ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION

These articles have been and continue to be in the process of review and revision as deemed necessary...

  • At the 2010 Winter Meeting, significant revisions to Articles I and II were discussed and approved.
  • At our meeting during the 2011 Star Leaders National Conference, significant revisions to Article III (as shown below) were discussed and approved.
  • At the 2012 Winter Meeting, significant revisions to Articles IV and V were discussed and approved.
  • In 2013, the Board of Directors will be reviewing later Articles of this document.

ARTICLE I ‑ NAME

The name of this unincorporated, voluntary association shall be the National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors (NASSCED).

 

ARTICLE II ‑ PURPOSES

Section A:  To provide a forum for executive directors of state student council associations to discuss issues of common concern to student councils throughout the United States.

Section B:  To provide an opportunity for executive directors of state student council associations to develop policies and recommendations which are consistent with the aims of the association, improve student leadership development, and provide direction to state associations.

Section C: To provide resources for executive directors of state student council associations which enhance their ability to serve the needs of their state associations.

Section D:  To encourage and facilitate the development of a mutually supportive relationships with the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) which provides opportunities for leadership development and communication.

Section E:  To collaborate with individuals and/or organizations in the development of programs and activities that benefit students, student councils and student council state associations.

Section F:  To seek and facilitate opportunities for leadership training scholarships for students.

 

ARTICLE III ‑ MEMBERSHIP

Clarification: This is an association of individual members, not associations. Individuals may qualify for membership in one of the following categories:

Section A: Regular
Individuals that meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible for REGULAR membership in the association, with the right to vote, hold office and participate in any activities of the association contingent upon full payment of annual dues:

  1. Is recognized by title as an EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR or similar title of a state/regional/national Student Council Association or organization.
  2. Is directly responsible for the development of the STUDENT COUNCIL convention and/or leadership conference/workshop for their state/region;

If a person does not CLEARLY meet at least one of the above criteria, an appeal may be made to the NASSCED Board of Directors for clarification. The decision of that board will be final.

Section B: Associate
Associate membership is open to all persons interested in student council activities.  Upon payment of annual dues, associate members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges provided by this association except voting power and holding and office.

Section C: Lifetime
Upon recommendation by the association's Board of Directors, individuals may be granted non‑voting membership in the association by a two‑thirds vote of those present and voting at a regular meeting of the State Executive Directors. Lifetime members are not eligible to hold office and not required to pay dues.

Section D: Ex‑Officio
A representative of NASSP/NASC shall be an ex‑officio member of this organization and shall also serve ex‑officio on the Board of Directors. An ex‑officio member may not vote or hold office.

 

ARTICLE IV ‑ GOVERNANCE

Section A: Board of Directors
The affairs of the association shall be governed by a Board of Directors whose voting members are elected by regions at the annual Winter Meeting of the association. The regions of this association shall be identical to those defined by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for use by the National Association of Student Councils (NASC).

Voting members elected to the Board of Directors shall serve a term of two years, with odd‑numbered regions electing their representatives in odd‑numbered years; and even numbered regions electing their members in even‑numbered years. Individual regions may set their own limitations on the number of consecutive terms a voting member elected from their region may serve on the Board of Directors. A vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be filled by special election to complete an unexpired term as soon as possible by vote of the members in the region with the vacancy.

Section B: Officers
Following the regional elections the Board of Directors shall, by majority vote, annually elect a President and Vice President from among the voting members elected or continuing to represent their respective regions.

The President-elect, with majority approval from the newly elected members of the Board of Directors, may annually appoint current members in good standing of the association to serve in the following roles:

1. Secretary
2. Treasurer
3. Webmaster
4. Special Committee Chairpersons

The same individual may be appointed to serve in more than one of the above roles.  All members appointed by the President-elect to serve in one or more of the above roles shall be ex-officio non-voting members of the Board of Directors, unless they have been elected by or are continuing to represent their respective regions.

There shall be no limit on the number of years a member can be appointed to serve in one or more of the above ex-officio positions.  The Webmaster and Special Committee Chairpersons may be Lifetime Members, and in such case their positions shall not be considered Offices as stated in the Third Article.

There shall also be a Past President position which shall be assumed by the President at the end of his/her tenure for a one‑year term. The Past President shall be a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

Section C: Members
At regular or special meetings of the association, members shall have the opportunity to:

  1. Review decisions made by the Board of Directors; and
  2. Support, amend, revise or veto those decisions by a majority of those members present and voting.

