Vermont School Library Association Constitution and Bylaws

Constitution

Revised Fall 2017

Article I:  Name

The name of this organization shall be the Vermont School Library Association.

Article II:  Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to provide leadership in:  

1. promoting student learning through effective use of educational standards

2. promoting the development and implementation of school library information literacy programs in Vermont

3. defining professional standards and encouraging growth among its members

4. collaborating with all entities involved with education and librarianship

5. advocating for school library programs to the educational community and general public.

Article III:  Membership

Section 1:  The Governing Board shall propose types of membership, privileges of the types of membership, the duration of such privileges, and the amount of the annual dues.

Section 2:  Any person committed to the purpose and goals of the Association may become an active member of the organization upon payment of dues. Active members shall be entitled to vote, to hold office, to serve on committees, to participate in the VSLA listserv, and to receive any publications and services prepaid or contracted for by this organization. Changes in the amount of the annual dues shall be subject to a vote of the membership.

Section 3:  Honorary members shall be entitled to all privileges granted an active member except to hold elective office.

Article IV:  Administration

Section 1:  The elective officers constituting the Executive Board of this organization shall be:

1. President

2. Vice President (President Elect)

3. Past President

4. Secretary

5. Treasurer

Section 2:  The Governing Board shall consist of the elective officers of this organization, the chair of each standing or appointed committee, and a representative from each of the regional organizations.

Section 3:  Governing Board members may be relieved of their duties if membership in VSLA lapses, or if they fail to attend three Board meetings in a school year.

Article V:  Amendments

Section 1:  Proposed amendments may be submitted to and approved by the Governing Board and shall be submitted to the membership not less than thirty days prior to a duly called and constituted meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose of an amendment consideration.

Section 2:  Proposed amendments shall be voted upon by those members present and eligible to vote, and must pass by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of said membership.

Section 3:  Proposed amendments to the by-laws shall be handled in the same manner.

Bylaws

Article I:  Elective Officers’ Duties include but are not limited to the following. Full Roles and Responsibilities are available on the association's website.

Section 1:  The PRESIDENT shall

1. preside at all Governing Board and general meetings

2. serve as ex officio member of all committees

3. appoint all committee chairs with the approval of a majority vote of the Governing Board

4. serve onthe NESLA Executive Board as VSLA President

Section 2:  The PRESIDENT ELECT/VICE PRESIDENT shall

1. preside at any meeting in the absence of the president

2. be responsible for any duties that the president may designate

Section 3:  The SECRETARY shall

1. keep and publish minutes of all Governing Board meetings

2. keep and publish minutes of all membership meetings

3. distribute minutes of meetings to the Governing Board prior to the next duly called meeting

4. receive and maintain copies of the annual reports of all committee chairs

5. be responsible for all correspondence as directed by the President or Executive Board

6. be named with the treasurer on all bank accounts

Section 4:  The TREASURER shall

1. perform duties assigned to this office including records, receipts, expenditures and financial reports

2. prepare, in collaboration with the Governing Board, the annual budget to be presented to the membership at the annual meeting

3. pay all bills against the organization

4. prepare materials for periodic audits

5. be named with the secretary on all bank accounts

Section 5:  The PAST PRESIDENT shall

1. chair the Scholarship and Award Committees

2. provide support to the President

Article II:  Elections

Section 1:  The elective officers of this organization shall be nominated by a nominating committee appointed by the President, with approval of the Governing Board.

Section 2:  The nominating committee shall prepare a slate of officers to be presented at the annual meeting for action by the membership present.

Section 3:  The term of office for all officers and committee chairs shall be articulated in each position’s Roles and Responsibilities documents, which will be posted on the association’s website.

Section 4:  In the event that a position may go unfilled, an officer may be elected for a successive terms in the same office, beyond that stipulated in the position’s Roles and Responsibilities.

Section 5:  The President, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint a member to fill any unexpired term.

Article III:  Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees shall be established by the Governing Board.

Section 2. Special committees shall also be designated by the Governing Board, as needed.

Section 3. Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Governing Board and will act as representatives on the board. All committee chairs shall submit an annual report to the President with a copy to be filed by the Secretary.

Article IV:  Meetings

Section 1:  The Vermont School Library Association shall meet at least once annually. The time and place shall be determined by the Governing Board.

Section 2:  The Governing Board shall meet at least four times a year as called by the President.

Section 3:  The voting membership in attendance at any meeting of this organization shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4:  Special meetings of the membership may be called by a majority of the Governing Board.

Section 5:  The Secretary shall notify the membership of any general meeting at least fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 6:  Roberts Rules of Order, revised, shall be the authority on all questions of parliamentary procedure. A parliamentarian may be appointed by the President to be present at all general meetings.

Section 7:  It is the understanding of this association that meeting attendance in the 21st century may involve physical and/or virtual attendance. This applies to meetings of the Governing and Executive Boards, regions, and duly-warned meetings of the full membership for the purpose of a vote.

Article V:  Dues

Section 1:  Dues shall be assessed to the membership as recommended by the Governing Board and changes will be voted upon by the membership at the annual meeting.

Section 2:  Honorary members shall be exempt from any dues to the organization.

Section 3:  The fiscal year of this organization shall be from July first of one year through June thirtieth of the following year.

Section 4:  Following the end of the fiscal year and after due notification by the chair of the Membership Committee, members not paying dues shall be dropped from the active membership list of this organization by October thirty-first. A current membership list shall be made available to the Governing Board, upon request.

Article VI:  Affiliations

This organization shall be affiliated with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the New England School Library Association (NESLA).

The President shall appoint a delegate to the AASL Affiliate Assembly and the NESLA Executive Board. The delegate shall serve a minimum of two years in order to assure VSLA’s presence at these groups and to give the delegate an opportunity to become familiar with the operation of the organization to which he/she represents VSLA.

Article VII:  Regional Representatives

Section 1:  Regional divisions of the membership shall be defined by the Governing Board and distributed to the membership, although regional members are free to attend meetings in any region they so desire.

Section 2:  Regional representatives are established to promote rapport among regional members and to inform the Governing Board of regional members’ concerns.

Section 3:  Representatives from each region shall be elected by the region or appointed by the President, and shall be a member of the Governing Board.  A brief summary of regional meetings shall be prepared for the Governing Board meetings.

Section 4:  Regional meetings shall be held at the discretion of the regional representative or as the need arises within the regional membership.  

Article VIII:  Policies

This organization shall in no way lend its name to the endorsement of any specific commercial enterprise for the purpose of advertising.

Article IX:  Dissolution of VSLA

Upon dissolution, all assets, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the organization, shall be distributed to an educational organization or organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), selected by majority vote of the Governing Board.