The Camino Real Council of the International Reading Association

Reading is at the heart of a strong community!

By Laws

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF CAMINO REAL COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION, REVISED JULY 2000

 

                        ARTICLE I - NAME

The Camino Real Council will serve the cities of Albuquerque, Cedar Crest and Placitas in Bernalillo County, the cities of Bernalillo, Corrales and Rio Rancho in Sandoval County, the cities of Belen and Los Lunas in Valencia County and the city of Moriarity in Torrance County.

The council shall be a professional organization for individuals who are genuinely concerned with the improvement of reading programs and teaching procedures, both developmental and remedial, for children and adults, and with providing adequate guidance in all situations in which reading serves as a vital aid to learning.

                         ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

The purposes of the council shall be: 1) to encourage the study of reading problems; 2) to study the teaching of reading; 3)» stimulate and promote research in developmental, creative, corrective, and remedial reading; 4) to study the various factors that influence progress in reading; 5) to publish the results of pertinent and significant investigations and practices; 6) to assist in the development of more adequate teacher-training programs; 7) to act as an intermediate clearing house for information relating to reading; 8) to disseminate knowledge helpful in the solution of problems related to reading; 9) to sponsor conferences and meetings planned to implement tile purposes of the council and the national association; and 10) to promote mutual understanding and cooperative work among educators in the elementary grades, middle school grades, ;high school, special areas, college, and leadership positions.

 

                               ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

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.

Membership in the council shall become effective upon payment of council dues for the fiscal year beginning July 1, and ending June 30.

Dues for annual membership in the council shall be determined on a yearly basis by the Executive Board. Dues are payable to the treasurer for the fiscal year on or after July 1, and ending June 30.

Dues in the International Reading Association may be paid to the council treasurer or directly to the IRA Headquarters.

Any member who has not paid local dues by July 1 becomes inactive. A member whose dues are delinquent should be notified immediately, before his/her name is eliminated.

A council shall be in good standing and entitled to representation at the meeting of the International Reading Association if at least 10 members have paid dues to the International Reading Association for the current year.

 

                                                                                  ARTICLE - IV

The elected officers of the council shall be a president-elect, a president, a past president, a treasurer, a secretary, and a director or membership development. Any member in good standing, who is also a member of the International Reading Association, is eligible to be elected as an officer of the council.

The term of the president-elect shall be one year. He/She shall then automatically succeed to the office of president for one year. At the expiration of his/her year in office the president shall become past president for a period of one year. The term of treasurer shall serve more than one year and the term of secretary shall be one year; however, he/she may serve a second term immediately following terms.

Each officer shall assume the duties of his/her office on June following his/her election at annual meeting in May; and shall continue to serve for the duration of his/her term.

The president shall act as the executive officer of the council. He/She shall preside at all meetings of the council; shall act as chairperson of the Executive Board; and shall exercise general leadership and supervision over the affairs of the council in implementing its purposes.

At the expiration of his/her term of office, the president shall automatically become the past president for a period of one year. The past president shall serve as a member of the Executive Board.

The president-elect shall serve as a member of the Executive Board. He/She shall assume and perform the duties of the president in the event of absence, incapacity, or resignation of the president Should the office of president become vacant, the president-elect shall become president immediately and shall serve the unexpired portion of the president's term in addition to the year for which he/she was elected. If the president and president-elect are incapacitated or resign, the secretary shall serve as acting president until such time as a special or next regular election is held. The president -elect shall be responsible for planning the annual program with the Executive Board.

The treasurer shall: 1) execute the duties essential to the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records; 2) have custody of the funds of the council which shall be deposited in the name of Camino Real Council of the International Reading Association; 3) collect dues and other monies due the council; 4) report to the Executive Board the names of members who need to be reminded that dues are due; 5) sign checks and drafts on behalf of the council for the disbursement of funds, in accordance with the approval of the Executive Board; and 6) obtain and participate in an internal annual audit; and within thirty days of his/her retirement from office, shall turn over to the successor all funds, accounts and books of the treasurer.

The secretary shall; 1) execute the duties essential to the recording of all business and happenings at all general meetings and all meetings of the Executive Board; 2) keep a permanent book of the minutes of all meetings; 3) supervise mailing of newsletters and local council information to members; and 4) cooperate fully with his/her successor by turning over up-to-date records within thirty days of his/her retirement from office.

