Bylaws

ARTICLE I: Name
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the South Dakota Science Teaching Association.
Section 2: It is a chapter of the National Science Teaching Association.

ARTICLE II Purposes
Section 1: The purpose of the South Dakota Science Teaching Association shall be the advancement, stimulation, extension, improvement, and coordination of science education in all fields of science at all educational levels.
Section 2: The Association shall not engage in any activity which would be inconsistent with the status of an educational, charitable and scientific organization as defined in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 or any successor provision hereto.

ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1: Any person who is interested in the teaching of science in the state of South Dakota is eligible for membership.

ARTICLE IV: Officers
Section 1: The officers of the organization shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Newsletter Editor and a Past President.
Section 2: Only those members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office or serve as chair-persons of standing committees.
Section 3: The officers of the South Dakota Science Teaching Association shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 4: The elected officers and standing committee persons shall constitute the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V: Duties of the Officers
Section 1: Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the duties of the various officers shall be those which are customary for such officers and may be described in the SDSTA Officer's Handbook.
Section 2: The President shall preside at all business sessions and all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint standing committee chair-persons subject to ratification of the Executive Committee. The President, under the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have general charge of the affairs of the Association.
Section 3: The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the President’s absence and shall serve as Chair-person of the Conference Committee.
Section 4: The Secretary shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of the organization, of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the organization. The Secretary shall send notices of regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors to the members concerned.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all dues and shall receive all other monies due the Association. The Treasurer shall pay all bills authorized by the Executive Committee.
Section 6: The President (or NSTA Contact Person) shall be a person who has membership in and maintains contact with the National Science Teachers Association. The President (or NSTA Contact Person) shall be responsible for maintaining open communications and a positive working relationship between the Association and NSTA.
Section 7: The Past President shall serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
Section 8: An Auditing Committee consisting of three members appointed by the Executive Committee shall audit the financial records annually.
Section 9: The Board of Directors shall transact the business, plan the overall programs for the year, make recommendations regarding proposed amendments to the Bylaws, and devise and carry out measures for the growth and welfare of the organization.
Section 10: The Executive Committee shall have power to act for the Board of Directors between meetings to carry out policies and ratify appointments

ARTICLE VI: Committees
Section 1: The standing committees shall be: Membership, Nominating, Newsletter and Conference.
Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Conference Committee to initiate and implement well-coordinated programs in line with the purposed of the organization. The Conference Committee shall include Hospitality persons and Vendor Coordinator.
Section 3: It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to promote, expand and stabilize the membership of the organization. The committee shall also keep an accurate list of all members.
Section 4: The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for the publication of a Newsletter to be distributed to the members of the Association and other interested groups.
Section 5: The Hospitality Committee shall be responsible for promoting speakers and events.
Section 6: The President shall appoint such other committees as the work of the Association shall demand.
Section 7: It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to prepare a slate of nominees and present this to the Board of Directors prior to the Winter/February Business Meeting.
Section 8: Committee members and chair-persons shall serve one-year terms unless extended by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1: The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present a slate of nominees to the Board of Directors and the membership prior to the Winter/February Business Meeting when officers are to be elected.
Section 2: Nominations may be made from the floor. Election of the officers shall be by ballot at the Winter/February Business Meeting.
Section 3: All officers shall hold office for two years. Election shall be held in even numbered years.
Section 4: With the exception of the Newsletter Editor, no officer shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms. An interval of two years shall elapse before a member is again eligible for re-election to the same office.

ARTICLE VIII: Meetings
Section 1: There shall be two meetings of the South Dakota Science Teaching Association organization each year. One of these shall be in the winter term and the other in the summer term. The Winter/February Business Meeting shall be designated as the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 2: Additional special meetings may be scheduled by the Board of Directors, if a need arises.

ARTICLE IX: Dues
Section 1: Dues for membership shall be established by the Board of Directors. If the amount represents a change from the previous year, the amount of the dues shall be approved by a majority of the members present at the Winter/February Business Meeting. Dues are payable prior to or at the first Winter meeting of the year.
Section 2: An attendance fee, amount to be set by the Board of Directors, will be required of all non-members in attendance at meetings.

ARTICLE X: Fiscal Year
Section 1: The fiscal year of this organization shall end as of the thirty-first of January of each year.

ARTICLE XI: Amendments
Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting, provided a copy of the proposed amendment shall have been sent to every member at least ten days before it is to be voted upon.
Section 2: These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting without previous notice by a two-thirds vote of the total membership.
Section 3: A proposed amendment may be submitted by a signed petition from twenty-five members and then shall be submitted to the membership for adoption or rejection.

ARTICLE XII: Parliamentary Authority
Section 1: In all questions of Parliamentary Law not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall prevail.

ARTICLE XIII: Vacancies
Section 1: In the event an officer is not able to complete a term of office, the President shall appoint a qualified member to complete the unexpired term.
Section 2: In the event no one seeks a specific office, an individual may be appointed by the President to fill that position.

ARTICLE VIV: Dissolution of the Association
Section 1: In the event of termination or dissolution of the Association, the Executive Board shall distribute the remaining assets of the Association to the South Dakota Academy of Science.

ARTICLE XV: Ratification
Section 1: This Constitution and Bylaws will take effect immediately upon a majority favorable vote of the members attending an annual meeting.