Constitution and By-Laws

Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION

Gallia County Retired Teachers Association
Ratified December 9, 2010

ARTICLE I - This association shall be known as the Gallia County Chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association (ORTA).

ARTICLE II - Purpose: The purpose of this organization is to help retired teachers maintain identity with the teaching profession and further the cause of education; to help promote good fellowship among the retired teachers of Gallia County; to sponsor and support legislation in Ohio as shall contribute to the comfort and welfare of the retired teachers of the state; to cooperate with the ORTA and programs of the Association.

ARTICLE III - Membership: Membership in this association shall be granted to all teachers drawing retirement from the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) of Ohio and all teachers retired in any other states but now living in Ohio. Retired school nurses are also eligible for membership.
Other persons in Ohio favorably interested in retired teachers' problems and well being, and in public education may become Associate Members by paying dues. Associate Members shall have the same rights and privileges as active members except the right to vote, to hold office or to represent the association.

ARTICLE IV - Officers: The officers of this association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

ARTICLE V - Meetings and Quorum:

SECTION 1: Regular meetings shall be held on the second Thursday in the months of February, April, June, August, October and December (subject to change by vote of the Executive Committee).

SECTION 2: Special Meetings may be called by the President or upon application of five members. The president shall call such meeting.

SECTION 3: The members present in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VI - Amendment

SECTION 1: This constitution may be amended at any meeting of the association by a two thirds (2/3) vote, a quorum being present; all members must be notified of proposed changes.

SECTION 2: The President shall be empowered to appoint such special committees as he deems needful at any time or, on the majority vote of members present at any meeting, he shall appoint committees as they direct.

ARTICLE VII - Parliamentary Procedures: "Roberts Rules of Order" shall be the parliamentary authority on all matters not covered by the Constitution and By-Laws of the association.

ARTICLE VIII - Suspension of By-Laws: The By-Laws may be suspended in case of emergency by unanimous vote of all members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

BY-LAWS

Ratified December 9, 2010

ARTICLE I - Duties of Officers

SECTION 1: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and perform all the duties usually pertaining to this office.

SECTION 2: In the absence or disability of the President the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President.

SECTION 3: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all proceedings and record the same. He shall give notice of all meetings, notify officers of election and send the names of new members to the Treasurer and perform such other duties as his office may require.

SECTION 4: The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all funds of the association and pay the same only on order of the President. He shall make a treasurer's report at each regular meeting. An audit of the books shall be made annually.

ARTICLE II - Election of Officers

SECTION 1: All officers shall be elected by ballot at the December meeting and shall assume office on January 1, following.

SECTION 2: No member shall be eligible to office who has not been a member of the association for a period of one (1) year.

SECTION 3: A term of office shall be two (2) years.

SECTION 4: Should an officer resign during the association year the President shall appoint a member of the association to assume the office.

ARTICLE III - Membership

SECTION 1: All regularly retired members of the teaching profession in Ohio are eligible for membership in this association, also retirees from other states now living in Ohio. School nurses are also eligible for membership.

ARTICLE IV - Dues

SECTION 1: Dues as of January 1, 2011:

                                Local:     $ 8.00
                                Local Life:       50.00
                                State:            30.00
                                State Life:     500.00

SECTION 2: The local dues shall be $8.00 payable at the December meeting for the following year. Local Life membership shall be $50.

SECTION 3: State annual dues shall be $30. State Life membership dues shall be $500. This money shall be kept in a separate fund with only the interest being used for operating expenses.

ARTICLE V - Committees

SECTION 1: At the October meeting the nominating committee shall present a list of candidates for election to office for the following term; an auditing committee shall be appointed to report on the correctness of the Treasurer's accounts at the February meeting.

ARTICLE VI - Speakers

SECTION 1: All persons who have something to contribute to the well being of our association shall be encouraged to speak at meetings. This includes political candidates as long as their comments are kept to a minimum and are kept on a non-partisan basis. Allowing political speakers is not to be considered in any way as an endorsement of said speaker. Our association is an apolitical organization.