Section 1. The name of this Association shall be the Arkansas Association of Middle Level Administrators. Within the body of this Constitution, the Association shall be referred to as AAMLA.
Article II - Duration
Section 1. The period of its duration is perpetual until or unless dissolved by the AAMLA Board of Directors.
Article III - Purposes
Section 1. The purposes of this Association shall be:
1. to maintain and elevate the professional and ethical standards of middle level administrators in Arkansas;
2. to improve the educational standards related to middle schools of Arkansas;
3. to promote the welfare and the professional growth of the members of the Association;
4. to establish and maintain a liaison with the Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP) and the Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals and other professional organizations with like purposes;
5. to develop a favorable relationship with the public and the elected officials of the state of Arkansas;
6. to provide a means for the AAMLA to have a collective influence on the establishment and execution of curricular and instructional policies and practices within Arkansas; and
7. to keep the membership informed of state and national events and activities that would positively or adversely affect middle level education in Arkansas.
Article IV - Disillusionment / Disposition of Assets
Section 1. Whenever, for any reason, the AAMLA is dissolved or is no longer able to accomplish and carry out the specific purposes for which the AAMLA was formed, the Board of Directors shall terminate the affairs of the AAMLA, pay its debts, and after this has been done, any and all of the remaining assets shall be assigned and conveyed, without consideration, to the AAEA for the use and benefit of the children of the state, and as such will be a furtherance of the educational purpose to which the AAMLA is dedicated.
Article V - Membership
Section 1. Membership in AAMLA shall be open to any member of AAEA interested in or engaged in any phase of school administration, directly or indirectly related to middle level education.
Section 2. Only people holding membership will be eligible to vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors.
Article VI - Board of Directors of the Association
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall consist of the president, vice-president/president-elect, secretary/treasurer, and the immediate past president. The officers shall be elected by ballot election conducted during each spring semester and shall hold office for a period of one year following their election.
Section 2. The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of the four officers (president, vice-president/ president-elect, secretary/treasurer, and immediate past president) and eight board members elected at-large. The term of president shall be for one year. The president shall succeed to the office of past-president. The term of the vice-president/president-elect shall be for one year. The vice-president/president-elect shall succeed to the office of president. The term of secretary-treasurer shall be for one year. The secretary-treasurer shall succeed to the office of vice-president/president-elect. The term of the past-president shall be for one year. The secretary/treasurer shall be the sole elected officer annually and this position will then rotate annually to the positions of vice-president/president-elect, president, and past-president, respectively, thus serving a four year term as an officer on the board.
Section 3. The eight board members will be represented by the following zones: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Central, and three members at-large. The Central zone and at-large zone members will be elected on odd years and the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast zones will be elected on even years. For the year of 2000-2001, the Central and at-large zones will serve an initial one-year term and Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast zones will serve the full two year term. Beginning in year 2001-2002, all terms will rotate according to the constitution. The zone board members shall be elected by ballot election conducted during each spring semester and shall hold office for a period of two years following their election.
Section 4. The Board of Directors shall govern the affairs of the AAMLA.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at least four times each year to conduct the business of the Association. The president or a majority of the board shall determine the time and place of the meetings, and due notice of all meetings shall be given to all members of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of its members.
Section 7. In the event that a vacancy occurs on the Board the Board of Directors shall appoint a member to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 8. Members of the Board may have their office declared vacant by the Board of Directors if they are no longer an active member of the Association. They may also be removed for malfeasance, misfeasance, or non-feasance by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. The AAMLA president shall serve on the AAEA Board of Directors.
Section 10. At intervals to be determined by the AAEA Board of Directors, AAMLA shall elect one member to be placed on the AAEA election ballot for the position of AAEA secretary/ treasurer. The nominee shall be selected in a manner determined by the AAMLA Board of Directors. Any such nominee elected to an AAEA office may serve as a non-voting member of the AAMLA Board of Directors.
Article VII - Meetings of the Association
Section 1. There shall be at least one state meeting of AAMLA each year.
Section 2. Special state or regional meetings of AAMLA may be called by the president or a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The place and time for the state meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Meetings will be designed to complement and not compete with AAMLA's meetings.
Article VIII - Committees of the Association
Section 1. There shall be three committees of the Association whose membership will consist of individuals nominated by the AAMLA president and approved by the Board of Directors. These committees shall be:
Section 2. The duties and responsibilities of each committee shall be listed in the Bylaws.
Article IX - Expenditure of Funds
Section 1. The Board of Directors of AAMLA shall have the authority to adopt and revise an annual operating budget and to expend any or all funds accrued to AAMLA.
Article X - Staff
Section 1. The Board of Directors of AAMLA shall have the authority to employ staff, to set salaries, and to discharge staff.
