2015 Amendments to TSPRA Bylaws and Standing Rules This ballot is for reference purposes only. Voting will be done by a show of hands at the General Meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.. Only professional members in good standing may vote. Professional membership includes Education Foundation Individual and the professional member in both TSPRA and Education Foundation Institutional memberships. AMENDMENT 1 BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES Dissolution of the Education Foundation Division and all related officers and references in the Bylaws and Standing Rules, including the renumbering of the Bylaws and Standing Rules. If this amendment passes, all future references to the education foundation sited in these amendments will be deleted and will not be part of that amendment. Changes: B ylaws Article IV.5 amend Standing Rules Article I.6, I.7, I.8 delete Bylaws IV.6, IV.7, IV.8 delete Standing Rules Article II, II.5, II.6 amend Bylaws Article V amend Standing Rules Article II.11 delete Standing Rules Article IV amend Standing Rules Article IV.2.iv, IV.2.v delete Bylaws Article IV.5 Affiliate Membership open to private sector schools, businesses and individuals for TSPRA and the Education Foundation Division. Bylaws Article IV.6 Bylaws Article IV.6 DELETE ALL Education Foundation Division Individual Membership open to any TSPRA professional member who is associated with an education foundation whose primary purpose is to support a Texas public school district or an individual public school. Bylaws Article IV.7 Bylaws Article IV.7 DELETE ALL Education Foundation Division Associate Membership open to any staff member or board member of an education foundation whose primary purpose is to support a Texas public school district or an individual public school. Bylaws Article IV.8 Bylaws Article IV.8 DELETE ALL Education Foundation Division Institutional Membership A group membership for an education foundation whose primary purpose is to support a Texas public school district or an individual public school, open to any staff or board member (elected or ex officio). Through this membership, one foundation employee, who must also hold TSPRA professional membership, would have the same privileges as Education Foundation Individual Members. Bylaws Article V - Officers The elected officers of TSPRA shall be a president, a president-elect, nine area vice presidents, two at-large vice presidents and a chairman of the Education Foundation Division. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. Bylaws Article IV.5 CHANGE Affiliate Membership - open to private sector schools, businesses and individuals. Bylaws Article V - Officers CHANGE The elected officers of TSPRA shall be a president, a president-elect, nine area vice presidents, two at-large vice presidents. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. 1
Standing Rule Article I.6, I.7, I.8 6. Education Foundation Division Individual Membership allows individuals who are associated as staff or an education foundation that supports a public school district or a public school to vote for the Education Foundation Division chairman and chairman-elect, to hold the position of chairman, chairman-elect, or program chair, and to serve on and chair both TSPRA and the Education Foundation Division committees. 7. Education Foundation Division Associate Membership does not include voting privileges, the right to hold office or to chair committees. These members may serve on Education Foundation Division committees. 8. Education Foundation Division Institutional Membership allows one paid staff member of the foundation, who also holds Professional membership in TSPRA, to vote for the Education Foundation Division chairman and chairman-elect and to hold those positions, and to serve on both TSPRA and the Education Foundation Division committees. The other institutional members do not have voting privileges, the right to hold office or to chair any committees. These members may serve on Education Foundation Division committees. Standing Rule Article II - Committees TSPRA shall have as standing committees: and an Education Foundation Division. Standing Rule Article II.5 Nominating Committee shall select a slate of candidates and an Education Foundation Division chairman and chairman-elect. Standing Rule Article II.5.ii (ii) Selection: The Education Foundation Division chairman shall oversee the selection of an Education Foundation Division representative and an alternate to serve on the nominating committee. The names of the representative and the alternate will be submitted to the president-elect by September 1 of each year. Standing Rule Article II.6. Strategic Planning and the Education Foundation Division chairman-elect Standing Rule Article II.10. Education Foundation Division Committee shall consist of the elected chairman and chairman-elect as well as an appointed program chairman. The Committee will work with the TSPRA president and Executive Director in planning the Education Foundation professional development and in disseminating information about the Education Foundation Division to that division s membership and the TSPRA membership at-large. Standing Rule Article IV.2 Also on the ballot, but not considered a Chapter Officer, is the Education Foundation Division Chairman-Elect, whose term is for one year and who will succeed the Education Foundation Division Chairman on to the TSPRA executive committee. The Education Foundation Division Chairman is an officer and a member of the TSPRA executive committee. Standing Rule Article I.6 through 8 DELETE ALL Standing Rule Article II - Committees DELETE and an Education Foundation Division. Standing Rule Article II.5 DELETE and an Education Foundation Division chairman and chairman-elect. Standing Rule Article II.5.ii DELETE The Education Foundation Division chairman shall oversee the selection of an Education Foundation Division representative and an alternate to serve on the nominating committee. The names of the representative and the alternate will be submitted to the president-elect by September 1 of each year. Standing Rule Article II.6. DELETE and the Education Foundation Division chairman-elect Standing Rule Article II.10 DELETE ALL Standing Rule Article IV.2 DELETE Also on the ballot, but not considered a Chapter Officer, is the Education Foundation Division Chairman-Elect, whose term is for one year and who will succeed the Education Foundation Division Chairman on to the TSPRA executive committee. The Education Foundation Division Chairman is an officer and a member of the TSPRA executive committee. 2
