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Connecticut Council for Social Studies

 
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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS   

Article One: Name

 The name of this corporation is “The Connecticut Council for the Social Studies, Inc.” hereafter referred to as CCSS. CCSS is incorporated under the laws of the state of Connecticut and is responsible in acts and activities to the Internal Revenue Code.

Article Two: Purpose

CCSS is organized and maintained to:

  1. Advocate and advance the study and teaching of the social studies in the schools, colleges and other educational institutions of the state of Connecticut.
  2. Promote the professional interests of teachers and others engaged in social studies education in the state of Connecticut.
  3. Promote research in the social studies.
  4. Encourage and support meaningful development and implementation of social studies curriculum and instructional methods throughout the state.
  5. Provide a program of professional activities throughout the state for social studies educators, students, and other interested persons.
  6. Provide a vehicle for professional interaction, as well as exchanges among social studies educators and between the council and other professional organizations.

Article Three: Membership

Section 1:
            Membership shall be open to all persons who are interested in the study, teaching, or the promotion of the social studies in the state of Connecticut.

Section 2:
            Active members shall be persons who have paid current dues to this council. They are eligible for all privileges of such membership including the right to vote at the annual meeting, to attend board meetings, and to hold office in the organization.

Article Four: Officers and Board of Directors

Section 1:
            The major policy making body of the CCSS will be the board of directors.

Section 2:
            The composition of the board of directors will be as follows:

  1. The officers of the council: president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and membership chair.
  2. At least eight at-large members.
  3. The state consultant to the social studies.
  4. The immediate past president
  5. Editor(s) of the CCSS publications.
  6. Upcoming Connecticut North East Regional Conference (NERC) chair(s)
  7. The representative on the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) board of directors if one is elected in Connecticut
  8. Honorary members

Section 3:
            The method of election and terms of office of the members of the board of directors will be as follows:

  1. The offices of the council shall be elected at the annual spring meeting.
  2. One half of the at-large members shall be elected for a two year term at the annual meeting.
  3. The treasurer shall serve a minimum of two years. All other officers shall serve for one year.

Section 4:
            All members and officers of the board of directors must be members of the CCSS.

Section 5:
            The board of directors shall meet at least eight times during the academic year or at the call of the president.

Section 6:
            For the purpose of conducting business at a regularly scheduled meeting, a quorum shall consist of 1/3 of the voting members of the board of directors.

Section 7:
            The responsibilities of the board of directors will include:

  1. The establishment of the general policy of the CCSS.
  2. The development and implementation of programs of general interest to the social studies teachers.
  3. The nomination of officers and at-large members for the consideration of the general membership.
  4. The appointmentof the editor(s) of the CCSS publications(s).
  5. The establishment of committees as needed to support the on-going activities of the council.
  6. The authorization of collection and disbursement of monies
  7. The determination of the annual dues.

   h.   Theappointment ofCTNERC chair(s).

Section 8:
            The board of directors may remove an officer or member of the board for not fulfilling his/her duties or functions as designated under this constitution. Failure to attend four consecutive meetings may be cause for a removal vote. Any action taken against an officer or member of the board shall require a 2/3 vote of the board members present at a monthly meeting where a quorum exists.

Section 9:
            All vacancies, unless otherwise specified, shall be filled by term appointment made by the board of directors.

Section 10:
Honorary membership may be conferred by a majority vote of the board of directors. Honorary members shall enjoy all the privileges of such membership, except the right to vote and hold office in the organization.

Article Five: The Executive Committee

 Section 1:
            The membership of the executive committee will be composed of the officers of the board of directors: the president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, membership chair and the immediate past president.

Section 2:
            The executive committee will meet at the call of the president.

Section 3:
            The executive committee has the power to act on behalf of the board of directors when action is needed between board meetings.

Section 4:
            All executive committee action is to be reported to the board of directors. All executive committee decisions affecting council policy must be approvedby a majority vote of the board of directors.

Article Six: Duties of the Officers and Members of the Board of Directors

 Section 1:
            Members of the board of directors shall:

  1. Chair or serve on council committees as designated by the president or the board of directors.
  2. Regularly attend board of directors meetings.
  3. Assume specific duties and/or responsibilities as duly assigned by the board of directors.

Section 2:
            The president shall:

  1. Call all scheduled and special meetings of the board of directors, the executive committee, and the general membership of the council.
  2. Chair all meetings of the board of directors, executive committee, and council.
  3. Recommend a calendar for the council to the board of directors by the first scheduled meeting in September of each year.
  4. Appoint all committee chairpersons and committee members, with the approval of the board of directors, except those specifically designated in this constitution.
  5. Supervise activities and delegate responsibilities necessary to carry out the purpose of the council.
  6. Submit a president’s report on the status of the council to the general membership at the annual spring meeting.
  7. Appoint an auditing committeetoreview all CCSS financial records and minutes from the past year.

