Northeastern Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (NEARTA) – Constitution

Definitions

• ASSOCIATION: Means the Northeastern Retired Teachers’ Association.
• ARTA: Means the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association.
• NEARTA: Means Northeastern Retired Teachers’ Association, a Branch of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association
• EXECUTIVE: Means the executive officers of the Association as given in Article VI Sec. 2
• TEACHER: Means a person means a person having a teaching certificate issued by the Government of a Province or Territory or the Government of Canada.
• EXTRAORDINARY RESOLUTION: Means a resolution proposing a change to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
• ORDINARY RESOLUTION: Means a resolution other than an extraordinary resolution.

1. Article I – Names and Address
   1. The name of the organization shall be the Northeastern Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (NEARTA).
   2. The address and telephone number of the Association shall be those of its’ President and /or Secretary.
   3. The email address and the Branch Web site shall be the responsibility of the Communications Chair or his / her appointee and shall be reviewed annually at the AGM.
2. Article II – Objectives
   1. To arrange for general meetings.
   2. To explore and discuss ways and means of improving or protecting the welfare of members.
   3. To present a united opinion on pertinent problems which will give the Association more prestige and influence in the community.
   4. To maintain recognition as a group in order to qualify for group contract rates, whenever such opportunities present themselves.
   5. To encourage retired teachers to take an active interest in the affairs of the Branch, and the Provincial ARTA.
   6. To promote good fellowship in the Branch.
   7. To maintain liaison with other associations of retired people.
3. Article III – Membership
   1. The Association shall accept into membership any retired teacher who is receiving a pension from the Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund, and who is a member of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association.
   2. The Association shall accept as associate members:
      1. The spouse of any member described in Sec. 1 above.
      2. Any other former teacher who has taught in the Province of Alberta.
      3. Any interested retired person who has worked in the school system.
      4. NEARTA memberships are contingent upon the payment of the annual fee as set out by the AGM.
4. Article IV – Voting rights and eligibility for office
   1. Immediately on being admitted into the Association, a member shall have full voting rights on all issues and shall be eligible for election to any office and shall continue to enjoy these rights provided his/her annual fee to the Association and to ARTA have been paid.
   2. The voting rights of associate members shall be as follows:
      1. Full voting rights on all matters of Branch concern
      2. No voting power on questions concerning ARTA business.
   3. Associate members shall not be eligible for election to the to the position of President or Vice President but may be elected or appointed to the Executive and any committees of the Association.
5. Article V – Meetings
   1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting held each fiscal year.
   2. Apart from the AGM there shall be at least three general meetings held each fiscal year.
   3. The President, in consultation shall decide the date, place of the meeting, and the agenda for all general meetings where this has not been arranged at a previous general meeting.
   4. An emergency general meeting may be called by the President.
   5. On the request of one third or more of the membership of the Association in writing, requesting an emergency general meeting and giving the agenda for such a meeting, the President shall call an emergency general meeting within seven days of the receipt of such a request.
   6. A procedure for notifying the membership regarding regular meetings shall be established at each Annual General Meeting. In the case of emergency meetings, the membership shall be notified by email. If a member does not have an email address they shall be notified by telephone, at least 3 days before such a meeting
   7. The quorum for all general meetings of the Association shall consist of any two executive officers plus ten other members with full voting rights who are present in person.
   8. In the event that there being no quorum, the President, in consultation with the Executive, shall arrange the date and location of the subsequent meeting.
6. Article VI – Executive Officers
   1. The Executive officers of the Association shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting for a one year term.
   2. The Executive shall consist of the following:
      1. President
      2. Vice President
      3. Past President (who must have served one full term)
      4. Secretary
      5. Treasurer
      6. Membership Chair
      7. Communications Chair
   3. No member may be elected to the Executive for more than two consecutive terms, except in extenuating circumstances
   4. An Executive officer shall take office immediately after the close of the Annual General Meeting at which he/she is elected. If he/she is appointed, immediately on is/her appointment.
   5. An Executive officer may resign from the Executive at any time by giving one month’s notice in writing to the Secretary, or in the case of the Secretary’s resignation, to the President.
   6. If the event of an Executive office falling vacant, the remaining Executive shall appoint a member to that office to complete the unexpired term.
7. Article VII – Executive Officers Meetings
   1. Executive Officers meeting shall be held upon the call of the President.