Standing Rule Article IV.2.iv & v (iv) Education Foundation Division Chairman The Education Foundation Division Chairman must hold a TSPRA Professional Membership and an Education Foundation Division Individual Membership. The chairman oversees the Education Foundation Division of TSPRA and works closely with the TSPRA president and Executive Director in preparing budget information for the division and any reports related to the Division as well as working closely with the Program Chairman in planning the Education Foundation professional development. The chairman represents all members of the Education Foundation Division. The chairman is responsible for providing assistance to the membership of the division and for communicating with the division s membership. The chairman is responsible for other duties related to the division as assigned by the TSPRA president or president-elect. At the creation of TSPRA s Education Foundation Division, the chairman was appointed to this post by the TSPRA president. (v) Education Foundation Division Chairman-Elect The Education Foundation Division Chairman-elect must hold a TSPRA professional membership and an Education Foundation Division Individual Membership. The chairman-elect works closely with the chairman in providing assistance to the membership of the division. The chairman-elect works closely with the president-elect and the TSPRA Executive Director in planning and budgeting for the next fiscal year. The chairman-elect will serve on TSPRA s Strategic Planning Committee. The first chairman-elect was appointed to this post by the TSPRA president.] AMENDMENT 2 BYLAWS Changes in wording for Associate and Institutional Membership Bylaws Article IV.2 and IV.4 2. Associate Membership - created for public school leaders who do not have full-time communications responsibilities. 4. Institutional Membership - open to a public school district or public school educational association or agency and allowing up to three members, one professional member and two associate members. Standing Rule Article IV.2.iv & v DELETE ALL Bylaws Article IV.2 and IV.4 ADD 2. Associate Membership - created for public school leaders and those who support public schools who do not have full-time communications responsibilities. 4. Institutional Membership - open to a public school district or public school educational association or agency or education foundation whose primary purpose is to support a Texas public school district or an individual public school and allowing up to three members, one professional member and two associate members. 3
AMENDMENT 3 BYLAWS Would bring bylaws in line with current NSPRA wording Bylaws Article IX - Amendments After membership approval, all amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of the National School Public Relations Association for approval before they become effective. Proposed Bylaws Article IX - Amendments CHANGE After membership approval, all amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Board of the National School Public Relations Association for approval before they become effective. AMENDMENT 4 BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES Creation of a third at-large vice-president Bylaws Article V The elected officers of TSPRA shall be a president, a president-elect, nine area vice presidents, two at- large vice presidents and a chairman of the Education Foundation Division. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. Standing Rule Article II.5 5. Nominating Committee shall select a slate of candidates for president-elect, nine area vice-presidents, and two at-large vice presidents and an Education Foundation Division chairman and chairman-elect. Standing Rule Article IV.1 1. Eligibility - candidates for TSPRA offices Candidates for president and president-elect shall have served as chairperson on one or more of the standing committees and/ or as one of the eleven vice presidents prior to candidacy. They must, in the opinion of the Nominating Committee, have exhibited leadership characteristics in their performance as such. Standing Rule Article IV.2.iii (iii) Eleven Vice Presidents - Nine area vice presidents and two at-large vice-presidents shall be elected by the membership The two at-large vice presidents shall represent all members and shall serve staggered terms. AMENDMENT 5 STANDING RULES Changes/additions to Standing Committees Standing Rules Article II TSPRA shall have as standing committees: Review of Financial Records and Procedures, Awards, Executive Director s Evaluation, TSPRA Conference, Nominating, Strategic Planning, Past President s Council, Celebrate Texas Public Schools, Communications Contest, Scholarship and an Education Foundation Division. Bylaws Article V CHANGE and DELETE The elected officers of TSPRA shall be a president, a president-elect, nine area vice presidents, and three at-large vice presidents. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. Standing Rule Article II.5 CHANGE and DELETE 5. Nominating Committee - shall select a slate of candidates for president-elect, nine area vice-presidents, and three at-large vice presidents. Standing Rule Article IV.1 CHANGE 1. Eligibility - candidates for TSPRA offices Candidates for president and president-elect shall have served as chairperson on one or more of the standing committees and/ or as one of the twelve vice presidents prior to candidacy. They must, in the opinion of the Nominating Committee, have exhibited leadership characteristics in their performance as such. Standing Rule Article IV.2.iii CHANGE (iii) Twelve Vice Presidents - Nine area vice presidents and three at-large vice-presidents shall be elected by the membership The three at-large vice presidents shall represent all members and shall serve staggered terms. Standing Rules Article II CHANGE and DELETE TSPRA shall have as standing committees: Review of Financial Records and Procedures, Professional Awards, Executive Director s Evaluation, TSPRA Conference, Nominating, Strategic Planning, Past President s Council, Celebrate Texas Public Schools, and Scholarship. 4