 

ARTICLE V ‑ RESPONSIBILITIES

Section A: Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall meet as required to fulfill the following responsibilities:

  1. plan the agenda for all association meetings and programs.
  2. present recommendations for action by the voting membership of the association.
  3. fulfill the purposes of the association.
  4. serve as liaison between the members of the association and the National Association of Student Councils.

Section B: Officers
The officers of the association shall assume the following responsibilities upon election to office:

  1. President ‑ The President shall:
    a. Preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership meetings of the association.
    b. Undertake other activities, as necessary, to represent the interests of the association, Board of Directors and the members of the association.
  2. Vice-President ‑ The Vice-President shall:
    a. Preside over association meetings in the absence of the President.
    b. Assume the office of President upon his or her resignation from, or incapacity to serve in, that office.  In this case a new Vice President shall be elected from within the current Board of Directors; any position vacated as a result will be appointed by the new President with approval of the Board of Directors.
    c. Undertake other activities as directed by the President or the Board of Directors.
  3. Secretary ‑ The Secretary shall:
    a. Record the minutes of all meetings and provide copies to all members.
    b. Act as historian for the association.
    c. Preside over association meetings in the absence of the President and the Vice President.
    d. Undertake other activities as directed by the President or Board of Directors.
  4. Treasurer ‑ The Treasurer shall:
    a. Receive all monies and pay all expenses that are authorized by the Board of Directors.
    b. Maintain an association checking and savings account in an institution agreed upon by the Board of Directors.
    c. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding investment programs.
    d. Prepare a working budget draft for the Board of Directors prior to each fiscal year.
    e. Undertake other activities as directed by the President or the Board of Directors.
  5. Past President ‑ The Past President shall:
    a. Provide continuity to the operations of the Association.
    b. Offer a smooth transition as new officers assume responsibilities associated with their positions.
    c. Offer advice and provide historical perspective to the President on current matters of discussion and/or business at hand.

 

ARTICLE VI ‑ MEETINGS

Section A: Number
The association shall meet at least two times a year: once at the NASC Conference and once at a date and place as determined by majority vote of those members present and voting. The Board of Directors may schedule additional or special meetings of the association.

Section B: Sites
The site of the second meeting shall be chosen as follows:

  1. Site proposals shall be submitted in writing to any member of the Board of Directors by October 31.
  2. The Board of Directors shall review proposals and make a recommendation to the association.
  3. Site selection shall be made two years in advance.

 

ARTICLE VII ‑ PROXY

Section A: Regular members may designate a representative(s) to vote for the member at any meeting of the association by:

  1. submitting a written statement to a member of the Board of Directors indicating the inability to attend the meeting;
  2. providing a Board of Directors member with the name of the person who will exercise the proxy‑voting rights; and
  3. the representative(s) shall be from the state(s) involved.

 

ARTICLE VIII ‑ FISCAL YEAR: MEMBERSHIP YEAR: ANNUAL DUES

Section A: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the association shall be from July 1 through June 30.
(Amended June 27, 1999)

Section B: Membership Year
The membership year shall be the same as the fiscal year.

Section C: Annual Dues
The Board of Directors shall set the annual dues prior to the fiscal year.

 

ARTICLE IX ‑ AMENDMENTS

Section A:      
These Articles of Organization may be amended by a two‑thirds vote of the members present and a voting at a regular meeting of the association. All proposed changes shall be in writing and copies distributed or made available to the membership 30 days prior to the vote. Whenever possible, the Board of Directors shall review any proposed changes and make recommendations to the membership in advance of the vote on the proposal(s).

 

ARTICLE X ‑ QUORUM: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section A: Quorum
Fifty‑one percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum.

Section B: Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order, Newly‑Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for all other matters.

 

ARTICLE XI ‑ DISSOLUTION

Section A: Upon the dissolution of the association, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the association, dispose of all of the assets of the association exclusively for the purposes of the association.

HISTORY: These Articles of Organization were approved on June 25, 1986, replacing the undated Constitution and Bylaws of the association. 

REVIEWED & UPDATED:
January 1996
December 2010 (Articles I and II)
June 2011 (Article III)
December 2012 (Articles IV and V)

 

 

 


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