Arlington Retired Teachers Association
Constitution and Bylaws
Mission: To promote the economic, social, and
professional status of retired educators, to stay informed
on current education issues, and to advance the
profession through scholarships to high school graduates
who aspire to be teachers.
Article I
Name
The name of this Association shall be Arlington Retired Teachers
Association, hereafter referred to as the Association and as ARTA.
Article II
Purpose
Section 1. To promote the economic, social, and professional status of retired educators.
Section 2. To encourage members to maintain interest and participation in educational, legislative, and community activities.
Section 3. To serve charitable and educational purposes consistent with its status as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization as designated by the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 4. To foster fellowship among retired educators.
Section 5. To develop programs that will keep members interested in and informed about current local, state, and national issues.
Section 6. To monitor and support the Virginia Retired Teachers Association (VRTA), the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), and AARP.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. Anyone who has at some time been employed in the schools of the nation may become a member.
Section 2. Active membership shall be open to any such person who has paid the required dues. Dues are waived for first-year members.
Section 3. An annual membership listing will be maintained and shared with membership in the form of a directory.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Elections
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, and Secretary shall be elected annually for a term of one year and each may be reelected for one year. The Treasurer may serve three years. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by a vote
of the members at a monthly meeting.
Section 3. Each year the Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers in time for publication in the newsletter nearest to the April meeting. Additional nominations can be accepted from the floor, with the consent of the nominee, at the time
of the election of officers.
Section 4. Election of officers shall be held at the monthly meeting in April and those elected shall take office after being installed at the May meeting.
Section 5. The election shall be open to the full active membership,
with voting by those present at the April meeting.
ARTICLE V
Duties of Officers
Section 1. President:
a. Leads the organization and presides over all monthly meetings.
b. Appoints the chairs of standing committees except for the Nominating Committee.
c. Serves as member ex-officio of all committees except for the Nominating Committee.
d. Works with the Executive Board on projects and activities.
e. Attends area, state, and national conferences when possible to gain knowledge and inspiration to pass on to the ARTA membership.
f. Appoints ad hoc committees as needed.
Section 2. Vice President:
a. Works with the President and assumes the responsibilities of the President
when necessary.
b. Serves as the Program Chair.
Section 3. Secretary:
a. Records the minutes of the Executive Board and the monthly ARTA meetings in permanent form for the ARTA files.
b. Carries on correspondence for the Association.
Section 4. Treasurer:
a. Keeps records of dues and other monies received.
b. Banks money and writes checks for the organization.
c. Makes a financial report at each monthly meeting with a
written copy to the Secretary for the permanent files.
d. Prepares a budget annually for presentation
e. Forwards state dues to the VRTA treasurer.
f. Files IRS required Form 990, annual e-Postcard by
November 15, to maintain our tax-exempt status.
g. Arranges to have the books audited every two years by
someone outside the unit or district. This requirement
shall be met by June 15 and reported in a notarized
statement to the President of VRTA by June 25 of the
auditing year.
ARTICLE VI
The Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, the immediate past president, and all standing committee chairs. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, but votes only in case of a tie.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet a minimum of two times per year.
Section 3. The President with the advice and consent of the Executive
Board shall fill vacancies on the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII
Standing Committees and Duties
Section 1. Membership:
a. Keeps a record of members: name, address, telephone number, email, date retired, subject area, and name of last school.
b. Contacts new retirees at end of each school year.
c. Supplies members with an annual membership directory.
Section 2. Hospitality:
a. Coordinates set-up, supplies, and refreshments for the monthly meetings.
b. Works together with the Program Committee in planning for special activities
Section 3. Concerns:
a. Sends cards when there is illness or death in the family.
b. Acknowledges other special occasions such as milestone
birthdays and anniversaries.
Section 4. Program:
a. Plans programs for the year.
b. Meets speaker or entertainers.
c. Presides during the program section of the monthly meeting.
Section 5. Legislative:
a. Keeps the Association informed on changes proposed by
the Virginia General Assembly, Arlington County Board,
or School Board affecting retired educators.
b. Advises ARTA on steps that can be taken by individuals
or the Association on issues of interest.
Section 6. Nominating:
a. Recruits the slate of candidates for the annual election of officers.
b. Consists of four members:
~ One member shall be elected each year at the
February meeting to serve for two years.
~ The elected member who is serving the second year will chair.
~ By the end of February, after asking for volunteers
who agree to serve for a one-year term, the President
shall appoint the other two members.
ARTICLE VIII
Dues
The dues for Arlington Retired Teachers Association shall be
determined by the membership by a vote at a monthly meeting. The
members should be notified of the need for a change at least one
month before this meeting.
ARTICLE IX
Meetings
Arlington Retired Teachers Association shall meet monthly except in
June, July, and August, unless otherwise changed by the Executive
Board of the Association. Meetings are usually on the second
Wednesday of the month.
ARTICLE X
Amendments
Section 1. This Constitution and Bylaws may be revised and/or
amended at monthly or special meetings of the Association
by a 2/3 affirmative vote of those present.
Section 2. Proposed revisions or amendments must be in written form
and distributed to the members at least one month prior of this meeting.
ARTICLE XI
Adoption and Effective Date
This Constitution and Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
ARTICLE XII
Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the Association, 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 tax
code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or
local government, for public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed
of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the
county/city in which the principal office of the Association 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.
Amended November 1999, September 2001, September 2005,
February 2009, and February 2014.