SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO
THE STS REGINA CHAPTER CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
I. BACKGROUND
At the direction of the Executive, the Resolutions Committee undertook a review of the Regina
Chapter constitution and bylaws that were adopted in 1994 and last revised in 2007. The
Resolutions Committee began by reviewing the purposes of a constitution and bylaws. (These
definitions will be posted on the overhead but not read and will be available on the print
communication.)
Constitution. “A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents
according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e.
constitute, what the entity is.” (Wikipedia) “Most commonly, the term constitution refers to a set
of rules and principles that define the nature and extent of government.” (Wikipedia)
“Bylaws. The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a
framework for its operation and management.” (legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com).
Because the Regina Chapter is a member of the STS, the Committee also was guided by the
structure of the STS Policy Handbook. Committee recommendations to the Executive were
considered at two special Executive meetings in December and February. At the March 1
Executive meeting, the recommendations from the special Executive meetings were considered
and adopted for presentation to the membership.
March 13, 2017, the Regina Chapter Executive served notice that the following motion will be
considered at the April 10, 2017 Assembly:
Be it resolved that the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Regina Chapter
Constitution and Bylaws be replaced by the content of the STS Regina
Constitution Bylaws 2017 document.
II. PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
(See the separate document with proposed changes noted in red.)
III. CHANGES OF NOTE
Dissolution: How should a proposal to dissolve the STS Regina Chapter be
managed? What should happen to STS Regina Chapter assets in the unlikely event the Chapter
is closed? A new section in the Constitution, ‘Dissolution’, endeavours to anticipate and answer
these questions.
Specialized Roles: Those appointed to specialized roles participate as voting Executive
Officers; this reflects current practice. The proposed document requests that the Assembly
affirm appointees to specialized roles at the next Assembly following the appointment. This
signifies that these appointed executive officers like elected executive officers, are responsible
to the membership. Three additional specialized roles are proposed:
Social Media Moderator: A STS Regina Chapter Facebook Page was launched in 2016
and requires monitoring to ensure closed membership and content relevant to Regina
Chapter Aims.
Visitation Coordinator: Communications have identified some members who like to chat
as well as to receive the Regina Chapter messages. Isolation negatively affects health
particularly the health of seniors. Conversations by telephone, SKYPE or FACETIME or
during face to face visits can help our membership maintain good health as we age.
This role was possible but has not been active recently.
Webmaster: There is currently a Webmaster. This proposed change reflects current
practice.
Finances: Before payment, the Treasurer must request Executive approval for expenditures
over $500.00 that have not been previously approved in the budget.
Privacy: Executive members responsibility to the membership is stated.
Voting: Require contested elections of Executive Officers to be held by secret ballot.
Formatting:
CONSTITUTION
New Section: ‘Dissolution’
Order of Sections: ‘Chapter Aims’ to precede ‘Membership’, ‘Dissolution’ to conclude
the constitution
Sections Moved to Bylaws: ‘Membership Fees’, Election of Officers (replaced by
‘Nominations and Elections’), ‘Quorum’, Signing Authority
(replaced by ‘Financial Affairs’), and Meetings/Assemblies
(replaced by ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’).
BYLAWS
New Section: ‘Specialized Roles’
Order of Sections: ‘Specialized Roles’ to follow ‘Committees’, ‘Financial Affairs’ and
‘Quorum’ to precede ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’
Sections Renamed: ‘Membership Fees’ (Membership), ‘Financial Affairs’ (Signing
Authority), ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’ (Meetings/Assemblies),
‘Nominations and Elections’ (Election of Officers)
IV. ACTION REQUIRED
A) Please review the proposed constitution and bylaws and
B) Bring your comments to the April 10, 2017 STS Regina Chapter Assembly (Ron Mitchell
Room at the Regina School Division #4 Board Office on 4th Avenue).
If you are unable to attend, please
A) leave a comment for the Webmaster,
B) email the Resolutions Committee Chairperson, Shirley, at [email protected] or
C) phone a Regina Chapter Executive member to share your comments.
