Text Box: Article I: Name and Purpose Section 1: Name This organization shall be known as the Association of Texas Professional Educators Region 6 (hereinafter referred to as “ATPE Region 6”). Section 2: Purpose ATPE Region 6 is organized to promote the purposes and guiding principles of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, as defined in the State Bylaws. These purposes include: to further education as a service and as a profession through support of public control of public schools in Region 6; to promote activities, services and training for educators; and to develop and maintain high standards of professional ethics among all ATPE members. In addition, ATPE Region 6 is organized for the following purposes: to provide a framework and organization for implementing the State Association’s programs and objectives; to provide leadership in assisting ATPE local units within Region 6; to implement the programs and objectives of the state and regional organizations; and, to assist in the promotion of items of concern to ATPE Region members. No part of the net earnings of the Region Association shall inure to the benefit of any private individual, except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for ATPE affecting one or more of its purposes. Article II: Membership Section 1: Boundaries In accordance with Article VIII, Section 1 of the ATPE State Bylaws, ATPE Region 6 shall coincide with the boundaries established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for Education Service Center Region 6 in its Texas School Directory dated October, 1979, with the sole exception that Waller County shall be considered a part of Region VI. Section 2: Membership As stated in the ATPE State Bylaws, ATPE members within the boundaries of a region are members of that respective regional organization. As such, persons who have paid the prescribed ATPE state membership dues for the current membership year, who educate or reside within the boundaries of Region 6, and who have not otherwise had their state memberships suspended will be members of Region 6. Section 3: Membership Year The membership year of ATPE shall be from September 1 through August 31 of the following year. Section 4: Charter Procedures Each regional organization will submit a copy of its duly adopted bylaws and its officer list, upon amendment, to the ATPE State Office. Section 5: Voting Rights All professional, associate, teacher trainee, college student and retired members of ATPE Region 6 shall be entitled to vote when a matter is submitted to such vote. The only voting rights accorded to the membership of ATPE Region 6 shall be to participate in a Region Assembly and in the election of a region director and region officers and to participate in referendums. No proxy voting shall be recognized. Article III: Region Officers Section 1: Region Officers The officers of ATPE Region 6 shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Immediate Past President, a Director and other officers deemed necessary and elected by the region. No two offices may be held simultaneously by the same person. Section 2: Tenure/Term (a)    All region officers, with the exception of the Director, shall take office on June 1, following his or her election, and shall serve a one-year (1) term of office ending on May 31, of the following year. No officer may hold the same office for more than two years in succession, except that any person who assumes an office for the remainder of an existing term may be elected to a full term in the office immediately following his partial term. (b)   The Director shall serve a term of office as defined by the ATPE State Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 6. Section 3: Qualifications All region officers shall be members of ATPE Region 6. Section 4: Election The Region Executive Committee shall appoint a Nomination/Election Committee to receive nominations of candidates for all offices except Immediate Past President, and including that of the Region Director. The President shall automatically succeed to the office of Immediate Past President. Only nominations received at least 30 days prior to the first day of the annual meeting of the Region Assembly at which the election shall be held shall be included by the Nomination/Election Committee on the list of nominated candidates. Additionally, nominations may be submitted from the floor of the ATPE Region 6 Region Assembly. 10 days notice of the Nomination/Election Committee list of nominated candidates shall be given to the region members in Region 6. The officers of ATPE Region 6 shall be elected by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting during the regular annual meeting of the Region 6 Assembly. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and has qualified. Section 5: Removal Any officer may be removed for cause by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Region 6 Assembly. Section 6: Vacancies An officer may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the Region 6 Executive Committee. