nominations committee consisting of three (3) members who shall complete a slate of candidates for the Association officers. This slate shall be prepared for the May annual meeting with recommendations for the time and place of the election and an election procedure that guarantees fairness. Each nominee must be a member in good standing and give his/her consent to appear on the ballot. Section 2. In addition to the provisions of Section 1 above, nominations from the floor shall be called for and received at the May annual meeting. Section 3. The slate of officers shall include candidates for all association offices and building representatives. All officers and building representatives shall be elected by their constituencies. Section 4. The Executive Board shall approve the time and place of nominations and elections and ensure that they are convenient for the greatest possible attendance and/or participation by all active members. The election shall be by secret ballot, observing the one (1) person, one (1) vote principle. Section 5. To win, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast. In the event of a plurality or a tie, the Executive Board shall hold a run-off election within fifteen (15) days between the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes. Section 6. The election of WEA and NEA Representative Assembly delegates shall follow the election procedures outlined by WEA and NEA. These delegates shall be elected at-large. Article IX—Committees Section 1. Committees are authorized by the Bylaws. Special committees may be established by the Executive Board. Committee members shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Board. Committee members shall serve until June 30 of the year for which they are appointed or until discharged by the president with the approval of the Executive Board. Special committee members shall serve until their committee is dissolved by the Executive Board or until discharged by the president with the consent of the Executive Board. Section 2. Committees may include but shall not be limited to: a. Bargaining Committee b. Grievance Committee, and c. Nominations and Elections Committee Section 3. Minutes of the proceedings of each committee shall be filed with the secretary of the Association. The secretary shall provide copies of the minutes of standing committees to the committee chairpersons for the ensuing year. All committees shall report to the membership as directed by the president and/or the Executive Board. The membership and fiscal year shall be September 1 through August 31. Section 1. The president and the chairperson of the bargaining team shall be authorized to sign a legal, binding, yearly or multi-year agreement with the employing board only after completion of the following procedure at a general membership meeting: a. a report and recommendation by the bargaining team, b. a report and recommendation by the Executive Board, c. a written digest of the proposed agreement or changes provided to all members in attendance at the ratification meeting, d. discussion by the membership, and e. a majority affirmative vote by secret ballot of the total active membership present and voting. Section 2. Ratification of amendments to the negotiated agreement shall occur at a general membership meeting. Section 3. Except in a work stoppage situation, at least a twenty-four (24) hour written notice of the ratification meeting is required. The notice shall specify the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting. Section 4. Strike action must be authorized by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those members present and voting in a special meeting. Section 1. Quorum at any duly authorized meeting of the general membership shall be a majority of its members. Section 2. Quorum at any duly authorized meeting of the Executive Board or any committee shall be a majority of its members. Article XIII—Amendments Proposals to amend these Bylaws may be made by the Executive Board or by petition of ten (10) percent of the membership. These Bylaws shall be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority secret ballot vote of the members voting. Notice of this election and the proposed amendment(s) shall have been delivered to each member at least twenty (20) days in advance. Voting, at the discretion of the Executive Board, may be part of an annual or special meeting or through other established election procedures. Amendments shall become effective immediately unless otherwise provided. Constitution
Article I—Name and Incorporation
Article II—Purpose
Article III—Affiliation
Article IV—Membership
Article V—Dues, Fees, and Assessments
Article VI—Officers
Article VII—Executive Board
Article VIII—Policy Authority
Article IX—Parliamentary Authority
Article X—Amendments
Bylaws
Article I—Membership
Article II—Dues, Fees, and Assessments
Article III—Meetings
Article IV—Duties of Officers
Article V—Duties of the General Membership
Article VI—Duties of the Executive Board
Article VII—Building Representatives on the Executive Board
Article X—Membership and Fiscal Year
Article XI—Ratification of Agreement and Authorization for Strikes
CHECKLIST Among the provisions of a good Constitution and Bylaws, the following items are required by the NEA or WEA. Place a check mark in front of each of these and write in the number of the Article and section where each can be found in your current Constitution and Bylaws. A Constitution establishes the fundamental framework and prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of the local affiliate. Check: 1. Name and Incorporation Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article I, Section 1.) 2. Purpose Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article II) 3. Statement of unified membership Article_____ Section_____ in WEA/NEA—Affiliation (Model Constitution, Article III) 4. Membership Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article IV, Section 1.) 5. Voting rights of members Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article IV, Section 4.) 6. Dues, Fees, and Assessments Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article V) 7. List of officers, their terms, Article_____ Section_____ and their recall (Model Constitution, Article VI) 8. Governing bodies: Representative Article_____ Section_____ Council, Executive Board, and their membership (Model Constitution, Article VII and Article VIII) 9. Ethnic-minority guarantees Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article VII, Section 8. and Article VIII, Section 6.) 10. Policy Authority Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article IX) 11. Parliamentary Authority Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article X) 12. Amendment procedure Article_____ Section_____ (Model Constitution, Article XI) LOCAL AFFILIATE CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
CONSTITUTION
The Bylaws are the actual rules which govern the association. Check: 1. Membership Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article I) 2. Dues, Fees, and Assessment Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article II) 3. Meetings, the number of general Article_____ Section_____ membership meetings, the right of officers to call Executive Board meetings, and the right of members to call general membership meetings (Model Bylaws, Article III) 4. Duties of Officers Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article IV) 5. Ethnic-minority guarantees Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article IV, Section 1f) 6. Governing bodies—Representative Article_____ Section_____ Council and Executive Board (Model Bylaws, Article V and Article VI) 7. At-large representation Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article VII) 8. Election procedures guaranteeing Article_____ Section_____ one (1) person, one (1) vote, open nomination procedures, and voting by secret ballot (Model Bylaws, Article VIII) 9. Committees, commissions, task Article_____ Section_____ forces, work groups or teams and their membership—who appoints them, discharges them, charges them with their duties. Specific names or duties do not have to appear. (Model Bylaws, Article IX) 10. Membership and Fiscal year Article_____ Section_____ (September 1 through August 31) (Model Bylaws, Article X) 11. Ratification of Agreement and Article_____ Section_____ Authorization for Strikes (Model Bylaws, Article XI) 12. Quorum for general membership, Article_____ Section_____ Executive Board, and committee meetings. (Model Bylaws, Article XII) 13. Amendment procedure Article_____ Section_____ (Model Bylaws, Article XIII) modelcns/11-12/073002btBYLAWS
