Article I--Name

The name of this organization shall be the Louisiana Middle School Association, hereafter referred to as the Association.

Article II--Purposes

The purpose of the Association shall be the general improvement of education for students of middle school age (about 10-15) in the state of Louisiana. Specifically, the Association shall exist for the following reasons:

1. To facilitate continuing:

• curriculum development

• professional development

• school planning

• school improvement

2. To assist in other phases of middle school education including safety and socialization;

3. To serve as a clearinghouse for an exchange of ideas, materials, and personnel needed for middle school development:

4. To represent the middle schools in professional and public discussions of education programs and problems.

Article III--Membership

Membership is open on an individual basis to all professional educators, retired educators, post-secondary students, parents, and lay community members who have an interest in middle level education.

Article IV--Administration

Section 1. The authority for the Association shall be the sixteen [16] members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be composed of an executive committee (the President, the Immediate Past-President, the President-Elect) and thirteen  [13] at-large members. Members of the Board of Directors will be elected from the membership-at-large. The President-Elect will be nominated from the current Board of Directors. A Conference Chairperson, Journal Editor,  Executive Secretary, and Treasurer serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors. In case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint an interim member until such a vacancy is filled at the state middle school conference election.

Section 2. The President, the Immediate Past President, and President-Elect shall serve for a term of two [2] years in each office. The at-large members of the Board of Directors will serve a minimum of one three [3] year term.

Section 3. Requirements for the Board of Directors:

1. All at-large members of the Board of Directors shall be a current member of the association for at lease one year prior to their election.

2. Each officer of the Board of Directors shall be an active member of the board for at lease one [1] year prior to their election.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the following:

1. Formulating and approving policies of the Association,

2. Adopting the annual budget,

3. Establishing committees to assure fulfillment of the purpose of the Association

4. Being custodians of property of the Association.

Article V--Meetings

Section 1. The Board of Directors of the Association shall meet biannually and at other times as mutually agreed upon by the members of the committee.

Section 2. The Association shall hold an annual middle school conference at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors. At each annual conference there shall be an official meeting of the Association. At this meeting there will be reports, opportunity to adopt resolutions, the opportunity to nominate and elect members to the Board of Directors, the opportunity to hear from individuals or groups, and the transaction of any other business which the Board of Directors wishes to refer to the Association.

Article VI--Amendments

Section 1. This constitution may be amended upon approval by (1) a majority of the Board of Directors and (2) by two-thirds [2/3] vote of the members of the Association in attendance at the annual business meeting held at the state middle school conference provided notice of the proposed changes has been given two [2] months in advance of the voting.

Article VII--Bylaws

Section 1. The activities of the Association shall be regulated by the Bylaws. These may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the Association in attendance at the annual business meeting held at the state middle school conference provided notice of the proposed changes has been given two [2] months in advance of the voting.

Article III--Assets on Liquidation

Section 1. No part of the net income, revenue, or grants of the Association shall inure to the benefits of any member or private individual (except in payment for requested services rendered in connection with Association purposes). In the event of dissolution or liquidation, the assets of the Association, after payment of debts and obligations, shall be transferred to an organization with federal tax exemption for charitable and educational purposes similar to those of the Association, which exempt organization shall be designated by the final Executive Committee (President, Immediate Past-President, President-Elect) of the Association.

Article I--Membership Categories/Dues

Section 1. Individual membership in the Association is available.

Section 2. All membership dues and fees shall be established by the Board of Directors.

Article II--Membership and Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of this Association shall be from July 1 of any given year and continue through June 30 of the succeeding year.

Article III--Elections

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall appoint a nominating committee which shall nominate a President-Elect and any other vacancy to be filled on the Board of Directors. The nominee for the President-Elect must be from the current Board.  Elections will be held at the annual state middle school conference business meeting.  Nominations will be accepted from the floor for vacancies on the Board of Directors.  A three [3] member committee shall be appointed by the current President to assist with the election process.  Nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.

Section 2. The terms of office shall begin at the conclusion of the annual state middle school conference following the annual meeting and election.

Article IV--Duties of Officers

Section 1. President of the Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the President of the Board to call meetings of the Board of Directors and to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at the annual state middle school conference. The President shall also appoint ad hoc committees as needed.

Section 2. Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors to preside in the absence of the President.

Section 3. President-Elect. It shall be the duty of the President-Elect to assume responsibilities as may be assigned by the President of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Executive Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Executive Secretary to do the following:

• Record the minutes of each meeting

• Monitor all correspondence of the Association

Section 5. Executive Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Executive Treasurer to do the following:

• Receive and disburse the funds of the Association,

• Make an annual accounting to the Association,

Section 6: Conference Chairperson:

• Contacts potential conference sites to present to the Board

• Cooperates with current year's contracted site

Section 7: Journal Editor:

• Responsible for keeping LMSA members abreast of current research topics

Article V--Quorum

 One-half [1/2] of the members of the Board of Directors and current members present for the official business meeting at the annual State Middle School Conference shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI--Committees

Standing and special committees shall be appointed by the President of the Board of Directors. The President and President-Elect shall be ex-officio members of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors shall provide guidance and assistance in the development of committee activities.

Article VII--Expenditures

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall monitor annually the structure of the budget and adjust the line items as needed

Section 2. The funds of the Association shall be disbursed in accordance with annual budget. The Board of Directors shall have the power to transfer unused balances from one item to another.

Section 3: A financial statement shall be presented to the general membership at the annual state conference.

Article VIII-Publications

The Association shall publish a periodic newsletter, at no additional charge, to all active members of the Association.   

Article IX--Parliamentary Procedures

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority governing all matters of procedure not otherwise specified in the Constitution of these Bylaws.