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GUYANA EX-TEACHERS’
ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
SECOND
DRAFT OF THE CONSTITUTION
- Interpretation
In this constitution the
following words and expressions shall have the meanings, which
are hereinafter ascribed to them:
“Byelaws”
means the byelaws of the Guyana Teachers’ Association, New
York Chapter.
“G.T.A.N.Y.C”
means the Guyana Teachers’ Association, New York
Chapter.
“Steering
Committee” means the executive organ of the
association.
“Simple
majority” means a majority for over votes against
members present and voting.
An “absolute
majority” means two thirds of those present and
voting.
- The
Steering Committee
shall be the
authority for the interpretations of the constitution, subject
only to a vote by half of all the current members of the
Association/chapter.
The Advisory
Board
shall provide
advice when needed to the Association.
3.
MISSION STATEMENT
G.T.A.N.Y.C
is open to all current and former teachers, lecturers,
administrators, and others interested in promoting the aims
and objectives of the Association/Chapter.
The
Association/Chapter is committed to:
(i)
providing financial assistance and educational supplies
to schools in Guyana
(ii)
providing assistance in the training of student
teachers, teachers, and students in schools in Guyana
(iii)
setting up a network to facilitate the smooth
transition and appropriate placement of recently arrived
students from Guyana, through an orientation process for
students and their parents and through liaising with the New
York Board of Education
- MEMBERSHIP
(i)
Categories:
There shall be
three (3) categories of membership: (a) full members
(b) ex-officio members
(c) honorary members
(a)
Full Members are all registered and paying current
and former teachers, lecturers, administrators, and others
interested in promoting the aims and objectives of the
Association/Chapter.
(b)
Ex-officio Members are the three-five (3-5)
members of the Advisory Board, who will give advice when
necessary and who may attend all meetings of the Steering
Committee.
(c)
Honorary Members are those persons from the general
public, who, over a period of time, make significant or
outstanding contributions to the achievement of the aims and
objectives of the Association/Chapter.
(ii) Membership
Fee
Full members of the
Association/Chapter will pay an annual one-payment fee of
fifty dollars ($50.00) or a monthly fee of five dollars
($5.00).
- The
Steering Committee
(i)
There shall be a Steering Committee elected from those
members of G.T.A.N.Y.C who are full members;
(ii)
The Steering Committee shall be elected by full and
voting members of G.T.A.N.Y.C.
6.
Powers, Duties and Responsibilities of the Steering
Committee
Without prejudice to the
foregoing, the Steering Committee shall have the following
powers and duties:
(i)
to recommend, plan and execute activities that would
enhance the development of the Association/Chapter, and to
implement policies and programs decided on by the
Association/Chapter;
(ii)
to comprise and create special committees as deemed
necessary by the Association/Chapter, which committees shall
report to and be under the control of the Steering Committee;
(iii)
to work with other chapters on mutually agreed on
activities/projects in the interest of the enhancement of
education in Guyana and further afield;
(iv)
to exercise other powers as necessary for the
attainment of the objectives of the Association/Chapter.
(v)
to approve the allocation of funds to each special
committee/officer for the successful execution of
events/activities, etc.;
(vi)
to act in the name of the group, whenever it is deemed
necessary, subject to ratification;
(vii)
to lead at all times by example and by
demonstrating a high degree of dedication, commitment,
fairness and transparency in the planning and execution of
policies and activities undertaken by the
Association/Chapter.
7.
The Officers of G.T.A.N.Y.C. shall be:
(a)
The President
(b)
The Vice-President
(c)
The Coordinator, Public Relations
(d)
The Coordinator, Fund-Raising
(e)
The Coordinator, Entertainment and Cultural Activities
(f)
The Coordinator, Special Projects
(g)
The Secretary
(h)
The Assistant Secretary
(i)
The Treasurer
(j)
The Assistant Treasurer
(k)
Members of the Advisory Board
8.
Functions of the Officers of G.T.A.N.Y.C
(a)
The President
(i)
shall oversee the efficient running of the
Association/Chapter
(ii)
shall sit in at key meetings (by invitation) of all
special committees as participant
(iii)
shall liaise with other chapters/ associations re joint
activities and turn over specific responsibilities to the
relevant coordinator(s)
(iv)
shall preside over meetings of the steering committee,
general, and specially convened general meetings of the
Association/Chapter
(v)
shall represent or nominate appropriate coordinator(s),
based on approval of the steering committee, to represent the
Association/Chapter at public events
(vi)
shall play a supportive role in all activities planned
and executed by the different coordinators
(vii)
shall head the special committee including the vice
president, secretary, treasurer, and others from the general
membership, to set up/implement the network to facilitate the
transition process for recently arrived students and their
parents from Guyana.
