The Maryland Association for Bilingual Education MDABE's Constitution and ByLaws Constitution Article I. Name The name of the corporation shall be the Maryland State Association for Bilingual Education, herein referred to as MDABE or the Association. MDABE is an affiliate of the National Association for Bilingual Education. The association's executive committee shall be known as the Executive Board. Article II. Affiliations It is an affiliate of National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) a national professional organization for the purpose of recognizing, promoting and publicizing excellence in bilingual education. Article III. Mission Promoting high quality bilingual education for all learners. Article IV. Purpose MDABE is a non-profit organization which operation is exclusively for educational purposes including the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any future federal tax code. All monies of the organization shall only be disbursed in the support of the purposes of this organization and shall not be disbursed to any member of the organization for his or her private gain. 1. The purpose of MDABE is to encourage the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of quality programs of bilingual education through which students will be provided with the opportunity to develop bilingualism. 2. To promote bilingual education as a logical educational process and approach by which success on the part of all students is enhanced through learning in their first language while they are learning to function in their second language. 3. To promote multilingual education as a meaningful, effective, and efficient way of developing an appreciation of cultural difference and similarities. 4. The Maryland Association for Bilingual Education is dedicated to the support of bilingual educators in their work and professional growth throughout the state of Maryland. 5. The association promotes educational excellence and equity through activities including advocacy, professional development, research, conferences and resources. 6. To review and analyze bilingual-bicultural education in Maryland’s schools and exchange ideas and practices for more effective implementation. 7. To study legislation at state and national level affecting the educational needs of linguistically and culturally diverse children. Article V. Dissolution of the Association In the event that it becomes necessary to dissolve the Association, the fund balance and all properties of the Association shall be donated to non-profit organizations that foster multilingual education. By Laws Section I. Membership A. Members The privilege of membership to MDABE is available to all persons and groups that are interested in bilingual education, supportive of MDABE's purposes, goals and objectives, and willing to abide by these By-laws, and who make payment of annual membership dues. Membership will run for a period of one year. Membership benefits includes: access to the MDABE newsletter, the right to vote (exception-institutional membership), hold office, chair committees, serve on the executive board, opportunity to attend MDABE conferences, workshops/seminars, access to current research, networking opportunities, and professional development opportunities. There shall be three categories of membership as described below. 1. Active-This category will include individuals directly involved in the education profession such as teachers, supervisors, administrators, paraprofessionals, consultants and professors. 2. Associate-This category will include individuals preparing to become certified professionals in the educational field such as full/part time students. It will also include parents and members of the community at large interested in supporting the work of the association. Professionals in the field of education are not eligible for this membership category. 3. Institutional Members- This category has all rights of membership except voting. Schools, libraries, commercial vendors, and governmental entities are encouraged to join MDABE in order to stay current with education issues of concern. Institutional membership includes one active or associate membership. Additional active memberships maybe obtained at a reduced fee. B. Dues The dues for each category shall be specified each year by the Executive Board and indicated in the membership application. C. Meetings 1. The time, number and place of the meetings shall be established in the minutes of the executive board and announced at least 20 days in advance to those invited. 2. The Executive Board shall conduct monthly meetings to carry out the business of the association. The minutes of the previous meeting and the agenda shall be provided to all those invited at least 14 days in advance. 3. Special Meetings. Work sessions, committee meetings, and other meetings with no policy or fiscal decisions on the agenda do not require the specified advance notice. D. Standing Authority The rules contained in Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedures shall govern the association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution and bylaws of the association. E. Quorum 1. Executive Board and general membership meetings: a majority constitutes a quorum. 2. The lack of a quorum prevents policy and fiscal decisions from being acted upon, but other agenda items may be considered. F. Open meetings All meetings of the Executive Board shall be open to the public. G. National Conference delegate When the President cannot attend; the president will appoint a delegate to the NABE Conference H. National Conference Stipends The Board may provide a stipend to Board members to attend the national conference. Section II. Organization A. Executive Board The elected officers of the Association shall consist of President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, and Members-at-Large. These are the members of the Executive Board. The Executive Board votes on all association business in accordance with its mission. It is the responsibility of the executive board to be familiar with the bylaws. The Executive Board will take office each year on July 1. Upon completion of the term, the president may serve on the Board as past-president to ensure continuity in the organization. B. Nominations and Elections 1. Nominations: any MDABE member may nominate Officers. A call for nominations and a deadline for written nominations will be printed in a newsletter to members. The call for nominations will include nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Members -at -Large. The deadline for written nominations will be four weeks before the election. 