BYLAWS OF THE
LAKE COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Amended March 14, 2006
*Note:
Annuitant as used throughout these Bylaws refers to an individual who is an
annuitant of a retirement system for educators such as the Illinois TRS or
the Chicago TRS. ARTICLE I NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Lake County Retired
Teachers Association, hereafter called the Association. ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND
Section 1. Purpose: The purpose of the Association shall be to
maintain and improve benefits to annuitants of TRS; promote education and the
professional, social, and economic status of all members; and to work in
cooperation with other organizations to obtain these goals. Section 2.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership of the Association shall consist of three
(3) classifications: Active, Associate, and Pre-retirement. A.
Active Any retired certified staff member of a public or private school,
college or university, or the spouse of a deceased annuitant,* shall be
eligible for Active membership with full membership privileges. B.
Associate Any other person interested in education and approved for
membership by the officers of the Association or by the board of directors or
an Active members spouse shall be eligible for Associate membership without
the right to vote or hold office. C.
Pre-retirement membership Any certified staff member of a public or private
school, college or university who anticipates retirement within five (5)
years shall be eligible for Pre-retirement membership with all of the rights
and privileges of Active members. Section 2.
Surviving spouses of deceased annuitant members. A.
A surviving spouse who is already a lifetime Associate member upon becoming
an annuitant shall automatically become a lifetime Active member without
further dues payment. B.
Other surviving spouses on becoming annuitants may become life Active members
on payment of appropriate dues. ARTICLE IV OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be president,
vice-president, associate vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Section 2.
The president shall: A.
Preside at all meetings of the Association. B.
Appoint a treasurer with the approval of the board. C.
Appoint all committees and such other functionaries as may be deemed
necessary to accomplish the purpose and mission of the Association with the
approval of the board of directors (hereafter called the board). D.
Serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
E.
Be responsible for the proper conduct of the Association between meetings of
the board. F.
Prepare an annual calendar of events subject to board approval and publicize
said calendar well in advance of those events. G.
With board approval, appoint a replacement for the balance of the term
whenever a vacancy occurs in an office other than that of president or
vice-president. Section 3.
The vice-president shall: A.
Preside at meetings in the absence of the president and assume the office of
the president if and when that office becomes vacant. B.
Assist the president and perform such duties as shall be assigned by the
president or the board. Section 4.
The associate vice president shall: A.
Assume the office of vice-president if and when that office becomes vacant. B.
Assist the president and the vice-president and perform such duties as
assigned by the president or the board. C.
Prepare programs, subject to the approval of the board of directors, and
publicize them well in advance of meetings. Section 5.
The secretary shall: A.
Keep minutes of all meetings of the Association. B.
Handle appropriate Association correspondence. C.
Serve as the Association historian, updating the history from time to time. Section 6.
The treasurer shall: A.
Receive all monies of the Association, keep an accurate record of all receipts
and expenditures, and pay out funds only as authorized by the board. B.
Present a statement of accounts at each meeting of the board and present the
annual financial report at the spring luncheon meeting. C.
Present accounts annually for an audit by an audit committee. D.
Prepare and present a yearly budget. ARTICLE V BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1.
Composition and responsibilities: A.
The board shall consist of the officers, the immediate past president, the
chairs of standing committees, chair of each council, and any others deemed
necessary by the board to administer the affairs of the association. Each
individual serving on the board shall have one vote. B.
The board shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the
Association. Section 2.
Meetings: A.
The board shall meet prior to the regular meetings of the Association. B.
A quorum shall consist of one-half of the members of the board plus one. C.
The president or four (4) members of the board may call a special meeting of
the board by telephone or by sending a written notice to each of the members
of the board. Section 3.
Convention delegates: A.
The president shall appoint, with the approval of the board, delegates to
appropriate conventions as deemed necessary. B.
Allotment of funds may be made to cover delegate expenses. ARTICLE VI NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1.
Nominations: A.
The chair of the nominating committee shall be appointed by the president.
The president and the chair of the nominating committee shall appoint four
(4) additional members to serve on the nominating committee. B.
The nominating committee shall submit the name(s) of the nominees for each
elective office and shall present its formal report at the annual fall
luncheon in each odd numbered year. The committee shall announce the slate
well before the luncheon meeting and in the Association newsletter. C.
Nominations for all elective offices may be made from the floor. D.
Persons nominated must have given consent to have their names placed on the
ballot. Section 2.
Election of officers: A.
