May 2024 Newsletter

By-Laws Revisions 2024

Please forgive the formatting errors in this copy of the proposed bylaw changes.  These are due totally to this editor's inability to copy and paste various documents onto this website and the slightly different formats of a Microsoft word document and how this website is formatted..  Sherrilee's copies of this document were flawless, and the glitches are all mine.  

 A huge shout out to Sherrilee for her work on this document.  There's a tremendous amount of work done to produce this and make it look as perfect as she has.  Thank     

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                  BYLAWS

 

STEVENS POINT AREA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (SPARTA)

 

 

                  Article I. NAME

 

The name of this Association shall be the Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA).

 

                  Article II. PURPOSES

 

The purposes of this Association are to:

 

A. Promote and protect the interests, rights, and welfare of the retired educators of the Stevens Point area in           

    conjunction with the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA).

 

B. Monitor and work to improve the benefits for retired educators and other members of the Wisconsin Retirement

    System (WRS).

 

C. Encourage Association members to maintain membership in the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association

     (WREA).

 

D. Develop working relationships with local service organizations whose main emphasis is on aging groups and

     with organizations sharing goals similar to those of the Association.

 

E. Inform Association members about and advocate for educational and other relevant societal issues.

 

F. Inform members of activities in the area provided for seniors.

 

G. Encourage Association members to be active participants in community affairs on an individual basis.

 

                  Article III. MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. Classes of Members

 

A. Regular (voting) - Any retired educator (teacher, administrator, or school employee) who lives in the area and who   

    was formerly employed by any school system may become a member of the Association.  The term “school

    system” means any public, private, parochial, technical, or university system.  Some regular members are accorded

    special status as enumerated below:

 

      1. Life Members – Life members are those who pay the SPARTA life Association dues.

 

2. Honored Members – Honored members are those who have reached the age of 80 are given special recognition as an honored member.  Honored members pay dues according to their membership classification.

 

      3. Emeritus Members – Any Association member who is confined to home care, assisted living, or a nursing home                 and is unable to continue paying membership dues is granted Emeritus membership.

      

      4. Centennial – Any Association member who reaches the age of 100 is granted free centennial membership                        and is given special recognition.

     

B.  Associate (non-voting) – Spouses of regular members who are not involved in education, other Wisconsin Retirement System annuitants, or friends of public education become associate members upon payment of dues.  Retired teachers, administrators, and other school employees may not join as associate members.  Individuals who qualify for regular membership must join as regular members. Associate members may not hold office and may not vote.

 

 

 

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C. Inactive (not-voting) - Removal from Membership – Any member who has failed to pay Association dues by December 31 for the current year may be removed from the membership list.

 

Section 2.  Dues.  The fiscal year for the Association begins September 1 and ends August 31.  The annual dues for each membership category are recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the chapter membership at the May meeting.  All dues are payable on or before October 1 of each year.  New Association members have SPARTA dues waived for the following fiscal year.

 

                  Article IV. STRUCTURE

 

The Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA) shall maintain an affiliation with the

Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA).

 

                  Article V. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES AND OTHER POSITIONS

 

Section 1. The officers shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President. 

 

A. The President shall:

 

      1. Call regular meetings and special meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Association.

 

      2. Preside at all meetings of the Association and all meetings of the Executive Committee.

 

      3. Appoint the chair of each of the committees, except the Nominating Committee, and aid them in selecting the                    members of those committees.

 

      4. Serve as a non-voting member of all committees.

     

      5. Appoint Ad Hoc Committees as deemed necessary.

 

6. Ensure that an annual financial audit and review of the financial records is performed at the close of the fiscal year.

     

      7. Be a member of WREA.

 

      8. Work with the WREA Regional Director and the WREA Executive Directors and Council as needed.

 

      9. Support and promote the mission and goals of the WREA.

 

      10. Serve as the official spokesperson for SPARTA.

 

      11. Serve as a delegate to district meetings and state conventions.

 

      12. Perform any other duty as directed by the Executive Committee or the chapter membership.

 

B. The Vice-President shall:

 

      1. Become President if a vacancy in the presidency occurs.

 

      2. Preside at all meetings in the absence of the President.

 

      3. Assist the President in the execution of the duties of the Presidency.

 

      4. Assumes the responsibilities of the President whenever the President is unable to act.

 

      4. Act as a non-voting member of the committees when the President is unable to attend.

     5. Be a member of WREA. 

 

 

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6. Work with the WREA Regional Director and the WREA Executive Directors and Council as needed.

