Washington Association for Bilingual Education Bylaws

WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION

BYLAWS

Article I

Organizational Name

The name of the association shall be the Washington Association for Bilingual Education hereinafter referred to as WABE.

Article II

Organizational Form & Purpose

WABE is an all volunteer consensual association whose central purpose shall be to promote the philosophy and practice of bilingual and multicultural education in Washington schools and other appropriate agencies and institutions.

Article III

Organizational Structure

Section 1

The Association

The general body of WABE meets as an association on relevant issues, to share information, solve problems, and make recommendations on policies, strategies, priorities and direction of services to federal, state, and local agencies concerned with bilingual education. WABE provides a network of information, and will proactively identify issues, concerns, trends, ideas, and solutions to social, educational, civil, and health issues for culturally and linguistically diverse groups in Washington.

Section 2

The Executive Council

The executive council, elected from WABE members, provides leadership and operational functions for the association. It will conduct general meetings of the membership, plan and oversee annual conferences, and interact with association members regarding policies, strategies, priorities, and direction of the organization. During interim periods between annual conferences, the Executive Council is responsible for the operational decisions of WABE.

Section 3

Executive Council Membership

The Executive Council of WABE shall consist of a President, a President Elect, an immediate Past President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Parliamentarian, a Member at Large, and a Regional Representative from each of the nine designated geographic areas which are aligned with Educational Service Districts: Region 1/Northwest (ESD 189), Region 2/North Central (ESD 171), Region 3/Eastern (ESD 101), Region 4/Olympic (ESD 114), Region 5/Puget Sound (ESD 121), Region 6/West (ESD 113), Region 7/Southwest (ESD 112), Region 8/South Central (ESD 105), Region 9/TriCitites (ESD 123). An OSPI Ex-Officio Member will have a non-voting position on the board. All officers must be active members of WABE.

Section 4

Committees

Standing Committees of WABE shall be: Fund Raising, Political Action, Membership, Research, Publications, Scholarship, and the Program Committees. All Standing Committees shall consist of at least three members and will be chaired by a member of the Executive Council.

Ad Hoc Committees may be established by the Executive Council.

Members of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the Executive Council.

Appointment to any Standing Committee shall be for one year.

Article IV

Membership

Section 1

Membership

Membership in WABE shall be extended to all persons who are interested in bilingual and multicultural education, are supportive of its goals and objectives will abide by its constitution, bylaws, and policies and will remit payment for membership dues. Active membership will require the payment of annual dues and will allow the active member to be eligible for holding office and voting on WABE matters. Membership will cover from April 1st to March 31st.

Section 2

Rights

A member of WABE shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of WABE, the right to vote, and to hold elected or appointive office. All of Article IV, Section 3a through 3d will enjoy full voting rights. Each institutional membership shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 3

Categories of Membership

Categories of Membership will be as follows:

Active:

Professional

Parent

Student

Institutional

Special

Sponsor

Honorary

Article V

Meetings of WABE

Section 1

Annual Business Meeting

One statewide Annual Business Meeting shall be convened alternately in the nine regions of the State. This meeting shall be held in conjunction with the WABE Annual State Conference. Annual Meetings will be open to all WABE members and others who indicate interest. Meetings will be convened by the President of the Association. Additional meetings may be convened by the President with the approval of the Executive Council.

Section 2 Special Meetings

Special meetings of WABE may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Council, by the Executive Council, or by a two thirds vote of WABE general membership.

Section 3 Quorum and Voting

A quorum for the transaction of business at WABE Executive Council meetings shall be eight of the 13 elected members. A quorum for the transaction of business at WABE business and committee meetings excepting Executive Council meeting shall be all paid up members attending officially convened meetings. All voting shall be a majority vote once a quorum is established.

Section 4 Meeting Supervision

The Executive Counsel of WABE shall have general supervision over the plans and programs for all meetings. The agenda for the Annual Meeting as well the location and dates shall be provided to all members at least 30 days prior to the dates of the meetings.

Section 5 Executive Council Meetings

The Pres. shall convene the executive Council to establish an annual calendar which is to include quarterly Executive Council meetings. The Pres. shall call a special meeting of the Executive Council upon receiving written request from at least five members of the executive Council stating the purpose of the meeting.

Article VI

Elected Officers

Section 1

Elected Officers

The Elected cast officers of WABE shall be the President, Immediate Past President, President Elected, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Member at large, and nine Regional Representatives.

Section 2

Duties of the Officers

The duties of the officers shall be as stated in the By Lars and Policies of WABE. They shall perform any other duties prescribed for them by the WABE Executive Council or formally approved by the general membership.

Duties of the President

The Pres. shall preside over the meetings of WABE and of the Executive Council. The Pres. shall represent WABE and be the principal spokesperson for WABE.

Duties of the President Elect (Vice President)

The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President and shall carry out other duties as assigned by the President and the Executive Council. The Vice President acts as the Co Chair of the Annual Conference.

Duties of the Past President

The immediate Past President assists the President with organizational continuity. The Past President assist the President with WABE business as requested by the Executive Council. The Past President acts as co-chair of the Annual Conference, chair of the Nominations and Elections committee and Chair of the Award and Recognition Committee.

