“A community of learners - Sharing the joys of teaching and learning - Creating and refining
a vision of science education - Helping teachers put this vision into practice with their students”
Arizona Science Teachers
Association Constitution
As Revised:
January 1, 2007
ARTICLE I - IDENTITY
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as the Arizona Science Teachers
Association hereinafter designated the ASTA, or the Association.
Section 2.
The ASTA shall be organized and administered as an affiliate of the
National Science Teachers Association.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
Section 1.
The purpose of ASTA shall be to stimulate, improve and coordinate
science teaching at all levels of instruction.
Section 2.
The ASTA may, with the approval of the Board of Directors, affiliate
with national, regional and local scientific and professional groups
where combined efforts will contribute to the overall purpose of the
Association.
ARTICLE III -
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
The qualifications, classifications, and rights of members shall all be
defined in the Bylaws. Membership dues shall be recommended by the Board
of Directors and shall be established by the membership at the Annual
Business Meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE IV - GOVERNMENT
Section 1.
The ASTA shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the
elected officers, the elected directors from the regions designated in
the Bylaws, and the non-voting ASTA Executive Director.
(Amended 10/2006) The Board of Directors shall retain the right of review and
the right of repudiate or veto the action or actions of an officer,
committee, person, or group acting for or in the name of the ASTA. The
board of directors shall hold an annual business meeting.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President,
President-elect, Past President, Recording and Membership Secretaries,
Treasurer and the Executive Director.
(Amended 10/2006)
Section 3.
The powers and duties of the officers and directors, together with the
method of their election, shall be as prescribed in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by either a two-thirds
vote of the Board of Directors or by a petition signed by twenty members
of the Association. All proposed amendments to this constitution must be
mailed to the membership two weeks prior to the annual business meeting
of the Association.
Section 2.
Amendments to this constitution must be approved at the annual business
meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the members present
and voting by secret ballot.
BYLAWS OF THE
ARIZONA SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
PARAGRAPH I -
HEADQUARTERS
Section 1.
The headquarters of ASTA shall be located at the place of residence of
the Executive Director.
(Amended 10/2006)
PARAGRAPH II -
MEETINGS
Section 1.
The annual business meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held not
later than one month before the annual meeting at a central location
designated by the President.
The Board of Directors shall have three additional meetings during the
year- time and place to be designated by the president. All meetings of
the Board of Directors shall be open to the membership. A board member
is encouraged to designate a nonvoting ASTA alternate from their
district to attend any board meeting that they are unable to attend.
(Amended 10/2006)
The annual business meeting of the Association shall be held in the fall
at the place determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or three
members of the Executive Committee with at least seven (7) days notice.
Properly scheduled telephone conference calls may constitute a valid
meeting. It will be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to
provide an orientation as to the role and responsibilities of each new
board member prior to their first board meeting.
(Amended 10/2006)
Section 3.
The quorum for the transaction of business by either the Board of
Directors or the Executive Committee shall be a simple majority of the
voting membership present.
(Amended 10/2006)
PARAGRAPH III-
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
(Amended 10/2006)
Section 1.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order
Newly Revised, in principle, shall govern the Association in all cases
to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with
these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.
PARAGRAPH IV- FISCAL
YEAR
Section 1. (Added
10/2006)
ASTA shall be a non-profit organization.
Section 2.
The fiscal year of the ASTA shall extend from November 1 through October
31.
Section 3. (Added
10/2006)
Dues, grants, contributions, and registration fees at meetings shall be
sought to meet the expenses of the Association.
Section 4. (Added
10/2006)
Accounts -- The Board of Directors shall maintain proper accounts with
respect to:
-
All sums of money received, donated, or expended by the
Association.
-
Receipts of all sales and purchases by the Association.
-
The assets and liabilities of the Association.
-
Any or all other transactions involving the Association.
Section 5.
(Amended 10/2006)
At
the conclusion of the Treasurer’s elected term of office, an audit of
the accounts of the Association will be conducted. The manner in which
this process is conducted will be determined by the executive Committee
with the approval of the Board of Directors.
PARAGRAPH V -
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Individuals may qualify as Regular, Associate, or Student members.
