Constitution and Bylaws
Constitution
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Science Education Leadership Association (VSELA).
Article II - Purpose
It shall be the purpose of this organization to bind together those persons who are responsible for the leadership of science instruction in the schools of Virginia so that continued improvement of science instruction and learning can be more effectively achieved.
Article III - Government
The organization recognizes a majority of itself as its only head and, therefore, vests in its membership the rights of control in all its affairs. This group is not established as an affiliate of any other professional group, be it local, state or national, but reserves the right to initiate such affiliations if a majority of the membership so decrees in an official vote. While this organization is amenable to no other professional group, it accepts the obligation of cooperation with other groups, which have similar purpose, and pledges itself to share their common aims and work to any degree that the membership may determine.
Article IV - Membership
Section I - Membership:
Science department heads, coordinators, specialists, teacher advocates, lead teachers, consultants, directors of instruction, administrators, key leaders, and others concerned with leadership in science education.
Professional employees of state, regional or governmental Science education resource facilities.
All divisional or regional supervisors who have responsibility for Science instruction in the public or private schools of Virginia.
Faculty members in Virginia institutions of higher learning.
Section II - Associate Membership:
Associate membership shall be open to all persons with an interest in Science education. Such membership shall encompass all privileges of regular membership, except that associates are not eligible to vote or hold office in the association.
Section III - Honorary Membership:
Honorary membership (dues free) shall be extended to those persons selected by a majority vote of the membership. An honorary member may not vote or hold office.
Article V - Officers
The officers of this organization shall be a president, vice president, past president, a secretary and a treasurer. Officers shall serve for a two-year term.
Article V I - Amendments
These guidelines may be amended or altered by a majority vote at any meeting of the organization, providing that notice specifying time and place of the meeting and the substances of the proposed change shall have been forwarded to all members at least four weeks prior to such meeting.
BY - LAWS
ARTICLE I - POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President:
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and provide oversight for all committees of the Association and be ex-officio member of all committees of the Association.
Section 2. Vice President:
In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside at meetings of the Association. In the event of the inability of the president to complete the term of office, the vice president shall take office automatically and serve out the president's unexpired term. The vice president shall serve as chairman of the program committee.
Section 3. Past President:
The past-president shall serve on the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity and on committees at the president's discretion.
Section 4. Secretary:
The secretary shall maintain the membership roll and notify members of all meetings, shall keep a record of members in attendance at each meeting, shall keep the minutes of each session of the Association and compile and distribute them to the membership.
Section 5. Treasurer:
The treasurer shall keep the accounts, receive and deposit all funds of the Association, and pay all expenses authorized by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE II - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominations:
Nominations for Association officers shall be made biannually at the last scheduled meeting of the academic year by the Nominations Committee. Following these nominations, any member present may present additional nominations from the floor.
Section 2. Elections:
Election of the Association officers shall be held biannually at the last scheduled meeting of the academic year. New officers shall assume their duties at the close of that meeting.
Section 3. Vacancies:
In case of vacancy in the office of president, the vice president shall become president. If the office of president cannot be filled or should any other office become vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a successor.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Association and all standing committee chairpersons. A representative from Virginia Association of Science Teachers and the Virginia Academy of Science may serve on the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity. The president may invite other Association members at his/her discretion to participate in Executive Committee meetings in an advisory capacity.
Section 2. Standing Committees:
The five elected officers of the association are empowered to appoint all standing committee chairpersons excluding the Program Committee. The standing committees will consist of the following:
Membership & Nominations, Curriculum & Instruction, Facilities & Safety, Educational Technology, Program (chaired by the vice president), Assessment & Accountability, Leadership, and Policy, Positions & Publications.
Section 3. Other Committees:
The president is empowered to appoint ad hoc committees deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the Association.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
Section 1. Frequency:
Meetings shall be held at least twice each academic year. The fall meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual fall meeting of the Virginia Association of Science Teachers. The spring meeting shall be held prior to the end of the academic year. The Association may charge a registration fee for meetings, and the Executive Committee will establish that fee.
Section 2. Special Meetings:
The president, with the advice and authority of the other members of the Executive Committee, may call a special meeting to give consideration to a specified problem. Two weeks notice to members shall be required.
Section 3. Business:
All business of the organization shall be approved by a majority of those present and eligible to vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE V - DUES
Annual membership dues shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by members of the Association. Dues must be paid at the first meeting of the academic year or by January 1.
ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or altered by a plurality at any meeting of the Association providing that notice specifying time and place of the meeting and the substance and the proposed change shall have been forwarded to all members at least four weeks prior to such a meeting.
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Science Education Leadership Association (VSELA).
Article II - Purpose
It shall be the purpose of this organization to bind together those persons who are responsible for the leadership of science instruction in the schools of Virginia so that continued improvement of science instruction and learning can be more effectively achieved.
Article III - Government
The organization recognizes a majority of itself as its only head and, therefore, vests in its membership the rights of control in all its affairs. This group is not established as an affiliate of any other professional group, be it local, state or national, but reserves the right to initiate such affiliations if a majority of the membership so decrees in an official vote. While this organization is amenable to no other professional group, it accepts the obligation of cooperation with other groups, which have similar purpose, and pledges itself to share their common aims and work to any degree that the membership may determine.
Article IV - Membership
Section I - Membership:
Science department heads, coordinators, specialists, teacher advocates, lead teachers, consultants, directors of instruction, administrators, key leaders, and others concerned with leadership in science education.
Professional employees of state, regional or governmental Science education resource facilities.
All divisional or regional supervisors who have responsibility for Science instruction in the public or private schools of Virginia.
Faculty members in Virginia institutions of higher learning.
Section II - Associate Membership:
Associate membership shall be open to all persons with an interest in Science education. Such membership shall encompass all privileges of regular membership, except that associates are not eligible to vote or hold office in the association.
Section III - Honorary Membership:
Honorary membership (dues free) shall be extended to those persons selected by a majority vote of the membership. An honorary member may not vote or hold office.
Article V - Officers
The officers of this organization shall be a president, vice president, past president, a secretary and a treasurer. Officers shall serve for a two-year term.
Article V I - Amendments
These guidelines may be amended or altered by a majority vote at any meeting of the organization, providing that notice specifying time and place of the meeting and the substances of the proposed change shall have been forwarded to all members at least four weeks prior to such meeting.
BY - LAWS
ARTICLE I - POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President:
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and provide oversight for all committees of the Association and be ex-officio member of all committees of the Association.
Section 2. Vice President:
In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside at meetings of the Association. In the event of the inability of the president to complete the term of office, the vice president shall take office automatically and serve out the president's unexpired term. The vice president shall serve as chairman of the program committee.
Section 3. Past President:
The past-president shall serve on the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity and on committees at the president's discretion.
Section 4. Secretary:
The secretary shall maintain the membership roll and notify members of all meetings, shall keep a record of members in attendance at each meeting, shall keep the minutes of each session of the Association and compile and distribute them to the membership.
Section 5. Treasurer:
The treasurer shall keep the accounts, receive and deposit all funds of the Association, and pay all expenses authorized by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE II - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominations:
Nominations for Association officers shall be made biannually at the last scheduled meeting of the academic year by the Nominations Committee. Following these nominations, any member present may present additional nominations from the floor.
Section 2. Elections:
Election of the Association officers shall be held biannually at the last scheduled meeting of the academic year. New officers shall assume their duties at the close of that meeting.
Section 3. Vacancies:
In case of vacancy in the office of president, the vice president shall become president. If the office of president cannot be filled or should any other office become vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a successor.
ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Association and all standing committee chairpersons. A representative from Virginia Association of Science Teachers and the Virginia Academy of Science may serve on the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity. The president may invite other Association members at his/her discretion to participate in Executive Committee meetings in an advisory capacity.
Section 2. Standing Committees:
The five elected officers of the association are empowered to appoint all standing committee chairpersons excluding the Program Committee. The standing committees will consist of the following:
Membership & Nominations, Curriculum & Instruction, Facilities & Safety, Educational Technology, Program (chaired by the vice president), Assessment & Accountability, Leadership, and Policy, Positions & Publications.
Section 3. Other Committees:
The president is empowered to appoint ad hoc committees deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the Association.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
Section 1. Frequency:
Meetings shall be held at least twice each academic year. The fall meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual fall meeting of the Virginia Association of Science Teachers. The spring meeting shall be held prior to the end of the academic year. The Association may charge a registration fee for meetings, and the Executive Committee will establish that fee.
Section 2. Special Meetings:
The president, with the advice and authority of the other members of the Executive Committee, may call a special meeting to give consideration to a specified problem. Two weeks notice to members shall be required.
Section 3. Business:
All business of the organization shall be approved by a majority of those present and eligible to vote at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE V - DUES
Annual membership dues shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by members of the Association. Dues must be paid at the first meeting of the academic year or by January 1.
ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or altered by a plurality at any meeting of the Association providing that notice specifying time and place of the meeting and the substance and the proposed change shall have been forwarded to all members at least four weeks prior to such a meeting.
