Oklahoma Retired Educators Association Bylaws

Adopted by the Board of Directors

July 22, 2009

ARTICLE I - MEETINGS

1.1 The annual meeting of the Association shall be held in May each year, at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors.

1.2 Other state meetings may be held as determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Membership in the OREA provides membership in the Oklahoma Education Association.

2.2 Annual Membership. The annual membership dues in the OREA are $36.00 except for a life member of OEA. A life member of OEA annual dues shall be $31.00. The annual dues may be remitted to the State Office of the OREA or to the Local Unit Membership Chairperson.

2.3 Continuous Membership. The member desiring a continuous membership must complete a withholding form authorizing the Teachers Retirement System to deduct $3.00 each month from the member’s retirement check for payment of OREA dues. The withholding form may be remitted to the State OREA or to the Local Unit membership Chairperson. This authorization is to remain in effect until canceled by written notice to the State Office of the OREA.

2.4 Pre-retired Membership. The Pre-retired membership is available for active education employees. The membership shall be the same as continuous membership.

2.5 Any unified member retiring from active service must remain unified.

2. 6 Golden Age Membership. The Golden Age Membership is a membership granted an individual who for reasons of age and/or infirmity is no longer able to pay the Association dues. The Local Unit Board of Directors/President identifies a potential Golden Age member and recommends this membership status to the Executive Director. Upon approval by the Executive Director, the President of the Local Unit or a representative shall bestow the Golden Age Membership upon the recipient.

2.7 Honorary Membership. The Honorary membership is bestowed upon an individual based on demonstrated service and commitment to the Oklahoma Retired Educators. The President or Executive Director may request the Board of Directors to approve an individual for honorary membership. Upon approval, the President or a representative will award the membership. This membership is not normally awarded to a member of the OREA.

ARTICLE III – HOUSE OF DELEGATES

3.1 The House of Delegates shall be the legislative body of the Association, and shall meet at the Annual State Convention of the Association.

3.2 The OREA Board of Directors shall develop and announce procedures for the election of delegates to the House of Delegates. The Board shall grant credentials to delegates elected from recognized local units. The Board shall develop rules and procedures for the conduct of business at meetings of the House of Delegates, and may from time to time make and announce any necessary changes in such rules and procedures at least thirty (30) days prior to convening of the body.

3.3 Delegates shall be duly elected by the local unit in proportion to that unit’s share of the combined total of OREA Annual, Continuous and Lifetime members as of March 1 preceding the Annual State Convention. The set proportion shall be established by the OREA Board of Directors. Every local unit shall qualify for at least one (1) delegate to the House of Delegates. Elected delegates shall be member OREA members in good standing at the time of their election and at the time of the Annual State Convention.

3.4 The House of Delegates shall have the power to:

(a) accept or reject the annual dues for the Association as recommended by the Board of Directors;

(b) consider and adopt resolutions expressing the will of the Association;

(c) consider and adopt new business items directing the Board of Directors to study certain issues and then report back to the body at the following year’s meeting;

(d) amend the Constitution consistent with the procedures specified in those governing documents;

(e) elect a President and Vice President.

ARTICLE IV – ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

4.1 Any member in good standing of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association and a local unit is eligible to declare his/her own candidacy or be nominated by another member or group of members for the position of President or Vice President. A member in good standing is one whose OREA dues and local unit dues for that membership year are paid as of the date of the election.

4.2 The election of President and Vice President will occur at the meeting of the House of Delegates, held in conjunction with the OREA Annual State Convention in May. Electors shall include credentialed delegates representing local units recognized by the Board of Directors, provided such delegates are in attendance at the meeting of the House of Delegates. Other electors shall be the members of the Board of Directors, provided they are in attendance at the meeting. Ad hoc members of the Board of Directors shall not be electors, unless credentialed as local unit delegates.

4.3 The Elections Committee shall develop official candidate declaration/nomination forms, which shall be made available by the Executive Director to candidates upon request. A member’s self-declaration of candidacy, or a nomination submitted by another member or group of members must be received in writing by the Executive Director at the association’s state headquarters in Oklahoma City no later than April 10 prior to the election. Use of certified mail is required to provide proof of delivery.

4.4 The Board of Directors shall direct that notice be provided to members regarding procedures for election of a President and Vice President via the association’s all-member newsletter, as well as other available means, no later than March 10.

4.5 The names of candidates will be placed on a President and Vice President ballot prepared by the Elections Committee. The Elections Committee shall refer the election ballot to the Board of Directors prior to the Annual State Convention. Upon the Board’s approval, the ballot shall be referred to the House of Delegates.

4.6 Only those members complying with the candidate procedures heretofore described shall have their names placed on the President and Vice President ballot. Nominations for President and Vice President shall not be accepted from the floor of the House of Delegates.

4.7 The Elections Committee and/or its designated representatives shall conduct the President and Vice President election at the House of Delegates.

4.8 Each candidate for President and Vice President shall be provided an opportunity to address the House of Delegates prior to the election.

4.9 Each candidate will be provided the opportunity to name an observer to oversee the counting of ballots and certification of a winner.

4.10 The candidate for President receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared the winner for that office. If there are three or more candidates on the ballot and no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, a runoff election shall be held between the two candidates having received the most votes. Identical procedures shall be followed in the election of Vice President.

4.11 In the event only one candidate declares his/her candidacy or is nominated for either President or Vice President, the election of that candidate can be effectuated by a declaration from the presiding officer of the House of Delegates that the candidate is elected by acclamation, thereby eliminating the need for a secret ballot election.

4.12 The Elections Committee shall file with the Board of Directors written certification of election for the winning candidates.

4.13 The candidates elected President and Vice President shall be ceremonially installed into office at the House of Delegates, and each will begin two-year terms of office on the following July 1.

4.14 Any candidate for President or Vice President may challenge the election process or outcome of the election by lodging the appropriate motion with the presiding officer of the House of Delegates before the meeting is adjourned. Absent any such challenge, the election results shall be deemed final.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

5.1 The President shall perform the usual duties of that office and such other duties as are assigned by this Constitution and Bylaws. These duties shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) calling regular meetings of the Board of Directors;

(b) calling special meetings of the Board of Directors when requested in writing by

a majority of the members of the Board of Directors;

(d) serving as an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Elections Committee;

(e) preparing, with the help of the Executive Director, an agenda for the Board of Directors meeting;

(f) supervising, with the assistance of the Finance Chair, Executive Director, and

Executive Committee, the investments, accounting, and disbursements of Association funds;

(g) attending OEA Board meetings and the OEA Delegate Assembly as a member-at-large;

(h) attending the NEA Representative Assembly as a voting delegate, provided he or she is

an NEA-Retired member.

ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND PAST PRESIDENT

6.1 The Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall perform all the duties belonging to the office of President. The Vice-President shall perform the duties as assigned by the President, and other such duties that may be assigned to the office by the Board of Directors.

6.2 The Vice-President shall attend the NEA Representative Assembly as a voting delegate, provided he or she is an NEA-Retired member.

6.3 The Past President shall perform any duties assigned by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

7.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to address and make decisions on issues that arise as an emergency between regularly scheduled Board of Directors’ meetings. Any business conducted shall be communicated to the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

7.2 The duties of the Executive Committee shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) planning the agenda for Board meetings in coordination with the Executive Director;

(b) providing communication and coordination for the Board;

(d) ensuring that necessary reports and records are maintained;

(e) serving as ex-officio members of all committees, except for the Elections Committee;

(f) performing duties as assigned by the Board of Directors;

(g) ensuring decisions of the Board of Directors and membership are carried out;

(h) evaluating the Executive Director and reporting to the Board of Directors;

(i) submitting meeting dates for the Board of Directors and OREA committees;

(j) serving as liaison with legislative or other entities to ensure passage of legislation

favorable to the OREA agenda.

ARTICLE VIII – ELECTION OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS

8.1 District Directors shall be elected by the membership of their individual districts in accordance with the following sequence:

(a) For a three-year term of office beginning July 1, 2010, directors shall be elected for the Central, South Central and East Central districts.

(b) For a three-year term of office beginning July 1, 2011, directors shall be elected

for the Northeast and North Central districts.

(c) For a three-year term of office beginning July 1, 2012, directors shall be elected for the Northwest, Southwest and Southeast districts.

(d) Once the District Director elections have been conducted in accordance with 8.1(a)(b)(c) above, all subsequent District Director elections will occur annually in the same sequence, unless modified by action of the Board of Directors.

8.2 District Director elections will normally take place at spring district workshops. However, if a workshop is not to be held in any given year within a particular district, the Board of Directors shall designate alternative election procedures.

8.3 In the case of all District Director elections, broad notice shall be given to all members within the districts where the elections are to be held regarding the date, time and place of the elections via the association’s all-member newsletter and other available means. Such notice shall be given no later than two calendar weeks prior to each election.

8.4 Any person who is a member in good standing of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association and of a local unit within the district where the election of a District Director is to take place is eligible to declare his/her own candidacy or be nominated by another member or group of members for the position of District Director.

8.5 A member in good standing is one whose OREA dues and local unit dues for the current membership year are paid as of the date of the election.

8.6 A member’s own declaration of candidacy or a nomination submitted by another member or group of members from within the district where the election is taking place must be received by certified mail by the OREA Executive Director on or before a date determined, and previously announced, by the Board of Directors.

8.7 Members declaring their own candidacy or nominated by another member or group of members from within the district where the election is to take place will have their names placed on a district election ballot, to be prepared by the Elections Committee.

8.8 In addition to the candidacy process described in this article, members in good standing may also declare their candidacy or be nominated from the floor at the spring district workshop, or other designated meeting, where the election is to take place. However, the names of any such candidates will not appear on the election ballot, but may be written in by electors choosing to vote for them.

8.9 The elections at the spring district workshops or other designated meetings will be conducted by the Elections Committee or its designated representative(s).

8.10 Each District Director candidate will be provided the opportunity to address the electors prior to the election.

8.11 Each candidate will be provided the opportunity to name an observer to witness the counting of ballots and certification of a winning candidate.

8.12 In each District Director election, the candidate achieving a majority of the votes cast by those in attendance at the meeting shall be declared the winner. In the case of three or more candidates in a race, a runoff election shall be held, if necessary, between the two candidates receiving the most votes on the first election ballot.

8.13 The candidates elected to the position of District Director shall take office for a term of three (3) years beginning July 1 following their election.

ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS

9.1 The duties of the District Directors shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) working closely with local units through the elected officers and committee chairs;

(b) maintaining a directory of the officers and committee chairmen of all units in the

District and forward a copy to the state office;

of the Association’s programs;

(d) visiting each unit regularly to promote the goals and purposes of the organization;

(e) developing and implementing leadership opportunities within the district;

(f) performing other duties as directed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X - DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

10.1 The Board of Directors shall conduct the business of the Association, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution and in the Bylaws. In addition to making recommendations and reports to the membership at the annual meeting of the Association, these duties shall include but not be limited to:

(a) approving appointments to standing and ad hoc committees;

(b) adopting the duties for all chairs and all committees;

(d) approving the times and places of regular meetings of the Association;

(e) adopting the legislative goals;

(f) adopting the annual budget;

(g) recommending changes in the dues structure

(h) establishing policy for reimbursement of expenses;

(i) appointing an Executive Director and setting the salary and benefits related to that office;

(j) approving the hiring and salaries for other employees;

(k) interpreting the Constitution and Bylaws;

(l) providing assistance to District Directors for planning and executing extended activities.

ARTICLE XI - DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

11.1 The duties of the Executive Director shall be in accordance with the position description adopted by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XII - DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

12.1 The Government Relations Committee shall propose the legislative goals of the Association for approval by the Board of Directors. The committee shall work for the passage of these goals.

12.2 The Finance Committee shall prepare a budget for approval by the Board of Directors and shall serve as consultants in the accounting and investments of the Association funds.

12.3 The Elections Committee shall supervise all Association elections in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Directors.

12.4 The Membership Committee shall work toward increasing membership in the Association.

12.5 The Communications Committee shall advise the Board of Directors and the Executive Director regarding association communications.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS

13.1 The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the members of the Board of Directors at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting of the Board.

ARTICLE XIV – DISSOLVING CLAUSE

14.1 In the event the Association is dissolved, all assets shall be distributed among other nonprofit organizations, at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XV - FORMER BYLAWS VOIDED

15.1 These Bylaws supersede previous Bylaws, and all provisions and amendments thereof.

ARTICLE XVI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

16.1 The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

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Weldon Davis, President Date