Article XI - Authority, Duties, and Responsibilities
Section 1. Except for the authority, duties, and responsibilities listed in this Constitution, all other authority, duties, and responsibilities of the organization and the officers thereof shall be set forth in the Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to act on all matters that are not prohibited by this Constitution.
Article XII - Incorporation
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to incorporate this Association as a nonprofit organization under the statutes of the state of Arkansas.
Article XIII - Ratification
Section 1. The constitution shall become effective when it has been ratified by a majority vote of the members present at the first annual state meeting of AAMLA.
Article XIV - Rules of Order
Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall guide in all official meetings of the Association.
Article XV - Amendments
Section 1. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors of AAMLA at least sixty (60) days prior to the state association meeting in which the vote is to be taken.
Section 2. The Board of Directors may submit the proposed amendment to the membership at an associational meeting. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at any annual meeting or special meeting of the Association, except that the amendment shall be submitted to the individual membership in writing at least thirty (30) days before being presented.
Bylaws
Article 1 - Board of Directors' Duties and Responsibilities
Section 1. The Board of Directors of AAMLA shall have the authority to:
1. Make rules and assign responsibilities to all standing and special committees.
2. Develop ways and means of cooperation between professional associations whose aims are not in conflict with the purposes of this Association.
3. Secure benefits such as group insurance, liability insurance, and membership privileges with individuals and corporations for the membership of AAMLA.
4. Make an annual report on the activities of the Association. This report will cover a fiscal year July 1 through June 30.
5. Collect membership dues.
6. Expend funds of the Association.
7. Make and revise the annual budgets.
8. Employ and discharge staff.
9. Set staff salaries.
10. Schedule meetings of the Association.
11. Carry out and enforce the rules governing membership in the Association.
12. Make all necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of the Association.
13. Authorize an associational newsletter or magazine in order to keep all members informed.
14. Provide services such as publications, conferences, research, individual counseling, and other services that are not in conflict with the purposes of this Association.
Article II - Officers' Duties and Responsibilities
Section 1. The President shall:
1. Preside or arrange for presiding officers at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at any state meetings of the AAMLA.
2. Appoint all committees and the chairperson of each committee with consent of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in the by-laws. Invite committee chairpersons to Board meetings as appropriate.
3. Serve on the AAEA Board of Directors.
4. Serve as communications liaison in all activities and publications of AAEA.
5. Perform all other duties normally assigned to this office.
6. Represent AAMLA at a national middle leve conference if they choose with normal expenses paid by AAMLA.
Section 2. The Vice-President/President-Elect shall:
1. Act as presiding officer of the Board of Directors in the absence of the president.
2. Serve as a non-voting member of all standing committees.
3. Keep the Board of Directors informed of activities of the standing committees.
4. Serve as a liaison to AAEA in program / conference planning.
5. Complete the term as president of the Board of Directors in the event that the office of president of the Board of Directors becomes vacant.
6. Serve as program chair for the professional development committee.
Section 3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
1. Keep a complete and accurate record of this proceedings of all meetings of the Board of Directors.
2. Provide a copy of minutes to all members of the Board of Directors.
3. Keep an accurate list of all members of the Association.
4. Provide a financial report at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Immediate Past-President shall:
1. Continue as a member of the Board of Directors for one year.
2. Serve as chair of Nominating Committee.
3. Be responsible for the review of Constitution and Bylaws.
4. Keep notebooks for the board retreat and for new board members.
Article III - Standing Committees' Duties and Responsibilities
Section 1. The Legislative and Resolutions Committee shall:
1. Develop a legislative program that would be in the best interest of this Association.
2. Review all legislation, both state and federal, and recommend a course of action to the Association.
3. Recommend resolutions to the Board of Directors that would support, maintain, and carry out the purposes of the Association.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Membership Committee shall:
1. Keep an accurate list of all members of the Association.
2. Conduct an annual membership drive.
3. Recommend persons for honorary membership.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall.
1. Consist of the Immediate Past President (Chair) and three additional AAMLA members selected and approved by the Board.
2. Propose one or more nominees for each vacant position as instructed by the Board of Directors.
3. Propose this slate of nominees to the Board of Directors prior to the annual AAMLA election.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Article IV - Special Committees' Duties and Responsibilities
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint and assign the duties and responsibilities of special committees.
Section 2. A special committee shall cease to exist when it has completed its work or when it has reached the date that might have been set for the completion of its work or when the Board of Directors has determined that a need for the committee no longer exists.
Article V - Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the individual Membership present at the annual business meeting, fall conference, or a special meeting. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors sixty (60) days prior to the state Association meeting in which the vote is to be taken. Members of the Association shall receive any proposed amendment at least thirty (30) days prior to the date that it is presented for a vote.
Article VI - Membership Dues
Section 1. Membership Dues for AAEA and AAMLA. The annual membership fee will be established by the membership of AAEA as described by the AAEA Constitution.The Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint and assign the duties and responsibilities of special committees.
