Section 1. the Objects of the Branson PTO Are

BYLAWS FOR THE BRANSON PTO 2012/2013- School Year

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization is the Branson Parents and Teachers Organization abbreviated as PTO.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES

Section 1. The Objects of the Branson PTO are:

a. To promote the welfare of children by increasing the education opportunity for Branson Students

b. To raise the standards of home life

c. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth

d. To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth

e. To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education

Section 2. The Objects of the Branson PTO are promoted through an educational program directed toward parents, teachers, and the general public; are developed through conferences, committees, projects, and programs; and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in Article III.

Section 3. The organization is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code (hereinafter "Internal Revenue Code").

ARTICLE III: BASIC POLICIES

The following are basic policies of the Branson PTO:

a. The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.

b. The organization or members in their official capacities shall not endorse a commercial entity or engage in activities not related to promoting the Objects of the organization.

c. The organization or members in their official capacities shall not, directly or indirectly, participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its

activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

d. The organization shall work with the schools to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-maki ng process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities.

e. The PTO or any of its divisions may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but the PTO/representatives shall make no commitments that bind the PTO.

f. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, trustees, officers, or other private individuals except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.

g. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section170c(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

h. Upon the dissolution of the organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or organizations that have established their tax-exempt status under Section 5Olc (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

i. All budget items must be assigned to a committee, for expenditure, and must be spent only by that Committee

Chairperson's approval

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION

Section1. The articles of organization of this PTO include (a) the bylaws of such organization and (b) the certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation of such organization (in cases in which the organization is a corporation) or the articles of association by whatever name (in cases in which the organization exists as an unincorporated association).

Section 2. This PTO shall adopt such bylaws for the government of the organization.

Section 3. Bylaws of this PTO shall include an article on amendments.

Section 4. Bylaws of this PTO shall include a provision establishing a quorum.

Section 5. Each officer or board member of this PTO shall be a member of this PTO.

Section 6. Voting by absentee ballot and proxy voting is prohibited

Section 7. A PTO member shall not serve as a voting member of this PTO's board while serving as a paid employee of or under contract to this PTO.

Section 8. Only members of this PTO who have paid dues for the current membership year may participate in the business of this local PTO.

Section 9. This PTO shall collect dues from its members

Section 10. The general membership shall elect the members of the nominating committee for officers of this PTO.

Section 11. This PTO shall keep such permanent books of account and records as shall be sufficient to establish the items of gross income, receipts, and disbursements of the organization, including, specifically, the number of its members, the dues collected from its members. Such books of account and records shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by officers and members of the PTO.

Section 12. The PTO shall elect officers before March 31. No person shall hold any elective or appointive position in any

PTO who is not a member in good standing of such PTO.

Section 13. The PTO may dissolve in the following manner.

a. The executive committee shall adopt a resolution recommending that the PTO be dissolved and directing that the questions of such dissolution be submitted to a vote at a special meeting of members having voting rights. Written or printed notice stating that the purpose of such meeting is to consider the advisability of dissolving the PTO shall be given each member entitled to vote at such meeting at least thirty days prior to the date of such meeting.

b. Only those persons who were members of the PTO on the date the adoption of the resolution and who continue to be members in good standing on the date of the special meeting shall be entitled to vote on the question of dissolution.

c. Approval of dissolution of the PTO shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote at the special meeting, a quorum being present.

ARTICLE V:MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Every individual who is a member of this PTO is entitled to all the benefits of such membership.

Section 2. Membership in this PTO shall be made available by this PTO, without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin, under such rules and regulations, as may be prescribed in the bylaws of this PTO, to any individual who subscribes to the Objects and basic policies of this PTO.

Section 3. This PTO shall conduct an annual enrollment of members but may admit individuals to membership at any time.

a. The membership year shall be July 1 through June 30.

Section 4. Each member of this PTO shall pay annual dues of Five dollars ($5.00) per annum to said organization.

ARTICLEVI:OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this PTO shall be a president, three (3) vice presidents, secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected by ballot in the month of April.

Section 3. The vote shall be conducted by ballot when there is but one candidate for an office, the ballot for that office may be dispensed with and election held by voice vote. A majority shall be required for election.

Section 4. The following provisions shall govern the qualifications and eligibility of individuals to be officers of the Branson

PTO: '·

a. Each officer shall be a member of this PTO.

b. No officer may be eligible to serve more than three consecutive terms in the same office.

c. A person who bas served in an office for more than one half of a full term shall be deemed to have served a full

term in such office.

d. There shall be a minimum of one officer representing each campus (Buchanan, Cedar Ridge, and Junior High).

Section 5. Officers shall assume their official duties following the end of the membership year in which they are elected and shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.

Section 6. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the un-expired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the executive board, notice of such election having been given. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the vice president shall serve notice of the election.

Section 7. There shall be a nominating committee composed of an uneven number, no less that three members who shall be elected by this PTO at a regular general membership meeting at least one month prior to the election of officers, as outlined in Article VI, Section 2.

a. The committee shall elect its chairperson.

b. The nominating committee shall nominate one eligible person for each office to be filled and report its nominees at the regular general membership meeting in April, at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor.

c. Only those individuals who are current members of this PTO and who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for, or elected to, such office.

d. In order to vote in the annual election of officers, an individual shall have been a member of this association for

at least thirty (30) days.

ARTICLE VII:DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall:

a. Preside at all meetings of this PTO and be considered the chair of the Executive Board/Committee;

b. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee;

..c. Coordinate the work of the officers and committees of this PTO in order that the Objects may be promoted;

d. Perform such other duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, directed by the executive committee or association.

e. Be in charge of bylaws committee and oversee nominations committee.

