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ARTICLE
I – Name
ARTICLE
II – Nature and Purpose
Section 1 – Nature.
The Florida Reading Association shall be a professional organization
for
individuals who are concerned with the improvement of reading.
a.
encouraging
the study of the nature of the
reading process; b.
stimulating,
promoting, and establishing
research dealing with all aspects of reading; c.
acting
as a clearinghouse for information
relating to reading; d.
encouraging,
supporting, and contributing to the
development of high-quality teacher education programs, both
pre-service and
in-service; and e.
sponsoring
conferences and meetings. 3. To develop an
awareness of the impact of
reading among all individuals by: a.
encouraging
the development of worthwhile
reading tastes and permanent interests in reading, b.
promoting
the formation of a lifetime habit of
reading, and c.
developing
an appreciation of the value of
reading. 4. To be actively
involved with the legislative
matters that deal directly with the goals and objectives of the Florida
Reading
Association. 5. To promote the
development among all peoples
of a level of reading proficiency that is commensurate with each
individual’s
unique capacity. 6. To promote
mutual understandings and
cooperation among educators in elementary school, middle school, junior
high,
high school, special areas, college, and leadership positions and with
individuals in other organizations having interest in reading. ARTICLE
III – Membership
Section
1 – Eligibility.
Membership in the Florida Reading Association shall be open to all
persons
interested in the teaching or supervision of reading at any school
level, to
parents, and to all others interested in the purpose of the Florida
Reading
Association. Section
2 – Active
Members. Membership in the Florida Reading Association for
the fiscal year
beginning July 1 and ending June 30 shall become effective upon payment
of
dues. Section
3 – Dues.
Dues for annual membership in the Florida Reading Association shall be
established by the Florida Reading Association Board of Directors with
the
approval of the Delegates Assembly. Section
4 – A council shall be in good standing and entitled
to representation at the meeting of the International Reading
Association
Delegates Assembly if at least ten members have paid dues to the
Association
for the current year. ARTICLE
IV – Officers and Executive Committee
Section
1 – Officers.
The elected officers of the Florida Reading Association shall be the
President,
President-elect, and Vice President. The Recording Secretary, State
Director of
Membership Development, and Treasurer shall be appointed by the
President with
the approval of the Board of Directors. These officers, plus the
immediate Past
President and the IRA State Coordinator, shall serve as the Executive
Committee.
Any
Florida Reading Association member in good standing, who is also a
member of
the International Reading Association and her/his local council, is
eligible
for election or appointment as an officer of the Florida Reading
Association. Section
2 – Term of
Office. The term of the Vice President shall be one year.
She/he shall then
automatically succeed to the office of President-elect for one year.
She/he
shall then automatically succeed to the office of President for one
year. At
the expiration of her/his term as President, she/he will become Past
President
and shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors for a period of
one year.
The President shall appoint the Recording Secretary, State Director of
Membership Development, and Treasurer. Selection of the State Director
of
Membership Development shall follow IRA guidelines of State Director of
Membership Development. Section
3 – Time of
Assuming Office. Each officer shall assume the duties of
her/his office as
of July 1 of that year and shall continue to serve for the duration of
her/his
term. Section
4 – Vacancy of
Office Between Elections. In the event of a vacancy between
elections in
the office of President, the President-elect shall continue her/his
present
office and shall also assume the duties of the vacant office. In the
following
year, this person shall become President. Should the office of
President-elect
become vacant, the Vice President shall serve the unexpired portion of
the
President-elect’s term in addition to continuing her/his duties as Vice
President, and at regular election, the membership shall elect a new
Vice
President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President,
the Board
of Directors shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the next
election
is held. Section
5 – Duties of
the President. The President shall act as the executive
officer of the
Florida Reading Association. She/he shall preside at all meetings of
the
Florida Reading Association, shall act as chairperson of the Board of
Directors
and shall exercise general leadership and supervision over the affairs
of the
Florida Reading Association in implementing its purpose. She/he shall
countersign all contracts and other instruments of the Florida Reading
Association. Section
6 – Duties of
the President-elect.
