LISD Academic Advocates

BYLAWS OF THE

LEANDER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

ACADEMIC ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION

The following are the Bylaws of the Leander Independent School District Academic Advocates Association, a non-profit corporation organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this corporation is Leander Independent School District Academic Advocates Association (hereinafter “Association”.)

ARTICLE II: Articles of Organization

The articles of organization include (a) the Bylaws of said Association and (b) the Articles of Incorporation. The Association is a non-profit corporation and the period of duration for said Association is perpetual.

ARTICLE III: Purposes

Section 1. The Objectives of the Association are to promote academic excellence for all Leander Independent School District students and to encourage students to reach the highest levels of achievement by:

a. Requiring a challenging curriculum at all levels.

b. Recognizing student and staff accomplishments.

c.  Providing support through collaboration with students, staff,    parents, and the community

Section 2. The Association is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code (hereinafter “Internal Revenue Code”).

ARTICLE IV: Basic Policies

Section 1.   The following are basic policies of the Leander Independent School District Academic Advocates Association:

a.   The Association shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian and    nonpartisan.

b.   The name of the Association or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used to endorse or promote a commercial concern or in connection with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the Objects of the Association

c.    The Association shall not—directly or indirectly—participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

d.    The Association shall work at the local level and with the district staff to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities.

e.        The Association shall not enter into membership with other organizations. The Association may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but a representative shall make no commitments that bind the group he represents.

f.          No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III hereof.

g.        Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

h.        Upon the dissolution of the Association, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the Association, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations or organizations which have established their tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

i.          The bylaws shall allow voting by written proxy.

ARTICLE V: Membership and Dues

Section 1. Membership in the Association shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed or national origin.

Section 2. The Association shall conduct an annual enrollment of members, but may admit persons to membership at any time.   The types of membership offered will be limited to adult, student, corporate, honorary life and memorial membership.

Section 3. Annual membership dues for adults are $5.00 per person. Corporate membership dues are $75.00 and shall carry neither the right to vote nor to hold office. Student memberships are free and shall carry neither the right to vote nor to hold office.

Section 4. All dues are payable in September of each year. Each member of the Association shall pay such annual dues to said Association as may be prescribed by the Association.

Section 5. Honorary Life Members; Memoriam

a.        An Honorary Life Membership or Memoriam in the Association may be awarded to any deserving person, as determined by the executive board, upon submission of name of honoree and payment of a fee of fifty (50) dollars.

b.        Life Membership shall be honorary and shall carry neither the right to vote nor to hold office.

ARTICLE VI: Officers and Their Election

Section 1. Each officer shall be a member of the Association.

Section 2. Officers and their election.

a.   The executive board of the Association shall consist of a president, one (1) vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer, one campus director representing the elementary schools, one campus director representing the middle schools, one campus director representing the high schools, a public relations director, and a membership director.

b.   Officers shall be elected by ballot in the month of April. However, if there is but one nominee for an office, election for that office shall be by voice vote. The President may appoint a historian and a parliamentarian subject to the approval of the newly elected officers.

c.   Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the school year and shall serve a term of one year or until their successors are elected.

Section 3. Nominating Committee:

a. There shall be a nominating committee elected by the general body at a regular meeting at least one month prior to the election of officers. Elections shall be by plurality. The committee shall be composed of three (3) members. One alternate shall be elected to serve in the event a member is unable to serve. The committee shall elect its own chairman immediately following the meeting.

b. The nominating committee shall nominate an eligible person for each office to be filled and report its nominees at the regular meeting in April at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor. The report shall be publicized to the local unit membership through electronic mail and as a posting to the Association website ten (10) days before the election meeting.

c.   Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office.

d.   No member shall automatically serve on this committee because of his office or position in the school system.

e.   The president does not serve as a member of this committee, nor does he appoint any member of the committee.

Section 4. Vacancies

a.   A vacancy occurring in any elected office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the executive board, notice of such election having been given via electronic mail and as posted on the Association website.

b.   In case a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the vice president shall serve notice of the election.

Section 5. Reason to remove

a.    By two-thirds (2/3) vote of the executive board an officer or chairman may be removed from office for failure to perform duties, criminal misconduct or unethical behavior. An officer or chairman who misses three consecutive meetings may, after receipt of written notice, be removed from office.

ARTICLE VII: Duties of Officers

Section 1. The president shall:

a.       Be authorized to represent and conduct business on behalf of    the Association.

b.      Confirm that a quorum is present before conducting   any business at any meeting of the Association.

c.   Prepare an agenda and preside at all meetings of the Association.

d. Appoint the historian and parliamentarian, if and when deemed necessary, subject to approval of the newly elected officers.

  e. Appoint chairmen of special committees subject to approval of executive board.

   f.   Be authorized to sign on bank accounts (two of three    authorized signatures shall be required on all checks).

   g.  Call a meeting of the officers for the purpose of selecting standing committee chairmen.

h.    Be a member ex officio of all committees except the nominating and audit committees.

   i.    Perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned by the Association.

   j.    Coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the Association in order that the objectives may be promoted.

Section 2. The vice president:

   a. Be the aide-to-the-president and assist the directors.

   b. Preside in the absence of the president.

  c.   Perform other duties as assigned by the president or the    executive board.

d.    Be authorized to sign on bank accounts (two of three    authorized signatures shall be required on all checks).

