Constitution and Bylaws

Constitution and Bylaws
of the UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965

Constitution

Article I – Name.

The name of this association shall be University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965, a local affiliate of the Arkansas Education Association/National Education Association, located at the University of Arkansas in Washington County.

Article II – Purpose.

The purpose of UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965 shall be the advancement of its members and fellow University employees professionally, economically and socially and to represent them before the management of the University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas System and the state of Arkansas.

Article III – Membership.

Section 1. Active Members: (a) This Association shall have a minimum of five active members. (b) Active membership in the Association shall be open to any person employed in, or on a leave of absence from, the University of Arkansas. Active members will maintain membership in the local, in the Arkansas Education Association and in the National Education Association. (c) Active membership shall be continuous until the member leaves the University, resigns from the Association, or fails to pay membership dues. (d) Membership begins by acceptance by the Local’s Secretary of an application and a dues payment plan accepted by the Local’s Treasurer. (e) Yearly membership will be in accordance with the AEA and NEA constitutions and bylaws, while the Local on general matters will follow the fiscal calendar of the University, July 1 through June 31. (f) The Local Executive Board sets its dues while the AEA and NEA determine theirs.

Section 2. The Association shall not deny membership to individuals on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, creed, religion or disability.

Article IV – Officers.

This Association shall have a minimum of two officers. The officers of the Association shall consist of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Officers of the Association and Executive Board members shall consist of active members at the time of their election and during the term of their office.

Article V – Executive Board.

The Executive Board shall consist of the officers and up to five at-large members. It shall be the executive authority of the Association. The Executive Board always will include at least one faculty member and at least one educational support professional. Leadership roles will be encouraged among graduate teaching and research assistants and other part-time University employees, as well as encouraged among Local members in differentiated populations.

Article VI – Affiliation.

The Association shall be affiliated with AEA and NEA and shall meet the requirements of affiliation.

Article VII – Elections of Personnel.

All elections shall be in accordance with the one person-one vote principle and conducted with open nominations and secret ballot.

Article VIII – Due Process.

No member may be censured, suspended or expelled without due process.

Article IX – Amendments.

The members may adopt amendments to this constitution by a 2/3 majority of those voting at any regular meeting provided that amendments have been introduced at the preceding regular meeting and that copies of proposed amendments have been distributed to members for discussion.

Bylaws

Article I – Meetings.

Section 1. Executive Board – The Executive Board shall establish regular monthly meetings and meet at the call of the president or at the request of three members of the board.

Section 2. The regular monthly meetings of the Executive Board will be considered General Membership meetings for discussion or votes on programs, issues and other matters.

Section 3. Special Meetings – Special meetings of the Executive Board may be held at the call of the President or three or more Executive Board members. Special general membership/Executive Board meetings may be held at the call of the president or upon written request to the Executive Board by petition representing 10 percent of the membership. Business to come before special meetings must be stated in the call.

Article II – Quorum and Voting.

Section 1. The quorum for this Local shall be 10 percent of the general membership in good standing. A quorum for its Executive Board shall be a simple majority of board members. Scheduled meetings without a quorum are valid for discussions but votes are invalid.

Section 2. (a) Elections of Executive Board members or of interim board appointments follow open nominations and are by simple majority votes via secret ballots at general membership/Executive Board meetings. (b) Votes on motions, resolutions or other matters are by simple majorities of those attending general membership/Executive Board or Executive Board meetings. (c) Members attending meetings may not carry the proxy vote of absent members. (d) The Executive Board may conduct business including votes electronically.

Article III – Duties of Officers.

Section 1. Duties of the President: The president shall act as presiding officer at regular and called meetings of the organization, appoint standing and special committees, and fill by appointment with the approval of the Executive Board all vacancies in offices. The president shall lead in developing a program of action for the Association. The president shall file the annual report of officers and activities with AEA headquarters.

Section 2. Duties of the Vice President: The vice president shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the president and perform such other duties as the president shall assign.

Section 3. Duties of the Secretary: The secretary shall keep a permanent record of all regular and called meetings, carry on the correspondence necessary, and keep an adequate file and record of such correspondence. “Correspondence” shall include public or digital communications of information or promotion; such general communications can be delegated with Executive Board approval to an at-large board member.

Section 4. Duties of the Treasurer: The treasurer shall receive and pay out the moneys belonging to the organization, keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures, keep a file of receipts, bills, returned checks, and bank statements, and present a report at each regular meeting of the organization.

Article IV – Power of the Executive Board.

Section 1. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association, approve all expenditures, carry out policies established by the membership, report its transactions to the members, approve appointments by the president to committees and offices, and suggest policies for consideration by the members.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall represent the Association subject to approval of the general membership.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall develop a budget, recommend dues for the Association, receive reports of committees, approve resolutions and other policy statements, and shall adopt procedures for implementing the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession. It may adopt such rules governing the conduct of the Association and the conduct of meetings as are consistent with this Constitution and Bylaws. The membership shall be the final judge of the qualifications and election of officers.

Article V – Committees.

The Executive Board shall create standing and special committees as needed. The president shall appoint chairs to committees. The president shall discharge special committees upon completion of their duties.

Article VI – Elections of Personnel.

Section 1. Active members of the Association may nominate candidates for association officers and Executive Board at-large members. All elections shall be in accordance with the one person, one vote principle and conducted by open nomination and secret ballot.

Section 2. (a) The four officers of the Local each shall serve two-year terms that begin and end in even-numbered years. (b) Executive Board at-large members shall serve one-year terms. (c) Terms of officers and at-large board members begin on July 1, with the nomination and election process occurring in the preceding months. (d) A vacancy shall be filled with a simple majority vote in a general membership/Executive Board meeting, with the interim board member completing the term of the original holder.

Article VII – Dues.

This Association shall establish and collect annual local dues (amount to be determined by the local).

Article VIII – Authority.

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for the Association on all questions not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws.

Article IX – Amendments.

These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote at any regular meeting of the general membership provided that proposed amendments have been previously published and that copies have been sent to members two calendar weeks in advance of the meeting.

Adopted: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020

(Bret Schulte)
Signature of President, UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965

(Mike Pierce)
Witnessed by Vice President, UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965