Revised 1/15/98

LOUIE WELCH MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT - TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME & AFFILIATION

Section 1 - The name of this organization shall be the Louis Welch Parent-Teacher Organization of Houston Texas.

Section 2 - This organization shall not be affiliated -with the state or local branches of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

ARTICLE II-PURPOSE

The organization shall act as liaison for parents, teachers and students of this school with the ultimate goal of aiding, to whatever extent practicable, educational endeavors.

ARTICLE III - POLICIES

Section 1 - The programs of this organization shall be educational and shall be developed through conferences, committees and projects.

Section 2 - The organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. It shall not endorse any commercial enterprise or political candidate. Neither the name of the organization nor the names of any members in their official capacities shall be used in any connection with any commercial concern or with any partisan interest, or for any purpose other than the regular work of the organization.

Section 3 - This organization shall seek to participate in the decision-making processes relative to school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to the Board of Education and the school administration.

Section 4 - This organization may cooperate with any community association, organization and agencies active in child welfare. Any binding relationship shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1 - Membership in the Louie Welch PTO shall be open to those who subscribe to its purpose as defined in Article II of these By-Laws and who are:

a.             Parents and guardians of students enrolled in Louie Welch Middle School,

b.             Members of the faculty and/or staff and their families,

c.              Interested adults who do not qualify under Section

1.    (a) or (b) may petition the Louie Welch PTO Committee for membership approval.

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Section 2 - The annual dues for adult membership in this organization shall be determined each year by the Executive Committee.

Section 3 - An annual enrollment of members shall be conducted. Additional members may be accepted at any time upon payment of the annual dues.

ARTICLE V- OFFICERS

a.             The officers of this organization shall consist of, but not be limited to, a President, three
Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Parliamentarian. The officers shall serve
as presiding officer in the succession order given, if required.

b.             In the case of every office where possible and practicable, said office may be filled
jointly by a member husband-wife team; however, such joint office-holders shall be
entitled to no more than one vote on any particular issue.

c.              Officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote at the last organization meeting of
each school year.

d.             Officers shall be installed at the last organization meeting and assume their official duties
on June 1, terminating the following May 31, hereinafter defined as the fiscal year.

e.              An officer shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same
office.

f.              The President shall have served at least one (1) year on the Executive Committee.

Section 2 - An office may be declared vacant in the event three consecutive Executive meetings are missed.

Section 3 - Vacancies in office shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee; shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these By-Laws or assigned to him/her by the organization or by the Executive Committee; and shall coordinate the work of the other officers, committee chairmen and committees in order that the purpose may be promoted. The President may authorize at his/her discretion, expenditures not to exceed $50.00, which is to be reported at the next Executive Committee meeting.

Section 2 - The First Vice-President shall act as an aide to the President; shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or inability of that officer to serve; and shall be responsible for programs and general public relations. He/She shall be responsible for appointing a Chairperson to the Fund-raising Committee, or he shall assume that responsibility himself/herself.

Section 3 - The Second Vice-President shall be responsible for appointing a Chairperson to the Landscaping and Beautification Committee, or he/she shall assume that responsibility himself/herself.

Section 4 - The Third Vice President shall be responsible for all special projects and activities. He/She shall be responsible for appointing a Hospitality Chairperson, or he/she shall assume that responsibility himself/herself.

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Section 5 - The Secretary shall keep a correct record of all meetings of the organization and the Executive Committee; shall have custody of all books and records pertaining to the organization, except those of the Treasurer, shall notify members of their appointment to committees; and shall keep a list of names and addresses of all members and a copy of the By-Laws and Amendments. The secretary shall also handle the correspondence of the organization; shall read all important letters at meetings of the organization and Executive Committee and report pertinent news items not handled by one of the committee chairperson; shall send all notes of appreciation any sympathy, greeting cards and invitations; and shall prepare ballots for use by the organization.

Section 6 - The Treasurer shall keep a full and accurate account of all monies received and disbursed. He/She will render a report at the request of the Executive Committee at its meetings. At the last organization meeting, he/she will present a statement of assets and liabilities as respects the financial operations of the fiscal year. All checks, drafts and notes shall be signed by any two of the three officers i.e., President, First Vice-President or Treasurer, and disposed of under the direction of the Executive Committee. The officers having such signing authority shall be bonded for a limit of not less than $1,000.00 each. Premium for said bonds shall be paid from PTO funds. The Treasurer shall be responsible for appointing the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee, or shall assume that responsibility.

Section 7 - The Parliamentarian shall be ready at all times to express an opinion on parliamentary procedure when requested by the presiding officer.