Standing Rules Article II.2 Awards Committee - the chairperson shall appoint not more than five persons, including former TSPRA presidents and two members at large, to select recipients of the following awards, which, if given, shall be awarded during the annual TSPRA Conference. Standing Rules Article II.2.v Key Communicator Award - the recipient shall have contributed significantly to the field of public school communications and need not be a member of TSPRA. The recipient may be a legislator, superintendent, or professional in another field who has improved school communications; or a member of TSPRA who has contributed outstanding service to the profession of public school communications. This award, if given, shall be presented annually at the joint convention of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. The Awards Committee may solicit nominations for the Key Communicator Award from TSPRA members and other Texas public school educators and officials. Standing Rules Article II.2.v Nominations must be received by the chairperson of the Awards Committee before the announced deadline. The final selection is subject to the approval of the TSPRA Executive Committee. The chairperson shall be responsible for contacting the selection committee, securing an appropriate award, and providing a biographical resume of the recipient for press releases and for the TSPRA president s formal presentation at the joint convention of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Standing Rules Article II.2 Nominations for all TSPRA awards must be submitted in written form to the chairperson of the Awards Committee, before the deadline announced by the association. The chairperson shall be responsible for informing the president and the Executive Director as soon as possible of the selection committee s decision. The Awards Committee chairperson shall be responsible for securing appropriate awards for presentation at the proper occasion. Any TSPRA member in good standing may submit nominations for association awards. Awards shall be given only if the Awards Committee deems they are merited. The committee shall determine which, if any, awards are to be presented in any given year. The Awards Committee may submit nominees in addition to the nominations submitted by other association members. Standing Rules Article II.2 CHANGE Professional Awards Committee - the chairperson shall appoint not more than five persons, including former TSPRA presidents and two members at large, to select recipients of the following awards, which, if given, shall be awarded during the annual TSPRA Conference. Standing Rules Article II.2.v CHANGE Key Communicator Award - the recipient shall have contributed significantly to the field of public school communications and need not be a member of TSPRA. The recipient may be a legislator, superintendent, or professional in another field who has improved school communications; or a member of TSPRA who has contributed outstanding service to the profession of public school communications. This award, if given, shall be presented annually at the joint convention of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Standing Rules Article II.2.v CHANGE Nominations must be received by the chairperson of the Awards Committee before the announced deadline. The final selection is subject to the approval of the TSPRA Executive Committee. The chairperson shall be responsible for contacting the selection committee, and providing a biographical resume of the recipient for press releases and for the TSPRA president s formal presentation at the joint convention of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Standing Rules Article II.2 CHANGE Any TSPRA member in good standing may submit nominations for professional awards. Awards shall be given only if the Awards Committee deems they are merited. The committee shall determine which, if any, awards are to be presented in any given year. The Awards Chair and Committee may not submit nominees in addition to the nominations submitted by association TSPRA members. 5
AMENDMENT 6 STANDING RULES Nominating and Strategic Planning Committee changes Standing Rules Article II.5 - Committees (i) Membership: The Nominating Committee shall consist of the current president-elect plus one representative from each of the nine vice presidential areas. The Executive Director shall serve as an ex officio member without the right to vote. (ii) Selection: Each area vice president shall oversee selection of a regional representative and an alternate to serve on the nominating committee. The alternate shall serve in the event that the representative is prevented from serving. The Education Foundation Division chairman shall oversee the selection of an Education Foundation Division representative and an alternate to serve on the nominating committee. The names of the representative and the alternate will be submitted to the president-elect by September 1 of each year. (iii) Eligibility: Members of the nominating committee must be professional members of TSPRA in good standing. They must also indicate plans to attend the Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Convention. (iv) Duties: Prior to September 1, the Executive Committee will direct the president-elect to disseminate inquiry forms to all members, soliciting their willingness to serve as officers and/or express his/her interest in serving on the association s committees. Members will also be requested to suggest names of other members who might serve capably in association offices and/or on committees. By the first week of September, the president-elect will notify the nominating committee of its charge and provide the committee with instructions and information. The Nominating Committee shall meet in conjunction with the TSPRA Board Meeting held during the annual TASA/ TASB Convention. The president-elect shall serve as chairperson of the committee. In the