Treasurer

The Treasure maintains the financial and membership records of WABE and pays bills as directed by the Executive Council. The Treasurer maintains essential financial files of WABE with the assistance of the Executive Council. The Treasurer prepares and distributes a quarterly accounting to the Executive Council of WABE business affairs.

Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for preparing and distributing the agenda, minutes, and other communications as directed by the President and the Executive Council. The Secretary maintains a central correspondence and business files of WABE with the assistance of the Executive Council. The Secretary maintains essential membership file for WABE with the assistance of the Treasurer and the membership committee.

Parliamentarian

The Parliamentarian assists the Executive Council in maintaining appropriate order in conducting meetings and following Roberts Rules of Order when necessary.

Regional Representatives

The nine regional Representatives assist the VP and past president with the annual conference. They are responsible for the on-site logistics of the annual conference held in their region. They assist with the business meetings and committee meetings of WABE. Regional Representatives will hold local and regional WABE business and informational meetings promoting the goals and purposes of WABE.

Member at Large

The Member at Large assists the Executive Council with monitoring general trends and general membership concerns around the state. The Member at Large serves as the Ombudsman for WABE.

OSPI Ex-Officio

The Washington Department of Education will appoint a representative to serve on the Executive Council who serves to communicate state perspectives and concerns and to exchange relevant information with WABE about bilingual multicultural education concerns.

Section 3

Terms of Office

Term of office for Executive Council members shall be two years.

Article VII

Elections of Executive Board

Section 1

Nominations and Voting Procedures

The Nominations and Elections Committee will consist of one member from the western side and one member from the eastern side of the state and will be chaired by the Past President. The committee will be approved by the Executive Council. Nomination committee will solicit nominations and will be responsible for distributing petitions and for confirming the acceptance of nomination by members.

The nomination period will begin at least four months before the annual conference. Any member in good standing for the previous two years, ascribing to the purposes of WABE, may be nominated for office. Each nominee will provide a statement of qualifications which shall be made available to the voting membership. Nominations will also be solicited at the general membership assembly at the annual conference.

The voting process by ballot will conclude within two months of the annual conference. Election results will be announced in the following newsletter.

Ballots

Ballots will be mailed to members in good standing within four weeks of the annual conference.

The Nominations and the Elections Committee shall prepare, distribute, and collect ballots, which in turn will

be opened up and executive Council meeting for counting and ratification of results.

Officers will be elected by simple majority of the ballots cast for two year term. In the case of a tie, a voting for the two highest nominees shall be held within executive Council to determine an officer.

Election Year

Elections for the office of Vice-President/President Elect will be held each year.

Elections for the offices of Treasurer and Parliamentarian will be held on odd years.

Elections for the offices of Secretary and Member at Large will be held on even years.

Elections for odd numbered regions will be held on odd years; even numbered regions will be held on even years.

Section 2

Elections

Open Positions

Unless otherwise noted, an officer's term of office dates two years. The term of office begins on July 1 of the elected year. At the annual conference, positions to be open for nominations for the following year will be announced. The officer served until the conclusion of their term of office, at which point they turn over their responsibilities to the newly elected officers.

Vacancies

A vacancy shall be declared for death, disability, resignation, or absence from two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings. When a vacancy is declared in the officers or Executive Council, the President or President Elect, in consultation with the Executive Council, shall appoint an interim Executive Council member.

Recall

A recall election for any officer or Executive Council member shall be held if a petition specifying charges and requesting such elections is filed by 20% of the WABE membership. Such elections shall be held within 30 days of the date the petition is filed with the Executive Council. Eligible voter shall be WABE members. An Election Committee shall be convened to count the ballots. If the President, President Elect, other officer, or Executive Council member is recalled, that position shall be declared vacant and the provisions of Article VII, Section 2 “Vacancies” shall go into effect.

Removal

Any officer of WABE may be removed by a 3/5 vote of the executive Council. An election will be held to fill in a vacancy created by such a removal. The Nominations and Elections Committee will solicit candidates and conduct the election within six weeks of the removal. The elected officer will serve the remaining term and be eligible for reelection when that period ends.

Article VIII

The Rules of Order

The current version of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority of WABE, subject to the Bylaws and Policies.

Article IX

Amendments

Proposed amendments to the Bylaws or Policies may be brought to the membership for a vote by the Executive Council, or a petition to the Executive Council signed by 1/10 of the voting membership as defined in Article IV, Section 2. The Executive Council may call a special session of the general membership to discuss the proposed amendments within 60 days of the receipt of the petition. The proposed changes in their written form will be sent to the Secretary of the Association within 30 days of the meeting. Amendments must pass by at least a 3/5 majority vote of the total number of those who may vote.

The Bylaws and the Policies may be amended at the general meeting of WABE by a 3/5 majority vote when the proposed change shall have been presented in writing to members of WABE at least 30 days before the meeting.

Amendments may be presented by the Executive Council or by the general membership of WABE.

Bylaws and Policies changes will take effect immediately unless otherwise directed by WABE general membership or Executive Council.

Article X

Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of WABE, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future tax code), or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed by the Court of Common Pleas of the County in which the principal office of the Association is then located exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as such Court shall determine.

Official Approval

WHEREFORE, on this 9th day of May, these bylaws have been duly adopted by the WABE General Membership and supersede, replace, and repeal any and all prior policies and operational guidelines of this organization.

Alejandro Vergara, President

Marsha Riddle Buly, Vice President