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by succession of the Vice President to the office of President for the remainder of the term. A vacancy in any other office, except that of Region Director, may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by an appointee of the Region Executive Committee. A vacancy in the office of the Region Director will be filled in accordance with the terms outlined in the ATPE State Bylaws, Article V, Section 7. Section 7: Duties The officers of ATPE Region 6 shall have and shall exercise the duties outlined in the ATPE State Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 5. Article IV: Region Executive Committee Section 1: General Power Subject to these bylaws and the overall policy directives of the Region Assembly, the affairs of ATPE Region 6 shall be managed by the Region Executive Committee. Section 2: Region Executive Committee The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and Director of ATPE Region 6 shall collectively constitute the voting members of the Region Executive Committee, and shall have duties as hereinafter described. The Executive Committee may not amend, alter, or repeal the bylaws. Only the Region Assembly shall have that authority. Section 3: Duties The Region Executive Committee shall have and exercise the authority of the Region in the management of the Region. In addition, the Region Executive Committee shall have the following powers: (a)    Determine annually the number of members and appoint members to all standing committees. From the committee members so appointed, the President shall have the authority to designate the chairman. (b)   Appoint such special committees as considered necessary or desirable. (c)    Require each Region officer, including the Region Director, and all committees to submit periodic and annual reports to the Region Executive Committee. Such reports shall be subject to such action as the Region Executive Committee may deem appropriate. Annual reports from standing committees shall be forwarded by the Region Executive Committee to the Region Assembly, and the Region Executive Committee shall have authority to present all others as appropriate. (d)   Receive, review, and present to the Region Assembly the annual report of the Treasurer and the auditor’s annual report of financial matters of the Region. Following approval, the auditor’s report shall be printed and distributed to each member of the Region Assembly at its annual meeting. (e)    Have final authority in setting the annual budget of ATPE Region 6. (f)     Set the time and place of the annual, as well as any special, meetings of the Region Assembly and to approve the minutes of such meetings. (g)    Set ATPE Region 6 policy not inconsistent with the policies established by the Region Assembly and the State Association. Section 4: Presiding Officer The Region President shall preside at all meetings of the Region Executive Committee. Section 5: Meetings The Region Executive Committee shall meet at least once annually, as determined by the Region President. Section 6: Notice Notice of any meeting of the Region Executive Committee shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting date by notice delivered personally, by U.S. mail or electronic mail to each Region Executive Committee member, including the Region Director, at his or her address as shown on the records of the State Association. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed with postage thereon prepaid. In case of an emergency meeting, at least five (5) days verbal notice shall be given. Any Region Executive Committee member may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a Region Executive Committee member at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice to such meeting, except where a Region Executive Committee member attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted nor the purpose of any meeting of the Region Executive Committee need be specified in the notice, or waiver of notice, of such meeting unless specifically required by law or by these bylaws. Section 7: Quorum A majority of the members of the Region Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Region Executive Committee, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these bylaws. Section 8: Attendance A member of the Region Executive Committee who misses two (2) consecutive meetings without just cause, as determined by the Region Executive Committee, will be contacted by the President concerning the member’s absence. Absence of the member at the following meeting shall result in an immediate vacancy. Article V: Region Assembly Section 1: Duties and Responsibilities The Region Assembly shall be the supreme policy-making, governing body of ATPE Region 6, giving overall direction and mandating policy for the operations of ATPE Region 6. In the event of conflict between action or policy of the Region Assembly and the Region Executive Committee, that of the Region Assembly shall prevail. The Region Assembly shall: (a) Approve all changes in the bylaws of ATPE Region 6; (b) Elect all officers of ATPE Region 6; and (c) Establish appropriate policies for the operations of ATPE Region 6. Section 2: Composition The Region Assembly shall include voting members in accordance with the procedure outlined below. The Region Assembly voting delegates will include each region member in attendance at the Region Assembly who has registered his or her name in the Region Assembly register provided at the Region Assembly. Section 3: Meetings The Region Assembly voting delegates shall meet annually at the ATPE Region 6 annual convention, which shall be held at a time determined by the Region Executive Committee. All members of ATPE Region 6 shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Region Assembly. Special meetings of the Region Assembly may be called by petition of one-third (1/3) of the persons eligible to