 

      7. Support and promote the mission and goals of the WREA

 

8. Act as chair of the Program Committee.

 

      9. Perform any other duty as directed by the Executive Committee or the chapter membership.

 

 C. The Secretary shall:

 

1. Keep the minutes of the Executive Committee and the chapter membership meetings and present them for approval.

                 

      2. Preside at meetings in the absence of the President and the President-elect.

 

      3. Provide a copy of the minutes to the President promptly after each meeting.

     

      4. Complete the correspondence of the Association as necessary.

 

      5. Be responsible for the safe keeping of the meeting agendas, minutes of the Association.

  

      6. Prepare news articles as needed.

 

      7. Perform any other duty as directed by the Executive Committee or the chapter membership.

 

 D. The Treasurer shall:

 

1. Be responsible for the funds of the Association.

 

2. Review financial reports monthly with the Executive Committee meeting.

 

      3. Keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures of the Association.

 

      4. Prepare the annual financial report and assure it is available of review by Association members.

 

      5. Prepare an annual budget under the direction of the President and the Executive Committee.

 

      6. Present a treasurer’s report at chapter meetings.

 

7. Recommend dues amount to the Executive Committee at the May meeting.

 

8. Collect dues paid by members and make copies of the checks, update member data in membership list, and turn the membership data over to the membership committee chair.

 

9. Disburse funds as authorized the Executive Committee, the chapter membership, or the budget.

 

10. Be a member of WREA.

 

      11. Perform any other duty as directed by the Executive Committee or the chapter membership.

 

E. The Immediate Past President shall:

 

      1. Serve as a mentor for the President and President-elect.

                 

      2. Act as a member of the Executive Committee.

 

 

 

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3. Monitor the need for bylaw changes and ensure that the Bylaws are review at least every five years, request                           that the President appoint a Bylaws Committee, with the Immediate Past President serving as chair.

     

      4. Serve as Parliamentarian at Association meetings.

 

      5. Be a member of WREA.

 

      6. Perform any other duty as directed by the Executive Committee or the chapter membership.

 

Section 2. Other Association Positions. These are position needed to effectively run the Association but are not a part of the Executive Committee.

 

A. The Newsletter Editor shall:

 

1. Prepare a newsletter before the meetings and distribute to the membership via email and mailings prior to

Association meetings.

 

B. The Social Media Coordinator shall:

 

1. Oversee the design and post updates to the Association website.

 

2. Maintain and keep all Association social media up-to-date, current, and relevant by posting regularly.

 

3. Maintain an Association presence in social media, such as: Facebook, Twitter, etc.  

 

Section 3. The officers shall serve a term of two years.  They shall be elected at the September meeting of years ending in even numbers and shall take office on the November 1 following the election.  Officers may be re-elected for successive terms.

 

Section 4. Removal from office: An Association officer may be removed by the Executive Committee after due notice and hearing.  A removal requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the Executive Committee at a duly convened or special meeting.

 

Section 5. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the remainder of the vacated term shall be filled

by the Vice-President.  Vacancies in any other office shall be filled by special election.

 

                  Article VI. ORGANIZATION

 

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall:

 

A. Consist of Association officers and the chairs of the Membership, Legislative and Book Committees. Other Association members may attend.

 

B. Meet at the call of the President or at the request of a majority of the Committee.  The first meeting of the year            

    shall be held as soon as feasible after the September meeting.

 

C. Oversee the preparation of an annual budget for the presentation at the September meeting.  The budget shall include the amount of Association dues for the next year and mileage rate at which expenses of Association members are to be reimbursed.

 

D. Arrange for the election of a Nominating Committee at the November meeting of years ending in uneven numbers.     

    The members of the Nominating Committee shall select a member to serve as chair.

 

Section 2. Standing Committees

 

A. The Membership Committee shall:

 

1. Recruit and maintain membership. 

 

 

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2. In coordination with the Treasurer, maintain an up-to-date list of members and furnish copies to officers upon request.

