Constitution of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English
WVCTE
Article I – Name and Vision
The name of this organization shall be the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English (WVCTE). WVCTE, a non-profit professional organization committed to promoting literacy and lifelong learning, empowers and inspires educators through professional development and collegial communication. WVCTE seeks to connect educators across the state to improve the teaching of English Language Arts at all levels.
Article II – Affiliation
The West Virginia Council of Teachers of English shall be an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English. In the event of termination or dissolution of WVCTE, assets of the organization shall be transferred to the National Council of Teachers of English.
Article III –Objectives
In order to realize the vision of the organization, WVCTE will endeavor to
- Empower and connect ELA teachers of all grade levels across West Virginia.
- Build a community of passionate ELA educators of all levels.
- Serve literacy educators at all career phases (pre-service and practicing) and levels (elementary, middle, secondary, and college).
- Provide opportunities for discussion, group study, and reflection on the teaching of English/Language Arts
- Strengthen the English Language Arts instruction to meet students’ needs.
- Communicate relevant information, ideas, and research.
- Coordinate and provide resources and support for literacy and lifelong learning.
- Recognize contributions and accomplishments in the area of literacy education and lifelong learning.
- Collaborate with other organizations and institutions in related activities.
Article IV – Membership
Section 1
Individual membership in WVCTE shall be open to all educators, college students preparing to be teachers, and any other persons interested in the objectives of the council. The terms, conditions, and benefits of such membership shall be reviewed and established by the Executive Board every two years.
Section 2
Any local or regional organization or institution whose objectives are in harmony with the objectives of the Council may affiliate with it by filing with the treasurer a statement of its aims, the number of members, and proposed activities, and with confirmation by a majority of the Executive Board.
Article V – Officers
Section 1
The officers of the council shall be a president, an executive vice president and head of secondary affairs, a vice president of middle school affairs, a vice president of elementary and intermediate affairs, secretary, and a treasurer. This group shall be known as the Executive Board. All officers must all be members of NCTE and in good standing. The executive board will work to ensure the affiliate acts according to values and beliefs of NCTE and the WVCTE mission.
Section 2
Additionally, up to 4 additional WVCTE members may serve as non-office holding Executive Committee members. These members must also be members of NCTE and work to ensure the affiliate acts according to values and beliefs of NCTE and the WVCTE mission.
Section 3
The term of office for all officers of the Executive Board shall be three years. The past president will remain on the Executive Committee for three years after his or her term of office has ended.
Section 5
Election of officers of the Executive Board shall occur at the annual spring meeting.
Section 6
Executive Board members who fail to satisfactorily discharge their duties or who are absent from two successive meetings may be removed from their position with a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board.
Section 7
In case of a vacancy in the presidency, the office shall be filled by the executive vice president and head of secondary affairs until the next scheduled conference, at which time a president shall be elected at the annual meeting. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment by the president and with the confirmation by a majority of Executive Board members.
Article VI – Duties of the officers
All officers will work to ensure the affiliate acts according to values and beliefs of NCTE and the WVCTE mission.
Section 1
The president shall preside at all meetings, prepare an agenda for such meetings, appoint the chairpersons of all standing committees, and prepare, in consultation with the treasurer, an annual budget.
Section 2
The executive vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and serve as NCTE Liaison.
Section 3
The secretary shall keep all records and take minutes at all meetings of WVCTE and disseminate said minutes in a timely manner.
Section 4
The treasurer shall collect and disperse the funds of the organization. The treasurer shall serve as membership chair, maintaining accurate and complete membership files and dispatching all correspondence dealing with membership.
Section 5
All members of the Executive Board must be members in good standing of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English and the National Council of Teachers of English.
Section 6
The members of the Executive Board shall have one vote each and shall have full authority to manage the business of WVCTE except insofar as the membership by vote in general meeting shall limit that power.
Article VII – Meetings
The Executive Committee will meet twice a year, and at the annual conference.
Article VII – Elections
Section 1
The officers of the Executive Committee shall serve as the nominating committee. Each will serve as the chairperson of the nominating committee on a rotating basis.
Section 2
Additional nominations may be made provided that the names presented have five (5) endorsements and be presented at least on month in advance of the election. The entire list of candidates shall be submitted to the membership.
Section 3
Election of officers shall be by a majority of those members in attendance at the annual fall meeting.
Article IX – Amendments
The constitution may be amended with notice given to the membership at least one month in advance and by the members present at the annual meeting.
Article X – Quorum
Those members present at any annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Article XI – Requirements to be exempt as an Organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Section 1
Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any federal tax code.
Section 2
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, 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 section 1 hereof and in Articles I and III of this Constitution.
Section 3
No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Section 4
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 5
Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
Article XI – Policy on Involvement of People of Color
It is the policy of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English that it demonstrates sensitivity to the concerns of people of color and that they be represented in all WVCTE activities. To this end, WVCTE shall make any and all reasonable efforts
- To include people of color on all appointed commissions, boards, committees, task forces, and other official groups.
- To include people of color among the leadership.
- To include in conferences and workshops sessions dealing with the interests of people of color and using as presenters, leaders, and consultants practicing teachers of color from the levels of instruction concerned.
- To include people of color in verbal and visual materials intended to represent or describe WVCTE.
- To include people of color as targeted groups in any recruiting efforts.