CSSA Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE CONNECTICUT SCIENCE SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I -- NAME AND DESCRIPTION

Section 1. The name of this Association shall be the Connecticut Science
Supervisors Association. Said Association may also be referred to as the
Association or CSSA.

Section 2. None of the profits or losses of this organization shall be accrued by
or distributed to a Member of the CSSA or any other individual except as the
Association may be authorized and empowered to reimburse expenses, pay
reasonable compensation for services rendered, or to make payments and
distributions in furtherance of the objectives and purposes set forth in Article
II hereof.

ARTICLE II -- OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES

Section 1. CSSA is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and
scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions
to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal
tax code.

Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the
benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other
private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered
to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and
distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 1 hereof . .No
substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be carrying on of
propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the
corporation shall not participate in, or intervenein (including the publishing
of or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in
opposition to any candidate for public office.Notwithstanding any other
provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other
activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from
federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the
corresponding section of any future tax code.

Section 3. The objectives and purposes of the CSSA shall be: to stimulate,
improve, and coordinate science teaching;to promote the continuity of science
education by developing and improving programs that begin in preschool or first
grade and develop in a continuous fashion through grade twelve and beyond;to
plan, develop and conduct professional development activities for leaders in
science education and those aspiring to leadership roles; and to improve the
public identity and recognition of the roles of leadership in science education.

Section 4. Progress toward these objectives shall be made through meetings and
activities, the distribution of various publications, and in such other ways
that the Board of Directors may approve.In addition, the CSSA may work in
cooperation with other organizations and agencies that share mutual goals and
objectives with CSSA.The Association shall not engage in any activity which
would be inconsistentwith 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 thereto.

ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Classes of Membership:
The Membership shall consist of five classes:
a. active
b. honorary
c. life
d. institutional
e. past presidents
f. retired
Section 2.Dues and Eligibility:
a. Except for Honorary and Life Members, membership is maintained by the payment
of annual dues as described in the CSSA Handbook.The dues for each category of
membership shall be determined by an unanimous vote of the Board of Directors
only after the proposed dues are announced to the Membership in an issue of the
Newsletter, as described in the By-laws.

b. Active Membership (also known as Members) is open to all individuals
interested in leadership roles within the science education community.
c.Honorary Membership is reserved for those members or other distinguished
persons upon whom the Association wishes to bestow special honor.Honorary
Members must be nominated by an active Member and elected by unanimous vote of
the Planning Committee.
d. Persons may be elected to Life Membership upon the nomination by a Member of
the Board of Directors and an unanimous vote of said Board.
e. An Institutional Membership may be attained by businesses, corporations,
schools and other groups that support the objectives and purposes of the
Association.This category requires a special dues’structure, rights, and
privileges.
f. Members who have served a term as President of the Association shall be
assessed dues at 50% of the regular rate.

Section 3.Term of Membership:
a. Except for Honorary and Life Membership, the term of Membership shall be for
one year.Multi-year memberships may be established by the Board for some
categories.

b. Any Member may resign from the Association by submitting a written resignation
to the Board of Directors.Such resignation shall be effective as of the date
received by the Association.The balance of dues will be forfeited by the
resigning member.

ARTICLE IV -- OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Officers:
The elected Officers of this Association shall be the President,
President-elect, Corresponding/Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, and
Treasurer.The most recently retired President shall automatically serve in the
office of Immediate Past President.
Section 2. Board of Directors
a. The Officers shall serve on the Board of Directors during their terms of
office.

b. The President of the Connecticut Science Teachers Association or a designee
shall serve on the Board of Directors during the term of office.
c. The CSSA President shall appoint additional Members in good standing to serve
on the Board of Directors, the total number of Board of Directors Members shall
not exceed 25.

Section 3. Responsibility:
a. The governing body of this Association shall be the Board of Directors.The
members of the Board of Directors shall act on behalf of the Membership and
shall have all of the power of the Membership between Membership Meetings.

b. All Members of the Board of Directors shall have voting privileges of said
Committee.
c. The President is entitled to vote only when the vote is by ballot and in all
cases where the outcome of the vote would change due to Presidential vote.

Section 4: Election and Terms of Office:
a. Election of Officers will be held every two years.

b. Officers shall be elected by oral ballot cast by the Membership during the
final Membership meeting of the fiscal year.
c. The new term of office for Officers shall begin on June 1.
d. The terms of Officers shall be for two years.
e. There is no limit as to the number of terms in office any given Officer may
hold.

Section 5: Affiliate Groups
a. General Characteristics:

1. The CSSA may establish relationships with other groups.
2. Affiliate groups shall be self-governing, not-for-profit, maintain financial
autonomy from CSSA and have as its purpose the advancement and improvement of
science education.
b. Representation on the CSSA Board of Directors:
1. An organization may apply for Affiliate status through the President of CSSA
as described in the By-laws.
2. The President or an appointee of each Affiliate may sit on the CSSA Board of
Directors in a non-voting capacity unless special privileges are provided
through the mutual agreements and unanimous approval of the CSSA Board of
Directors.

ARTICLE V -- COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-elect,
Corresponding/Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, and
Immediate Past President.
Section 2. Standing Committees:
The Standing Committees shall include the:
    a. Elections Committee
    b. Awards Committee
    c. Budget Committee
    d. Membership Meetings Committee
    e. Professional Development Committee
    f. Newsletter Committee
    g. Audit Committee
    h. CEU Committee
Section 3. Ad hoc Committees:
Ad hoc committees may be established by the President, with the approval of the
Board of Directors, whenever such additional committees are necessary to carry
out the work of the Association.

ARTICLE VI -- MEETINGS

Section 1. Membership Meetings:
a. There shall be a minimum of four annual meetings of the Membership. The time
and place of said meetings will be determined by the Executive Committee and
agreed upon by the Board of Directors.

b. CSSA may hold other meetings and conferences at such times and places as the
Board of Directors shall designate to meet the objectives and purposes of the
Association.
c. A special meeting of the Membership may be initiated by a petition from ten
percent of the voting Membership.

Section 2. Board of Directors Meetings
The CSSA Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of three times during the
fiscal year.

ARTICLE VII -- PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. The Newsletter is the official publication of CSSA and the means by
which the Board of Directors will communicate with the Membership.

Section 2. A Membership Directory will be distributed annually to all Members in
good standing as described in the By-laws.
Section 3. The Board of Directors may establish other publications as
appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII -- AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote cast by the Members in a
mail ballot.Proposed changes may be initiated by the Board of Directors or by
petition signed by at least twenty-five percent of the Active and Life
Membership.

ARTICLE IX -- DISSOLUTION

In the event that this Association should ever be dissolved, any remaining
assets will be donated to the Connecticut Science Teachers Association. Such
donation will be made after the resolution of all debts, obligations, and
liabilities.These assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt
purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954 or the corresponding section of any future tax code, or shall be
distributed to federal government, or a state or local government, for public
purposes.Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of
Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the
corporation 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.

ARTICLE X -- APPROVAL

This Constitution was approved for presentation to the Membership by the Board
of Directors of the Connecticut Science Supervisors’ Association on September
12, 1994.

Approved by the Membership on October 6, 1994.
Revision of this Constitution was presented and approved by the membership on
May 10, 2001.
Constitution and By-laws Committee
Linda Froschauer- Chair

Now On to the ByLAWS
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CSSA By-laws