 

3. Produce the Association Directory in October and distribute it to the membership at the November meeting.

 

      4. Assist WREA in providing educational resources for pre and post retirees.       

 

      5. Contact retired educators in the area and extend to them an invitation to join the Association.

 

      6. Contact all members whose dues are not paid by the November meeting.

 

7. Submit a copy to the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA) membership chair.

 

8. Send notifications of any deaths or contact information changes to the WREA membership chair.

 

9 .Work with the Treasurer to send memorial donation to the Community Foundation.

 

10. Be a member of WREA.

 

B. The Legislative Committee shall:

 

      1. Research legislative issues.  

 

      2. Keep informed on state and national legislation of importance to retired educators.

 

      3. Initiate contact with our assembly representatives, state senators, and congressmen regarding legislation of                      interest to educators as needed.

 

      4. When needed, attend selected sessions called by the WREA president or the WREA legislative chair on                           proposed bills of interest to educators and keep members of the Association informed on their progress.

 

      5. Help to organize email alerts to members encouraging contact with legislators when necessary.

 

      6. Review educational issues and studies and support legislation that promotes quality public education.

     

      7. Monitor and advocate for a strong Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

 

      8. Inform members on issues proposed by area School Boards.

 

      9. Keep members apprised of area School Board candidates.

 

10. Be a member of WREA.

 

C. The Grant Committee shall:

 

      1. Solicit and prioritize applications for grants.

                             

      2. Recommend the dollar amount to be awarded.

                 

3. Recommend grant recipients.

 

4. Request written checks from treasurer for payment of grants.

 

5. Write congratulation letters to accompany checks to grant recipients.

 

6. Write letters to non-recipients encouraging them to apply again.

 

      7. Prepare and submit an end of the year report to the Executive Committee for the WREA annual report.

 

 

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D. The Scholarship and Endowment Committee shall:

 

            1. Replaced and Disbanded in 2015 – (See Addendum – pages 8-9)

.

E. The Book Committee shall:

 

      1. Coordinate with the Executive Committee to locate appropriate storage of books collected.

 

      2. Coordinate with the Executive Committee to locate sites to hold the book sales.

 

3. Plan, organize, and advertise the book sales

 

4. Receive, sort, and maintain book donations for bi-annual book sales.

 

5. Organize workers for set-up, working at sales, and clean-up.

 

6. Work with the WREA to obtain insurance coverage for the book sales.

 

      7. Account for daily sales receipts, give a report of total sales to the Treasurer, and then coordinate with the                          Treasurer for the deposit of the funds.

 

8. Work with the Treasurer to prepare a Final Book Sales report for the Executive Committee.

 

F. The Program Committee shall:

 

      1. Plan the meeting programs for the coming year in coordination with the President.

 

      2. Contact presenters prior to the meeting and arrange for audio-visual and other needs.

 

3. Set up laptop and projector for chapter meetings and run the equipment during the meeting.

 

      4. Introduce the speaker at the meeting.

 

      5. Write a follow-up thank you letter.

 

      6. Arrange for payment of the speaker stipend with the Treasurer.

 

G. The Health Committee shall:

 

1. Inform members of the educational and service programs centered on preventive health care and related programs.

 

      2. Keep the membership informed of WREA health and wellness programs.

 

3. Arrange for periodic sessions to assist the Association and community members with the preparation of

    Advanced Directives.

 

 

H. The Social Committee shall:

 

      1. Select places for chapter membership meetings, take reservations if needed, select menus, and receive

          payments, if needed.

 

      2. Act as greeters at all chapter membership meetings and make persons in attendance feel welcome.

 

      3. Have nametags available at meetings.

     

      4. Plan and organize social events for the Association.

 

 

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I. The Sunshine Committee shall:

 

      1. Phone, send a card, or visit ill Association members.

 

      2. Send a sympathy card to the family in the event of the death of an Association member.

 

      3. Inform the Executive Committee of actions taken.

 

J. The Historical Committee shall:

 

1.     Electronically or in paper format store and maintain the history of the Association, by doing such things as: photographing events, clipping relevant newspaper articles, archiving the Association newsletters, etc. for the Association record books.

 

2. Display archival materials at chapter membership meetings.

 

3. Pass Association historical information older than ten years onto the Portage County Historical Society.

 

4. Coordinate with the Portage County Historical Society to obtain volunteers to teach early 19^th century lessons at the Hie Corners School.

