Article II: Nature and Purposes
Section 1-Nature: The Pickens County Reading Council shall be a non-profit
organization whose mission is to encourage, promote, and improve the attitudes,
habits, and expectations toward reading among all residents of all ages.
Section 2-Purpose: The purposes of the council shall be: (1) to communicate, coordinate, and partner with agencies and organizations to utilize resources effectively in accomplishing our mission; (2) to become a council of the International Reading Association (3) to take advantage of every opportunity to foster the joy and appreciation of reading among all age groups; (4) to develop strategies and activities that will accomplish our mission; and (5) to identify and provide leadership on significant literacy issues.
Article III: Membership and Dues
Section 1-Eligibility: Membership in the council shall be open to all persons
engaged in the teaching or supervision of reading at any school level,
to parents, and to all others interested in the purposes of the council.
Section 2-Active Members: Membership in the council shall become effective upon payment of council dues for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
Section 3-Council Dues: Dues for annual membership in the council shall be set by the Board of Directors with the approval of the assembly. Dues are payable to the council for the fiscal year on or after the preceding May 1 and shall apply to the year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
Section 4-Arrears: Any member who has not paid local dues by July November 30 each year becomes inactive. A member whose dues are delinquent shall be notified before his or her name is eliminated from the membership roster.
Section 5-IRA Membership: A council shall be in good standing and entitled to representation at the meeting of the International Reading Association Delegates Assembly if at least 10 members have paid dues to the Association for the current year.
Section 6-IRA Dues: Membership in the International Reading Association is strongly recommended for all council members.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1-Officers: The officers of the council shall be a president, president-elect,
vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and treasurer.
Any member in good standing who is also a member of the International Reading
Association is eligible to be an officer of the council.
Section 2-Term of Office: All officers shall serve for two years. The president-elect shall then automatically succeed to the office of president for two years. Only the vice-president, treasurer and secretaries may serve for more than one 2-year term.
Section 3-Time of Assuming Office: Each officer shall assume the duties of the office on July 1 following the election. The election shall have been completed by the end of March.
Section 4-Duties of President: The president shall act as the executive officer of the council. The president shall preside at all meetings of the council, shall act as chairperson of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and shall exercise general leadership and supervision over the affairs of the council, implementing its purposes.
Section 5-Duties of President-elect: The president-elect shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and fulfill such other duties as are assigned by the Board of Directors. The president-elect shall assume and perform the duties of the president in the event of the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the president. Should the office of president-elect become vacant, a member shall be elected to this position to fill the remainder of the term and to then succeed to the office of president.
Section 6-Duties of Vice President: The vice president shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors, oversee any programs at the quarterly meetings, and shall serve on the programs/projects committee.
Section 7-Duties of Secretaries:
The recording secretary shall (1) record the events of all council meetings
and all meetings of the Board of Directors; (2) keep a permanent book of
the minutes of all meetings; (3) send articles and notices to the International
Reading Association Headquarters and the state/provincial president and
coordinator; and (4) cooperate fully with the successor by turning over
up to date records within thirty days of retirement from office.
The corresponding secretary shall (1) notify the membership of the date, time, and place of all general meetings at least two weeks before the meeting; (2) circulate proposed amendments to each member in advance of the meeting at which the amendments are to be voted upon (3) handle correspondence and notices; and (4) cooperate fully with the successor by turning over up-to-date records within thirty days of retirement from office.
Section 8-Duties of Treasurer: The treasurer shall (1) maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records; (2) have custody of the funds of the council which shall be deposited in the name of the Pickens County Reading Council; (3) sign checks on behalf of the council; (4) cooperate fully with an annual audit; (5) chair the Finance Committee and work closely with the Programs and Projects Committee for fundraising; and (6) within thirty days of retirement from office, turn over to the successor all funds, accounts, and books of the treasurer.
Section 9-Interim Replacement: In the event of a vacancy in the office of vice president, treasurer, recording or corresponding secretary, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.
Article V: Board of Directors
Section1-Function: The Board of Directors shall exercise general supervision
over the property and affairs of the council. It shall have the general
power to administer the affairs of the council between council meetings
and shall report its actions to the membership for approval.
Section 2-Composition: The Board of Directors shall consist of all current officers and the chairpersons of the standing committees.
Section 3-Meetings: The first meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held in early summer in order that the standing committees may be appointed with the greater part of the year remaining for their specific work, and in order that the yearly calendar may be established with the Program Committee. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to hold such meetings as it shall deem necessary on the call of the president, at such times and places as the president may determine. No less than 3 meetings shall be held each year.
Section 4-Quorum: A quorum is established with 60% of the Board Members present.
Article VI: Assembly
Section 1-Composition: The assembly shall consist of the Board of Directors
and all other members of the council.
Section 2-Function: The assembly shall be the legislative body of the council and shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the council, within the limits set by these bylaws. It shall have the authority to review decisions made by the Board of Directors and to accept or reject them.
Section 3-Quorum: A quorum shall consist of 20% of all those eligible to vote in the assembly.
Section 4-Meetings: The assembly of the Pickens County Reading Council shall meet four times each year.
Section 5-Notification of Meetings: At least two weeks in advance of each meeting, the corresponding secretary shall notify all members of the date, time, and place of the meeting.
Section 6-Amendments to the Bylaws: The assembly of the Pickens County Reading Council shall have the power to amend these bylaws as provided in Article XII.
Article VII: Nomination and Election of Officers
Section 1-Election: All officers shall be elected by the end of March.
