CONSTITUTION. WORCESTER CHAPTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE ASSOCIATION (AMENDED April 4, 1996)

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION WORCESTER CHAPTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE ASSOCIATION (AMENDED April 4, 1996)

2 CONSTITUTION WORCESTER CHAPTER MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE ASSOCIATION ARTICLE I N~E This organization shall be known as the Worcester Chapter Massachusetts State College Association. ARTICLE II The purpose of this organization shall be: To promote academic excellence at Worcester State College through the improvement of facilities and conditions of employment commensurate with the highest professional standards and in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts. To give faculty members an effective voice on all matters pertaining to welfare. To protect the dignity and rights of the faculty against discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex or political belief. To protect academic fre~dom at Worcester State College, ensuring the right of each faculty member to use professional jud~ement in selecting materials to be used in teaching and in conducting d1scussions of controversial issues. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Membership shall be open to all members of the bargaining unit. Administrative personnel shall not obtain membership. Members who are officially promoted to administrative positions are automatically removed from the membership on the effective date of the promotion. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex or political belief. Voting rights shall be restricted to members in good standing: those who have made full payment of current dues and assessments~ Part-time faculty members, who are union members, are part-time union members, and will have a fractional vote in chapter elections. If a part-time member is teaching one course in the semester during which th~ election is held, or is not teaching during that semester, that part-time member shall have a quarter vote. If a part-time member is teaching two courses in the semester during which the election is held, that part-time member shall have a half vote. No part-time member shall have more than a half vote, or less than a quarter vote in any chapter election.

3 SECTION 5. A member may be expelled for acts detrimental to the chapter upon presentation of written charges signed by at least 1/4 of the total membership and approved by at least 3/4 of the Executive Board. The member shall have the right to appeal the decision to the membership at the following membership meeting and shall be reinstated with full rights if a majority of the members present vote to reinstate. SECTION 6. Any member who falls 3 months in arrears in the payment of dues shall be dropped from the rolls and his name removed from.the records.. SECTION 7. Any member who wishes to resign in good standing before falling in arrears can do so by submitting a written resignation to the treasurer. The following officers shall ARTICLE IV ELECTION OF OFFICERS be elected every two years President Vice President Treasurer Secretary 8 Executive Board Members by this chapter: Membership in good standing f9r at least one year shall be required for holding office. Nomination of officers shall take place in February in even-numbered years. Notice of the period during which nominations are in order shall be provided to each member 15 days prior to the closing of nominations. Nominations shall be accompanied by petitions signed by at least 10 members. Election of officers shall take place on the day of the regular March membershi~ meeting in even-numbered years. Notice of the time and place of the election shall be provided to each member 15 days prior to the election. The polls shall be kept open for at least 4 hours and shall be closed before the membership meeting begins. Members who have Worcester State College teaching assignments which will keep them off campus when the polls are open, may vote the day befort at the Union Office from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. The results of the election shall be announced at the regular March membership meeting; runoffs shall be he~ at the meetin~ if required. A plurality of the votes cast for a given office shall be suff1cient for election to that office. All ballots shall be kept secret and supervised by the Secretary or designee of the President. The ballot~ shall be kept for one (1) year. SECTION 5. Officers shall begin their two year term on July 1 of even-numbered years. SECTION 6. Vacancies in any office shall be filled by the Executive Bo~rd. SECTION 7. Any member of the Executive Board shall be relieved of office if indifference tc duties is displayed as evidenced by continued absence from Executive Board meetings for a period of three months. The President shall declare that office vacant in that case.

4 ARTICLE V DUTIES OF OFFICERS The President shall be the chief executive of the Chapter; shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and Chapter membership; shall have the power to appoint committee chairmen and members with the approval of the Executive Board; shall be an ex officio member of all committees; shall be authorized to spend reasonable amounts of Chapter funds; shall be bonded; shall make a report to the membership at least once a year summarizing the accomplishments of the Chapter and outlining plans for the next year.. The Vice President shall preside at the meetings in the absence of the President; shall serve in the capacity of President whenever the President is incapacitated or unable to attend me~tings; shall study and make recommendations for improvement in curricula, class size, equipment and other professional matters; shall act as a liaison between the Chapter and state agencies concerned with higher education; shall study proposed legislation which may affect the Chapter; may initiate recommendat1ons;.may present the records of government officials; shall arrange such programs and entertainment and perform such duties as the Chapter may dir~ct; shall be a Director of the MSCA. The Secretary shall accurately record the minutes of all membership meetings and shall distribute the minutes to all Chapter members within 7 days after the meeting; shall be responsible for the resources and records pertaining to Chapter affairs; shall be responsible for publication and dissemination of information regarding the Chapter to the general public and all faculty members at Worcester State College; shall be responsible for the administration of voting procedures.. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all monies collected from the membership as well as all monies disbursed; shall be authorized to spend reasonable amounts of Chapter funds; shall be bonded; shall give an accurate financial report to the m~mbership at regular meeting~; s~all forward all dues and current membersh1p l1sts to aff1l1ated organ1zat1ons to keep the Chapter in good standing at all times; shall keep records on the membership and shall. solicit new members for the Chapter. ARTICLE VI THE EXECUTIVE BOARD SEGION 1. The Executive Board of this Chapter shall consist of all elected officers and Executive Board members. All members of the Executive Board shall have voting rights in the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall implement the policy of the Chap~er as set by the membership at the regular meetings. It shall have power to act for.the good of the Chapter 1n emergency situations when the policy cannot be set by the membership. Any such policy shall be reviewed by the membership at the next meeting of the membership. SEGION 3. The Chairman of the Executive Board shall be the President of the Chapter.

5 Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held during the months of.. September, October, November, December, February, March, April, and M~y. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Board. SECTION 5. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of 7 members of the Executive Board. A majority vote of this quorum shall prevail. SECTION 6... A majority of the Executive Board may.call a meeting of the membership whenever it is so voted or requested in writing by that majority. SECTION 7. The Executive Board shall have the power to employ all personnel involvin~ all clerical and all secretarial help and to make such contacts and incur liab1liti as are deemed necessary from to time and as may be determined by the needs and finances of the Chapter. SECTION 8. The Executive Board shall establish the dues of the Chapter subject to the approval of the majority of the membership. SECTION 9. The Executive Board shall fill any vacancy that occurs in an office during the year. SECTION 10. The Executive Board shall report its activities at each regular meeting. ARTICLE VII MEETINGS Chapter members in good standing are eligible to vote on all policy matters and in all elections. Regular meetings of the membership shall be held during the months of September, October, November, December, February, March, April and May; 10% of the membership shall constitute a quorum. Ten percent of the membership may petition in writing for a special meeting of the membership. The Executive Board must call a meeting within 10 days of the presentation of such a petition. The President and Executive Board shall give notice of the general meetings one week prior to such meetings. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENT Any proposed amendment must be submitted at a membership meeting. It must be read to the members present, and must be communicated to the entire membership at least two weeks before it is to be voted on. It may not be voted on until the next meetin~ of the membership. A two thirds majority of the members present and vot1ng shall be sufficient for adoption of the amendment.

6 ARTICLE III AUDIT PROCEDURES The President or designee, shall arrange within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year for the audit of the Treasurer's books by a public accountant. ARTICLE IV INITIATION FEE SEGION l. Each faculty member joining the Chapter after November 15, 1977, shall be assessed an initiation fee of $ in addition to regular dues. SEGION 2. This initiation fee shall not be required of those who have not completed one year in the faculty/librarian unit at Worcester State College. ARTICLE V CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS Motions for all charitable donations shall be subject to approval of 2/3 of the membership.