THE ARTA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

The following is the current ARTA Constitution which is followed by its Bylaws (October, 2011):

Alexandria Retired Teachers Association Constitution

Article I. Name
The name of this association shall be the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association and can be
hereafter referred to as the Association or ARTA.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of this association shall be to:
1. promote the economic, social, and professional status of retirees;
2. encourage members to maintain interest in and to participate in educational, legislative,
and community activities;
3. foster good fellowship among retirees;
4. develop programs that will be of interest to members and to inform them about current
issues on local, state, and national levels; and
5. cooperate with EAA, VEA, VRTA, and AARP.

Article III. Membership

Membership shall be open to any retired teacher, administrator, educational or instructional
support personnel, secretary, or nurse formerly employed in public or private schools.

Article IV. Officers and Elections

Section 1. The officers of the association shall be president, president-elect, recording secretary,
corresponding secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected for a term of two years and may be re-elected.
Section 3. Election of officers shall be held at the membership meeting in April. New officers
shall be presented at the May luncheon and assume their duties on July 1.
Section 4. The executive board shall consist of the immediate past-president, elected officers
and committee chairpersons appointed by the president.

Article V. Meetings
The Alexandria Retired Teachers Association shall meet a minimum of seven times each year
unless changed by the executive board.

Article VI. Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote at a regular or called meeting
of the association provided the amendments have been submitted in writing to the members at
least two weeks before the meeting.

Bylaws
Alexandria Retired Teachers Association

Article 1. Duties of officers

Section 1. President
The president shall:
a. be the executive leader and the presiding officer.
b. appoint the chairpersons of standing committees and appoint special committees.
c. be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
d. attend local, state, and national conferences when possible. Information received at such
meetings should be passed on to the association.
e. contact new retirees by letter and enclose an application for membership.
f. meet with the committee chairpersons.
g. serve as a member of the Legislative Committee.
Section 2. President-Elect
The president-elect shall:
a. work with the president and substitute for the president when necessary.
b. serve as the Program Committee chairperson.
Section 3. Recording Secretary
The recording secretary shall:
a. record the minutes of the executive board meetings and association meetings in permanent
form.
b. serve as a member of the Social Committee.
Section 4. Corresponding Secretary
The corresponding secretary shall:
a. conduct association correspondence.
b. send cards when members or members of their immediate family are ill or die, and arrange to
send a memorial for a deceased member to the ARTA Scholarship Fund unless the family or
close friend suggests otherwise. The corresponding secretary shall notify the family by letter
regarding the contribution.
c. serve as a member of the Communications Committee.
Section 5. Treasurer
The treasurer shall:
a. keep a record of dues and other monies received and deposit all monies in a bank authorized
by the executive board.
b. keep a record of and obtain a receipt for all monies expended.
c. make a financial report at each meeting and provide a written copy to the recording secretary.
d. prepare books for a bi-annual audit.
e. serve as a member of the Membership Committee.
f. serve as a member of the Budget Committee.

Article II. Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1. The executive board shall consist of the officers and the chairpersons of standing
committees. The president shall preside at all meetings of the executive board. The president
shall vote only in case of a tie.
Section 2. The executive board shall meet a minimum of twice a year.
Section 3. Vacancies on the executive board shall be filled by presidential appointment with the
advice and consent of the board.
Section 4. The duties of the executive board shall be to:
a. take initiative in determining the policies of the association.
b. transact business on behalf of the association.
c. supervise the finances of the association.

Article III. Standing Committees and Duties

Section 1. The Membership Committee shall:
a. consist of the treasurer and at least two additional members.
b. keep a current record of members and shall regularly inform the Communications Committee
of those names for inclusion in the directory and newsletter.
c. take attendance at each meeting.
Section 2: The Program Committee shall:
a. consist of the president-elect and at least two additional members.
b. plan the programs for the year and inform the membership.
c. coordinate program requirements with the host location personnel.
d. determine the gratuity for the guest performers within the limits of the association budget.
Section 3: The Social Committee shall:
a. consist of the recording secretary and at least two additional members.
b. cooperate with the Program Committee in planning refreshments.
c. provide name tags for meetings when appropriate.
Section 4. The Legislative Committee shall:
a. consist of the president and at least two additional members.
b. keep the association informed on developments and changes proposed by the General
Assembly, City Council, City School Board, and professional organizations.
c. advise the association of steps that should be taken by individual members of the association
to communicate our position on designated issues.
Section 5. The Budget Committee shall
a. consist of the treasurer and at least two additional members.
b. draft a projected budget for submission to the executive board in August for revision and to the
membership in September for adoption.
Section 6. The Communications Committee shall:
a. consist of the corresponding secretary and at least two additional members.
b. write, print, and distribute the newsletter to members.
c. compile, print, and distribute the directory each year to all members.
d. maintain the ARTA web page.
Section 7. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall:
a. review the constitution and by-laws of the association periodically to verify that they are in
keeping with the goals, needs, and operations of the association and that they are consistent with
those of the local, state, and national associations.
b. inform the executive board at the August board meeting and the membership at the
September general meeting of changes and additions that it recommends for amendments and/or
revisions.
Section 8. The Nominating Committee:
In an election year, a nominating committee of three members, appointed by the executive board,
shall present a slate of candidates whose consent has been secured. The slate shall be
submitted to the members before the April meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor
provided the consent of each nominee has been secured.

Article IV. Dues

The annual dues for association membership shall be recommended by the executive board after
its review of the projected budget and shall be approved by the membership. Dues checks shall
be made payable to the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association at the beginning of each fiscal
year. The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.

Article V. Meetings
Section 1. The date, time and place of the executive board meetings and the association
meetings shall be set by the executive board and published in the September
newsletter. Necessary arrangements or permits will be secured by the executive board.
Section 2. Written notice of association meetings shall be distributed to the membership at least
one week before the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Notice of executive board meetings and other committee meetings shall be by the
most practical method for the occasion.

Article VI. Quorum

Section 1. The quorum shall consist of members who attend the meeting provided it is either a
stated meeting or one that has been properly called.
Section 2. The quorum for a meeting of the executive board shall be a majority of the board
members.

Article VII. Amendments

The bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote at a regular or called meeting of the
association.

Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority

Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority in all questions of parliamentary law not
covered by this constitution and bylaws.

Article IX. Adoption and Effective Date

The constitution and bylaws of the Alexandria Retired Teachers Association shall become
effective immediately upon adoption. Revisions and amendments shall become effective upon
passage unless otherwise stated.

Date of adoption: Unknown

Dates of revisions: March 1990, October 1992, October 1999, October 2011

Date of amendments: