CONSTITUTION

 

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Texas State Teachers Association-Student Program (TSTA-SP).

 

Article II – Purpose

The TSTA-SP shall serve as the instrument through which higher education members of TSTA-SP utilize their individual and collective power to accomplish the following objectives:

  1. Identify and focus the interests and concerns of TSTA-SP members.

 

  1. Speak with a common voice on matters affecting higher education.

 

  1. Promote TSTA-SP as the representative organization of choice for higher education.

 

  1. Develop and increase attention within TSTA-SP to the issues of concern to higher education and to TSTA-SP higher education members.

 

  1. Improve the structure of TSTA-SP in order to ensure the full and effective participation of all higher education members of the Association.

 

  1. Identify and support candidates for TSTA-SP offices who will actively work for the implementation of TSTA-SP programs and positions.

 

  1. Establish and maintain direct and regular communication on matters of importance to higher education with officers and members within TSTA-SP.

 

Article III – Membership

Section 1 - Categories of Membership

Organizational Membership

 

Organizational Membership in TSTA-SP shall be open to any higher education student at Sam Houston State University.

 

Individual Membership

 

Individual Membership in TSTA-SP shall be open to any student at Sam Houston State University.

 

Section 2 – Representation

Organizational Members shall be represented by their President or by an individual member of that organization designated in writing by the President of the organization.

 

Section 3 - Individual Rights

TSTA-SP shall not deny membership to any individual on the basis of race, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, or ethnic or cultural heritage.

 

Section 4 - Membership Year

The membership (fiscal) year shall be the same as the NEA and TSTA membership (fiscal) year.

 

Section 5 - Dues and Assessments

The amount of annual membership dues for each category of membership shall be set according to chapter needs each year.   Dues shall be payable anytime each year. Dues shall be considered paid when they are received by the Treasurer of TSTA-SP.

 

Article IV - Executive Committee

Section 1 – Membership

Members of the Executive Committee shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and any other specialty positions selected by the current officers.

 

Section 2 – Meetings

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at the call of the President or on the request of other officers or a majority of TSTA-SP members.

 

Section 3 - Powers and Duties

The Executive Committee shall:

  1. Conduct and manage the affairs and business of the organization.

 

  1. Carry out all policies and programs adopted by the organization.

 

  1. Plan and organize all meetings and events of the organization.

 

  1. Perform such other duties as may be specified in the future.

 

Article V – Officers

Section 1 – Officers

The officers of the Council shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Public Relations Chair.

 

Section 2 - Powers and Duties of Officers

The President shall:

  1. Be the official representative and spokesperson for TSTA-SP.

 

  1. Preside at all TSTA-SP member and officer meetings.

 

  1. Establish and assign duties to other officers of TSTA-SP.

 

  1. Prepare, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, the agenda for each meeting of the organization.

 

  1. Keep members informed and updated on current events in the field and in TSTA or NEA.

 

  1. Serve as the official TSTA-SP representative.

 

  1. Perform such other duties as are customarily associated with the office.

 

The Vice President shall:

  1. Assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president.

 

  1. Coordinate the recruitment of new members and membership drives.

 

  1. Notify each member during the first month of the membership year that dues are payable.

 

  1. Oversee registration at TSTA-SP meetings.

 

  1. Perform any other duties and tasks assigned by the president.

 

The Secretary Shall:

  1. Keep the official minutes of all meetings and maintain the official files.
  2. Prepare and submit a monthly report to the faculty advisor, other members, district president, and the state office.

 

  1. Handle the correspondence for the organization.

 

  1. Maintain an accurate membership/mailing list.

 

  1. Supervise the duplication and distribution of materials for each TSTA-SP meeting, including those sent to registrants prior to the meeting.

 

  1. Perform any other duties or tasks assigned by the President.

 

The Treasurer Shall:

  1. Assure that accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements are kept and prepare monthly reports for the faculty advisor, other officers, district president, and the state office.

 

  1. Provide regular (at least once a month) financial reports to the President and the Executive Committee.

 

  1. Receive the dues of the organization.

 

  1. Perform any other duties or tasks assigned by the President.

 

The Historian Shall:

  1. Take pictures at all meetings and TSTA related events. 

 

  1. Create and manage a yearly scrapbook for the organization.

 

  1. Maintain a website for the organization.

 

  1. Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned by the President.

 

The Public Relations Chair Shall:

  1. Create and distribute fliers for all meetings and events.

 

  1. Publicize meetings in any way possible such as getting information out to the newspaper, radio/television advertisements, or to any other publications.

 

  1. Come up with new ways to gain publicity for the organization.

 

  1. Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned by the President.

 

Article VI – Elections

Section 1 – Eligibility

Each candidate for office shall hold Individual Membership in TSTA-SP and shall be a member of the NEA and TSTA higher education organizations.

 

Section 2 - Terms of Office

  1. All officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to one-year terms, and they may be re-elected.

 

Section 3 - Succession and Vacancies

  1. In the event the President is unable to serve his/her full term, the Vice-President shall assume the office of President for the balance of the unexpired term.

 

  1. If the Vice-President is unable to serve his/her full term, the Secretary or Treasurer shall assume the office of President for the balance of the unexpired term.

 

  1. If a member of the Executive Committee is unable to serve for his/her full term, the remaining Executive Committee members shall elect an interim member from the membership until a successor can be elected at the next meeting.

 

Section 4 - Election Procedures

All elections shall be by secret ballot following open nominations at the second meeting during the fall semester of the organization. If, after nominations for an office are complete, the number of candidates nominated for that office equals the number of positions to be filled, the faculty advisor shall declare such candidates elected.

 

Article VII – Amendments

Section 1 – Voting

This constitution may be amended during a meeting by secret ballot by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the ballots cast by members present and voting.  Proposed amendments must be announced at the meeting prior to the vote.

 

Section 2 - Nonsubstantive Changes

The Executive Committee is authorized to make nonsubstantive housekeeping changes in the Constitution.