CONSTITUTION
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE
TECHNICAL EDUCATORS
(As amended October 1, 1999; and
October 10, 2003)
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this Association shall be the TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE TECHNICAL EDUCATORS”.
ARTICLE II
Objectives
The objectives of this Association shall be:
1. To enhance the basic philosophy underlying the program of post-secondary workforce education in Texas.
2. To constantly study ways and means by which workforce education and its administration may effectively serve the citizens of Texas at the post-secondary level.
3. To provide mutual cooperation in the promotion of a sound and effective program of post-secondary workforce education.
4. To increase public awareness and improve public perception of post-secondary workforce education.
5. To assist in the professional development of individuals engaged in leadership roles in post-secondary workforce education in Texas.
6. To provide leadership for the delivery of workforce education in Texas.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1
Membership shall consist of professionals engaged in leadership roles in postsecondary workforce education in Texas.
Section 2
There will be four classifications of membership in the Association: Voting Membership; Associate Membership; Retirement Membership; and Honorary Membership.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1
The officers of this Association shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Each officer must be a Voting Member of the Association.
ARTICLE V
Directors
Section 1
The membership shall elect twelve (12) Directors who are Voting Members of the Association.
Section 2
The Immediate Past President shall also serve as a Director.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1
Business meetings of this Association shall be held at least annually.
Section 2
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee; by the Board of Directors; or upon written petition of a majority of the membership.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the Association by a majority of the members present, provided the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership, in writing, by the Board, at least thirty (30) days prior to the business meeting. Any member may propose an amendment at a business meeting of the Association; however, the proposed amendment must be presented in writing. Voting on the amendment(s) presented from the floor at any business meeting cannot take place until the next business meeting of the Association.
BYLAWS
(As amended April 3, 1998, October 1, 1999,
April 5, 2002, October 10, 2003, April 2, 2004 and October 7, 2005)
BYLAWS ARTICLE I
Membership
Section 1
Membership shall consist of professionals engaged in leadership roles in postsecondary workforce education in Texas whose membership dues are current.
Section 2
Voting Membership in this Association shall be limited to persons who are currently employed in postsecondary workforce education in Texas. Voting Members shall be eligible to hold office and shall have the privilege of voting and the right to the floor during Association business meetings (see Constitution, Article VI, Section 1).
Section 3
Associate Membership may be held by persons interested in post-secondary workforce education, but not qualified under Section 2, above, for Voting Membership. These Associate Memberships will be nonvoting, non-office holding. Anyone currently qualified for Voting Membership as identified in Section 2 cannot qualify for membership as an Associate Member.
Section 4
Retiree Membership may be held by any former Voting Member of the Association who is retired from full-time employment in post-secondary workforce education. Retiree members will be non-voting and non-office holding.
Section 5
Emeritus Membership may be conferred by the Board of Directors on a retired member nominated by a voting member and recommended by the Membership Committee. Criteria to be considered by the Membership Committee include years of service, longevity of membership, offices held, committees and/or other services to the Association.
BYLAWS ARTICLE II
Officers
Section 1
All officers shall be elected during the spring of each odd-numbered year. All officers shall be Voting Members of the Association. Officers shall serve two (2) year terms.
Section 2
Should an officer of the Association be unable to complete a term of office, the President shall appoint a replacement from the current Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term.
BYLAWS ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 1
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the elected officers, the immediate Past President, and the twelve (12) elected Directors. The Board shall be authorized to conduct the business of the Association.
Section 2
Four (4) Directors shall be elected each year for three (3) year terms. All Directors shall be Voting Members of the Association.
Section 3
When a position for a Director becomes vacant, a replacement to complete the vacated term of office may be appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
BYLAWS ARTICLE IV
Nomination and Election of Officers and Directors
Section 1
Nominations and elections shall occur during the spring of each year
Section 2
During the fall the President shall appoint a Nominations/Election Committee chairperson, who is a Voting Member of the Association. The chairperson shall select others who are Voting Members of the Association, and who are not members of the current Board to assist with the election process.
Section 3
The Nominations/Election Chairperson shall oversee the nominations and election process.
Section 4
Voting Members of the Association as defined in Article I, Section 2, above, shall have the right to make nominations for the election of officers and directors.
Section 5
The Nominations/Election Committee shall secure a written commitment of service from each nominee and present the slate of candidates to the membership.
Section 6
The candidates receiving the greatest number of votes cast shall be declared elected. In case of a tie, a run-off election shall be conducted.
Section 7
The election for all positions shall be by ballot.
Section 8
Officers and Board Members elected shall assume office on May 1 following their election.
