Mission Statement

     The Mission of the Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators (RISTE) is to promote excellence in education through the integration of existing and emerging technologies.

Article I. Name

     The Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators (RISTE) shall be the name of the Association, also to be referred to throughout this document as Association.

Article II. Purpose of Organization

     Section 1. The Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators is an educational Association dedicated to the improvement of education in Rhode Island through the use of technology.

     Section 2. The purpose for which the Association is organized is educational, within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, that is exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational organizations.  

     Section 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law.

     Section 4. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Code, or to the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public purpose.

Article III. Goals

     The Association will:

1. Provide a network of technology educators and other professionals throughout the state of Rhode Island.

2. Provide links to information available to school districts and to the Department of Education.

3. Provide communication to and from local school districts with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and other related associations and groups.

4. Encourage membership in the Association.

5. Improve the quality of educational technology in local school districts.

6. Work for the welfare of students, the advancement of technology in education, and the improvement of instructional opportunities.

7. Promote the involvement of concerned individuals with the growth and development of technology in education.

Article IV. Membership

     The membership of the Association shall be comprised of individuals who are either technology directors/coordinators or educators interested or engaged in educational technology in Rhode Island K-12 schools / districts or school consortia.  They hold membership in the Association, provided they pay annual group or individual dues.

     The Executive Committee shall determine procedures for application for membership, eligibility of applicants, type of memberships, membership privileges, and membership dues.

     The membership year shall extend from July 1 until June 30 of the following year.  Dues must be paid in full to be eligible for any membership benefits and voting privileges. 

Article V. Board of Directors

     The Board of Directors shall be the officially designated representative of a member school or district, a representative from the Catholic Diocesan Schools, a representative from the Private Independent Schools, committee chairs of standing committees, and Executive Committee officers.

     The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of once a year, usually at the Annual Meeting of the Association.  The president shall preside.  If unable to, the next officer in the line of succession shall.  A quorum is made of the majority of those members present.  The Executive Committee shall determine the time and place of the meeting.

     The Board of Directors will designate a Nominating Committee that shall select a slate of officers for offices to be vacated at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

Article VI. Executive Committee

     The officers of this organization shall form an Executive Committee that will have the authority to handle the business of the Association between meetings of the Board of Directors.  The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee.  In the event either the secretary or treasurer is unable to complete their term of office or fulfill the assigned duties, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement to fill the unexpired term.

Article VII. Voting

     Each dues-paid member, school, district and school consortia shall have one (1) vote.  The Executive Committee shall determine who are members with voting privileges.

Article VIII. Dues

     The amount of the dues shall be set by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Article IX. Meetings

     The Annual Meeting of the Association will be held yearly between March 1 and June 30.  A quorum shall consist of the voting-eligible members present. Questions shall be decided by a simple majority.

Article X. Fiscal Year

     The fiscal year of the Association will be July 1 through June 30.

Article XI. Committees

     The president shall have the authority to set up such committees as are needed and to appoint committee chairpersons with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Article XII. Officers and Their Duties

     The officers shall consist of: president, president-elect, past president, secretary, treasurer, and an ex-officio executive director.

     The president shall:

    1.  hold office for two (2) membership years, and may be consecutively reelected for one (1) additional term in office.

    2.  call and preside at all official meetings of the Association.

    3.  appoint chairpersons of committees, other than the Nominating Committee.

    4.  represent the association at official functions and in matters of importance to the Association.

    5.  authorize expenditures of the association in keeping with the actions of the Executive Committee and its budget.

     6.  serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

     The president-elect shall:

    1.  be elected at the end of the president's first year in office and may replace the president following his or her term in office, serving as president for two (2) membership years.  S(he) may be elected to one (1) additional term as president.

    2.  automatically assume the office of the president upon resignation or demise of the president. (S)he shall complete the term of office, and then may be elected to one (1) additional term.

    3.  be responsible for aiding in the development of the organization's program.

     4.  serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

    The past president shall:

    1.  take office for at least one (1) membership year following his or her last year serving as president.

    2.  replace the president-elect in the event (s)he is unable to take or continue in office.

    3.  assume the role of president-elect in case (s)he is unable to preside at official functions and matters of importance to the Association.