Section 2-Nominating/Membership Committee: The Nominating/Membership Committee shall be composed of at least three members appointed by the president and approved by the Board of Directors. The committee shall prepare a slate of nominees biennially and shall recruit and encourage new members in the council.
Each nominee when elected to the position must become a member of the International
Reading Council. Advance consent to serve if elected from each nominee shall
be secured by the committee.
Section 3-Mode of Election:
The voting shall take place at the May meeting of the council. The president
shall give an opportunity to propose nominations from the floor for each
office after the slate from the Nominating Committee has been presented.
The person nominated from the floor must be present and have given her/his
prior consent to be nominated. Voting shall be by voice approval. A plurality
of the votes cast shall constitute an election. In case of a tie, the nominees
tied for most votes shall then be in a run-off, and voting will be by secret
ballot. The results of the election shall then be announced.
Section 4-Reporting: The president shall be responsible for reporting the newly elected officers to IRA headquarters via the state/provincial coordinator, using the official forms provided by the International Reading Association by the date specified on the form.
Section 5-Term of Office: Each elected officer shall assume the duties of the office immediately following election and shall continue to serve for the duration of the term set in Article IV, Section 2.
ARTICLE VIII: Committees
Section 1-Committee Structure: The committees of the Association shall consist
of standing committees as specified hereinafter and special committees. All
committees shall transmit their recommendations to the Board of directors
unless otherwise specified.
Section 2-Standing Committees: There shall be such standing committees as specified in Sections 2-16 of this article.
Section 3-Number of Standing Committees: The number of standing committees may be increased or decreased upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors and approval shown by a majority of votes cast at the assembly.
Section 4-Number of Members of Standing Committees: The number of members of each standing committee shall be determined by the Board, provided that each committee shall have not fewer than 2 members.
Section 5-Model of Appointment and Terms of the Standing Committees: The members of the standing committees shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors and shall serve for the term of the president unless otherwise specified in the charge to the committee.
Section 6-Chairpersons of Standing Committees: The chairperson of each standing committee shall be appointed yearly by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors, except as specified in Article VIII, Section 17.
Section 7-Executive Committee shall be made up of all current officers and will perform the duties of the Board of Directors when the Board of Directors is not in session.
Section 8-Budget/Fundraising Committee will examine the income and expenditures of the council, draft the annual budget, and work jointly with the Projects & Program Committee to plan and implement council fund raising.
Section 9-Bylaws Committee will review the bylaws and make recommendations for revisions, and oversee the bylaws amendment process as outlined in the council’s current bylaws.
Section 10-Programs & Projects Committee will administer literacy awareness and literacy improvement projects in the area with the support of the entire assembly. The committee will work closely with the Budget/Fundraising Committee to ensure that funds will be available for programs and projects.
Section 11-Advocacy Committee will have primary responsibility for working cooperatively with government officials on any issues relating to literacy and monitoring challenges to intellectual freedom.
Section 12-Membership Committee will conduct comprehensive membership campaigns that encompass the local, state, and international levels. The committee will also assist in collecting annual dues and encouraging members to be active participants.
Section 13-Nominating Committee will consist of the officers and three committee chairmen appointed by the president.
Section 14-Publicity Committee (Public Relations) will publicize the activities and programs of the council using a variety of print and nonprint media.
Section 15-Partnering Committee will communicate and coordinate on a regular basis with other groups in the community with similar literacy goals and suggest new literacy activities needed in the community to the Board of Directors.
Section 16-Hospitality Committee will procure the meeting place and provide for nourishment or any other amenities for meetings and special programs. The committee will provide a warm, welcoming environment.
Section 17: Special Committees: Special committees may be authorized by the Board of Directors or members at a council meeting and shall serve for a specified period.
ARTICLE IX-Representation at the Annual Assemblies
Section 1-Representation Annual IRA Assembly: Representation of the council
at the Delegates Assembly of the International Reading Association shall
be in accordance with the bylaws of the International Reading Association
as specified in the current International Reading Association Bylaws, which
reads as follows:
“Each local council in good standing
of 10-50 members who have paid current dues to the International Reading
Association
shall be entitled to
one delegate and an additional delegate for each 50 additional members who
have paid current dues to the Association…
One person may represent only one council in the Assembly. A council may
send an alternate for each delegate; an alternate may vote only when the
delegate is absent.”
Section 2-Representation Annual State/Provincial Assembly: Representation of the council at the annual state/provincial assembly shall be in accordance with that specified by the bylaws of the state/provincial council.
ARTICLE X: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall
govern the proceedings of the council, except in cases governed by the constitution,
bylaws, and special rules adopted by this council.
ARTICLE XI: Dissolution
In case of the dissolution of this council, any assets remaining after paying
or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the council shall
revert to the International Reading Association.
ARTICLE XII : Amendments
Section 1 – Origin: Amendments to the bylaws shall be proposed by (1)
a quorum of the Board of Directors; (2) the Bylaws Committee; or (3) a majority
of the voting members present at a meeting of the council. All proposed amendments
shall be sent to International Reading Association Headquarters for approval
before presenting them to the members for adoption.
Section 2 – Procedures for Amending: Amendments may be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting of the council provided a quorum has been declared. The amendments must have been presented at the previous meeting or circulated to each voting members (electronically or by mail) at least 14 days in advance of the meeting at which the voting on the amendments is to take place.
Section 3 – Incorporation: Amendments adopted as described in Section 2 above shall be incorporated into these bylaws. Copies of all amendments shall be sent immediately to IRA Headquarters and to the state/provincial president and coordinator.
Approved by the International Reading Association, August, 2004
Pickens County Reading Council By-Laws