Section 3. The secretary shall

a.  Record the minutes of all meetings of the Association and deliver said minutes to the membership via electronic mail within five days after approval of the membership.

           b.  Have a current copy of the bylaws.

           c. Maintain a current membership list.

           d.  Perform other duties as assigned by the president or the executive board.

Section 4. The treasurer shall:

a. Have custody of all the funds of the Association.

   b. Keep books of account and records including bank statements, receipts, budgets, invoices, paid receipts and canceled checks for three (3) years.

c. Make disbursements in accordance with the budget adopted by the Association.

           d. Be authorized to sign on bank accounts (two of three authorized signatures shall be required on all checks).

           e.  Present a financial statement at general meetings, executive board meetings, and at other times when requested by the Association or executive board.

           f.  Make a full report at the end of year meeting.

           g. Be responsible for the maintenance of such books of account and records.

           h.  Submit books to the auditing committee as requested.

   j.     Perform other duties as assigned by the president or the Association.

Section 5. The historian, if and when appointed, shall:

   a. Act as custodian of all records and materials pertinent to the history of the Association.

   b. Compile and keep a record of events and activities to be presented as the official history to the general body for adoption at the year end meeting.

Section 6. The parliamentarian, if and when appointed, shall:

   a.    Be familiar with Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised.

   b.    Attend all meetings of the Association.

    c. Advise on matters of parliamentary procedure when requested.

Section 7. The membership director shall:

a.  Collect membership dues and restrictively endorse all dues checks for deposit.

b.    Maintain a rooster of members, life members and memorials, and corporate members, and provide a current membership list to the Secretary.

c.      Recruit membership with the help of other members.

Section 8. The public relations director shall:

a.      Publicize in a timely manner all meetings and events of the Association.

b.       Be responsible for acquiring corporate memberships.

c.       Work with the membership regarding acquiring corporate contacts and memberships.

d.      Work with campus directors to publicize recognition of student and staff accomplishments.

e.        Be responsible for website design and maintenance.

Section 9. The campus directors shall:

a.         Identify educational campus issues for the respective educational level.

b.        Work on academic initiatives at their particular education level.

c.         Be responsible for recognition of student and staff accomplishments at their campus education level.

d.        Identify and report on successful educational programs or projects to insure their promotion across the particular educational level.

Section 10. All officers shall:

a. Submit a plan of work to the executive board for approval.

b.     Perform the duties as outlined in these bylaws and those assigned from time to time.

c.      Deliver to their successors or the president all official materials within fifteen (15) days following the date at which their successors assume their duties.

d.     Be given the opportunity to submit discussion items for the executive board and general meeting agenda.

ARTICLE IX: Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings of the Association shall be held in the months September, October, November, January, March, April and May. Time and date to be established by executive board at its first meeting of the year. Five days notice shall be given if change of date is needed.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the president or by a majority of the executive board, two (2) days notice having been given via electronic mail.

Section 3. The election meeting shall be held in April.

Section 4. The last regular meeting of the year shall be held in May.

Section 5.   Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any meeting of the Association.

ARTICLE X: Executive Board

Section 1. The executive board shall consist of the officers of the Association and the chairmen of standing committees.

Section 2. The duties of the executive board shall be to:

a. Transact necessary business in the intervals between meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the Association.

b.  Create standing and special committees.

c.  Approve the plans of work of all officers and committee chairmen.

d.  Present a report at the regular meetings of the Association.

e.  Appoint an auditing committee consisting of not less than three members, who are not authorized signers, at least thirty (30) days before the year end meeting, to audit the treasurer’s accounts.

           f.  Prepare and submit a budget for the year to the Association for adoption.

          g.  Approve routine bills within the limits of the budget.

           h. Fill vacancies of officers and chairmen.

Section 3. Meetings

a. Regular meetings of the executive board shall be held prior to each regular meeting, the time to    be fixed by the board at its first meeting of the year.

   b. A majority of the executive board members shall constitute a quorum.

c. Special meetings of the executive board may be called by the president or by a majority of the members of the board, two (2) days notice being given.

ARTICLE XI: Standing and Special Committees

Section 1. Only members of the Association shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointive position.

Section 2. The executive board may create such standing and special committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objectives and carry on the work of the Association. The term of each chairman shall be one (1) year or until the selection of a successor.

Section 3. The newly elected president shall call a meeting of the officers for the purpose of selecting standing committee chairmen.

Section 4. The chairman of each standing committee shall present a plan of work to the executive board for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive board.

Section 5. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the nominating and audit committees.

ARTICLE XIII: Fiscal Year

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin June 1 and end May 31.

Section 2. An auditing committee consisting of not less than three (3) members, who are not authorized signers, shall be appointed by the executive board at least thirty (30) days before the last meeting of the year.

Section 3. The Association shall adopt the audit committee report.

ARTICLE XIV: Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.

ARTICLE XV: Amendments

Section 1.

a. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association, provided a quorum is present, by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. Notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at the previous regular meeting or thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon.

b. A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the existing bylaws only by a majority vote at a meeting of the Association, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the executive board. The requirement for adoption of a revised set of bylaws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.

Amended April 24, 2002