The president, vice-president, associate vice president, and secretary shall
be elected at the annual fall luncheon meeting in odd numbered years and
shall take office January first of the following year. Election shall be by
ballot, except if there is but one nominee for an office election may be by
voice vote. B.
Each elected officer shall be limited to two terms of two (2) years for any
one office, except that the board of directors may remove the two term limit
in a specific instance for reasons which shall be recorded in the minutes.
The limits shall be automatically restored at the end of the excepted term. ARTICLE VII MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
A fall and a spring luncheon meeting shall be held each
year. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the board of
directors at places, times and dates to be determined. ARTICLE VIII FINANCES
Section 1.
The annual dues and life membership dues shall be determined by the board. Any
change shall become effective the following January first. Section 2.
The fiscal year of the Association, involving terms of office, membership,
and accounting shall be from January first to December thirty first. Section 3.
The financial records of the Association shall be reviewed after January
first by an audit committee consisting of three (3) active members. ARTICLE IX COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing committees and their functions: A.
The membership committee shall recruit, retain, and regain members. To that
end, accurate records must be maintained in co-operation with the treasurer
and the data base manager. B.
The legislative committee shall provide leadership in promoting and monitoring
legislation that will affect members and all older persons. It is the task of
the committee to mobilize the members to take timely action by whatever
appropriate means to influence desired legislative outcomes. C.
The information services committee shall inform the members and the
community-at-large regarding activities of the Association and about issues
of interest to its members, including, but not limited to, questions of
public policy at any level, economic welfare of members, health and wellness
information, and opportunities for community service and socialization in
keeping with Article II of these bylaws. The committee may employ any means
of disseminating information deemed appropriate by the board. D.
The hospitality committee shall establish and maintain a system of
registration, issue badges, see to amenities such as decorations, arrange for
a flag and public address services for meetings. E.
The member benefits committee shall provide information to members regarding
any benefits available to them through the IRTA, the LCRTA, federal or state
governments, or community organizations or businesses that offer benefits. F.
The scholarship committee shall seek contributions to sustain the Association
sponsored scholarship program and shall establish rules for participation,
selection of recipients and disbursement of stipends. Section 2.
Committee personnel: Each
committee chair shall be appointed by the president subject to the approval
of the board. When there is a vacancy, or in the case of the removal of a
committee chair, the president shall appoint a replacement, subject to the
approval of the board. Section 3.
Ad hoc committees may be appointed by the president for the performance of
special responsibilities. ARTICLE X RULES OF ORDER
The most recent revision of Roberts Rules of Order shall
govern all meetings of the Association unless inconsistent with the IRTA
constitution. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
The bylaws of the Association may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the members present at any legally constituted meeting. Section 2.
Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the board of directors at
least one month before being presented to the members. Section 3.
Amendments shall become effective on the first day of the month after
enactment. ARTICLE XII COUNCILS
Section 1.
When it shall be deemed appropriate, councils of the Association may be
formed by active members living in geographical areas designated by the
Association board. Section 2.
Such councils shall be bound by all of the limitations incumbent on the
Association and may not operate contrary to the interest of the Association
or IRTA. The chair of each council shall serve as a member of the Association
board. Section 3.
Councils may elect such officers as they deem useful and may maintain such
standing committees as their interests require. Section 4.
A council may hold meetings in accordance with its rules, but not on the
dates on which Association meetings are scheduled. ARTICLE XIII AUTHORIZATION & LIMITATIONS
Section 1.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the Association shall
not carry on any activities not permitted an association exempt from Federal
Income Tax under section 501 © of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). Section 2.
The Association shall be empowered and authorized to do such other things as
are incidental to the foregoing or are necessary or desirable in order to
accomplish the foregoing. Section 3.
The bylaws of the Association shall conform to the purpose and mission
statement as set forth in the IRTA constitution. Section 4.
The Association shall update its bylaws after each IRTA convention and file a
copy with state IRTA constitution chairman by July first of the following
year. ARTICLE XIV DISSOLUTION
Section 1. The life of the Association is perpetual. However, if
there is a dissolution some time in the future, the board shall, after paying
or making provision for the payment of liabilities of the Association,
dispose of all assets of the Association exclusively for the purpose of the
Association or to such organizations existing and operating exclusively for
the charitable, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time
qualify under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding
provision of a subsequent United States Internal Revenue Law). Section 2.
No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of
or be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other private
persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay
reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and
distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the bylaws of the
Association. _______________ |