SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the organization shall be School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purpose of the organization shall be to promote the education of children and young adults through library media programs and to foster an interest in school library media centers and the work of school library media specialists.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Those eligible for membership shall be school library media specialists in southeastern New York State, to include the counties of Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this professional organization shall be: president, president-elect, immediate past-president, secretary and treasurer.

Section 2. The term of office shall be for one year, with the exception of the treasurer, which shall be for two years. Officers may serve for more than one term.

Section 3. Nominations of officers shall be by a nominating committee of three members appointed by the executive board no later than February. Additional candidates may be nominated at the annual business meeting.

Section 4. The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting.

Section 5. Should a vacancy in any office except that of the president occur, the executive board shall appoint a member to complete the term of office.

ARTICLE V

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the executive board; appoint the chairs of all committees except the Nominating Committee; direct the treasurer to have an audit of the treasurer's books conducted at the conclusion of the treasurer's term of office, with a report made to the executive board and then the membership; carry out the directives of the organization and, as past-president, serve for one year as a member of the Executive Board.

Section 2. The president-elect, in the absence of the president, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the executive board, shall succeed to the presidency in the event that a vacancy occurs, and shall complete the unexpired portion of the president’s term.

Section 3. The secretary shall maintain the correspondence and records and keep the minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the executive board.

Section 4. The treasurer shall keep the financial records of the organization, shall deposit all funds in the account of the organization, and shall disburse funds only as authorized by the members of the executive board. The treasurer shall report at each meeting of the organization and of the executive board.

Section 5. Duties of the County Representatives

a. To attend all meetings of the executive board.

b. To report to the membership within their counties and otherwise carry out the business of the executive board in their counties.

c. To serve in conference and committee responsibilities as requested by the president.

Section 6. Duties of the School Library Media Section/ New York Library Association Region III Coordinator

a. To attend all meetings of the executive board.

b. To keep the president informed of School Library Media Section business and to report SLMSSENY news to the executive board of the School Library Media Section.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

When feasible, there shall be at least one meeting of the membership a year at the spring conference or at a similar event. Additional meetings may be called by the executive board as needed.

ARTICLE VII

GOVERNMENT

Section 1. The government of this organization shall be by its constitution.

Section 2. The executive board shall consist of the president, president-elect, immediate past-president, the secretary, the treasurer, one representative from each county, and the School Library Media Section (NYLA) Region III Coordinator, who is elected every odd-numbered year by the School Library Media Section.

Section 3. The nominating committee shall select a representative to the executive board from each county to be elected at the annual meeting for a two-year term of office. Half shall be elected in the even years and the other half in odd years. The four to be elected in even years shall come from the counties of Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster. The three to be elected in odd years shall come from the counties of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess.

Section 4. The president shall appoint all necessary committees, shall appoint the chairs of said committees, and be an ex-officio member of all committees. The executive board shall, however, appoint the nominating committee, as noted in Article IV, Section 3.

ARTICLE VIII

DUES

Section 1. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 through June 30.

Section 2. Annual dues shall be determined by the executive board.

ARTICLE IX

METHOD OF AMENDMENT

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those members present at a regular meeting after consideration by members of the executive board and after written notice to the membership received at least ten days prior to the regular meeting.

ARTICLE X

The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority on all matters not covered by this constitution.

ARTICLE XI

DISSOLUTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

In order for this organization to conform with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, the following procedures shall be followed in the event of dissolution of the organization:

"Should the School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York dissolve this organization, they shall dispose of any assets of the organization exclusively for the purposes of the organization in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for future United States Internal Revenue Law, as the Executive Board of the School Library Media Specialists of Southeastern New York shall determine."

AMENDMENT 1 to ARTICLE VIII, Section 1

The fiscal year shall be from January 1 through December 31. (Approved March 22, 1986)

AMENDMENT II to ARTICLE III, Section 1

In addition to the general membership category there will be an associate membership for those individuals interested in the purpose of the organization but who are not School Library Media Specialists in Southeastern New York State. Associate members will receive the same benefits as the general membership but will not receive voting privileges. (Approved March 22, 1986)

AMENDMENT III to ARTICLE III, Section 1

Retired membership is a category open to any person now retired who formerly held a position, which would have entitled him/her to regular or associate membership. Dues shall be less than the dues of regular membership.

Student membership is open to any person currently enrolled in a graduate library school program engaged in a course of study to become a school library media specialist. Dues shall be less than the dues of regular membership.

(Revised October 2008)