BYLAWS ARTICLE V
Duties of Officers and Directors
Section 1
Duties of the President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, to make appointments to committees, to inform all committee members of their functions and responsibilities, to act as the official representative of the Association, and to perform such other duties as the position normally entails. The President of the Association shall be considered as an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 2
Duties of the Vice President: It shall be the duty of the Vice President to preside at the meetings in the absence of the President and perform the duties of the President when that position is vacant.
Section 3
Duties of the Secretary It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the minutes of the proceedings of all regular and special meetings of the Board and the Association. The Secretary shall be responsible for making available, to the Association membership, all Business Meeting minutes and the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 4
Duties of the Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a record of the membership of the Association, to be custodian of the records and funds and make proper accounting of such funds, and to make proper reports to the membership. The Treasurer is expected to make available, to an Audit Committee appointed by the President, all of the Association’s financial records. The Treasurer is responsible for all Conference registration processes.
Section 5
Duties of the Directors: It shall be the duty of each Director to attend all meetings of the Board, as a representative of the membership, and fulfill committee assignments as appointed.
Section 6
Duties of the immediate Past President: It shall be the duty of the Immediate Past President to participate on, and advise the Board.
BYLAWS ARTICLE VI
Executive Committee
Section 1
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Director representative. The Director representative shall be selected annually by the Directors to represent them on the Executive Committee.
Section 2
The Executive Committee shall operate between meetings of the Board of Directors and shall act with the voting authority of the Board.
Section 3
A quorum of the Executive Committee shall exist when a minimum of four (4) members participate.
BYLAWS ARTICLE VII
Committees
Section 1
The initiatives of the Association are: Conferences; Membership Services; Communications; State Leadership; and Recognition and Excellence.
Section 2
The President shall appoint Standing Committees to address the initiatives of the Association.
Section 3
Committees are expected to function throughout the year and to report to the Board of Directors and Voting Membership. Chairpersons of Standing Committees, shall be appointed by the President, and shall be Directors.
Section 4
The President, with advice of the Board of Directors, may appoint Ad Hoc committees when deemed necessary to accomplish the goals/initiatives of the Association. The President will provide each newly appointed Ad Hoc committee with a statement of purpose.
BYLAWS ARTICLE VIII
Dues
(Amended 4-5-02)
Section 1
Voting memberships may be established as either an Individual or Institutional membership. The membership year for Voting, Associate and Retiree Memberships shall begin on September 1 and end on August 31 of the following year. Emeritus Membership is a life-time membership.
Section 2
The membership dues of the Association shall be determined annually by the Board of Directors.
BYLAWS ARTICLE IX
Quorum
Section 1
A quorum shall consist of the Voting Members present at any meeting.
BYLAWS ARTICLE X
Order of Business
Section 1
The following order of business shall be observed in conducting business of the Association except when suspended by unanimous consent:
I. Presentation of the minutes of the previous meeting and their acceptance.
2. Treasurer’ s report.
3. Report of standing committees.
4. Report of ad hoc committees.
5. Unfinished business.
6. New business.
7. Adjournment.
BYLAWS ARTICLE XI
Indemnity
Section 1
The Association as Incorporated shall indemnify any person or his heirs, executors, or administrators who is or becomes a party or is threatened to be made part to any threatened or pending action, suit, proceeding, or claim, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, incorporator, or registered agent of the Corporation or is or was representing the Corporation (i) as a trustee, (ii) partner, joint venture, trustee, or principle in any other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, proceeding, or found, liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct or to have had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall have the right to intervene in and jointly defend all such actions, suits, proceedings, or claims to which it is not a party. The foregoing indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights or benefits to which such person may now or hereafter be entitled and the opinion of the independent counsel or the termination of any action, suit, proceeding, or claim by judgment, order or settlement shall not preclude such person’s right to an adjudication on the issue of gross negligence or willful misconduct or reasonable cause as aforesaid. The right of indemnification granted herein shall not be exercisable by or for the benefit of third parties.
BYLAWS ARTICLE XII
Rules of Order
Section 1
Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority on all matters of parliamentary practice, except as otherwise provided for in this Constitution and Bylaws.
BYLAWS ARTICLE XIII
Amendments
Section 1
These Bylaws may be amended by the Association. A majority of the votes cast in any Amendment voting will determine the acceptance or rejection of that Amendment(s).
Section 2
The proposed Amendment(s) will be distributed by the Board at least ten (10) days prior to the vote.
Section 3
Any Voting member may submit a proposed Amendment(s) to the Board of Directors for consideration.