The President-elect
shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and as General
Conference
Chair. She/he shall assume and perform the duties of the President in
the
absence, incapacity, or resignation of the President. Section
7 – Duties of
the Vice President. The Vice President shall: (1) serve as a
member of the
Board of Directors, (2) serve on the Conference Committee, (3) serve as
General
Conference Chair for the following year’s FRA Annual Conference, and
(5)
fulfill any other duties assigned to her/him by the Board of Directors. Section
8 – Duties of
the Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall: (1)
execute the
duties essential to the recording of all business and happenings at all
general
meetings and all meetings of the Board of Directors, (2) keep a
permanent book
of the minutes of all meetings, and (3) cooperate fully with her/his
successor
by turning over all
records of her/his office
at the expiration of her/his term. Section
9 – Duties of
the State Director of Membership Development. The State
Director of
Membership Development shall: (1) be responsible for plans to secure
new
members for the Florida Reading Association and the International
Reading
Association, (2) be chairperson of the Membership Committee, (3) be
responsible
for ensuring that an accurate record of the Florida Reading Association
members
is maintained and available for the efficient operation of the Florida
Reading
Association, (4) give a membership report at every FRA Board meeting,
and (5)
cooperate fully with his/her successor by turning over all records of
the
office at the expiration of the term. Section
10 – Duties of
the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall: (1) execute the duties
essential to the
maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records, (2) have custody of the
Florida
Reading Association’s funds which shall be deposited in the name of the
Florida
Reading Association, (3) sign checks and drafts on behalf of the
Florida
Reading Association for the disbursement of funds in accordance with
the policy
of the Board of Directors, (4) provide a bond to be filed with the
Recording
Secretary, (5) cooperate fully with an annual audit, and (6) within
thirty (30)
days of her/his retirement from office turn over all funds, accounts
and books
to her/his successor. Section
11 – Office of
IRA State Coordinator. The IRA State Coordinator shall be
elected by the
Board of Directors for a three-year term and shall be eligible for a
second
three-year term. Qualifications and procedures for electing the IRA
State
Coordinator shall follow the International Reading Association Criteria
for
Selection of a Coordinator and Procedure for the Selection of State
Coordinators. Section
12 – Duties of
the IRA State Coordinator. The IRA State Coordinator shall:
(1 maintain
accurate records of chartered councils
within
Florida, (2) support the Florida Reading Association, local councils,
and
special interest councils in the performance of their duties, (3)
promote the
organization of additional councils, (4) maintain continuity and
stability in
the Florida Reading Association by arranging a workable system of
communication
among all councils in Florida, (5) monitor the reporting of local
councils’
officers to IRA headquarters, (6) attend activities for council leaders
and the
Delegates Assembly at the International Reading Association Annual
Convention,
and (7) attend regional workshops for council leaders. ARTICLE
V – Board of Directors
Section
1 – Function.
The Board of Directors shall exercise general supervision and control
over the
property and affairs of the Florida Reading Association. It shall have
the
general power to administer the affairs of the Florida Reading
Association
between meetings of the Delegates Assembly and shall report its actions
to the
next Delegates Assembly. It shall decide on questions involving
association
with other professional organizations and shall supervise the execution
of
approved policies. Its actions shall have the approval of the members
at a
Delegates Assembly. Section
2 – Composition.
The Board of Directors shall consist of (1) the Past President, the
President,
the President-elect, the Vice President, the Recording Secretary, the
State
Director of Membership Development, and the Treasurer; (2) the IRA
State
Coordinator; (3) the District Directors; (4) the editors of The Florida Reading Quarterly, the FRA Newsletter, and the website; (5)
representatives from the Florida Reading Association’s special interest
councils; (6) advisors and representatives of student reading councils;
and (7)
committee chairs and special coordinators appointed by the President.
Voting
members are the Executive Committee and the District Directors. Section
3 – Regular
meetings. The President shall set at least two (2) regular
meetings of the
Board of Directors each fiscal year. At the first regular meeting of
the Board
of Directors, the calendar for the year shall be established with the
approval
of the Board of Directors. At the first regular meeting of the Board of
Directors, the President shall appoint with the approval of the Board
of
Directors, the standing committees for the current fiscal year. Section
4 – Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called by or at
the request of the President or a simple majority of the members of the
Board
of Directors. The person(s) authorized to call special meetings of the
Board of
Directors may arrange the place and time for holding such special
meetings.
