Article I
TITLE

  1. This organization shall be known as The Okanagan Branch of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association. (OKARTA).

Article II
OBJECTS

  1. To provide opportunities for fellowship and group activities (social events) for our members.
  2. To encourage retired teachers to take an active interest in the affairs of retired teachers.
  3. To help our members to keep informed about proposed changes that will likely affect them.
  4. To maintain liaison with other groups interested in retired persons and their needs.
  5. To give an organizational voice about our concerns to other organizations and to governmental bodies when so desired.

Article III
MEMBERSHIP

  1. The Okanagan Branch of Alberta Retired Teachers’ accepts as a member any retired teacher in receipt of an Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund pension.
  2. The Branch accepts as an Associate Member
    1. The spouse of any retired teacher,
    2. The widow or widower of any retired teacher,
    3. A retired teacher from another province or from another educational institution,
    4. Any retired teacher who has been unable to qualify for an ATRF pension, or
    5. A former employee of the Alberta Teachers’ Association or of The Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund.
  3. All members shall have voting privileges except when an issue might impinge upon or involve ATRF pensions and then only those who are in receipt of an ATRF pension are entitled to vote.
  4. Membership is contingent upon the payment of the appropriate annual fee.
  5. Honorary Life Membership may be conferred only by the Branch Executive.
    1. Any member of the Branch may submit, in writing, with reasons a person’s name for consideration.
    2. The Branch Executive shall designate a Selection Committee to make recommendations to the Executive for final approval.
    3. The Selection Committee may initiate recommendations for up to two(2) Honorary Life Memberships in any one year. They may select a nominee on their own.
    4. To qualify for consideration a candidate must be a current member of the Branch and must have made a significant contribution to it.
    5. Other awards (such as an Honors Award) may be awarded by the Branch.
  6. Expulsion from the Branch shall occur if
    1. the member has been convicted of a criminal offense.
    2. The member subject to expulsion and so notified by mail may request a hearing and if the person does so shall then get one before five person panel consisting of four Branch members and one outsider all appointed by the Branch Executive. The place and a reasonable time for the hearing shall be determined by the Branch Executive.

Article IV
STRUCTURE

  1. The structure of the Branch shall be that of an elected President, an elected Secretary and an elected Treasurer. The Branch shall have at least one annual general meeting (AGM) held in late May or early June for all members. The Branch may call a Special Meeting, if necessary. Regular or Special Meetings may be called at the pleasure of the President or by the designated authority when the President is unable to do so.

Article V
COMMITTEES

  1. Committees may be appointed by the Executive of the Branch. They may be of the ad hoc or regular kind. Executive authority is denied them but an Executive member may serve on a committee. The President is entitled to sit with any committee at the appropriate level and to speak or to vote.

Article VI
ELECTIONS

  1. The elections of the Branch President, the Branch Secretary and the Branch Treasurer shall be the last item on the annual general meeting agenda.

Article VII
FEES

  1. There shall be one universal fee for each member category which shall be paid to the Branch Treasurer.

Article VIII
BRANCH EXECUTIVE DUTIES

  1. The Branch Executive shall prepare an agenda and conduct the
    annual general assembly (AGM) or any special meeting called by
    them. The business of the Special Meeting will be limited to the
    specific reasons for having called the meeting.
  2. The Executive shall bring before the membership any business
    which it deems may be important to the well-being of the
    members.
  3. The Executive may designate official delegates to other
    organizations when invited to send one or more and when it wishes
    to do so.
  4. The Branch Executive, only, may speak officially for the Branch
    or its membership and only when it wishes to do so.
  5. The Branch Executive may call a Special Meeting to discuss and
    perhaps take action about urgent matters.
  6. The Executive may present recommendations for proposed
    changes to the organization and provide an opportunity for a
    supporting two-thirds vote in favor.
  7. The Executive may exercise other duties and responsibilities as
    designated by a majority vote of those members present at an
    annual general meeting.
  8. A committee of three Executive members shall form a
    Nominating Committee for the next AGM election.

Article IX
AMENDMENTS

  1. Proposed amendments of the whole organization shall be accepted if two-thirds of the members in attendance at an annual general meeting votes in favor of them.

Article X
FINANCIAL

  1. The fiscal year shall be from January 1 up to and including December 31.
  2. The Branch Treasurer shall present a balanced report at the annual general meeting.

Article XI
ASSIGNED DUTIES

  1. Duties of officers and committees shall be prepared, printed and distributed to the relevant persons. Any member may ask to see them and be allowed to do so but the copy must remain with the authority. It must not be removed from the possession of the proper authority.

Article XII
PROCEDURE RULES

  1. Roberts Rules of Order shall be used to determine proper procedure.

About OKARTA