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Appendix A: Sample Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE _________________________________________________________________ OF THE (STATE STUDENT PROGRAM NAME)

ARTICLE I. Name and Location

Section 1. The name of this association shall be _________________________________________________

hereinafter known as the Association.

Section 2. Headquarters for the Association will be maintained in _________________________________, *

County, (State).

ARTICLE II. Purposes

Section 1. Promote interest in young adults interested in education.

Section 2. Provide members with opportunities for developing personal growth and professional competence.

Section 3. Provide opportunities for gaining an understanding of the history, ethics and programs of the education profession.

Section 4. Provide opportunities for participating in cooperative work on the problems of the profession and the community.

Section 5. Provide professional membership on the local, state and national levels during the preparation period for a career in education.

Section 6. Strive for higher standards of preparation.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Section 1. Membership in the Association shall be open to any (name of your school) student preparing for a career or interested in education who has never been eligible for any other category of membership within the NEA.

(Name of School or Local)

Section 2. In addition to being a member of the Association each member shall be affiliated with the State and National Student Program. A person shall not be admitted to or continue membership in the Association who possesses a teaching contract or who receives payment for teaching duties rendered-with the exception of graduate students receiving graduate teaching assistantships.

Section 3. The membership year shall be from September I to August 31.

Section 4. Membership will not be denied on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or physically challenged.

ARTICLE IV. Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be responsible to the membership in all matters concerning the discharge of their duties.

Section 2. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice-President or President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer (Secretary/Treasurer could be one individual), an Editor, and a Historian (Editor/Historian could be one individual). (A local may have additional officers, but it must have those listed in this section.)

ARTICLE V. Organization

Section 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the officers, state officers from the local**, and the local advisors.

Section 2.. GENERAL MEETING: There shall be general meetings of the members of this Association annually.

ARTICLE VI. Affiliation

Section 1. The Association shall be affiliated with the (State and National) NEA Student Programs.

Section 2.. The Association shall not affiliate with any local, state of national group, union or association, that competes for membership with (State and National).

If a local has any members elected to state offices that may not be local officers, the local may choose to include them in its Executive committee.)

** (Name of School or Local)

Section 3. The Vice-President:

a. shall preside in the absence of the President;

b. shall perform other duties as delegated by the President and/or the Executive Committee; and

c. shall assume the office of President upon resignation of the President.

Section 4. *The Treasurer:

a. shall be responsible for the safekeeping and accounting of all funds;

b. shall provide financial reports at each Executive Committee and Representative Assembly meeting; and

c. shall sign all checks drawn on the bank account of the Association.

Section 5. *The Secretary:

a. shall keep accurate records and files of the proceedings of general and Executive Committee meetings; and

b. shall submit monthly reports to the respective district, regional, or state presidents.

Section 6. *The Historian: (Optional)

a. shall prepare an association scrapbook;

b. shall write a history of the year's work;

c. shall be in charge of the local newsletter;

d. shall take pictures of association events; and

e. shall provide/secure expert help in the above areas.

Section 7. The Editor: (Optional)

a. shall work with the historian to compile a local newsletter;

b. shall distribute local and state publications; and

c. shall perform other duties as delegated by the president and/or Executive Committee.

Section 8. In the event of a vacancy in the office of its Vice-president, Secretary, or Treasurer, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VII. Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be the executive branch of this Association. Section 2 The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

a. to be responsible to the membership in all matters;

b. to carry out the policies of the general membership;

c. to attend to the business for the Association between general meetings;

d. to approve all members of the committees;

f. to adopt the annual budget;

If a local has any members elected to state offices that may not be local officers, the local may choose to include them in its Executive Committee.

g. to make available all official documents for inspection of the Association;

h. cooperate with the president in setting up a schedule of meetings for the year; i. act on problems that need immediate attention; and

j. give general direction to the work of all standing and special committees.

Section 3. A quorum for the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the members.

Section 4. Any member of the Executive Committee who is absent for consecutive regular meetings or a total of - meetings of the Executive Committee during an Association year shall forfeit her/ his office.

Section 5. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be at a location designated by the president. The president shall notify the Executive Committee of any change in the location of their meetings.

Section 6. The dates and times for Executive Meetings shall be set by the Executive Committee at its first meeting. Additional meetings may be called by the president or by members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII. General Meeting

Section 1. MEETINGS. The Association shall hold - meetings a year at a time and location to be determined by the Executive Committee. Notice to all meetings shall be posted in all buildings of the Association.

Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the president, a majority of the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of- percent ( %) of the members. These meetings will consider only items specified in the call for such a meeting and shall deal with important matters, that arise between regular meetings and that urgently require action.

ARTICLE IX. Committees

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees, in addition to the Executive Committee, appointed by the president subject to the approval of the Executive Committee: Publicity, Elections (list other location association committees if desired).

Section 2. DUTIES. The duties of the committees, as herein provided shall be found in the Association Standing Rules.

Section 3. Special committees may be established by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Special committees shall be established for the purpose of accomplishing a specific task period within a limited of time, (Also known as "ad-hoc" committees.) The committee chairpersons shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X. Dues

Section 1. Members shall pay annually the current fees for student memberships in the State, the current fees for membership in NEA-SP, and (amount local charges).

ARTICLE VI. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Elections will be conducted under guidelines approved by the general membership. Section 2. All elections will be conducted using an open nomination and secret ballot procedure.

ARTICLE XI. Due Process

Section 1. The Association shall guarantee that no member will be censored, suspended, or expelled without a due process procedure which shall include an appellate procedure.

Section 2. The Association shall guarantee that no member of the Executive Committee shall be impeached and removed from office without a due process procedure which shall include an appellate procedure.

