The Central Arkansas Association for the Education of Young Children

BYLAWS

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Central Arkansas Association for the Education of Young Children, (CAAEYC).

Article II - Purposes

The purposes of CAAEYC shall be charitable and educational and, include, but not be limited to, serving and acting on behalf of the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children in central Arkansas and their families.  Special emphasis will be placed on developmental and educational services and resources as well as fostering the growth and development of the membership in their work with, and on behalf of, young children.

Article III - Membership

Section 3.1. Eligibility.  Anyone interested in promoting the purposes of this Association may become a member upon payment of annual dues.

Section 3.2. Levels of Membership.  All members of the Central Arkansas AEYC are also members of the State AEYC, the Regional AEYC, at such time as they are established, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  All are entitles to the rights and privileges of membership consistent with the membership categories of those respective organizations.

Section 3.3. Classes of Membership.  The classes of members shall be Comprehensive Affiliate, Regular Affiliate, and Student Affiliate.  The Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish additional classes of members.

Section 3.4. Dues.  Membership dues shall be determined by the Board.  Any member who fails to pay his or her dues for the current membership year within three (3) months of its start shall automatically be dismissed as a member of the Association.

Section 3.5. Annual Meeting; Quorum; Voting.

(a) The annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held during the annual meeting of the Association at such place as the Board may determine.

(b) The membership shall be informed y mail of the date and place of the meeting no later than two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.  A quorum of members shall be necessary to transact business at the annual meeting.  A quorum shall equal twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of voting members present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

Article IV - Governing Body

Section 4.1. Name.  The principle governing body of the association shall be called the Governing Board of Directors ("Board").

Section 4.2. Powers and Duties.  The Governing Board shall supervise, control, and direct the affairs of the Association, shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limits of the Bylaws, shall actively promote its purposes, and shall have discretion in the disbursement of its funds.  It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and may, in the execution of the power granted, appoint such committees or agents as it may consider necessary.

Section 4.3. Composition. 

(a) The Governing Board shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and at least two (2) at-large Governing Board members, elected by the membership of the Association.  The size of the Governing Board is subject to change at its discretion; however, the number shall not be fewer than seven (7) nor more than eleven (11).

(b) No person shall serve on the Board unless that person is a member of the Association.

(c) Except for the initial year, officers and Board members shall be elected on a rotational basis to take office on the first (1st) day of July each year of their election for their term as designated in these Bylaws or until their successors are elected and qualified, unless she or he is earlier removed or resigns.

(d) No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

Section 4.4. Board Meetings.

(a) There shall be at least one meeting of the Governing Board during the membership year.  Special meetings of the Board may be called by written request of the President or by at least five (5) Board members.

(b) Notice of any meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Board member if mailed or faxed to the Board member at least seven (7) days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or is provided by telephone or other means of electronic communication, not later than two (2) days before the day on which such meeting is to be held.  Each such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and the general purpose of the meeting.

Section 4.5. Quorum and Voting.

(a) A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  A Board member may vote, either, in person at the meeting or by written authorized proxy.

(b) Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, if proper notice of the proposed action is given in writing to all Board members and thereafter a consent in writing approving the action is signed by all Board members entitled to vote on the subject.

Section 4.6. Resignation or Removal.

(a) An officer or Board member may resign at any time.  The resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

(b) An officer or Board member may be removed, with or without cause, by mailed ballot in which members representing twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of members participating (based on membership figures as of the end of the immediately preceding membership year) or at any regular or special majority of the voting members, voting either in person, or by proxy, or as otherwise permitted by law.  No officer or Board member shall be removed at a meeting of members entitled to vote, and the notice explains that a purpose of the meeting is to vote upon removal of one or more Board members who are named in the notice.

Section 4.7. Board Vacancies.  Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the Board.  Each person chosen to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office until the next annual election of Board members, or, if so determined by the Board, until the expiration of the term of the vacant position.

Article V - Officers

Section 5.1. Principal Officers.  The principal officers of the Central Arkansas Association for Education of Young Children (CAAEYC) shall be:

President; President Elect; Vice-President; Past President; Secretary; Treasurer; Historian

Section 5.2. Election of Board Members: Term of Office.  The designated members of the Governing Board of the Association shall be elected annually by the membership.  The President-Elect shall serve one (1) year in that office, two (2) years as President, and one (1) year as Past President.  The terms of the Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be four (4) years or until the officer's successor has been elected and qualified.  Terms of Historian and Members At Large shall be two (2) years.

Section 5.3. Duties.  The duties of the officers shall be such as are customarily performed by these offices.  Specific qualifications and duties are defined in the CAAEYC Policies and Procedures Manual.

Article VI - Nominations and Elections

Section 6.1. Nominating Committee Appointment.  Each year, the Governing Board shall select a Nominating Committee in accordance with the Association bylaws and policies.

Section 6.2. Nominating Committee Duties.

(a) T

he Nominating Committee shall request suggestions for nominations from the membership no later than eight (8) weeks prior to the date that the slate is presented for voting.

(b) The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers and at-large Governing Board members in accordance with Association bylaws and policies, and shall notify membership (based on figures for the immediately preceding year), or by a majority vote of the membership at a meeting called for the purpose of voting.

Section 6.3. Candidates by Petition.  Nomination of additional candidates may be made by members representing not less than ten percent (10%) of the total CAAEYC membership (based on figures for the immediately preceding year), or by a majority vote of the membership at a meeting called for the purpose of voting.

Section 6.4. Elections.

(a) Elections shall be accomplished by June 1 of each year by mail vote or by a vote at a membership meeting as determined by the Governing Board in accordance with Association bylaws ad policies.  Election results shall be published in the first issue of the Association newsletter following the completion of the election.

(b) Elections shall be determined by a majority of members voting.

Article VII - Committees

The President, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint as many standing and special committees as are determined necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Association.  The powers, duties, and qualifications for appointment to such committees are specified in the Policy and Procedures Manual.

Article VIII - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall be from July 1 through June 30 or such as other 12-consecutive-month period as the Board may designate.

Article IX - Parliamentary Authority

The most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority of the Association.

Article X - Amendments

These bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part: (1) by a majority vote at any meeting of the Association; providing that a copy of any amendment proposal for consideration shall be mailed to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting; or (2) by approval of the members through a mail vote in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 7.

Article XI - Dissolution

The Central Arkansas AEYC may be dissolved at a membership meeting called for the specific purpose by a majority vote of the Governing Board.  Upon dissolution of the Association, any remaining funds shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit organizations classified by the Internal Revenue Service as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Reference for Order of Board Meetings:

Robert, H.M. (1989) Robert's rules of order, newly revised. New York: Berkley Books.