MCREA Constitution and By-Laws

 

 

 

MIDDLESEX COUNTY RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - NAME, INCORPORATION AND AFFILIATION

A. The Association shall be known as the Middlesex County Retired Educators Association.

B. This Association shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under Title 15A: Sections 2-8 of the New Jersey Domestic Nonprofit Corporation Act.

C. This Association shall apply and maintain tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code 501c (4).

D. This Association shall be affiliated with the New Jersey Retired Educators Association (NJREA), the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA),  the        National Education Association (NEA) and the National Education Association – Retired (NEA-R).

E. This Association shall recognize only those affiliates recognized by the NJREA.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

A. To promote the rights and economic status of the members.

B. To provide educational, social, altruistic and travel opportunities for the members.

C. To advocate, promote, and urge the passage of local, county, state and national legislation benefiting all retired members.

D. To further the advancement of public education in the county, the state and the nation.

E. To maintain a separate financial philanthropic fund that coordinates fundraising events and disbursement of funds in support of children, the elderly, the military and student scholarship program.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP, DUES AND FISCAL YEAR

A. The membership shall consist of retired persons formerly employed in public education and who pay the annual dues of this Association.

B. Unified membership (September 1 – August 31) is based on the payment of annual/life dues established by the Middlesex County Retired Educators Association (MCREA), the NJEA/NJREA and the NEA-R.

C. The dues of this Association shall be set by the Executive Board and approved by a majority vote of the members at any general meeting.

D. Every member shall have equal rights and privileges with the Association.

E. The fiscal year shall be from September 1 through August 31.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

A. The Executive Board shall meet at least four (4) times a year.

B. There shall be a minimum of four (4) general membership meetings per year.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

A. The officers shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.

B. The officers shall be elected according to the procedures established in the by-laws of this organization.

C. The terms of office shall be for two (2) years. Each term of office shall begin on July 1 of the first year and end on June 30 of the second year.

D. A member may serve up to three (3) terms consecutively as president.

E. Recall Provision

1.  Grounds for recall shall be misconduct in office or neglect of duty.

2.  A recommendation for recall must be made by a signed petition containing signatures of a minimum of 40% of the voting members of the Exec.   Board.

3. Due process hearings shall be conducted by the Executive Board.

4. The office shall become vacant if a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board sustains the petition.

F. Vacancy - If a vacancy occurs in any office, the Executive Board shall appoint a successor until the next regular election.

G. The officers shall make available to their successors all Association records necessary for orderly transfer of duties.

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE BOARD

A. The Executive Board shall consist of all officers, the immediate Past President, and Committee Chairpersons. Committee chairpersons shall include the following: Membership and Recruitment, Health Benefits, Member Benefits, Government Relations and Philanthropic Fund. All must be members of the MCREA, NJEA/NJREA and NEA-R.

B. The administration, planning and coordination of the county retired affiliate program shall be conducted by the county affiliate Executive Board.

C. The number of appointed voting members of the Executive Board shall be one fewer than the number of elected positions. Additional members to the Executive Board may be appointed without voting rights.

D. Each elected executive board member shall have one vote. Each standing committee chair shall also have one vote.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

A. This constitution shall be reviewed every four (4) years.

B. Any amendment to this Constitution, to become effective, must observe the following:

  1. A proposed amendment shall be offered and discussed at one meeting of the Executive Board.
  2. A report on the proposal and discussion shall be presented at the subsequent general membership meeting.
  3. A majority vote of members present at the following Executive Board meeting shall move the proposal for action at the next general membership meeting.
  4. A majority vote of members present at the general membership meeting shall be required to amend.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - MEETINGS

A. The Executive Board shall meet at least four (4) times a year.

B. There shall be minimum of (4) general membership meetings per year

C. The four (4) general membership meetings shall include a formal business meeting, program and lunch.

ARTICLE II - QUORUM

A. A majority of the voting members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for Executive Board meetings.

B. Members present at a general membership meeting shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE III - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

A. The President shall:

  1. Preside over all meetings of the Executive Board and the General Membership and enforce the Constitution.
  2. Appoint the chairperson and members of standing committees with the approval of the Executive Board.
  3. Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
  4. Represent the Association before the public personally or by designated representative.
  5. Present a quarterly and /or annual report of Association activities at the appropriate meetings.
  6. Act as a liaison with the Middlesex County Education Association (MCEA) or appoint someone to represent the office.
  7. Serve as a voting member of the MCEA Representative Council.
  8. Serve as a member of the NJREA’s Delegate Council.
  9. Provide for annual audit of the financial records of the Association.
  10. Perform functions usually attributed to the office.

B. The First Vice President shall:

  1. Preside in the absence of the President.
  2. Plan and implement the membership meetings including programs.
  3. Serve as a representative to the MCEA Representative Council.
  4. Perform other such duties as assigned by the President.

C. The Second Vice President shall:

  1. Be responsible for the publication and distribution of the NewsBrief.
  2. Perform such other duties as assigned by the President.