Section 3. The general membership shall approve rules and procedures to implement these due process guarantees.

ARTICLE XII. Amendment Process

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at any general meeting.

Section 2. Proposed changes in these Bylaws shall be presented in writing to the membership at least days prior to the meeting at which they will be considered.

ARTICLE XIII. Suspension Provision

Section 1. Any provision of these Bylaws may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at any general meeting.

ARTICLE XIV. Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not specified in this Constitution, Bylaws and Standing Rules.

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Appendix B: Sample Guide for Planning a Business Meeting Agenda

Name of Organization Date

Location/Tune

Agenda

1. Call to Order

H. Approval of minutes in. Adoption of agenda

IV. Reports of officers

V. Reports of committees

VI. Old business

VII. New business

VIII. Announcements

IX. Adjournment

(subheadings may be added where necessary)

NOTE: An agenda listing committee reports, pending and special-ordered business should be compiled before the meeting and publicized widely if possible.

Refer to parliamentary procedures for local association presidents for details of a business meeting.

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Appendix C: Sample Letter of Welcome to Education Majors- Especially Freshmen or Sophomores

Dear (Education Major),

Welcome to the University In just a few days you will join other students who are preparing to become teachers in the College of Education. As a student in Education, you are invited to join the preprofessional association-the National Education Association-Student Program. Students constantly work through the Student Program to improve the teacher education program on campus.

We are a busy association with big plans for the coming year. One of our most important responsibilities this year will be to keep you informed about how our plans are being carried out. During registration, Student [State] NEA will have a booth in the building. Be sure to stop and let the representative know about your special interests so they can keep informed of your ideas and your concerns. Education courses are not a prerequisite to becoming a member. You can take a part, even if it is a small part, in working with us toward the improvement of education.

We encourage you to ask questions of us as you go through your education courses. We will do everything we can to see that your college years are as rewarding for you as we can make them. Enclosed you will find a membership form. We welcome your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Your Name, President

Your Local Association

Advisor

P. S. Be sure to ask us about the fun we have-at socials, workshops, conferences, and the like.

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Simple Parliamentary Procedure for Local Leaders

The basic reason for having any standard procedure is to dispose of the business before the assembly quickly, efficiently, and justly. The basic theses of parliamentary procedure are:

1. Only one subject may be discussed at one time. 2. Every member of the assembly has equal rights. 3. Each issue presented is entitled to free debate.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE FOR LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS Order of Business Meeting

Meeting called to order

1. The President calls the meeting to order and makes the opening remarks, "The meeting will come to order." (opening remarks)

Reading and approval of minutes

1. Secretary, seated by the President, stands to read/or pass out copies of the minutes.

2. Corrections to minutes are requested.

3. No motion is needed for approval of the minutes.

Report of officers

1.No motion is needed for the adoption of the Treasurer's report unless it is audited.

Report of committees

1. Committee chairpersons who are to report should be in the front.

2. No motion is needed for adoption of committee reports unless recommendations for association action are made.

Committee recommendations for action

1. Motion is usually made by the Chairperson, seconded by the committee.

Business

1. Any old business must be dealt with.

2. Any new business is attended to.

Announcements

1. Anyone wishing to make an announcement should be moved to the front.

Adjournment

1. Chairperson automatically adjourns a meeting, except when there is unfinished business, in which case a motion is needed.

DEFINITIONS

Motion: A formal proposal that the assembly take a certain action; the method whereby the business is presented to the entire assembly. FORM: Mr./Ms. Chairperson, I move that…

Personal Privilege:

A point relating to some obstacle to the proper conduct of the meeting or some

matter of immediate and universal interest to the delegates is a matter of precedence. For example, the air conditioning may have stopped and a delegate wants this problem rectified immediately. Also, a delegate may wish to recognize a visitor or accomplishment. FORM: Mr. /Ms. Chairperson, point of personal Privilege.

Point of information: An inquiry as to the content or intent of the question before the assembly is not a speech on the substance of the question and is in order as a matter of precedence. Delegates do not have to vote on something they don't understand. However, it is an abuse to ask a rhetorical question, or a hostile question, which is designed only to damage the issue rather than clarify it before the vote is taken. FORM: Mr. /Ms. Chairperson, point of information.

Point of order: A delegate may always require adherence to the rules. But a point of order is not an opportunity to speak on the substance of the question. A delegate who honestly believes that a speaker, or a ruling of the chairperson, is out of order should obtain recognition, as a matter of precedence, and state specifically which rule is being violated. The chairperson will immediately respond and will have the advice of the parliamentarian in doing so. All questions are directed to the Chair; only he/she may request the assistance of the parliamentarian. The parliamentarian shall advise the chairperson or address the assembly at the request of the chairperson. of a delegate is unhappy with the ruling of the Chair, he/she may appeal only to the assembly. FORM: Mr./Ms. Chairperson, point of order.

Previous Question: At any time after progress in debate, two thirds of the delegates may close debate. Debate may be closed only after a motion and vote of the delegates. FORM: Mr./Ms. Chairperson, I move the previous question.

Reconsider. When a question has been once adopted, rejected or suppressed, it cannot be again considered during that session except by a motion to "reconsider the vote" on the question. This motion can only be made by one who voted on the prevailing side, and on the day the vote was taken which it is proposed, or on the next succeeding day. A motion to reconsider a vote on the debatable question, opens to debate the entire merits of the original motion. If the question to be considered is un debatable, then reconsideration is undebatable. FORM: Mr./Ms. Chairperson, I move to reconsider the vote by which the motion to was passed earlier in the meeting. (Needs a second)

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