   2. Notice of such meetings shall be given to all Executive Officers by email or by telephone at least 5 days before the meeting.
   3. The quorum for such meetings shall be three Executive Officers present In person.
8. Article VIII – Committees
   1. There shall be the following committees, whose chairperson shall be elected or appointed at an Annual General Meeting. Committees may be formed as needed at any regular or the Annual General Meeting.
   2. One member may be elected or appointed as chairperson to more than one committee.
   3. A chairperson shall be empowered to solicit members to his/her committee.
   4. The President shall be an ex officio member on all committees.
   5. Duties of the committees shall be agreed upon at any Annual or general meeting.
9. Article IX – Finance
   1. The annual membership fees shall be adopted at the Annual General Meeting.
   2. The fiscal year shall conform to the fiscal year of ARTA.
   3. The accounts of the Association shall be audited as directed by the Executive and be presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting
10. Article X – Inspection of the books by members
    1. The books and records of the Association may be inspected by any member at the Annual General Meeting provided that reasonable notice and a satisfactory time has been arranged.
11. Article XI – Reports
    1. The following written reports shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting and all general meetings of the association.
       1. President’s Report
       2. Treasurer’s report
       3. Minutes of the last meeting
12. Article XII – Resolutions
    1. No special notice shall be required for ordinary resolutions and they may be passed by a simple majority.
    2. In the case of extra-ordinary resolutions to amend the bylaws and constitution, notice shall be given, via email, at least 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting at which the resolution is to be considered.
    3. An extra-ordinary resolution shall require a 2/3 majority vote of the members present at the AGM for approval.
13. Article XIII – Signing Officers
    1. All cheques shall bear the signatures of any two of the following:
       1. President
       2. Vice president
       3. Treasurer
       4. Secretary
    2. All official documents shall require the signature of the President, or in his /her absence, the Vice President, and the Secretary, or in the case of accounts, the Treasurer.
14. Article XIV – Remuneration and Expenses
    1. None of the officers of the Association shall receive any form of remuneration for his/her services.
    2. A bill or receipt, for any reasonable expense incurred by a member in the service of the Association, shall be submitted for approval at a general meeting.
15. Article XV – Duties of Officers
    1. Duties of the President
       1. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association.
       2. The President shall attend all ARTA Board of Directors meetings.
       3. The President shall have general supervision and direction of all business of the Association and shall be responsible to the membership for its management.
       4. The President shall preside over all Executive and General meetings.
       5. The President shall authorize the issuing of notice of General meetings and the agenda for the same.
       6. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
    2. Duties of the Vice President
       1. The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, perform the duties of the President.
    3. Duties of the Past President
       1. The Past President shall be the Chairperson of the Nominations
          Committee.
    4. Duties of the Secretary
       1. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping all records and the minutes of all meetings of the executive and all General meetings.
       2. The Secretary shall be responsible for issuing notice of meetings when and as directed to do so by the President.
       3. The Secretary shall be responsible for providing copies of the minutes for ratification at the next General meeting and to the members of the Executive if requested.
       4. The Secretary shall sign all official documents of the Association, except those dealing with finance.
    5. Duties of the Treasurer
       The treasurer shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the financial affairs of
       the Association.
       1. At all General meetings the Treasurer shall present an up-to-date copy of all accounts.
       2. At the Annual General Meeting the Treasurer shall present a written copy of the accounts and the balance sheet for the fiscal year.
       3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for providing all Executive Officers of the Association with copies of the accounts and the balance sheet for the fiscal year upon request.
       4. The Treasurer shall normally sign all cheques and other financial documents of the Association.
    6. Absence of the President
       1. If at any time, neither the President nor the Vice President is unable to perform the duties of the President, then the President shall appoint a member to fulfil these duties.
16. Article XVI – Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
    1. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by the passage of extraordinary resolution at an Annual General Meeting.
    2. Amendments may be proposed by the Executive or an individual member.
    3. The amendment shall come into effect immediately on the passing of the extraordinary resolution by a 2/3 majority of the members at the AGM
17. Article XVII – Administrative Guidelines
    1. The Executive may draw up administrative guidelines in keeping with the Constitution and Bylaws.
    2. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date copy of the Administrative Guidelines.