D. The Recording Secretary shall:

  1. Record the proceeding of the meetings of the Executive Board, general membership and such other meetings as may be appropriate.
  2. Be responsible for the distribution and custody of the minutes.
  3. Perform other functions usually attributed to the office.

E. The Corresponding Secretary shall:

  1. Assist the President with the correspondence of the Association.
  2. Notify Executive Board members of meetings.
  3. Maintain a log of the policies of the Executive Board.
  4. Perform other functions usually attributed to the office.

F. The Treasurer shall:

  1. Be responsible for receiving and holding funds in a bank for the Association.
  2. Disburse funds upon presentation of approved vouchers.
  3. Require two (2) authorized signatures on checks issued by the MCREA.
  4. Ensure that no officer signs his/her own check nor authorizes his/her own voucher.
  5. Prepare current financial statements for distribution to the Executive Board and the membership.
  6. Assist in the preparation and presentation of the annual budget to the Executive Board and the general membership.
  7. File appropriate federal and state forms.
  8. Perform other functions usually attributed to the office.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

A. The Standing Committees are: Membership and Recruitment, State Health Benefits, Member Benefits, Government Relations, Philanthropic Fund.

B. Other Association Committees are: NewsBrief, Travel, Publicity/Public Relations, Yearbook.

C. The Special Committees are: Constitution & By-Laws, Nominations, Elections, Budget/ Audit.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEES

A. The Membership and Recruitment committee shall:

  1. Encourage retention of present members.
  2. Seek out and enroll new members.
  3. Keep an updated membership file.

B. The Health Benefits Committee shall:

  1. Keep members informed of changes in the Health Benefits Program.
  2. Acquaint members with Association services relating to health issues.

C. The Member Benefits Committee shall acquaint members with the membership benefits of the NJEA/NJREA, and the NEA-R.

D. The Government Relations Committee shall:

  1. Serve as a representative to the MCEA Representative Council.
  2. Keep the membership informed on all current legislation.
  3. Encourage the membership to take action when appropriate..

E. The NewsBrief Publication Committee shall:

  1. Gather and edit information for the newsletter.
  2. Arrange for the printing of the publication.
  3. Organize and schedule the distribution of the NewsBrief.
  4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

F. Publicity/Public Relations Committee shall:

  1. Keep the public informed of the Association’s activities and continued advocacy for education.
  2. Send information on upcoming meetings and events of the Association to the NJREA Newsletter, NJEA Review and other media, if appropriate.

G. The Travel Committee shall:

  1. Organize and publicize any trips and activities of interest to the members.
  2. Utilize the assistance of a travel agency for all scheduled trips.
  3. Coordinate all financial costs for planned trips with the travel agency.
  4. Be responsible for the supervision and management of arranged trips.

H. The Yearbook Committee shall:

  1. Accumulate, organize and arrange printing of information for the yearbook.
  2. Maintain a calendar of events to be used by the Executive Board.

I. The Constitution/By-Laws Committee shall:

  1. Meet to review the Constitution every (4) years.
  2. Make recommendations to the Executive Board for proposed changes as needed.
  3. Review and determine if policy items proposed at meetings be considered for inclusion as policy of the Association.

J. The Philanthropic Fund (Chair) shall:

  1. Represent the needs of the sub-committees: Aid to the Elderly, Aid to the Military, Aid to the Young, Scholarship and any other altruistic causes.
  2. Coordinate fundraising events and disbursement of funds in conjunction with the sub-committees.

K. Budget/Audit Committee shall:

  1. Assist the treasurer in the preparation of a proposed budget for presentation to the Executive Board and general membership.
  2. Review the financial disclosures presented to the MCREA.

ARTICLE VI - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS

A. Nominations Committee

  1. The Nominating committee shall consist of three (3) persons appointed by the President no later than the fall meeting of the Executive Board preceding the election. Two (2) members shall be Executive Board Members who are not officers. No officer may serve on the nominations committee.
  2. The Nominations Chairperson shall announce the election procedures and call for candidates at the December general membership meeting.
  3. The slate of nominations, as provided by the Nominating Committee, shall be included in the February/March NewsBrief.
  4. The candidates shall be presented at the February/March meetings of the Executive Board and the general membership.
  5. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the February/March general membership meeting.
  6. All nominees will be listed in the May/June NewsBrief.

B. Elections

  1. Elections of officers shall occur at the final general membership meeting.
  2. A majority of votes cast by those members present at the final general membership meeting shall constitute the election.
  3. The elected officers shall then be installed and shall assume office on July 1.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

A. By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board.

B. The proposed amendments shall then be presented at the next general membership meeting for approval.

C. A majority vote of members present at the general membership meeting is required for approval.

ARTICLE VIII - RULES OF ORDER

Roberts Rules of Order shall govern Association meetings, except as otherwise provided in this constitution.

Revised:    June 10, 2011, October 9, 2015

Ratified:    October 12, 2015

Ratified:    December 15, 2016