Plew Elementary Parent Leaders Association, Inc

Plew Elementary Parent Leaders Association, Inc

BY-LAWS

PLEW ELEMENTARY PARENT LEADERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

A Non-Profit Corporation

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Plew Elementary Parent Leaders Association, Inc. (“PLA”)

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

PLA is organized and will be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Specifically, the corporation is organized to support the education of children at James E. Plew Elementary School (“Plew”), by fostering relationships between the school, parents and teachers. In furtherance of these purposes, PLA shall have the power and authority to carry on any business or other activity which may be lawfully conducted by a corporation organized under Florida law, whether or not related to the foregoing purposes, and to do all things necessary, proper and consistent with maintaining tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3).

ARTICLE III: OBJECTIVES

Section 1.The objectives of this organization are:

  1. To promote the welfare of the children and youth in the school, the home and the community.
  2. To provide assistance and support for the adequate care and protection of children and youth.
  3. To bring a closer relationship between home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate in the education of the children and youth of this community.
  4. To develop between educators and the public such united efforts as will secure for every child the greatest advantages in physical and mental development.
  5. To provide open forums for free exchange between parents and teachers of suggestions and issues of mutual concern and design to support the objectives enumerated above.
  6. To provide financial support by organized fund raising and to administer the dispersion of the funds.

Section 2.These objectives shall be accomplished:

  1. Through General membership meetings, Board of Director meetings, fund raising projects and educational programs directed toward parents, teachers, students, and the public; and
  2. By the basic policies set forth in Article IV.

ARTICLE IV: BASIC POLICIES

The following are the basic policies of this organization:

  1. The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian and nonpartisan.
  2. The name of this organization or the names of any member in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with any partisan interests.
  3. The organization shall not directly or indirectly, participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
  4. The organization shall cooperate with the school and school system to support the improvements of education in ways that will not interfere with administration of the school and shall not seek to control their policies.
  5. The organization may cooperate with other agencies concerned with child welfare. A person representing this organization in such matters will make no commitments that shall bind this organization without the approval of the Board of Directors.
  6. In the event of the dissolution of the organization its assets shall be distributed for one or more of the exempt purposes specified inSection 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as from time to time amended.
  7. The general membership will be provided with an Annual Budget proposal at the first fall General Membership meeting.
  8. The organization shall file an annual 990 tax return. This may be done through a Certified Public Accountant. The tax return must be filed no later thanNovember15 each year.
  9. Failure of a member to adhere to the above Basic Policies shall result in a loss of membership upon a majority vote at a General Membership meeting.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:Parents and guardians of Plew students, Plew Faculty and Staff, who subscribe to the objectives and basic policies of this organization, may become a member, subject only to compliance with provisions of the by-laws. Membership in this organization shall be available without discrimination.

Section 2:Only members of PLA shall be eligible to participate in its business meetings or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.

Section 3:All parents and guardians of Plew Elementary students and Plew Faculty and Staff members shall be eligible to participate in all PLA activities.

Section 4:All families, faculty and staff who are members of PLA shall be eligible to vote on all business that shall come before the General Membership meeting. Each family/household shall be entitled to one vote, regardless of how many children are registered in the school. If a member of the Plew Faculty or staff is a member of the PLA, but does not have a child attending Plew Elementary, they shall be entitled to one vote.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1:Regarding the officers in this organization:

  1. The officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer or Co-Treasurers, and they shall make up the Board of Directors of the corporation.
  2. Officers shall be elected annually for the upcoming year at the third General Membership meeting.
  3. Officers shall assume their official duties at the last Executive Board meeting of the school year.
  4. A person shall be eligible to serve on the PLA Board of Directors as long as he/she is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled at Plew Elementary.

Section 2:Regarding the nomination of such officers:

  1. The Executive Board and/or Faculty Advisor shall take names of interested candidates for Executive Office annually, September through February. The consent of each candidate nominated must be obtained before his or her name may be placed into nomination by the committee. The members may submit nominations at large with the consent of the nominee.
  2. At the third or finalGeneral Membership meeting, the Executive Board shall report to the general membership the names of the individuals they have placed into nomination. At this time additional nominations may be made from the floor for the offices to be filled. The consent of each candidate nominated from the floor must be obtained prior to his or her name being placed into nomination. The officers for the upcoming year will be elected by a vote of the general membership, either by secret ballot or by a show of hands.
  3. The newly elected Officers will be installed at the last Executive Board meeting of the year.

Section 3:A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person selected by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board, notice of such having been given. In case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume the duties.

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1:PRESIDENT

The President shall be the presiding officer of the organization. He/she, when present, presides at all meetings of the Directors and General Membership meetings. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President but not limited to:

  1. Preparing the agenda of each meeting in cooperation with the principal.
  2. Maintaining order and ensuring that the business of the organization is conducted properly and efficiently.
  3. Appointing, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, Standing Committee Chairpersons and other appointments necessary for conducting the business of the organization.
  4. Serve as a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

Section 2:VICE-PRESIDENT

The Vice-President shall in the absence of the President, perform all duties of the President and act as liaison between the President, Committee Chairpersons and Teachers, including but not limited to:

  1. Assuming, from time to time, the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence, or assuming the position of the President if the office is vacated.
  2. Assuming responsibility for the administrative details delegated to him/her by the President.
  3. Representing the President upon request.
  4. Act as liaison between Faculty Advisor and Executive Board.

Section 3:SECRETARY

The Secretary is responsible for the keeping ofaccurate records of the proceedings of the organization, including but not limited to:

  1. Recording all business transacted at each meeting of the Executive Board and the organization, and presenting the minutes for approval at the next meeting.
  2. Conducting the correspondence of the organization.
  3. Maintaining the corporate records.
  4. Preparing and filing annual report for the Department of State in accordance with Fla. Stat. 617.1622.

Section 4:TREASURER(S)

The Treasurer(s) is (are) the authorized custodian(s) of the funds of the organization. The Treasurer(s) shall keep accurate records of receipts and expenditures and shall pay out funds as authorized by the Executive Board and/or the organization. Other duties include, but are not limited to:

  1. Presenting a statement of account at every meeting of the organization and at other times when requested by the Executive Board.
  2. Make a full report of the Budget at thePLA Executive Board meeting.
  3. Preparing and presenting the ProposedBudget at the fall General Membership meeting for approval.
  4. Prepare and post on school website, before the end of the school year, a financial report of actual receipts and expenditures of the PLA for the previous PLA fiscal year.

Section 5:ALL OFFICERS

  1. Shall perform duties prescribed in the parliamentary authority in addition to those outlined in these By-Laws, and those assigned from time to time.
  2. Shall deliver to their successors all official material at the time or within one month after the successors begin their official term.

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1:Executive Board shall consist of officers of the organization as denoted in Article VI of these By-Laws, the Principal, and a Faculty Representative. The Principal and Faculty Representative will serve on the Executive Board in an Advisory position and will be nonvoting members.

Section 2:The duties of the Executive Board shall be:

  1. To transact necessary business in the intervals between General Membership meetings of the organization and such other business as may be referred to it.
  2. To create committees.
  3. To approve the plans of work of the committees.
  4. To present a report at the General Membership meetings of the business transacted by the Executive Board since the last General Membership meeting.
  5. To retain the services of an independent outside accounting/book keeping service to audit the Treasurer(s)’s accounts annually and file an annual 990 tax return, the cost of which will be paid from PLA funds.

Section 3:The Executive Board shall meet monthly during the schoolyear. The Executive Board will fix the time and place for the meeting with notice to the General Membership. A majority of the Board of Directors (officers designated in Article VI) shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Board meetings shall be open to members. Interested individuals shall inform the Executive Board of their desire to be placed on the agenda.

Section 4:Checks shall be signed by two Executive Board members.

Section 5:All expenditures in excess of $250.00 must be additionally approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors for a specified purchase amount.

ARTICLE IX: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1:There will be no less than three General Membership meetings of the organization within a school year with not less than seven days advance notice being given to the membership.

Section 2:The Executive Board may call special General Membership meetings, with not less than seven days advance notice being given to the membership.

Section 3:Business will be conducted at the General Membership meeting regardless of the number of members present. All business that is brought to a vote will be decided by a majority of the voting members present.

ARTICLE X: COMMITTEES

Section 1:Standing committees shall consist of Newsletter and all Fundraising Chairs.

Section 2:A chairperson appointed by the Executive Board will chair standing committees. The purpose of the chairpersonis to conduct the fund-raising and operational activities of the organization in conformance with the objectives as stated in these By-Laws.

Section 3:The Executive Board shall create special committees as deemed necessary to promote the objectives and carry on the work of the organization. The Executive Board shall select the Chairperson of each committee.

Section 4:The Chairperson of each committee shall present a plan of work to the Executive Board for approval. No committee work or expenditure of PLA funds shall be undertaken without approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XI: FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the organization shall begin with on July 1, and shall end June 30, encompassing the school year.

ARTICLE XII: PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are not in conflict with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1:

  1. These By-Laws may be amended at any General Membership meeting of the organization by a majority of the voting members present; provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given thirty days prior to said meeting. A copy of the proposed amendment shall be placed in the school office at least two weeks prior to the meeting so the general membership can review the proposed amendments before said meeting.
  2. A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of By-Laws as a substitute for the existing By-Laws only by a quorum vote at a General Membership meeting of the organization, or by majority vote of the Board of Directors. The requirements for adoption of a revised set of By-Laws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.

These PLA By-Laws are hereby approved and accepted by the Executive Board of Directors, onNovember 9, 2011:

Date

Joan Martin

President

Date

Lori Plourd

Vice-President

Date

Kim Worsham

Secretary

Date

Debbie Cassell

Co-Treasurer

Date

Jennifer Hestilow

Co-Treasurer

Date

Carolyn McAllister

Principal

Date

Carol Olmstead

Faculty Advisor

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