Written notice of any special meeting shall be sent to each member of
the Board
of Directors at least thirty (30) days prior to the special meeting. Section
5 – Quorum.
A majority of the voting members (50% plus one) of the Board of
Directors shall
constitute a quorum. Section
6 – Vacancies.
Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors may be filled until the
next
succeeding election by appointment of the President and approval of the
Board
of Directors then in office. Section
7. – Budget.
The Board of Directors shall modify and/or accept the annual budget as
prepared
by the Executive Committee. The budget shall then be presented to the
Delegates
Assembly. ARTICLE VI – Delegates Assembly
Section
1 – Composition.
The voting members of the Delegates Assembly shall consist of the Board
of
Directors and certified delegates from local, student, and special
interest
councils. Each council of ten to fifty (10–50) members who have paid
dues to
the Florida Reading Association (based on Florida Reading Association
membership as of April 30 prior to the Annual Conference) shall be
entitled to
one delegate and an additional delegate for each fifty (50) additional
members
who have paid dues to the Florida Reading Association. One person may
represent
only one council in the Delegates Assembly. The State Director of
Membership
Development shall
certify how many delegates
each council shall have. A council may name an alternate for each
delegate; an
alternate may vote only when the delegate is absent. All members of the
Board
of Directors are ex-officio members of the Delegates Assembly. Members
who do
not have voting privileges in the Delegates Assembly may attend
Delegates
Assembly meetings and have privileges of the floor. Section
2 – Function.
The Delegates Assembly shall be the legislative body of the Florida
Reading
Association and shall have full power and authority over the affairs of
the
Florida Reading Association within the limits set by these bylaws. It
shall
have the authority to review decisions made by the Board of Directors
and
accept or reject them. Section
3 – Quorum.
A quorum shall consist of twenty (20) percent of all those eligible to
vote in
the Delegates Assembly. Section
4 – Meetings.
The Delegates Assembly shall meet concurrently with the annual
conference. Each
local and special interest council shall be notified at least thirty
(30) days
in advance of this meeting. Section
5 – Amendments
to the Bylaws. The Delegates Assembly shall have the power to
amend these
bylaws as provided in Article XIII. Section
6 – Parliamentarian.
At the discretion of the President, a parliamentarian may be appointed
to
advise the President as chairperson of the Board of Directors meetings
and the
Delegates Assembly. ARTICLE
VII – Election of Vice President
Section
1 – Mode of
Election. The Vice President shall be elected by ballot. Section
2 – Nominations.
The Administrative Committee shall serve as the nominating and
elections
committee. It shall be the responsibility of this committee to prepare
a slate
of two (2) nominees for the office of Vice President. In preparing for
the
slate, the committee shall be responsible for securing advance consent
from all
nominees before presenting the slate to the Board of Directors for its
approval
prior to the Annual Conference. Recommendations for nominees shall be
made by
the membership at large. Section
3 – Sending of
Ballots and Reporting. The ballot, including vitae and
photographs, shall
be sent to each active member of the Florida Reading Association by
November 1.
From the time ballots are sent, forty-five (45) days shall be allowed
for the
return of ballots; ballots must be received no later than December 15.
The
Administrative Committee chairperson shall be responsible for counting
the
ballots and immediately certifying the results to the President who in
turn
shall notify the nominees. A plurality of votes cast shall constitute
an
election. In case of a tie, the election shall be decided by vote of a
majority
of the Board of Directors. In the event that there is only one
candidate or
co-candidates for Vice President, the Administrative Committee shall
dispense
with the balloting procedure. The Administrative Committee shall
present the
candidate or co-candidates to the Board of Directors for confirmation
by the
voting members of the Board at the first meeting after the FRA Annual
Conference. ARTICLE
VIII – Election of District Directors
Section
1 – Mode of
Election. The District Directors shall be elected by ballot. Section
2 – Nominations.
The IRA State Coordinator shall communicate in writing with the
President of
each local council requesting at least two (2) nominees for election as
District Director of the district in which the local council is
located; for
districts with more than one local council, the office of District
Director
shall not be held for more than one term by any one council. The
position of
District Director must be rotated from council to council throughout
the
district; a council not wishing to nominate candidates may decline the
turn.