THE STS REGINA CHAPTER CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
I. BACKGROUND
At the direction of the Executive, the Resolutions Committee undertook a review of the Regina
Chapter constitution and bylaws that were adopted in 1994 and last revised in 2007. The
Resolutions Committee began by reviewing the purposes of a constitution and bylaws. (These
definitions will be posted on the overhead but not read and will be available on the print
communication.)
Constitution. “A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents
according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e.
constitute, what the entity is.” (Wikipedia) “Most commonly, the term constitution refers to a set
of rules and principles that define the nature and extent of government.” (Wikipedia)
“Bylaws. The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a
framework for its operation and management.” (legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com).
Because the Regina Chapter is a member of the STS, the Committee also was guided by the
structure of the STS Policy Handbook. Committee recommendations to the Executive were
considered at two special Executive meetings in December and February. At the March 1
Executive meeting, the recommendations from the special Executive meetings were considered
and adopted for presentation to the membership.
March 13, 2017, the Regina Chapter Executive served notice that the following motion will be
considered at the April 10, 2017 Assembly:
Be it resolved that the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Regina Chapter
Constitution and Bylaws be replaced by the content of the STS Regina
Constitution Bylaws 2017 document.
II. PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
(See the separate document with proposed changes noted in red.)
III. CHANGES OF NOTE
Dissolution: How should a proposal to dissolve the STS Regina Chapter be
managed? What should happen to STS Regina Chapter assets in the unlikely event the Chapter
is closed? A new section in the Constitution, ‘Dissolution’, endeavours to anticipate and answer
these questions.
Specialized Roles: Those appointed to specialized roles participate as voting Executive
Officers; this reflects current practice. The proposed document requests that the Assembly
affirm appointees to specialized roles at the next Assembly following the appointment. This
signifies that these appointed executive officers like elected executive officers, are responsible
to the membership. Three additional specialized roles are proposed:
Social Media Moderator: A STS Regina Chapter Facebook Page was launched in 2016
and requires monitoring to ensure closed membership and content relevant to Regina
Chapter Aims.
Visitation Coordinator: Communications have identified some members who like to chat
as well as to receive the Regina Chapter messages. Isolation negatively affects health
particularly the health of seniors. Conversations by telephone, SKYPE or FACETIME or
during face to face visits can help our membership maintain good health as we age.
This role was possible but has not been active recently.
Webmaster: There is currently a Webmaster. This proposed change reflects current
practice.
Finances: Before payment, the Treasurer must request Executive approval for expenditures
over $500.00 that have not been previously approved in the budget.
Privacy: Executive members responsibility to the membership is stated.
Voting: Require contested elections of Executive Officers to be held by secret ballot.
Formatting:
CONSTITUTION
New Section: ‘Dissolution’
Order of Sections: ‘Chapter Aims’ to precede ‘Membership’, ‘Dissolution’ to conclude
the constitution
Sections Moved to Bylaws: ‘Membership Fees’, Election of Officers (replaced by
‘Nominations and Elections’), ‘Quorum’, Signing Authority
(replaced by ‘Financial Affairs’), and Meetings/Assemblies
(replaced by ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’).
BYLAWS
New Section: ‘Specialized Roles’
Order of Sections: ‘Specialized Roles’ to follow ‘Committees’, ‘Financial Affairs’ and
‘Quorum’ to precede ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’
Sections Renamed: ‘Membership Fees’ (Membership), ‘Financial Affairs’ (Signing
Authority), ‘Meetings/Assemblies & Voting’ (Meetings/Assemblies),
‘Nominations and Elections’ (Election of Officers)
IV. ACTION REQUIRED
A) Please review the proposed constitution and bylaws and
B) Bring your comments to the April 10, 2017 STS Regina Chapter Assembly (Ron Mitchell
Room at the Regina School Division #4 Board Office on 4th Avenue).
If you are unable to attend, please
A) leave a comment for the Webmaster,
B) email the Resolutions Committee Chairperson, Shirley, at [email protected] or
C) phone a Regina Chapter Executive member to share your comments.