    4.  provide advice and assistance to other officers.

    5.  serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

   The secretary shall:

    1.  keep a record of the meetings and actions of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and the Association and see that actions requiring communication with members, other individuals, or groups are carried out as required.

    2.  receive the report of the Nominating Committee and see that is sent to the membership in accordance with the stipulations in the bylaws.

     3.  serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

    The treasurer shall:

    1.  have overall authority for all accounts and funds of the Association.

    2.  work cooperatively with the executive director, who will handle day-to-day financial transactions of the Association.

    3.  establish the account(s) of the organization, as approved by the Executive Committee.*

    4.  establish procedures for the deposit of funds and the maintenance of the organization's properties.

    5.  receive and disburse all funds of the organization as authorized by the Executive Committee.

    6.  maintain a record of all financial transactions and report as requested to the Executive Committee and annually to the association at the annual meeting.

    7.  make his or her records available for audit prior to the annual meeting.

    8.  serve as a member of the Executive Committee.

*This does not mean that every payment must be authorized by the Executive Committee. If a budget is presented and approved by the Executive Committee, items contained in that budget are automatically authorized for payment as funds are available.

    The executive director shall:

    1.  be responsible for and maintain a log of all day-to-day activities.

    2.  be responsible for implementing the goals, policies and mission statement of the Association.

    3.  be accountable directly to the Executive Committee or, at its option, the president.

    4.  assist in the administration and governance of the Association.

    5.  handle day-to-day financial transactions of the Association, working cooperatively with the treasurer.

    6.  assist members with their needs.

    7.  assist in planning professional development workshops, trade shows, monthly meetings, and all related professional development activities.

    8.  promote and liaison the Association via appropriate means.

    9.  advocate the Association’s mission, goals and positions with the Rhode Island General Assembly and the State Department of Education, 

  10.  track legislation which might affect the Association and its members, keeping the Executive Committee and the members aware of important issues.

  11.  develop and maintain an Association library of resources and records.

  12.  gather for and disseminate information to the Executive Committee and members, as is appropriate.

  13.  perform other duties as appropriate and assigned by the Executive Committee.**

  14.  may delegate duties as is appropriate.

  15.  receive a monthly stipend for executing his/her duties.

   16.  serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.

**See Executive Director’s Job Description for the Executive Director’s specific duties and responsibilities.

Article XIII. Election of Officers and Filling Secretary and Treasurer Vacancies

     New officers’ elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting of the Association.   Not later than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting, the Executive Committee shall charge the Board of Directors to appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of a chairperson and at least two (2) other voting-eligible representatives who are not on the Executive Committee.  Not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the annual meeting, the Nominating Committee shall submit to the secretary of the Association names of at least one qualified candidate for each office after having ascertained that each candidate is willing to serve if elected.  Not less than thirty (30) days before the annual meeting, the secretary shall send notice of the report of the Nominating Committee via the Association’s ListServe.  Additional names may be placed in candidacy by written communication to the secretary, provided that at least three (3) members of the Association sign such communication, the person has agreed to serve if elected, and such communication is received by the secretary not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the annual meeting.

     At the Annual Meeting of the Association, the election of new officers shall take place.  An officer who is not on the ballot shall conduct the election.  The election will begin with a reading of the names for each candidate selected by the Nominating Committee and those who may have had their names added in time to be forwarded by the secretary.  The conducting official shall then hold the election for each office.  Names may be added by a call for nominations “from the floor”.  If there is only one (1) nominee for a particular office or for the entire slate of officers, the official conducting the election shall direct the secretary to cast a single vote for the person or for the entire slate of officers.  If there is more than one candidate for a particular office, a written ballot may be request by the majority present.  Otherwise, the election for each office may be conducted by a show of hands. If more than one candidate is on a ballot, the majority vote getters shall be declared elected.

Article XIV. Parliamentary Authority

     The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order will govern the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the organization's bylaws or any special rules of order.

Article XV. Amendment of By-laws

     These By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting-eligible members attending a regular or specially called meeting of the Association, provided that notice of the proposed changes has been sent to the membership not less than 30 days prior to the meeting.

 

These By-laws stand as amended and adopted on October 19, 2010.