Section 3:
            The President-Elect shall:

  1. Be expected to assume the office of the presidency.
  2. Assume the presidency of the council in the event of the resignation or incapacitation of the president.
  3. Chair all meetings of the board of directors, executive committee and council

       in the absence of the president.

  1. Carry out any and all duties that are duly assigned by the president and/or board of directors.
  2. Serve as a member of the NERC steering committee.

Section 4:
            The Vice-President shall:

  1. Chair the upcomingfall conference of the council.
  2. Be second in line to assume the office of the presidency in the event of a change in officers of the council.
  3. Carry out duties that are assigned by the president of the board of directors.

Section 5:
            The Secretary shall:

  1. Record and distribute minutes of meetings of the board of directors, executive committee, and general membership.
  2. Maintain files and records exclusive of the financial and membership records.
  3. Carry out any and all duties that are duly assigned by the president and/or the board of directors.

Section 6:
            The Treasurer shall:

  1. Collect and deposit all monies necessary to the council, including all dues payments.
  2. Disburse all authorized monies necessary to the functioning of the council.
  3. Maintain all financial files and/or records of the council.
  4. File treasurer’s reports at each regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors.
  5. Carry out any and all duties that are duly assigned by the president and/or board of directors.
  6. Be bonded.
  7. Submit a report to the board of directors for review and approval at the board meeting prior to the annual meeting and make the report available for the record at the annual meeting.

Section 7:
            The Membership Chair shall:

  1. Keep membership records.
  2. Bill for annual dues.
  3. Maintain records as required by NCSS.
  4. Issue CEUs and maintain CEU records as required by the state of Connecticut.

Section 8:
            The immediate past president shall chair the nominating committee.

Article Seven: Elections

 Section 1:
            The president shall appoint a nominating committee on or before 90 days prior to the annual spring meeting. This committee shall solicit nomination from the membership. The chair of this committee shall be the immediate past president.

Section 2:
            The nominating committee shall be prepared to file its report and offer its recommendations for the offices of the board of directors at the monthly meeting prior to the annual spring meeting.

Section 3:
            Elections will take place at the annual spring meeting, prior to June 1st. A slate of candidates for office must be made available to the general membership of the council at least thirty days prior to the date of the election.

Section 4:
            Members of the CCSS may have their name placed in nomination at the annual spring meeting.

Section 5:
            Only members shall vote and/or hold office in the council.

Section 6:
            The nominees receiving a majority of votes cast within each office shall be elected.

Section 7:
            All officers and directors shall assume office on July 1st of the year of their election.

 

Article Eight: Financial Support Policy

 

Section 1:  CCSS will subsidize the following CCSS officers and members of the board of directors for a portion of their expenses as participants at the NCSS national conference:
            a.   The CCSS president
            b.   Delegates to the House of Delegates elected by the CCSS board of
                  directors
            c.   NCSS officers and members of the NCSS board of directors
            d.   CCSS members elected to NCSS committees
            e.   CCSS members serving as chairpersons of elected NCSS committees
            f.    CCSS members appointed to NCSS committees

Section 2: Financial support will be as follows:

  1. The CCSS president will be compensated for 100% of his/her expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $1000.
  2. Delegates to the House of Delegates elected by the CCSS board of directors will be compensated for expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $500.
  3. CCSS members serving as NCSS officers and members of the NCSS board of directors will be compensated for expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $500.
  4. CCSS members who have been elected to NCSS committees will be compensated for expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $500.
  5. CCSS members who serve as chairpersons of elected NCSS committees will be compensated for expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $600.
  6. CCSS members who have been appointed as members or chairpersons of NCSS committees will be compensated for expenses for travel, hotel registration, and conference registration to a limit of $200.

Article Nine: Revisions

Section 1:
            Revisions may be initiated by the board of directors or any member of the CCSS who submits a petition for revision signed by 25 members of the CCSS.

Section 2:
            The constitution may be revised in two ways, by ballot or by vote at the annual spring meeting. Ballots and revisions are to be posted to members of the CCSS no less than thirty days prior to the voting deadline. Changes to the constitution will be determined by a simple majority vote. The way of voting will be decided by the board of directors.

Adopted: 1/10/88
Revised: 2000
Revised: 4/13/05