event the president-elect is unable to chair the committee meeting, the committee shall elect a chairperson. The committee should nominate one or more candidates for each officer position. A slate of officer candidates will be named by the committee. Space for write-in candidates will be provided on the ballot. Standing Rules Article II.6 - Committees 6. Strategic Planning - shall consist of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, two other past presidents, TSPRA members at large and the Education Foundation Division chairman-elect. The two past presidents and the members at large shall be appointed by the president with the consent of the Executive Committee. The president-elect shall chair this committee. Standing Rules Article II.5 CHANGE and DELETE (i) Membership: The Nominating Committee shall consist of the current president-elect plus one representative from each of the nine vice presidential areas, as well as one representative nominated by each of the At-Large vice presidents. The Executive Director shall serve as an ex officio member without the right to vote. (ii) Selection: Each area vice president shall oversee selection of a regional representative and an alternate to serve on the nominating committee. At-large vice presidents will also oversee selection of a representative and alternate to serve on the committee. The alternate shall serve in the event that the representative is prevented from serving. (iii) Eligibility: Members of the nominating committee must be professional members of TSPRA in good standing. (iv) Duties: Prior to September 1, the Executive Committee will direct the president-elect to disseminate inquiry forms to all members, soliciting their willingness to serve as officers and/or express his/her interest in serving on the association s committees. Members will also be requested to suggest names of other members who might serve capably in association offices and/or on committees. By the first week of September, the president-elect will notify the nominating committee of its charge and provide the committee with instructions and information. The Nominating Committee shall meet in conjunction with the TSPRA Board Meeting. The president-elect shall serve as chairperson of the committee. In the event the president-elect is unable to chair the committee meeting, the committee shall elect a chairperson. The committee should nominate one or more candidates for each officer position. A slate of officer candidates will be named by the committee. Space for write-in candidates will be provided on the ballot. Standing Rules Article II.6 CHANGE and DELETE 6. Strategic Planning - shall consist of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, two other past presidents and TSPRA members at-large. At-large member positions should reflect the demographics of the overall membership. The two past presidents and the members at large shall be appointed by the president with the consent of the Executive Committee. The president-elect shall chair this committee. 6
AMENDMENT 7 STANDING RULES Inclusion of a description for the Celebrate Texas Public Schools Committee Standing Rules Article II - Committees No description in the current Standing Rules AMENDMENT 8 STANDING RULES Changes in the duties of the Parliamentarian and removal of the Recorder Standing Rules Article III.2.vii - Parliamentarian (vii) Parliamentarian - shall be selected by the president and approved by the Executive Committee. The parliamentarian shall determine that all meetings are conducted according to the established rules of procedure and shall serve as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. Standing Rules Article III.2.ix - Recorder (ix) Recorder - A board member shall be appointed by the president to serve as a recorder to take minutes at all general membership meetings. The president may appoint a board member to act as a recorder to keep minutes at a board meeting. Production, distribution and housing of all TSPRA records are the responsibilities of the Executive Director. AMENDMENT 9 STANDING RULES Removal of text regarding using FAX to conduct Executive Committee business Standing Rules Article V - Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be responsible...business shall be transacted by a majority of the Executive Committee, convened by the call of the president, either in person, via teleconference, by electronic or mail ballot or by FAX communication. Standing Rules Article II ADD 9. Celebrate Texas Public Schools Committee shall consist of a chair appointed by the president with the consent of the Executive Committee and members subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. This Committee shall create materials for the year-round Celebrate Texas Public Schools (CTPS) campaign, coordinate the student contest and develop additional components of the program as deemed necessary. Standing Rules Article III.2.vii CHANGE (vii) Parliamentarian - shall be selected by the president and approved by the Executive Committee. The parliamentarian shall determine that all meetings are conducted according to the established rules of procedure, take minutes at all general membership and Executive Committee meetings and shall serve as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. Production, distribution and housing of all TSPRA records are the responsibilities of the Executive Director. Standing Rules Article III.2.ix DELETE Standing Rules Article V CHANGE The Executive Committee shall be responsible...business shall be transacted by a majority of the Executive Committee, convened by the call of the president, either in person, via teleconference, by electronic or mail ballot. AMENDMENT 10 STANDING RULES Changes to voting timeline Standing Rules Article VIII - Election of Officers The election of officers...either electronically or first class, no later than November 1, to professional members. Marked ballots shall be returned to the Executive Director prior to January 15... Standing Rules Article VIII CHANGE The election of officers...either electronically or first class, no later than November 10, to professional members. Marked ballots shall be returned to the Executive Director prior to December 15... 7