2. Voting: Ballots will be printed from nominations received by the deadline and distributed at the annual conference. Officers will be elected by ballot at the annual association’s conference. Newly elected MDABE officers will be announced at the conference following the election. Institutional memberships do not have voting privileges. 3. Term of Office: All positions shall have three years term of office. 4. Vacancies: A vacancy in any office shall be filled by presidential appointment, except President and President Elect, who shall be appointed by vote of the Board from among the elected officers. A vacancy shall also occur when any elected Board member has two unexcused absences from Board meetings. C. Officers A. President 1. The president shall preside at all meetings. 2. Appoint chairmen for the committees. 3. Conduct the business of the organization. 4. Represent the association to its members and the public. 5. The president shall network and maintain communications with NABE. 6. Upon completion of the term, the president may serve on the Board as past-president to ensure continuity in the organization. 7. The President shall work with the Board to set all Executive Board meetings for the year. Changes to the meeting schedule shall be announced at least two weeks in advance. 8 The President shall represent MDABE at the NABE delegate assembly or designate a representative. B. President Elect The President Elect shall serve on the Board for familiarization of all the duties of the President. The President Elect shall assume the presidency on the first day of July or upon the termination of the office of the current president. C. Vice-President The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and assist the president in the execution of business. D. Secretary 1. The secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings conducted by the Board. 2. The secretary shall submit the minutes to the president for review and dissemination within 15 days following the meeting. 3. At the end of the secretary's term, a compilation of the year's minutes will be submitted to the Executive Board to be archived. 4. Assist in creating and maintaining needed correspondence. E. Treasurer 1. The treasurer shall be the fiscal agent of the organization. 2. The treasurer shall open and maintain accounts in the name of the organization and deposit all money received. 3. The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all income, investments, and expenditures. 4. Receipts and invoices of all transactions will be kept to document the organization's activities. 5. The treasurer shall prepare financial statements to present at all Executive Board meetings and a fiscal report to present to members at the annual business meeting. 6. The treasurer shall prepare, and submit in a timely fashion the following reports: Federal Income Tax returns and the State Corporation Commission Report. 7. At the end of the fiscal year, the treasurer shall prepare a complete financial statement showing all income received, and all disbursements made by the organizations. Copies shall be provided to the incoming officers as well as to any state and federal officials that may require it. F. Past President The Past President may serve on the Board as an advisor to ensure continuity. G. Members-at Large 1. Members- at -Large will perform various duties including: collecting and distributing research, publishing newsletters, creating websites, and coordinating with universities. 2. Members -at -Large will present and provide all information to current officers. D. Committees Committees are Membership, Newsletter, Workshops/Seminars, Conference, and Advocacy committees. 1. Membership Committee The committee shall be composed of a chair and members. The duties of the committee are to review applications for membership to MDABE, keep records of memberships and recruit members. 2. Newsletter Committee The committee shall be composed of a chair and members. The duties are to create and mail a quarterly newsletter to all members. The newsletter shall support the purposes of MDABE. 3. Workshops/Seminars Committee The committee shall be composed of a chair and members. The duties are to develop workshops/seminars of interest to the membership 4. Conference Committees The committee shall be composed of a chair and members. The duties are to plan and execute an annual conference, with all relevant components. Section III. Amendments Amendments to the Bylaws may be made by a majority vote at a specially called Executive Board meeting. The amended Bylaws will be published in the newsletter. Section IV. Fiscal Matters A. Expenditures and payment The Board will approve all encumbrances for the payment of notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the association. Once approved, the treasurer or an executive board member may make the payment. B. Deposits All funds shall be deposited to the credit of the association in such federally insured banks or other depositories as the Executive Board may select. C. Investments The Association may invest funds to ensure the solvency of the Association. D. Gifts and Contributions The Executive Board may accept, on behalf of the Association, any gift, in-kind donation, contribution, bequest or device for the general purpose or any special purpose of the association. Section V. Record Keeping A. Records and Accounts Association shall keep correct and complete records and accounts, including property, personnel and financial records, to provide proper documentation to comply with audit requirements. B. Minutes of Meetings The Association shall keep accurate and complete minutes of all meetings. A compilation of each year's minutes shall be submitted to the Executive Board to be archived. C. Record of Activities The Association will keep records of all Association activities for accountability purposes. D. Access to records All records of the Association will be available for review to members of the Association.