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Article VII

Duties of Officers

This article defines the duties of the officers.

Proposed Changes

The proposed changes create clear definitions of the responsibilities of each of the Officers.

Why are these changes are recommended?

These changes redistribute the responsibilities of the officers more equitably and they bring the definitions to current standards suggested by our parent federation, the American Federation of Teachers.

Constitutional Language

Current Language

VII. Duties of Officers
  • A. Steering Committee
    • 1. The Steering Committee shall consist of ten members as specified in Article VI.
    • 2. The Steering Committee shall implement policy directives of the membership and oversee the operation of committees.
    • 3. The Steering Committee authorizes expenditures in administrative matters.
    • 4. The Steering Committee shall make recommendations for consideration and action. For the purpose of performing this duty the Steering Committee shall have authority to gather information by consulting in the name of the Organization, with whatever persons or bodies are deemed appropriate, but shall in no way bind or commit the Organization in the course of such a consultation.
    • 5. The Steering Committee shall meet before every membership meeting to discuss and prepare an agenda. The Steering Committee shall meet at such other times as the President or a majority of the Committee deem appropriate. The Secretary, upon notice from the President or a majority of the Steering Committee, shall issue a Steering Committee meeting call and shall, to the extent possible, notify each Steering Committee member of the time and place of the meeting. A majority of the members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All meetings of the Steering Committee are open to all members of the Organization, but may be closed by a majority vote of Steering Committee members.
  • B. The President
    • l. The President shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Organization and shall conduct the affairs of the Organization in accordance with this constitution and in accordance with policy decisions of the membership. He/she shall report regularly to the Steering Committee and the membership on his/her actions. He/she shall sign all checks, authorizations for expenditures, contracts, and other official documents of this Organization, but with the approval of the Steering Committee may designate a deputy to sign such documents.
  • C. The Treasurer
    • l. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Organization. He/she shall receive and receipt for all monies of the Organization. He/she shall maintain properly and have custody over all the accounts of the Organization. He/she shall, in the name of the Organization, deposit, in an open account in a financial institution(s) in which deposits are federally insured, all monies designated for the Strike and Legal Defense Fund. He/she shall prepare checks for the payment of all liabilities of the Organization which are for purposes authorized or required by the constitution or authorized by the membership and none other. He/she shall countersign all checks so prepared.
    • 2. The Treasurer shall make a report to the membership at least once each semester and shall be subject to questioning about such report at the first regular membership meeting following such report, and shall provide an annual written report.
  • D. The Secretary
    • l. The Secretary shall be the chief recording officer of the Organization. He/she shall oversee the records of the membership, associate and full, in good standing and not.
    • 2. The Secretary shall serve as the secretary at all membership meetings. In such capacity he/she shall be responsible for:
      • a. Issuing a regular membership meeting call, in the name of the Steering Committee, no fewer than ten days prior to such a meeting.
      • b. Issuing a special membership meeting call, at the request of the Steering Committee or upon petition of five (5) percent of the membership, no fewer than three days prior to such a meeting.
      • c. Publicizing and preparing agendas for such meetings in accordance with the provisions of Article V.
      • d. Maintaining an accurate record of the proceedings of membership meetings and providing for the publication and distribution of a summary.
    • 3. The Secretary shall serve as secretary of the Steering Committee, and shall keep accurately the minutes of each meeting of the Steering Committee.
  • E. The Vice-President
    • l. The Vice-President shall have immediate supervisory responsibilities for the organizing activities of the Organization.
    • 2. The Vice-President shall maintain contact with other organizations engaged in activities similar to or related to those of the Organization, including affiliates, and shall make periodic reports on such contacts to the Steering Committee.
    • 3. The Vice-President shall perform other such duties as may be directed by the President or the Steering Committee.
    • 4. The Vice-President shall replace the President in her/his absence.
    • 5. The Vice-President shall be chairperson of the Steward's Council and the grievance committee.

Proposed Revision

VII. Duties of Officers
  • A. Officers' Committee
    • 1. The Officers' Committee shall meet on a regular basis to coordinate among the committees of the Organization the execution of Organizational policy established by the membership and as directed by the Stewards' Council.
    • 2. The Officers defined in Article VI.a. shall comprise the Officers Committee.
  • B. The President
    • The President shall:
    • 1. Be the principal executive officer of the Organization;
    • 2. Be one of the responsible financial officers of the Organization and shall be authorized to co-sign financial instruments and make regular and usual disbursement of funds;
    • 3. Be responsible for signing all official documents of the Organization. This responsibility may be designated to a deputy with the approval of the Stewards Council;
    • 4. Be, by office, the ranking delegate to the convention of the American Federation of Teachers and meetings or conventions of its affiliated subordinate bodies;
    • 5. Represent the Organization as necessary to other organizations.
  • C. The Treasurer
    • The Treasurer shall:
    • 1. Be the principal financial officer of the Organization;
    • 2. Receive, record and deposit all dues monies and other income in the name of the Organization;
    • 3. Maintain accurate membership records;
    • 4. Be authorized to co-sign financial instruments and make regular and usual disbursements of funds;
    • 5. Shall arrange for an independent audit as required by law or the organizations with which the Organization is affiliated;
    • 6. Transmit per capita payments as required to the American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers-Michigan and to all other bodies with which the organization is affiliated;
    • 7. Chair the Finance Committee;
    • 8. Perform financial duties as required by law or the organizations with which the Organization is affiliated.
  • D. The Secretary The Secretary shall:
    • 1. Be the principal information officer of the organization;
    • 2. Maintain the non-financial files and records of the Organization;
    • 3. Be responsible for recording and keeping accurate minutes of meetings of the membership, Stewards' Council and Officers' Committee;
    • 4. Oversee all elections and referenda of the Organization, record and report all votes.
  • E. The Vice-President
    • The Vice-President shall:
    • 1. Work with the President to oversee the operations of the Organization;
    • 2. Assume the responsibilities of President if that person becomes unable to perform those duties;
    • 3. Supervise the non-financial responsibilities of the staff;
    • 4. Chair the Stewards' Council.

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