participate in referendum or by majority vote of the Region Executive Committee. In the event of petition, such meeting shall be called not less than thirty (30) days after the Region Executive Committee received the membership petition. Section 4: Notice Each local unit and region officer shall be notified of the time and place of the annual or special meeting of the Region Assembly by U.S. mail or by an official publication, in which such notice occupies a prominent position, which has been sent to every local unit and region officer at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. The Region Executive Committee, or such of its members as might be empowered by the Region Executive Committee, shall prepare and publish an agenda for the meeting. In the event the agenda includes a proposed bylaws change, a fifteen (15) day notice to all members of the wording of the proposed bylaws change shall be provided. Section 5: Quorum A majority of the duly certified delegates who have been verified in attendance at the annual meeting of the Region Assembly or special meeting of the Region Assembly shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of delegates present and voting at a meeting of the Region Assembly at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Region Assembly, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these bylaws. Section 6: Term of Office Unless otherwise specified herein, a delegate who serves in the annual Region Assembly shall continue in his or her office until a duly selected successor serves. Section 7: Presiding Officer The Region President shall preside at all meetings of the Region Assembly. Section 8: Certification of Delegates The Region Secretary shall be responsible for certifying and updating the names of the delegates in attendance at the Region Assembly. Section 9: Agenda If an item has not been placed on the agenda of the Region Assembly, any member of ATPE Region 6 may file a request with the Region Secretary to be heard at a time to be designated by the presiding officer and shall be allowed to speak not more than five (5) minutes. Article VI: Committees Section 1: Standing Committees The Standing Committees of ATPE Region 6 may include: (a)    Nomination/Election (b)   Resolutions (c)    Legislative (d)   Bylaws (e)    Membership (f)     Services (g)    Public Information (h)    Minority and Diverse Population Recruitment Section 2: Duties of Standing Committees The Standing Committees of ATPE Region 6 shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (a)    Nomination/Election. To receive all nominations for region officers, to propose a slate of candidates for the Region Executive Committee, and to recommend for approval by the Region Executive Committee the rules to govern the election of region officers at the Region Assembly. These rules are to be presented to the Region Executive Committee prior to the date necessary to give notice. (b)   Resolutions. To review and/or propose resolutions to be considered by ATPE Region 6 Region Assembly. (c)    Legislative. To research, draft, and promote legislation to be endorsed or opposed by ATPE Region 6; to represent ATPE Region 6 in any activities involving legislation; and to monitor political activities that would affect the membership of ATPE Region 6, the state Association or education in Texas. (d)   Bylaws. To present all proposed changes in the bylaws of ATPE Region 6 to the Region Assembly for its consideration; to place the proposals in the proper wording for inclusion into the bylaws; to correct all grammatical errors; to combine proposals of like substance; to recognize authors of proposed amendments during the committee presentation to the Region Assembly; and to offer the recommendations of the committee regarding the usefulness and propriety of each proposed amendment. The author of a proposed amendment shall have five (5) minutes to speak before the Region Assembly in defense of the change. (e)    Membership. To promote the growth of ATPE Region 6 by the development and implementation of recruitment programs and materials. (f)     Services. To design all region-sponsored programs involving services for the membership of Region 6. (g)    Public Information. To recommend to the Region Executive Committee methods that would increase public awareness of the association’s goals, objectives and accomplishments. (h)    Minority and Diverse Population Recruitment. To promote the growth of ATPE among urban-area educators, ethnic minorities, new teachers and student teachers by the development and implementation of recruitment programs and materials targeting these groups. Section 3: Appointment The members of Standing Committees shall be appointed from among Region 6 members. A list of proposed Standing Committee appointments shall be submitted to the Region Executive Committee by the President. The Region Executive Committee will make necessary changes and approve the appointments. Section 4: Other Committees The Region Executive Committee shall appoint, from among Region 6 members, such special committees as are considered necessary or desirable. Section 5: Term of Service Following his or her appointment, each member of a committee shall serve until August 31 unless the committee shall be terminated, or the member is removed, or ceases to qualify sooner. Section 6: Chairmen One member of each committee shall be designated chairman by the Region President. Section 7: Vacancies Vacancies in any committee