All nominees shall be members of the local council, the Florida Reading
Association, and the International Reading Association.
In the event that there is only one nominee,
the IRA State Coordinator shall dispense with the balloting procedure. Section
3 – Sending of
Ballots and Reporting. The IRA State Coordinator shall
prepare a separate
ballot for each district, listing all local council nominees for that
district.
A copy of the appropriate ballot shall be sent to
each Florida Reading Association member on record as of January 31 in
the
district. All ballots shall be returned to the IRA State Coordinator
who shall
tabulate the ballots and notify the local council Presidents and the
nominees
of the results of the election. The election shall be completed by
April 1. ARTICLE
IX – Committees
Section
1 – Committee
Structure. The committees of the Florida Reading Association
shall consist
of five (5) standing project committees and four (4) standing
organization
committees. There shall be a carryover of at least one (1) member of
any
outgoing standing committee into the membership of the newly-formed
standing
committee. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be a member of
at least
two (2) committees: one (1) project and one (1) organization. Section
2 – Executive
Committee (Project). The Executive Committee shall be
composed of the
President (who shall serve as chairperson), the President-elect, the
Vice
President, the Past President, the Recording Secretary, the Treasurer,
the
State Director of Membership Development, and the IRA State
Coordinator. The
Executive Committee shall prepare the annual budget, shall supervise
and review
the work of all committees, shall prepare the agenda for the meetings
of the
Board of Directors and the Delegates Assembly, and shall perform other
responsibilities as directed by the chairperson. It shall meet at the
call of
the chairperson. Section
3 – Section
4 – Publicity Committee (Project).
The Publicity Committee shall assume responsibility for
publicizing FRA activities.
The committee shall work closely with the Conference Committee to
disseminate
information about the FRA Annual Conference. The committee shall work
with the
Membership Committee to promote FRA and IRA membership at the FRA
Annual
Conference and at other appropriate gatherings. Section
5 – Governmental
Relations Committee (Project). The Governmental Relations
Committee shall
be responsible for the dissemination of all information concerning
changes in
legislation and certification that may affect the teaching of reading. Section
6 – Studies
and Research Committee (Project). The Studies and Research
Committee shall
encourage the study of important issues in reading, promote
understanding of
the purpose of research, and disseminate reports of research throughout
Florida. Section
7 – Conference
Committee (Organization). The
Conference Committee shall make plans for the FRA Annual Conference. Section
8 - Council
Development Committee (Organization). The Council Development
Committee
shall be responsible for stimulating the organization of new councils
and for
assisting councils to carry out their duties. District Directors are
members of
this committee; other members may be appointed at the discretion of the
President. The IRA State Coordinator shall be the chairperson of the
Council
Development Committee. Section
9 – Membership
Committee (Organization). The
Membership Committee shall be responsible for plans to secure new
members for
councils, the Florida Reading Association, and the International
Reading
Association, and assist the State Director of Membership Development,
who shall
serve as the chairperson of the committee. Section
10 – Administrative
Committee (Organization). The Administrative Committee shall
conduct the
election of the Vice President as delineated in Article VII, Sections 2
and 3
of these bylaws. It shall serve as
the Bylaws
and Policy
Handbook Committee, and
shall make recommendations for revisions and/or
amendments to the Board of Directors as needed. The Administrative
Committee
shall review scholarship applications and present its recommendations
to the
Board of Directors for approval. The chairperson of the Administrative
Committee shall be the immediate Past President who shall also be a
member of
the Executive Committee. Section
11 – Standing
Committee Appointments. The chairperson and members of
standing committees
shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of
the Executive Committee,
except
as otherwise provided in these bylaws. ARTICLE
X – State Association and Affiliates (Councils)
Section
1 – State
Council. The Florida Reading Association council is formed by
duly
appointed representatives and chartered by IRA. The state coordinator
shall be
a member of the state and regional steering committee. A state council
may
secure a charter from the office of the Executive Director with the
approval of
the chairpersons of the Membership and the Council Development
Committees. Such
councils shall have bylaws which are in accord with the bylaws of the
Association
and which will provide representation for each participating council in
the