(b)
The Vice President
(i)
shall assist the President in executing all his
functions, and shall function as the president in his/her
absence.
( c
) Coordinators
(i)
shall be directly responsible for organizing and
executing
activities/projects/competitions/training
sessions, etc. (including assisting in the sourcing of
funding/assistance) that fall within their area of
responsibility;
(ii)
shall send out correspondence re their specific area of
responsibility in the name of the Association/Chapter;
(iii)
shall perform functions assigned to them by the
president and steering committee;
(iv)
shall invite or accept members who volunteer to work on
his/her committee;
(v)
shall represent the Association/Chapter at
functions/activities that fall within their area of expertise,
as agreed on by the steering committee;
(vi)
shall play a supportive role in all activities planned
and executed by the other coordinators;
(vii)
the public relations coordinator and committee shall
also be responsible for protocol, ushering, invitations,
tickets, etc., for all activities.
(d) The Secretary
(i)
shall be the custodian of all correspondence records
and documents of the association, and the reports presented by
of all coordinators at every executive, general and special
meeting of the association/chapter;
(ii)
shall be responsible for the circulation of documents
and all correspondence pertaining to the general activities of
the association, and custodian of copies of all correspondence
sent out by coordinators;
(iii)
shall assign specific tasks to the Assistant Secretary
to ensure the proper execution of all duties.
(e)The
Treasurer
(i)
shall open an account at a reputable commercial bank
and lodge therein all funds belonging to the
association/chapter;
(ii)
shall be a signatory thereon with the president and
public relations coordinator;
(iii)
shall present a written financial statement/report at
all executive and general meetings of the association/chapter;
(iv)
shall be the custodian of the finances and financial
statements of all special committees;
(v)
shall assign specific tasks to the Assistant Treasurer
to ensure the proper execution of all duties;
(e) The Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
(i)
shall be responsible for assisting the
secretary/treasurer in the proper execution of all duties;
(ii)
shall perform any specific task assigned by the
secretary/treasurer.
(f) The Advisory Board
(i)
shall comprise three to five (3-5)members, one of whom
must be a lawyer;
(ii)
shall advise the Steering Committee and Coordinators on
seminars/conferences, competitions, events, etc., undertaken
by the association/chapter;
(iii)
shall give legal advice when necessary (a lawyer).
(iv)
shall serve for a period of 1-3 years, after which they
may be replaced or asked to continue serving.
9.
Elections
Returning Officer
(i)
The membership shall, in a special general meeting,
appoint a member in good standing to be the Returning Officer,
who will then take charge of the election process;
(j)
The Returning Officer shall be responsible for the
proper conduct of all elections of members of the steering
committee (inviting nominations, setting date for elections,
establishing rules, etc.), and shall serve for a further
period of …at least six (6) months after elections are held;
(k)
The Returning Officer shall be disqualified from voting
or being a candidate in elections, and shall not be a member
of the Steering Committee.
10.
Amendments to the Constitution
This Constitution may be amended
at a Special Meeting of G.T.A.N.Y.C. by a motion supported by
an absolute majority of full members.
BYELAWS
Meetings
and Procedures
1.
Statutory Meetings
(i)
The Steering Committee shall have statutory meetings
once a quarter or as needed on a mutually agreed day and time;
(ii)
One half of the Committee shall constitute a quorum
(iii)
The first meeting of the committee shall be held within
one week after general elections
(iv)
The meetings shall be chaired by the president, and
when the president is absent, by the vice president.
If both of these officers are absent, then the meeting
shall be chaired by one of the coordinators, as agreed on by
everyone present;
(v)
The President, at all meetings of the Steering
Committee and the General Meetings, shall have an original and
casting vote in any matter that is to be decided based on the
president’s vote;
(vi)
The conduct of meetings will be guided by Robert’s
Rules.
2.
General Meetings
(i)
There shall be two general meetings of G.T.A.N.Y.C.
(ii)
The first meeting shall be held within two weeks after
elections, the second shall be held within a year.
(iii)
At least one month’s notice shall be given in
writing;
(iv)
One quarter of the members shall constitute the quorum
of any general meeting.
3.Votes
of Censure, No Confidence and the Power of Recall
(i)
Motions leading to a vote of censure against or a vote
of no confidence in any member of the Steering Committee shall
be considered as long as it arises from the business of the
meeting. Such
motions shall be put immediately to the vote;
(ii)
Such a motion shall be passed by a simple majority;
(iii)
Any member of the Steering Committee shall be removed
from office with immediate effect by a vote of two-thirds (an
absolute majority) of the full members of the
Association/Chapter to that effect;
(iv)
Points of Procedures not mentioned in these standing
orders shall be ruled
upon
at the discretion of the Steering Committee of the
Association/Chapter.
February
2003
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