Section 2. The first vice president shall:

a. act as aide to the president

b. perform the duties of the president in the president's absence or inability to serve, if more than one vice president they will preside in order of first vice president, second vice president, etc

c. Perform such other duties as may be proved for, by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president, or the executive board or committee.

d. Be in charge of the fundraising committee and oversee the Box Tops For Education & Campbell’s soup labels committee

Section 3. The second vice president shall:

a. act as aide to the president

b. perform the duties of the president in the president’s absence or inability to serve, if more than one vice president they will preside in order of first vice president, second vice president, etc

c. Perform such other duties as may be proved for, by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president, or the executive board or committee.

d. Be in charge of the bookfair committee and oversee the hospitality committee.

Section 4. The third vice president shall:

a. act as aide to the president

c. Perform such other duties as may be proved for, by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president, or the executive board or committee.

d. Be in charge of yearbook committee and oversee the volunteer committee.

Section 5. The secretary shall:

a Record the minutes of all meetings of the Branson PTO;

b. Be prepared to read the records of any previous meetings;

c. File all records;'·

d. Have a current copy of the bylaws and a current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised.

e. Maintain a membership list

f. Forward names and addresses of newly elected/appointed officers to the state office no later than seven days following an election or appointment;

g. Perform such other duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president or the executive board or committee.

h. Be in charge of the membership committee and oversee the communication committee.

Section 4. The treasurer shall:

a Have custody of the funds of this PTO

b. Maintain a full account of the funds of this PTO;

c. Make disbursements as authorized by the president, executive board, or this PTO in accordance with the budget adopted by this PTO, and in accord with Item "1." of Article VII Section 4.

d. Have checks or vouchers signed by two people: the treasurer and one other officer who is approved as a bank signatory by the Branson PTO Executive Board;

e. Cause to be kept a full and accurate account of the receipts and disbursements in the books belonging to the Branson PTO;

f. Provide a written financial statement to the members at each meeting;

g. Present an annual report of the financial condition of the organization;

h. Submit the books annually for an audit by an auditing committee selected by the executive board or committee;

i. Be responsible for preparing or having prepared IRS forms at the proper time;

j. Perform such other duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president, the executive committee or association ·

k. Maintain a voucher record approving all expenditures. An officer or committee chairperson responsible for the expenditure must sign vouchers before a check can be written.

l. Insure that proper cash handling procedures are followed.

m. Be in charge of the spiritwear and oversee clothing bank.

Section 5. Upon the expiration of the term of office or in case of resignation, each officer shall turn over to the president, without delay, all records, books, and other materials pertaining to the office, and shall return to the treasurer, without delay, all receipts and funds pertaining to the office.

Section 6. All officers, including committee chairpersons, must undergo training respective to their office, yearly.

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The executive board shall manage the affairs of the Branson PTO in the intervals between PTO general membership meetings.

Section 2. Each board member shall be a member of this PTO.

Section 3. The members of the board shall be:

a. Elected officers

b. List as applicable to the PTO, i.e.standing committee chairs, special committee chairs, non-voting members

(one school faculty and one student representatives).

c. The president may appoint a parliamentarian, subject to approval of the executive committee of this

PTO.

Section 4. Duties of the board shall be to:

a Carry out such business as may be referred to it by the membership of the association;

b. Create special committees;

c. Present a report at the regular general membership meetings of this PTO;

d. Select an auditor or an auditing committee to audit the treasurer's accounts yearly;

e. Prepare and submit an annual budget to· this PTO's general membership for adoption;

f. Approve payment of routine bills within the limits of the approved budget;

g. Fill vacancies in any elected office, with exception of that of the President, subject to the approval at the next meeting of the Branson PTO.

Section 5. If any member of the executive board shall at any time cease to meet the qualifications or fulfill the duties of the position, that person may be removed from the board by resolution adopted by the executive board.

Section 6. Regular meetings of the board shall be held with the date and time to be fixed by the board at its first meeting of the year. It shall meet as needed.

Section 7. Special meetings of the board may be called by the president or when requested by four board members upon three days' written notice to each member of the board.

Section 8. At all meetings of the board, seven (7) members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 9. A PTO member shall not serve as a voting member of this PTO's board while serving as a paid employee of or under contract to this PTO.

Section 10. Upon the expiration of the term of office or when individuals cease to hold the position that entitles them to be a member of the board, they shall automatically cease to be a member of the board and shall be relieved of all duties and responsibilities incident to such membership. All record, books and other materials pertaining to the position shall be turned over to the president and all funds pertaining to the position shall be returned to the treasurer within fourteen days.

ARTICLE IX: COMMITIEES

Section 1. Only members of this PTO shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointive positions.

Section 2. The standing committees of this PTO shall be:

Bylaws – chaired by the President
Fundraising – chaired by First Vice President
Bookfair – chaired by Second Vice President
Yearbook – chaired by Third Vice President
Membership – chaired by Secretary
Spiritwear – chaired by Treasurer
Nominations – chairman appointed by President
Box Tops/Labels – chairman appointed First Vice President
Hospitality – chairman appointed by Second Vice President
Volunteer – chairman appointed by Third Vice President
Communications – chairman appointed by Secretary
Clothing Bank – chairman appointed by Treasurer

Section 3. The executive board may create such special committees as it may deem necessary to promote the Objects of PTO and carry on the work of this PTO.

Section 4. The term of office of a committee chair shall be one year or until the selection of a successor.

Section 5. The chair of each committee shall present a plan of work to the executive board for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive board

Section 6. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the nominating committee. The president shall be notified of all committee meetings. ·

Section 7. Committee Chairs may chair only four committees at a time but can be a member of more than one committee.

ARTICLE X: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS