CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
REVISION, NOVEMBER 2006
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Coles County Retired Teachers Association, hereafter called the Association or CCRTA.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND MISSION
Purpose: The purpose of the Association shall be to maintain and improve benefits to annuitants of TRS; to promote education and the professional, social, and economic status of all members; and to work in cooperation with other organizations to obtain these goals.
Mission: The Association is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of retired educators. The Association serves the needs and interests of its members through advocacy, education, cooperation, and socialization in a flexible organizational structure.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP - DUES
Section 1. The association shall have three (3)classifications of membership: Active, Associate, and Pre-retirement.
- Active: Any retired certified staff members of public or private school, college, or university; or the annuitant spouse of a deceased annuitant shall be eligible as an Active member with full membership privileges.
- Associate: Any other person interested in education and approved for membership by any local unit of IRTA shall be eligible as an Associate member without the right to vote or hold office.
- Pre-retirement: Any certified Illinois public or private school staff member who anticipates retirement within five (5) years shall be eligible as a Pre-retirement member with full membership privileges.
Section 2. Surviving spouses:
- In the case of a surviving spouse who becomes an annuitant and is already an Annual Associate member, that surviving spouse may continue as an Annual Associate or may become an Annual, Deduct, or Life Active member with payment of appropriate dues.
- In the case of a surviving spouse who is already an Associate Life member, that spouse may continue as an Active Life member without further payment of dues.
Section 3. Any current Active member who does not meet the requirements of Section 1,A. above may continue Active membership.
Section 4. The Annual, Dues Deduct, and Life Active membership dues and the Associate membership dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1. The officers of CCRTA shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
Section 2. Qualifications and terms of office:
- Officers must be active members of the Association.
- Term of office: Officers shall serve terms of two (2) years and shall assume office on January 1 following their election.
- Officers will develop a calendar of events and programs early in the year well in advance of meetings.
Section 3. Vacancies:
- In the event of a vacancy in the office of president, the vice-president shall assume the office for the remainder of the term.
- Should vacancies occur in the offices of president and vice-president, the Board of Directors shall meet to appoint replacements for the remainder of the term.
- Should a vacancy occur in any office other than that of president, the president, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term. The replacement shall be elected to complete the remaining years of the term.
Section 4. Duties of the officers:
- The PRESIDENT shall: (a.) preside at all meetings of the CCRTA and the Board of Directors. (b.) appoint all committee chairmen with the approval of the Board of Directors and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee. (c.) give a report of the years' program and activities at the December meeting.
- The VICE PRESIDENT shall: (a.) succeed as president of CCRTA following the president's retirement. (b.) preside at meetings in the absence of the president and shall assist the president in performing such duties as shall be assigned by the president and the Board of Directors. (c.) assume the office of president in the event of a vacancy for the remainder of the term and is also eligible to serve a full term as president.
- The SECRETARY shall: (a.) keep the minutes of all meetings of CCRTA and the Board of Directors. (b.) assist the president in carrying on the correspondence of CCRTA.
- The TREASURER shall: (a.) receive all monies of CCRTA and keep an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures and shall pay out funds only as authorized by the Board of Directors. (b.) forward the IRTA dues to the state treasurer and file receipts of same. (c.) keep an accurate record of the membership, both state and local. (d.) present a statement of accounts at each meeting, or in the newsletter, and shall make an annual report of the accounts. (e.) be audited each year by a committee appointed by the president and approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Nominations: At least one month prior to the September meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of three members who shall prepare a slate of candidates for the offices to fill. Nominations may be made from the floor if the consent of the nominee has been obtained prior to the election.
Section 6. Elections:
- The election of officers shall take place at the September meeting. (a.) The President and Vice-president will be elected for a 2-year term in the odd numbered years. (b.) The Secretary and Treasurer, will be elected for a 2-year term, in the even numbered years.
- Installation of officers shall take place at the December meeting, with the officers taking office on January 1st.
Section 7. Board of Directors
- Shall consist of the officers and the chairpersons of the standing committees.
- Shall be responsible for administration of the affairs of CCRTA.
- Will fill vacancies for all offices except the president.
ARTICLE V - FINANCES
Section 1. The fiscal year of CCRTA shall be from January 1 to December 31.
Section 2. The finance committee shall submit an annual budget to the Board of Directors for adoption at the first meeting of the year.
Section 3. The financial records of CCRTA shall be reviewed after January 1 by the finance committee and shall be audited by an independent auditor.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings shall be held the second Tuesday of each month, March through December, at 1:30 p.m., except lunches held at 12:00 noon.
- Meetings may be called by the president or a majority of the Board of Directors.
- Special meetings may be called by the president or a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Quorum: Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum for conducting business at local meetings.
Section 3. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the members of the Board at the beginning of the year. A Quorum for the Board shall be the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section 1. The standing committees shall be:
- Legislation*
- Membership*
- Member Benefits*
- Information Services*
- Retirement, Education & Memorial
- Social
- Historical and Archives
- Newsletter
- Parliamentarian
*These conform to the IRTA committees' restructuring
Section 2. The duties of each committee shall be those outlined by the Board of Directors in cooperation with state and national committees.
ARTICLE VIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The current Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the organization, with the exception as noted herein.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The bylaws of CCRTA may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting, provided that the to-be-voted-upon amendments have been presented to the membership at the previous meeting or by newsletter.
Section 2. Amendments must be in written form and distributed to the membership prior to introduction, consideration, and discussion.
ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION
Section 1. When CCRTA is considering dissolution, IRTA should be notified immediately by the CCRTA president or another officer. No vote on dissolution shall be taken without notification and consultation with the IRTA president.
Section 2. In the event of dissolution of CCRTA, the net assets of CCRTA shall be distributed as follows:
- All liabilities and obligations shall be paid and satisfied or adequate provision shall be made.
- All assets and property remaining, after cost and expense of dissolution, shall be surrendered to IRTA, the IRTA Foundation or another appropriate group.
Section 3. Any member of CCRTA may choose to transfer to another association if such is available in a surrounding area, or may become a state member.
Revised, November 2006
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