may be filled by appointment by the Region President. Section 8: Quorum Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Region Executive Committee designating a committee, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee. Section 9: Rules Each committee may adopt rules for its own governance not inconsistent with these bylaws or with rules adopted by the Region Executive Committee. All recommendations for implementation of programs will be the responsibility of the Region Executive Committee unless these bylaws specify action by the Region Assembly. Section 10: Limitation of Service on Committees No member of ATPE Region 6 may simultaneously serve on more than two (2) committees of ATPE Region 6, whether standing or special. Article VII: Contracts, Checks, Deposits and Funds Section 1: Contracts The Region Executive Committee may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of ATPE Region 6, in addition to the officers so authorized by these bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of ATPE Region 6. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Section 2: Checks and Drafts All checks, drafts, orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of ATPE Region 6 shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of ATPE Region 6 in the manner determined by resolution by the Region Executive Committee. In the absence of such designation by the Region Executive Committee, the instruments shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President or Vice President of ATPE Region 6. Section 3: Deposits All ATPE Region 6 funds shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of ATPE Region 6 in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Region Executive Committee may select. Article VIII: Books and Records Books and Records ATPE Region 6 shall keep: (1)   Correct and complete books and records of account, (2)   Minutes of its committee meetings, Regional meetings, Region Assembly, and Region Executive Committee; and (3)   A listing of the names and addresses of all ATPE Region 6 members and local unit officers. All books and records of ATPE Region 6 may be inspected by any member or his agent or attorney for any proper purpose at any reasonable time. Article IX: Fiscal Year Fiscal Year The fiscal year of ATPE Region 6 shall begin on the first day of June and end on the last day of May each year. Article X: Miscellaneous Provisions Section 1: Rebates Rebates received from the State Association may be used for expenses deemed appropriate by the regional executive committee and/or the region assembly. Section 2: Procedure Unless otherwise specifically provided, the proceedings of ATPE Region 6 and its local units shall adhere to standards of procedure established in Robert’s Rules of Order, as the current edition now provides, or as it may be hereinafter updated. Section 3: Referendum Provisions (a)    A referendum of the membership on any issue may be called for by either of the following methods: (1)   The Region Assembly may call for a vote of the membership on any issue by approving the form of the ballot by a three-fourth (3/4) majority of the full membership of the Region Assembly. (2)   Any member of ATPE Region 6 may call for a vote of the membership on any issue by gathering signatures on petitions setting out the exact wording of the question to be voted upon. The petitions must contain the signatures at least equal to ten percent (10%) of the region membership on February 1 of the immediate preceding year. Petitions must be presented to the Region Secretary on or before March 1 in order to be certified. (b)   Any issue approved for a vote of the membership by either of the foregoing methods shall be put to the membership by the mailing of ballots to all members on April 1. Such ballots must be returned postmarked by May 1 and received by May 7. The ballots shall call for a vote of “yes” or “no” or “for” or “against,” the question being put. The result of the vote, including the number of votes cast, shall be announced as soon as possible. Article XI: Amendments to Bylaws Section 1: Authority to Amend These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new bylaws may be adopted, by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the delegates present and voting at any meeting of the Region Assembly at which time a quorum is present, provided proper notice of the intention to alter, amend, or repeal these bylaws, or to adopt new bylaws at such meeting, has been given in compliance with other provisions of these bylaws. Section 2: Submission Requirements All proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted to the Region Executive Committee in writing and signed by the ATPE region member making the proposal at least thirty (30) days prior to the announced date of the next Region Assembly. Section 3: Effective Dates of Adopted Bylaws Unless otherwise noted, bylaws that are adopted by the Region Assembly are effective immediately. Certification and Signature Minimum of two (2) signatures required. Certified as the true and correct bylaws of ATPE Region 6, as amended and adopted on , and effective immediately. This certification executed on the day of , 2008. _________________________________________________ Region President Date _________________________________________________ Region Vice President Date _________________________________________________ Region Secretary Date _________________________________________________ Region Treasurer Date