Regular membership in the Association shall be open to teachers in
public, private, or parochial schools and institutions of higher
learning within the state. Associate membership shall be open to
interested members of industry within the state. Student membership
shall be open to students of science in the Junior and Senior years at
the institutions of higher learning within the state.
Section 2.
Members in any individual membership are entitled to vote. Only
individuals classified as regular members may hold office.
Section 3.
The Board of Directors shall have the right to refuse membership to any
individual or to suspend or to rescind the membership of an individual
or group for due cause.
Section 4.
Individuals who meet the requirements for regular or associate
membership may become life members of the Association upon the payment
of a one-time fee equal to ten (10) times the regular membership dues.
The life membership fee may also be paid in five (5) annual payments
each equal to two and a half (2.5) times the regular membership dues at
the time of the origination of the life membership.
The fees of life members shall be placed in a reserve fund. Interest
from these reserve funds may be used in the regular budget of the
Association.
Section 5.
Organizations with an interest in science education may qualify as
organizational members by application to the board of directors.
Section 6.
(Amended October 1994)
Student membership dues shall be set at 50% of the regular membership
dues.
PARAGRAPH VI -
SECTIONS
Section 1.
Sections of ASTA may be formed with the approval of the board of
directors. A section is composed of persons having a common interest in
some special phase of science or science teaching.
Section 2.
Section membership categories, operational procedures, and policies are
subject to review and modification by the Board of Directors at any
time. The Board shall exercise the same control over the activities of
sections that it exercises over the ASTA groups.
PARAGRAPH VII -
OFFICERS
Section 1.
The President-Elect, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, and
Treasurer are to be chosen from and elected by the membership at large.
The annual succession of the President-Elect to the office of President,
and then to the office of Past-President, respectively, is automatic. In
the event of death, incapacitation, or resignation of the president, the
Past-President will assume the office of president for the remainder of
the unexpired term which shall include the term of office as
Past-President which the president being replaced would normally have
served.
Section 2.
Officers, except the Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary and
Treasurer, shall serve for one year and shall take office at the
adjournment of the annual business meeting of the Association following
election.
Section 3.
The Recording Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected in alternate
years for a two-year term of office. The Recording Secretary shall be
elected in odd numbered years and the Treasurer in even numbered years.
The Treasurer may serve two consecutive two-year terms if he/she so
desires and is reelected (as amended Oct. 1994). The Recording Secretary
may not serve two consecutive two year terms in the same office. The
Membership Secretary serves for a two-year term, renewable indefinitely
to maintain continuity of membership records.
Section 4. (Added
10/2006)
The Executive Director shall be hired by the Executive Committee as an
independent contractor to serve as staff for the organization. The
Duties, compensation, and other detailed terms of employment shall be
specified in a renewable, written contract between the ASTA Board of
Directors and the Executive Director. The Executive Director will be a
nonvoting member of both the Board of Directors and the Executive
Committee entitled to make and second motions.
PARAGRAPH VIII -
DIRECTORS
Section 1.
The following twelve regions shall be established for the purpose of
electing the directors of the Association:
Region
Counties Region
Counties
I
Yuma & La
Paz VII Cochise and Santa Cruz
II
Mohave VIIII Pinal
III
Yavapai IX Gila
IV- WEST
Western
Maricopa X Navajo & Apache North
IV- EAST
Eastern
Maricopa XI Coconino
V
Graham &
Greenlee XII Navajo & Apache South
VI
Pima
Section 2.
A
Director shall be elected from each odd-numbered region in odd numbered
years and from each even-numbered region in each even-numbered year.
Region IV Directors shall alternate years selected; East in even numbers
years and West in odd-numbered years. Each newly elected Director shall
take office at the adjournment of the Annual Business Meetings of
Association following the election.
Section 3.
Officers and Directors shall receive copies of all reports pertinent to
the businesses of the Association. At least two weeks prior to the
Annual Business Meeting of the Board, the President shall mail a copy of
the agenda and committee reports to all members of the board.
Section 4.
The Board of Directors shall determine the boundary between regions
IV-East and IV-West and between the regions of X and XII.
PARAGRAPH IX -
ELECTIONS
Section 1.
Officers and Directors shall be elected by secret ballot at the annual
business Meeting of the Association or by mail. The election method
shall be determined each year by the Board of Directors (as amended Oct.
1994). Names and qualifications of the nominees shall be mailed to the
membership two weeks prior to the election by the president.
Section
2.
The nominating committee consisting of three members, one a past
president shall be appointed by the President in January. The committee
shall nominate two candidates for each office to be filled at the next
annual meeting. The committee shall send a report to the president and
the Recording Secretary of its nominations. Additional nominations may
be made from the floor by members at the annual meeting.
Each nominee shall express willingness to serve in the office for which
he/she is being nominated before acceptance of his/her nomination.
Section 3.
Members may write-in a nominee for any office up for election and cast
their ballot for their write-in nominee.
(as amended Oct. 1994)
PARAGRAPH X - DUTIES
Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall establish the budget and have the power to
amend and approve the budget. It shall establish policy covering the
solicitation or acceptance of funds. It shall select items of business
to be referred to the general membership either by mail or at the Annual
Business Meeting. It shall exercise all other powers usually assumed by
the Board of Directors not specifically assigned to officers.
Section 2.
Except for the offices of the President and President-Elect, the Board
of Directors shall fill vacancies on the board. The vacant offices shall
be filled by election for the unexpired term at the next Annual Business
Meeting of the Association.
Section 3.
The Board of Directors may take action at the annual business meeting of
the Board; or called upon the written requests of a majority of the
board; or by mail ballot; or by a telegraphic or telephone ballot
confirmed within five (5) days by mail ballot.
Section 4.
Except as stated or otherwise provided in the Constitution or these
Bylaws, the duties of the various officers of ASTA shall be those which
are customary for such officers. Additional duties for all officers and
committees may be assigned by the President within such limits as may be
established by the board of directors.
Section 5.
The President shall have general charge of the affairs of ASTA.
Section 6.
The duties of the Past-President and the President- Elect shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.
Each Director shall have the responsibility of promoting the program of
ASTA in his/her region.
Section 8.
The executive committee may act for the Board of Directors as authorized
and directed by the board.
Section 9. (Added
10/2006)
The Board of Directors may authorize the President, Treasurer, or
Executive Director to sign any and all deeds, documents, investments and
writings signed for and on behalf of and in the name of the Association.
These signatures shall be binding upon the Association. Save as
aforesaid or as otherwise stipulated in these By-Laws, no officer,
agent, or member shall have any power or authority to bind the
Association by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit.
Section 10.
The Recording Secretary shall maintain a record of the official business
and actions of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
Section 11.
The Treasurer shall report the financial status of the Association to
the Board of Directors at each meeting of the Board and to the Annual
Business Meeting of the Association, shall present bills for approval to
the board, and shall serve as a member of all committees concerned with
Finance.
Section 12.
The Membership Secretary shall promote membership with the help of the
membership committee, notify members when dues are due, send out
applications, send out membership cards, keep an up-to-date file on all
members, be responsible for printing a roster each year, and submit dues
payments and names to the Treasurer once a month.
PARAGRAPH XI -
COMMITTEES
Section 1.
Special committees may be established by the President, or by the Board
of Directors.
Section 2.
The President shall appoint the members of all ASTA committees, except
those assigned to certain committees by virtue of office or when
otherwise prescribed by the Board.
Section 3.
All committees shall prepare reports for the Annual Business Meeting of
the Association and at other times as requested by the President.
Section 4.
The duties of the committees are those, which are customary for such
committees; however, the President may charge them with additional
responsibilities.
Section 5.
Committee appointments terminate with the close of the Annual Business
Meeting of the Association except as specifically provided by the Board
of Directors in its statement of operating policy.
PARAGRAPH XII -
AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
Proposed amendments to the Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of
the Board of Directors, meeting in regular or special session, providing
that notification of the proposed amendments has been mailed to each
member of the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
Amendments may also be proposed by a petition signed by twenty members
of the Association without approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.
Proposed amendments must be mailed to the membership of the association
two (2) weeks prior to the Annual Business Meetings of the Association.
Voting on the proposed amendments will take place as described in
Paragraph VIII, Section 1 and will be adopted if they receive a majority
vote of the vote cast.
