By-laws

BY-LAWS AS LAST AMENDED JUNE 8, 2004

ARTICLE I : FEES

Section 1.
The annual Institutional membership fee shall be based upon the previous fall opening credit student headcount of the institution. The charges will be $50.00 for institutions with enrollment of less than 1000, $100.00 for 1000-4999, $150.00 for 5000-9999, and $200.00 for 10,000 or more. This fee shall entitle each member institution to two votes.

Section 2.
Any member who fails to pay annual dues before the close of the fiscal year will, after a written reminder from the treasurer and after approval of the Executive Committee, be dropped from the list of members.

Section 3.
A conference registration fee to be determined by the Executive Committee may be charged each attendee at the conference.

Section 4.
There shall be no membership fee for honorary personal member.

Section 5.
Associate members shall pay annual dues of $25.00.

ARTICLE II : ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1.
The Association shall hold an annual meeting, the location and date to be chosen by the Executive Committee.

Section 2.
A geographical rotation scheme for the location of meetings shall be followed; provided, however, that for good and sufficient reason a variation may be made in any year by action of the Executive Committee or by a vote of the Association.

Section 3.
At least 40% of the member institutions must be represented in order to conduct official business at the business session of a meeting.

ARTICLE III : Term of Office, Duties of Officers, and Removal from Office

Section 1.
All officers shall hold office for a one year term each, except the treasurer, who serves a two year term. If an annual meeting is omitted or postponed, all officers will hold office until their successors are duly elected.

Section 2.
The president shall assume full responsibility for all general activities of the Association, coordinate all necessary correspondence with members in regard to the annual program, and with the assistance of the Executive Committee arrange the program. All bills must be approved by the president before payment is made.

Section 3.
The president-elect shall act as the chief assistant to the president and shall succeed to that office in case it becomes vacant. The President-elect shall be responsible for and coordinate all aspects of the annual meeting. The President-elect will become the president the following year.

Section 4.
The vice-president for communications and technology shall be responsible for and coordinate all affairs of the Association in the area of communications. This vice president reviews website information for accuracy and recruits members to submit information for the eNewsletter. This person also prepares and distributes news articles for regional and national association newsletter and publications as well as newspapers throughout the state.

Section 5.
The vice-president for professional development shall be responsible for activities relating to the professional growth of the membership including the regional mini-workshops and the annual meeting. This vice-president shall serve as chair of the annual meeting program committee.

Section 6.
The vice-president for member relations shall be responsible for and coordinate all affairs of the Association in the areas membership. This vice president shall serve as a chair of the membership committee.

Section 7.
The secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the Association. This person shall keep the minutes of the annual meeting and the meetings of the Executive Committee. The secretary shall distribute the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings to all Executive Committee members, Committee chairpersons and the council of Past-Presidents. The secretary shall maintain the FACRAO membership directory. The secretary shall prepare annually a revised constitution incorporating all changes for distribution to the membership.

Section 8.
The treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Association. This person shall keep accurate list of the institutional members of the Association, collect membership dues, and pay all bills rendered to the Association when approved for payment by the president. This person shall prepare a financial report to be presented to the members of the Association at the annual meeting.

Section 9.
The newsletter editor/webmaster is responsible for the making the appropriate website updates as provided by the vice president for communications and technology. This person is also responsible for editing and publishing an Association eNewsletter. The newsletter editor/webmaster will be appointed by the president and serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. The newsletter editor/webmaster may not serve more than three successive one-year terms.

Section 10.
The immediate past-president shall chair both the Nominating Committee and the Council of Past-Presidents. This person shall also serve as the liaison officer with other professional associations.

Section 11.
The Executive Committee shall have the authority between annual meetings to fill any vacancy. A two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee is necessary for filling any such vacancy.

Section 12.
Elected members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office for misconduct, failure to perform the duties of the office, or for other just causes as determined by the Executive Committee. Evidence may be present in open session of the Executive Committee. The Committee shall, in session, consider the charges, examine the evidence presented by all parties, and reach a decision. The President shall preside over the proceedings unless the President is being considered for removal from office. In that event, the President-elect shall preside. The Secretary shall record and transcribe all testimony. Vacancies created through this action shall be filled as prescribed in Section 11 of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV : Committees

Section 1.
There shall be appointed by the president a Nominating Committee of at least three members, chaired by the immediate past president, whose duty it shall be to select nominees for several elective offices and to report to the Association during the annual meeting. At this time, opportunity will be given for additional nominations from the floor. Consideration will be given to the make-up of the committee to include institution representation (Community Colleges, State Universities, and Private and Independent Colleges and Universities), gender, and ethnicity.

Section 2.
There shall be a Budget Committee, consisting of the current President, who shall act as chairperson, the current Treasurer and one other member of the Executive Committee. The retiring treasurer shall serve as an ex-office member. Should any of these be unable to serve, the current president shall appoint a substitute.

Section 3.
There shall be an Archives Committee, appointed by the president. This committee shall be responsible for maintaining a history of the Association.

Section 4.
There shall be a Council of Past-Presidents chaired by the immediate past-president, consisting of the Association s active past-presidents and the current president, who shall serve as recording secretary. The Council will address issues, do special projects assigned by the president, serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee, and will serve as a Constitutional Review Committee.

Section 5.
The president shall appoint any other committee deemed necessary for the work of the Association.

Section 6.
The President, in addition to the Chairing of the Budget Committee, shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE V : Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Association shall extend from July 1st to June 30.

ARTICLE VI : Amendments

The constitution may be amended at any time during the calendar year or annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of the voting representatives or proxies voting; provided that notice of the proposed amendments has been sent to the members at least one month in advance of the call of the vote. Notice sent electronically via the FACRAO Listserv, and posting of proposed changes on the FACRAO web site (www.facrao.org), shall constitute notice to the membership. An amendment not thus proposed in advance of the annual meeting may be adopted by a three-fourths vote of voting representatives or proxies present and voting. Notification of the voting results with be the responsibility of the president.