The past president shall serve as; 1) a member of the Executive Board; 2) the chairperson of the nominating committee; and 3) the publisher of the annual membership directory.

The director of membership development shall be responsible for coordinating the promotional membership activity of the council and for the International Reading Association. This office shall also be primarily responsible for reporting membership to the New Mexico State Council and for providing support and communication to local council members.

                                                  ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board 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 general business meetings and shall report its actions to the next general meeting. Its actions shall have the approval of the members at a general business meeting.

The Executive Board shall consist of the past president, the president, the president-elect, the treasurer, the secretary, and the director of membership development.

The first Executive Board meeting shall be held not later than September, in order that the standing committees may be appointed, and a program calendar established. The Executive Board shall be empowered to hold such meetings, on the call of the president, if deemed necessary. Executive Board meetings shall be open to all interested members.

A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Executive Board in attendance.

 

                         ARTICLE VI – ASSEMBLY

The Assembly shall consist of the Executive Board and all other members of the council.

The Assembly shall be the legislative body of the Camino Real Council and shall have
full power and authority over the affairs of the council within the limits set by these bylaws.
It shall have authority to review decisions made by the Executive Board and accept or reject
them.         

A quorum shall consist of 20 percent of all those eligible to vote in the assembly. The Assembly of the Camino Real Council shall meet five (5) times each year.

 

The Executive Board shall notify all members one (1) week in advance of each of the five meetings as to date, time, and place.

The Assembly of the Camino Real Council shall have the power to amend these bylaws as provided in Article XII.

 

                                                    ARTICLE VTT - FT .F.CTTON

All officers, except the president, shall be elected prior to May 15. After the slate from the

nominating committee has been presented, the president shall give an opportunity to

propose nominations from the floor for each office. If nominations are not given from the floor, then the secretary shall be directed to cast a unanimous vote. If there shall be more than one nominee for any office, voting shall be by ballot and a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for election. The nominating committee shall prepare a slate of nominees annually. Each nominee must be a member of the International Reading Association, or be willing to join upon election The president shall be responsible for reporting the newly elected officers to the state coordinator, using the official forms provided by IRA and sending them to the state coordinator by the date specified on the form.

The term of office of each elected member shall begin on June 1, following the annual meeting.

                         ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES

There shall be such standing committees as specified in Section 2 to 11 of this Article. The Publicity Committee shall publicize all meetings. They shall also send articles to the national committee chairperson for publications and organizations. The Committee on Studies and Research shall seek to disseminate research information to the council. They shall also encourage the members to study reading issues and trends.Text Box: The immediate past president shall be chairperson of the Nominating Committee. The committee shall be composed of the chairperson and two non-Executive Board members appointed by the president and approved by the Executive Board. The committee shall prepare a slate of nominees. All nominees must be members of the International Reading Association. Advance consent from each candidate shall be secured by the committee. The Bylaws Committee shall study the bylaws of this council to determine if they are meeting the current and future needs of the council.

The number of Standing Committees may be increased or decreased upon recommendations of the Executive Board and approved by a majority of the votes cast at the Assembly.

The members of the Standing Committees shall be appointed by the president with the
approval of the Executive Board.

The chairpersons of each Standing Committee shall be appointed yearly by the president with the approval of the Executive Board.

Temporary or special committees may be authorized from time to time by the Executive Board and shall serve for the period specified.

The number of members of each temporary committee may be determined by the Executive Board.

The members of temporary committees and the chairpersons shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Board and/or members at a general meeting.

ARTICLE IX - REPRESENTATION OF THE CAMINQ REAL AT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

Text Box: Representation of Camino Real 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 Article VI, Section 1, which reads in part as follows: "Each local council 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 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" The representation shall be in accordance with that specified by the bylaws of the New Mexico State Council. ARTICLE XI - DISSOLUTION In case of the dissolution of this council, any assets remaining after the payment of debts or provision therefore, will revert to the International Reading Association. ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS 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 the Council Coordinator at IRA Headquarters for approval before presenting them to the members for adoption. Amendments may be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the council at a regular meeting of the council, after presentation at the previous meeting, and/or, provided that the proposed amendment has been circulated to each voting member at least thirty days in advance of the meeting of the council. Amendments adopted as described in Section 2 shall be incorporated into these bylaws. Copies of all approved amendments shall immediately be sent to the Council Coordinator at IRA Headquarters and to the state president and coordinator.