Constitution & Bylaws

 

North Texas Association for Pupil Transportation

Amended February 2007

 (approved by membership Feb. 8, 2007)

 

ARTICLE I.      NAME

The name of this organization shall be the North Texas Association for Pupil Transportation.

ARTICLE II.      PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote safe and efficient pupil transportation operations for public school districts in North Texas. The organization shall encourage the exchange of ideas and cooperation between public school district transportation providers. The organization shall work to improve school transportation policies, operational standards and equipment on the local, state and national levels.

ARTICLE III.       MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Eligibility: Membership in the organization shall be open to all public school transportation personnel related to pupil transportation as defined below.

Section 2. Classification:  Membership in the organization shall be of three classes: active, associate, and honorary.

Sub-Section a. Active:   Active members shall be open to all Texas public school transportation personnel related to pupil transportation in a supervisory or advisory position.  Active members in good standing shall have the right to vote, hold office, and participate in discussions at meetings of the organization.

 

 

Sub-Section b. Associate:  Associate members shall be individuals connected with pupil transportation in a supply or technical advisory capacity and transportation personnel other than those designated as active members. Associate members in good standing shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the organization and participate in discussions. Associate members are not entitled to vote or hold office.

 Sub-Section c. Honorary:   When an active member retires, they automatically become an honor member. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of active members except they shall not be permitted to vote or hold office. Honorary members are exempt from paying dues.

Section 3. Termination:     Membership in the organization shall be terminated for non-payment of dues, by resignation, by failure to comply with requirements for membership, or other causes as determined by the organization.

Section 4. Dues:     The annual dues shall be determined by the executive committee. Members who have paid dues by November 1 will be included in the NTAPT directory for that school year.

ARTICLE IV.       OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers:   The officers of the organization shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Historian.

Section 2. Nomination:     The Nominating Committee shall present a ballot of at least one candidate for each office to the membership at the March meeting, with candidates for each office except President. The nominee for President shall be the current President-Elect. Nominations may also be made by any active member from the floor at the March meeting, provided the nominee's consent is secured before the nomination is made. All candidates for office must be active members in good standing.

Section 3. Election:  Officers shall be elected at the April meeting.  A simple majority vote by written ballot of active members voting shall be required for election to office.

Section 4. Term:  Officers shall serve until the installation of officers at the May meeting. There will be a 2-consecutive term limit for every office except Treasurer, for which there is no term limit. Other exceptions will be determined by the nominating committee with approval by the Executive Committee.

 

Section 5:  Duties: 

Sub-Section a. President:  The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization. The President shall appoint all committees except the Nominating Committee. All committee appointments shall be approved by the Executive Committee. The President shall be an Ex-Officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall arrange for an annual audit of the Treasurer’s books.

Sub-Section b. President-Elect:  The President-Elect shall preside in the absence of the President. The President-Elect shall serve as the chairperson of the membership and program committees.

Sub-Section c. Secretary:  The Secretary shall keep an accurate written record of all meetings of the organization and of all meetings of the executive committee.  The Secretary shall issue notices of all meetings and negotiate correspondence of the organization.

Sub-Section d. Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the organization, shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures and shall expend funds as authorized by the executive committee. The Treasurer shall present an account of all monies at every general meeting.

Sub-Section e. Historian:  The Historian shall compile and maintain a written and/or visual record of the NTAPT’s membership and activities.

ARTICLE V.     COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive:

Sub-Section a.  Members: The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the officers of the organization and the immediate past President.  The immediate past President shall serve as a non-voting member.

Sub-Section b. Membership Forfeited: A member of the Executive Committee, by reason of three (3) consecutive absences from monthly meetings, may forfeit their membership on the executive committee by a majority vote of the executive committee.

 

Sub-Section c. Meetings: Executive Committee meetings shall be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee. Each year the committee shall meet in August, as determined by the new President.

Sub-Section d. Duties: It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to act upon matters of business which are to be presented at the meetings of the organization and to fill vacancies which may arise between elections. The Executive Committee shall approve all committee appointments made by the President. The Executive Committee shall conduct (in the interim between organization meetings) the duties and responsibilities and be the final authority for the conduct of the organization in all matters, except as stated otherwise in the Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 2. Nominating:

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members and the immediate past President, who appoints the committee members. The immediate past President shall serve as a non-voting chairperson.

Section 3. Membership:

Sub-Section a. Members: The membership committee shall consist of the President-Elect (chairperson) and two active members.

Sub-Section b. Duties: It shall be the duty of the membership committee to promote membership in the organization throughout the school districts in North Texas.

Section 4. Other:

The President, or majority of the Executive Committee, may from time to time appoint additional committees as they deem necessary. Such committees shall exist only until the next annual meeting or until their purpose is fulfilled. Other committees may include: constitution revision, road-e-o, poster and speech contests and scholarship.

ARTICLE VI.    VACANCY       

In the event of a vacancy between elections, the office shall be filled by the Executive Committee, excepting the office of president. In the case of a presidential vacancy, the President-Elect shall move into this office and shall serve to the end of the unexpired term as the acting President.

 

ARTICLE VII.     MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular: The organization shall meet monthly at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. The order of business shall include the following: Call to order, reading of minutes and report of the Secretary, report of the Treasurer, unfinished business, report of the nominating committee, new business, program, and adjournment.

Section 2. Special: Special meetings of the organization may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee. The President or the Executive Committee must call a special meeting if they are requested to do so in a written request defining the purpose of the meeting signed by ten (10) percent or more of the active members.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws or special rules of order of this organization.

ARTICLE IX. QUORUM

A majority of active members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the active members voting.