 

Section 3. Ad Hoc Committees: The President may appoint other committees for special projects such as the Nominating Committee and the Retirement Planning Committee.  Such ad hoc committees shall be dissolved upon completion of their projects.

 

A. The Nominating Committee shall:

     

      1. In January of years ending in even numbers, begin recruiting candidates for office.

 

      2. In May of years ending in even numbers, present a slate of candidates for office for the following year.

 

      3. Oversee the election of officers at the September meeting.

 

B. The Retirement Planning Committee shall:

 

1.  In odd-numbered years, work with the WREA to organize and publicize an on-line or in-person retirement program for active educators and others in the community included in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

 

      2. Encourage membership in WREA.

 

                  Article VII. CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

 

Section 1.  There shall be six regular chapter membership meetings per year.

 

Section 2.  Regular chapter membership meetings shall be held on the second Mondays of September, November,

January, March, May and July at a place acceptable to the members.

 

Section 3.  Should a chapter membership meeting not be held as scheduled, it may be rescheduled if feasible.

 

Section 4.  A special chapter membership meeting of the Association will be held at the request of one-fourth of the average number of members attending regular meetings during the preceding twelve months.  Such a request

shall be accompanied by a signed petition of voting members.

 

 

                  Article VIII. DUES

 

Section 1.  Annual dues shall be fixed at the May meeting.

 

 

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Section 2.  Association dues are waived for new members for the first year.

 

Section 3.  Members paying their dues after May 31 shall have them credited as paid for the following year.

 

                  Article IX. FINANCES

 

Section 1.  The fiscal year of the Association shall be from September 1 through the following August 31.

 

Section 2.  An annual budget shall be prepared by the Treasurer under the direction of the Executive Committee for presentation at the September meeting.

 

Section 3.  Members shall be reimbursed for expenses they incur in carrying out Association business within the framework of the annual budget.  Such expenses shall be documented by written receipt or in a manner acceptable to the Treasurer.

 

Section 4.  A financial audit and review will be completed annually by a three member audit committee in cooperation of the treasurer sometime near the end of the fiscal year. The committee to be appointed by the Executive Committee.

 

Section 5.  Donations or contributions by the Association outside the budget in amounts not to exceed $100.00 shall be approved by the President.

 

Section 6.  Donations or contributions by the Association outside the budget of more than $100.00 shall be referred to a meeting of the Executive Committee and approved by the chapter membership.

 

Section 7.  Donations to the Association shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee.

 

                  Article X.  PARLIMENTARY PROCEDURE

 

Section 1.  At regularly scheduled meetings of the Association, those members present shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 2.  Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not stated in these bylaws.

 

                  Article XI.  AMENDMENTS

 

These bylaws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regularly scheduled chapter membership meeting, provided notice was given of the proposed changes at a previous meeting.  Amended bylaws become effective upon adoption.

 

 

                  Article XII. DISSOLUTION

 

In the event of circumstances which cause the dissolution of the Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’

Association (SPARTA), all funds and other assets of the Association shall be transferred to any successor organization or disbursed to such not-for-profit educational or charitable agency or institution as the Stevens

Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA) Executive Committee shall designate.

 

                  ADDENDUM

 

Scholarship and Endowment Committee

 

The Scholarship and Endowment Committee was dissolved in 2015 and replaced with the Community Foundation Endowment Fund.

 

In 2015 the chapter set-up and endowment fund for the sole purpose of distributing continuing educational scholarship/s to student/s pursuing a college degree in the field of education.

 

 

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In 2019 there was a revision to the endowment contract designating the authority to the Community Foundations to choose the scholarship recipient/s based on the Association’s eligibility criteria in the contract.

 

Two $500 scholarships are to be given out annually.

 

                 

 

 

Constitution and Bylaws adopted January 19, 1970.

 

Amended January 10, 1972; November 11, 1985; March 11, 1991; March 8, 2004; May 11, 2015.

 

Revised and adopted May 14, 2018 for implementation beginning September 1, 2018.

 

Revised and adopted May 13, 2024 for implementation beginning September 1, 2024.

 

 

Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee 2024

Sherrilee Wallerman

Ginny Williams

Under the direction of the Executive Committee