ARTICLE VII - STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

Section 1 - The Standing Committee Chairperson shall be as follows: VTPS, Fund-raising, Hospitality, Landscape and Beautification, Newsletter, Budget and Finance, Membership, Directory, and Yearbook.

Section 2 - The Standing Committee Chairperson shall be coordinated by and responsible to the officer who appointed them. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the Executive Committee. The term of office of the Standing Committee Chairperson shall be the fiscal year. Both the President and the Principal shall be ex-officio members of these committees.

ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

Section 1 - The Committee Chairperson of VTPS, in coordination with the Assistant Principal, shall organize and manage the Volunteers as required by the school.

Section 2 - The Committee Chairperson of Landscape and Beautification shall be responsible for coordinating all activities pertaining to landscape and beautifying the school grounds.

Section 3 - The Committee Chairperson of Hospitality shall provide refreshments for Executive Committee meetings and special functions.

Section 4 - The Committee Chairperson of the Directory shall be responsible for the publication and sale of a student directory in the fall of the year.

Section 5 - The Committee Chairperson of the Newsletter shall be responsible for publishing a periodic newsletter consistent with the purpose of this organization.

Section 6 - The Committee Chairperson of the Yearbook shall be responsible for the publication and sale of the yearbook.

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Section 7 - The Committee Chairperson of Budget and Finance shall be responsible for presenting a proposed annual budget for the organization's approval.

Section S - The Committee Chairperson of Membership shall arrange the membership campaign and maintain a membership list with adult names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Section 9 - The Committee Chairperson of Fund-raising shall arrange and coordinate those Fund-raising activities that the Executive Committee approves in order to provide the funds required for each year's operations.

ARTICLE EX - SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section I -

a.      The Executive Committee shall have the right to appoint any special committee as required.

b.      Both the President and the school Principal shall be ex-officio members of these committees.

c.      The term of office of the Special Committees shall be the fiscal year.

Section 2 - Each Chairperson of any Special Committee shall present a plan for the work of their committee to the appointing officer for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the Executive Committee, except as respects the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE X - NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Section 1 - There shall be a nominating committee consisting of five (5) members, two (2) of whom shall be elected from the Executive Committee, two (2) of whom shall be appointed from the general membership, and one (1) of whom shall be the school Principal and/or his/her appointed faculty representative. The committee shall elect one of the five (5) members to serve as Chairperson.

Section 2 - The Nominating Committee shall select one (1) nominee for each office to be filled and one (1) Standing Committee Chairperson for each of the following committees: VTPS, Newsletter, Membership. Directory, and Yearbook. These names shall be posted or printed in the newsletter at least two (2) weeks prior to the last regular meeting of the organization.

Section 3 - Following the report of the Nominating Committee, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor.

Section 4 - Only members in good standing who have consented to serve if elected shall be given for nomination from the floor.

ARTICLE XI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of this organization, two (2) faculty members, the Principal of the school or an administrative representative appointed by the Principal, and a parent representative of the Magnet schools appointed by the Principal. The members of the Executive Committee shall serve as provided for in Article V, Section 1, d.

Section 2 - The duties of the Executive Committee shall be the following:

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a.     To transact necessary business in the intervals between organization meetings and such other
business as may be referred to it by the organization.

b.    To create special committees and to approve .the plans of work of them.

c.     To present a report at the regular meetings of the organization.

d.     To appoint an auditing committee before the last Executive Committee meeting of the fiscal
year to audit the Treasurer's accounts.

e.     To approve payment of routine bills pertaining to expenditures authorized by the annual
budget.

f.      To make expenditures up to S 100.00 as it may determine necessary, without approval of the
organization, from all funds received annually that are in excess of the budget. Undisbursed
funds at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

g.     To call additional meetings of the general membership as provided for under Article XII,
Section 1.

Section 3 - A minimum of five (5) regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held during the fiscal year, the time to be fixed at its first meeting. A calendar of these meetings shall be presented at the first Executive Meeting. A quorum shall be constituted by the presence of one-third (1/2) of the total members of the committee. Any other meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or may be called upon the request of any five (5) members of the committee.

ARTICLE XII - MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - There shall be a rninimurn of two (2) regular meetings of this organization, commencing in September and continuing through May. The Executive Committee, at its option, may call additional meetings during the school year. Seven (7) days advance notice to the membership for all meetings will be given.

Section 2 - Twenty-five (25) members and four (4) officers shah¹ constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business of this organization.

Section 3 - The privileges of holding office, introducing motions, debating and voting shall be limited to members of the organization whose dues are paid.

ARTICLE XIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the latest revisions of "Roberts Rules of order" shall govern the order of all meetings to which they are applicable and to which they are consistent with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended at a general meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote provided that the following two (2) requirements are met: