The ARTA Constitution and Bylaws
The following is the current ARTA Constitution which is followed by its Bylaws:
Constitution
Alexandria Retired Teachers Association
Article I. Name
The name of this association shall be the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association and can be hereafter referred to as the association or ARTA.
Article II. Purpose
The purpose of this association shall be to:
1. promote the economic, social, and professional status of retirees;
2. encourage members to maintain interest in and to participate in educational, legislative, and community activities;
3. foster good fellowship among retirees;
4. develop programs that will be of interest to members and to inform them about current issues on local, state, and national levels; and
5. cooperate with EAA, VEA, NEA, VRTA, and AARP.
Article III. Membership
Membership shall be open to any retired teacher, administrator, educational or instructional support personnel, secretary, or nurse formerly employed in public or private schools.
Article IV. Officers and Elections
Section 1. The officers of the association shall be president, president-elect, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2. The officers hall be elected for a term of two years and may be re-elected.
Section 3. Election of officers shall be held at the membership meeting in April. New officers shall be presented at the May luncheon and assume their duties on July 1.
Section 4. The executive board shall consist of the elected officers and committee chairpersons appointed by the president.
Article V. Meetings
The Alexandria Retired Teachers Association shall meet a minimum of seven times each year unless changed by the executive board.
Article VI. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote at a regular or called meeting of the association at which a quorum is present, provided the amendments have been submitted in writing to the members at lease two weeks before the meeting.
By-laws
Alexandria Retired Teachers Association
Article I. Duties of officers
Section 1. President
a. The president shall be the executive leader and the presiding officer,
b. The president shall appoint the chairpersons of standing committees and appoint special committees.
c. The president shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
d. The president should attend local, state, and national conferences when possible. Information received at such meetings should be passed on to the association.
e. The president shall work with the executive board and committee chairpersons on projects and activities.
f. The president shall contact new retirees by letter and enclose an application form with each.
Section 2. President-Elect
a. The president-elect shall work with the president and substitute for the president when necessary.
b. The president-elect may serve as the program chairperson.
Section 3. Recording Secretary
a. The recording secretary shall record the minutes of the executive board meetings and association meetings in permanent form.
Section 4. Corresponding Secretary
The corresponding secretary shall:
a. conduct association correspondence
b. send cards when members or members of their immediate family are ill or die, and arrange to send a memorial for a deceased member to the ARTA Scholarship Fund unless the family or close friend suggests otherwise. The corresponding secretary shall notify the family by letter regarding the contribution.
Section 5. Treasurer
The treasurer shall:
a. keep a record of dues and other monies received and deposit all monies in a bank authorized by the executive board.
b. keep a record of and obtain a receipt for all monies expended.
c. make a financial report at each meeting and provide a written copy to the recording secretary.
d. prepare books for a bi-annual audit.
e. serve as an ex-officio member of the membership committee.
Article II. Duties of the Executive Board
Section 1. The executive board shall consist of the officers and the chairpersons of standing committees. The president shall preside at all meetings of the executive board. The president shall vote only in case of a tie.
Section 2. The executive board shall meet a minimum of twice a year.
Section 3. Vacancies on the executive board shall be filled by presidential appointment with the advice and consent of the board.
Section 4. The duties of the executive board shall be to:
a. take initiative in determining the policies of the association;
b. transact business on behalf of the association, and
c. supervise the finances of the association.
Article III. Standing Committees and Duties
Section 1. The Membership Committee shall keep a current list of retirees in Alexandria who are members and shall regularly inform the Communications Committee of those names for inclusion in the directory and newsletter.
Section 2. The Social Committee shall:
a. cooperate with the Program Committee in planning for special activities and meetings with refreshments.
b. provide hostesses and/or name tags for meetings when appropriate.
c. execute other duties delegated by the executive board for association functions.
Section 3. The Program Committee shall:
a. plan the programs for the year.
b. meet speakers and entertainers.
c. preside during the program at the request of the president.
d. coordinate program requirements with the host location personnel.
Section 4. The Legislative Committee shall:
a. keep the association informed on developments and changes proposed by the General Assembly, City Council, City School Board, and professional organizations.
b. advise the association of steps that should be taken by individual members of the association to communicate our position on designated issues.
Section 5. The Budget Committee shall:
a. formulate a projected budget for submission to the executive board for revision and/or approval and to the membership for adoption.
b. include the treasurer as a member of this committee.
Section 6. The Communications Committee shall:
a. write, print, and mail the newsletter to members.
b. keep a current record of names, addresses, and phone numbers for inclusion in the directory.
c. distribute the directory each year to all members.
Section 7. The Constitution and By-laws Committee shall:
a. review the constitution and by-laws of the association periodically to verify that they are in keeping with the goals, needs, and operations of the association and that they are consistent with those of the local, state, and national associations.
b. inform the executive board and the membership of changes and additions that they recommend for amendments and/or revisions.
Section 8. The Nominating Committee:
In an election year, a nominating committee of three members, appointed by the executive board, shall present a slate of candidates whose consent has been secured. The slate shall be submitted to the members before the April meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor provided the consent of each nominee has been secured.
Article IV. Dues
The annual dues for association membership shall be recommended by the executive board after its review of the projected budget and shall be approved by the membership. Dues checks shall be made payable to the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association at the beginning of each fiscal year. The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. The date, time, and place of the executive board meetings and the association meetings shall be set by the executive board and necessary arrangements or permits secured by them.
Section 2. Written notice of association meetings shall be distributed to the membership at least one week before the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Notice of executive board meetings and other committee meetings shall be disseminated by the most practical method for the occasion.
Article VI. Quorum
Section 1. The quorum consists of members who attend the meeting provided it is either a stated meeting or one that has been properly called.
Section 2. The Quorum for a meeting of the executive board shall be a majority of the board members.
Article VII. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at a regular or called meeting of the association at which a quorum is present by a two-thirds affirmative vote, provided the amendments have been submitted in writing to the members at lease two weeks before the meeting.
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority in all questions of parliamentary law not covered by this constitution and by-laws.
Article IX. Adoption and Effective Data
The constitution and by-laws of the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association shall become effective immediately upon adoption. Revisions and amendments shall become effective upon passage unless otherwise stated.
Date of adoption: Unknown
Dates of revisions: March 1990, October 1992, October 1999
Dates of amendments: