Constitution and By-Laws of the NSTA 

August 2000

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the National Substitute Teachers Alliance (NSTA). This Alliance is incorporated as a non-profit association.

ARTICLE II. MISSION

The mission of NSTA is to promote dignity and respect for substitute teachers who provide educational continuity for our nation's students. In order to realize these goals, NSTA supports professional development, and training programs; improved wages, and health benefits; a fair evaluation and grievance process, and the right to full, unbiased consideration for contractual employment. NSTA strongly affirms that substitute teachers can best advance these gains by forging collective bargaining agreements with school districts across the country.

ARTICLE III. FUNCTIONS

In order to carry out the mission, the functions of this Alliance shall be:

Section 1. To facilitate communication among substitute teachers and substitute teacher associations throughout the United States.

Section 2. To gather, study, and distribute information about substitute teachers to the members and to the public.

Section 3. To represent and speak for its members in communication with other professional groups and the public.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any active, inactive or retired substitute teacher is eligible for membership. The dues shall be $20 per year.

Section 2. Any person who contributes to NSTA shall be a Contributing member.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. The elected officers of this association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers, the immediate past president, one representative from each state and up to six representatives at large appointed by the president and approved by the board. Each board member shall have one vote. The officers, the immediate past President and the representatives-at-large will constitute the President's Council which will advise the President. At-large representatives may have one alternate representative who communicates with the Executive Board. The alternate representative votes in the absence of the state representative. All Executive Board members must have daily access to e-mail and commit to active involvement with NSTA via e-mail.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected at the annual conference of the Alliance.

Section 4. Nominations for officers shall be made by a nominating committee with the consent of those nominated. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the election.

Section 5. Officers shall serve for a term of two years and shall serve until their successors are elected. No officer shall be eligible for the same office for more than two consecutive terms. The Vice President may ascent to the Presidency.

Section 6. Duly elected officers shall assume office at the annual conference.

Section 7. Vacancies in elective offices may be filled by appointment by the Executive Board.

Section 8. The President shall submit to the annual conference a written report of his or her objectives and transactions during the term of office. A copy of the President's annual reports, the Secretary's minutes, and the Treasurer's report shall be submitted to the President for the permanent file.

ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside over all business of the National Substitute Teachers Alliance and the Executive Board: shall be the executive director of all NSTA activities; shall appoint committees and be an ex-officio member of all committees; and shall be the official representative of NSTA, attending to all correspondence. The President shall maintain a permanent file of important papers and annual reports for the alliance.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall assist the President; shall assume the duties of the President, Secretary, or Treasurer in their absence; and may be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Alliance and the Executive Board. The secretary shall collect votes from the Executive Board by e-mailing a ballot to each voting member and recording their replies. For a vote of the entire membership, the secretary shall e-mail a ballot to those members who have e-mail access, and a ballot by U.S. Mail to those who do not. The Secretary shall provide copies of the minutes to the President for the permanent file and shall make the minutes available for inspection at the annual meeting.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall maintain the funds of the NSTA, making disbursements as directed by the Executive Board, and keeping an accurate record of all transactions. The Treasurer and some other designated officer shall sign all checks. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually at the annual conference by a committee appointed therefore by the Executive board. Copies of the Treasurer's reports shall be provided to the President for the permanent file. The Treasurer's books shall be available for inspection by the members at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The National Substitute Teachers Alliance Executive Board shall have full powers, except when it infringes upon the rights and duties of the local or state associations.

ARTICLE VIII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Section 1. The annual conference shall be for the entire membership, at which time the President shall give an annual report. The Secretary shall read the minutes of the last annual conference of the Alliance and shall make available for inspection the minute of the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall give an annual financial report and shall make the books available for inspection by the members. Officers shall be elected. A program of interest to the membership shall be planned.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall carry out the mission and functions of the Alliance, as listed in ARTICLES II and III. The Board shall set the budget and approve disbursements.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall conduct business via e-mail, with no less than one week given to discussion of substantive topics. following the discussion, one week shall be given for the secretary to receive votes. Interested members other than the Board may participate in discussion, but only the Executive Board members may vote.

Section 4. The Executive Board may call for a vote of the entire membership at times other than the annual conference. Such vote shall be conducted by e-mail, and by U.S. Mail for those members having no access to e-mail.

Section 5. The President may appoint committee chairmen to carry out the functions of the Alliance. The committee chairmen need not be member of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX. QUORUM

Section 1. A quorum at the annual conference shall consist of twenty members, with at least one-third of the member states represented.

Section 2. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of two of the elected officers, two of the representatives at large, and one-third of the state representatives.

ARTICLE X. PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE

Roberts Rules of Order on parliamentary practice shall govern this Alliance in all cases to which they are applicable.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS

This constitution and By-Laws may be amended by the membership upon the recommendation of the Executive Board.

Approved and Adopted on August 11, 2000

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Created: May 28, 2001 at 2:41 PM CST Last Update: December 28, 2007 at 12:01 PM CST