state. The state council shall elect its own officers and determine the
amount
of and collect its own dues. Each state council in good standing is
entitled to
one representative in the Delegates Assembly of the IRA. The purpose of
these
councils shall be to promote the development of local, student, and
special
interest councils and to organize stimulating programs at a level not
usually
attainable by a local council. Section
2 – Local
Councils. A council may be formed by ten or more members in
any locality in
which no local council is operative. This article and section also
apply to
student councils formed at colleges and/or universities in Florida. A
local
council may secure a charter from the IRA Executive Director with the
approval
of the chairpersons of the Membership and the Council Development
Committees. A
local council shall have bylaws that are in accord with the purposes of
the
bylaws of the IRA. It shall elect its own officers, determine the
amount of and
collect its own dues, and organize its own programs. Each local council
in good
standing is entitled to one or more representatives in the IRA
Delegates
Assembly as stated in Article XI. Members of a local council may belong
to the
state association and/or the IRA. Officers of a local council must
belong to
IRA. Section
3 – Rights and
Privileges of Councils. Local and state councils may have
members who are
not members of IRA; however, these nonmembers shall be encouraged to
become
members of the IRA. Nonmembers
shall
have none of the privileges of IRA members. Officers, board members,
and
representatives of all councils to the IRA Delegates Assembly must be
members
of IRA. Section
4 – Standing
of Councils. A council shall be in good standing and entitled
to
representation at the IRA Delegates Assembly if at least ten members
have paid
dues to the Association for the current year. However, the charter of
any
council may be suspended or revoked for due cause by the approval of a
majority
of the Board. Section
5 – Special
Interest Councils. A special interest council may be formed
by ten or more
individual members of the association who represent: (1) a group
particularly
interested in some aspect of reading; (2) particular academic
professional
groups such as clinicians, college professors, etc. A special interest
council
may secure a charter from the IRA Executive Director with the approval
of the
chairpersons of the Membership and Council Development Committees. Each
special
interest council in good standing is entitled to one representative in
the
Delegates Assembly as stated in Article VI, Section 1. Each special
interest
council shall elect its own officers and board members, who shall be
individual
members of the IRA, and shall determine the amount of and collect its
own dues. ARTICLE
XI – Representation of the Florida Reading Association at the
International Reading Association Delegates Assembly
Each
state council of the IRA shall be entitled to one
delegate, provided the delegate has paid dues for the current year to
the IRA.
One person may represent only one council in the Delegates Assembly. A
council
may send an alternate for each delegate; an alternate may vote only
when the
delegate is absent. Members who do not have voting privileges in the
Delegates
Assembly may attend Delegates Assembly meetings and have privileges of
the
floor. ARTICLE
XII – Parliamentary Authority
The
rules contained in Robert’s
Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern the proceedings
of the Florida
Reading Association, except in such cases as are governed by the Bylaws and special rules adopted by the
Florida Reading Association. ARTICLE
XIII – Amendments
Section
1 - Origin.
Amendments to the Bylaws shall be
proposed by: (1) the Administrative Committee subject to approval of
the Board
of Directors; or (2) a majority of the voting members present at a
Delegates
Assembly of the Florida Reading Association, provided a quorum has been
declared. All proposed amendments shall be sent to IRA before
presenting them
to the members for adoption. Section
2 – Procedures
for Amending. Amendments may be adopted by: (1) the
affirmative vote of
two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present at a Delegates Assembly,
after
presentation at the previous meeting and/or provided that the proposed
amendment has been sent
to each voting member at
least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting of the Delegates
Assembly; or
(2) ballot sent to all active members of the Florida Reading
Association. If
ballot is used, only the ballots returned to the chairperson of the
Administrative Committee within thirty (30) days after the date ballots
were
sent to the members shall be counted. An amendment shall be declared
adopted
after it has been approved by two-thirds (2/3) of those members voting
who have
returned their ballots within the prescribed time, provided the ballots
are
returned by at least twenty-five (25) percent of the voting members. ARTICLE
XIV – Dissolution
In
case of the dissolution of the Florida Reading
Association, any assets remaining after the payment of debts or
provisions
thereof shall revert to the International Reading Association. |
