Nova Scotia Technology Education Association

A NSTU Professional Association

Proposed Constitution

Revised 2010

Article I

Name

The Professional Association shall be called the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

Article II

Purpose

The mandate of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association shall be:

[1] To improve professional practice by increasing member knowledge and understanding.

[2] To designate ideas, trends and new developments in the teaching of Technology Education and distribute such to its membership.

[3] To provide information to the NSTU Professional Associations Coordination Committee and the NSTU Curriculum Committee.

[4] To advise the Provincial Executive on matters affecting NSTU Professional Associations.

[5] To be an advocate of Technology Education in the provinceof Nova Scotia.

Article III

Membership

[1] Regular Membership

Regular Membership in the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association is restricted to active and active reserve members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

An active reserve member is not eligible to hold elected office; however, an active reserve member is eligible to vote and serve on committees.

[2] Student Intern Membership

Student Intern Membershipin the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association is available tofull-time university students enrolled in education programs. A student intern member is not eligible to vote or hold elected office; however, a student intern member is eligible to serve on committees.

[3] Subscriber Member

Subscriber Membership is available to an institution or a person who is not a regular member, retiree or student intern member. A subscriber member is not eligible to vote, hold elected office or serve on committees.

Article IV

Distribution of Powers

[1] The general membership shall retain all powers of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association except those delegated in the Constitution to the Professional Association Executive.

[2] Any member of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association shall have the right to address all meetings of the Professional Association.

[3] A regular member shall have the right to vote on all motions at general meetings of the Professional Association.

Article V

Executive

[1] The Professional Association Executive shall include but not be limited to the following members:

President
Immediate Past President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer

[2] The Professional Association Executive shall meet a minimum of three (3) times per year at a location determined by the President.

[3] A quorum of the Professional Association Executive shall be fifty percent of Professional Association Executive members.

[4] Every term of office shall extend for a period of two years. Members may serve only two consecutive terms then must take one year off before taking the same or another executive position.

Article VI

Professional Association Committees

[1] The Professional Association Executive shall establish the following committees.

Communications
Conference
Finance
Nominating

[2] The Professional Association Executive shall appoint members to each committee on an annual basis.

[3] The Professional Association Executive may appoint ad hoc committees as circumstances dictate.

[4] The Professional Association Executive shall appoint members to other committees as required.

[5] The Professional Association President shall chair the Communication Committee.

[6] The Professional Association Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee.

[7] The Professional Association Vice-President or designate shall chair the Conference Committee.

[8] The Professional Association Immediate Past President or designate shall chair the Nominating Committee.

Article VII

Professional Association Meetings

[1] Professional Association Annual Meeting

(a) There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association

for:

i/ receipt of annual reports;
ii/ presentation of a financial statement;
iii/ presentation of a proposed budget for the upcoming year;
iv/ election of officers for the upcoming year.
v/ consideration of NSTU Annual Council resolutions

(b) The quorum for a general meeting shall be 5% of the regular membership excluding the members of the Professional Association Executive.

[2] Professional Association Executive Meetings

(a) Professional Association Executive meetings shall take place a minimum of three (3) times per year during the periods:

Fall
Winter
Spring

(b) The quorum for a Professional Association Executive Meeting shall be 50 percent plus one of the Professional Association Executive.

[3] Professional Association Special Meetings

(a) In the event of an emergency or other need, a special meeting shall be called by the Professional Association Executive.

(b) A special general meeting shall be called by the Executive upon the written request of five percent (5%) of the regular membership. Five (5) working days notice of such a meeting shall be given to the general membership.

VIII

Elections/Voting Privileges

[1] Only regular members of theNova Scotia Technology Education Association have the right to vote.

[2] Only active NSTU members of theNova Scotia Technology Education Association have the right to hold office.

[3] Only regular members and student intern members of Nova Scotia Technology Education Association have a right to serve on committees.

[4] The Professional Association Executive shall be elected by secret ballot.

[5] The term of office for Professional Association Executive members shall be two (2) years from Annual General Meeting to Annual General Meeting.

[6] Excluding candidates for the office of Professional Association President, a member of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association is eligible to hold office as a member of the Executive for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

[7] Should any Professional Association Executive position except Professional Association Immediate Past President remain vacant following elections at the Annual General Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall conduct a by-election using a mail-in vote procedure.

[8] In the event that the Professional Association President cannot complete a term of office, the Professional Association Vice President shall assume the duties of the Professional Association President in the interim. The Nominating Committee shall seek nominations for the position and conduct an election using the mail-in vote procedure. The term of office for this position shall be until the completion of the vacated term of office.

[9] In the event that a Professional Association Executive member other than the Professional Association President cannot complete a term of office, the position shall be filled through a by-election administered by the Nominating Committee. The term of office for this position shall be until the completion of the vacated term of office.

Article IX

Finances

[1] The fiscal year shall be from August 1^st to July 31^st.

[2] Membership fees shall be determined by the Provincial Executive of the Nova ScotiaTeachers Union.

[3] The signing officers shall be 6 Senior NSTU Executive staff officers, including the Executive Director, the President, the Secretary Treasurer, and other senior staff officers.

[4] The Professional Association Executiveshall make expenditures up to $2,000. without prior approval of the regular membership.

[5] Members shall be reimbursed expenses at the provincial NSTU rate.

[6] The financial records of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association shall be subjected to an annual review in accordance with guidelines provided by the Finance and Property Committee of the NSTU.

[7] All operational expenses (including substitute teacher costs) incurred by the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association are the sole responsibility of the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association and are not the responsibility of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

[8] The finance committee shall table the budget at the AGM in October.

[9] There will be no purchase of capital equipment over $500.00 without prior approval of the NSTU Finance and Property Committee.

Article X

Rules of Order

Rules of Order shall be the same as those procedures adopted by the Nova ScotiaTeachers Union.

Article XI

Accountability

[1] Individuals in an elected or appointed leadership role, NSTU employees and others acting on the Professional Association?s behalf have the obligation to avoid conflicts of interest; the perception of conflict of interest; and, ensure that their activities and interests do not conflict with their responsibilities to the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

[2] Professional Association Executivemembers are expected to attend as well as actively participate in all meetings of the Nova ScotiaTechnology Education Association.

[3] Professional Association Executive members are responsible to fairly represent Executive decisions when speaking on issues addressed by the Professional Association Executive.

Article XII

NSTU Annual Council

[1] The Professional Association shall have the right to appoint a member or members to attend the Annual Council as a Provincial Observer(s). Provincial Observers have the right to address the Council and speak on any motion with the permission of the chairperson but are ineligible to vote.

Article XIII

Communications

Any representation that the Nova Scotia Technology Education Association wishes to make to any organization, Government department, Department of Education, school board and any other agency external to the NSTU shall be conducted through the office of the NSTU President by way of the staff liaison officer responsible for NSTU Professional Associations.

Article XIV

Amendments

[1] This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of votes cast by the members present at a General Meeting or Special Meeting convened for that purpose.

[2] Notice of proposed amendment(s) shall be given to members ten (10) working days prior to the meeting.

[3] Amendments to this Constitution shall be ratified by the NSTU Provincial Executive at a scheduled meeting following approval by the Professional Association?s general membership.