CONSTITUTION

Article I – Name

The name of this non-profit association shall be Florida Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, hereinafter referred to as FAMTE.

Article II – Affiliations

FAMTE may affiliate with other organizations, subject to the approval of a majority of those FAMTE members voting. Voting shall be by a ballot sent to all regular members. The ballot shall be accompanied by statements supporting affiliation and non-affiliation.

Article III - Purposes and Goals

FAMTE's general purpose is to promote the improvement of mathematics teacher education in all its aspects in the State of Florida. Specifically, its goals are to:

A. Promote leadership among mathematics teacher educators in the broad mathematics education and mathematics communities in Florida;

B. Serve as a clearinghouse for ideas and resources in mathematics teacher education;

C. Encourage research related to mathematics teacher education, especially research which identifies factors that contribute to improving the preparation and professional development of mathematics teachers at all levels;

D. Encourage and support programs for prospective teachers at all grade levels, especially for members of traditionally underrepresented populations;

E. Facilitate communication among mathematics teacher educators at the elementary, secondary, community college, and college and university levels;

F. Coordinate activities and work collaboratively with other associations and organizations concerned with the preparation and professional development of mathematics teachers;

G. Facilitate collaboration among mathematics teacher educators who are members of different educational administrative units, such as departments of mathematics and departments of education;

H. Encourage and organize programs and meetings focusing on issues related to the preparation and professional development of mathematics teachers;

I. Work cooperatively with Florida and national certification and testing agencies to enhance the mathematical, pedagogical, and clinical preparation of teachers of mathematics at all levels with respect to criteria for credentialing and licensing teachers in Florida;

J. Work cooperatively with Florida and national government agencies and policy setting groups on issues related to mathematics and mathematics teacher education.

K. Coordinate activities with local school districts to enhance the preparation and professional development of mathematics teachers; and

L. Foster the incorporation of appropriate technology into teacher education programs in mathematics at all levels.

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Article IV – Membership

Section 1: Types of Membership

A. Regular Membership shall be open to all individuals who are interested in the goals of FAMTE as stated in Article III. A person shall become a Regular Member in good standing upon receipt of a completed application and designated dues.

B. Institutional Membership shall be open to all organizations that are interested in the goals of FAMTE as stated in Article III. An organization shall become an institutional member in good standing upon receipt of a completed application and designated dues.

Section 2: Privileges of Members

A. Regular Members shall be accorded all rights and privileges normally provided members of educational and professional associations including the right to vote, hold office, receive publications, and participate in conferences and meetings.

B. Institutional Members shall have all the same rights and privileges as regular members, except the right to vote and hold office.

Section 3: Termination of Membership

A. A member may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the Board of Directors or to any member of the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt or upon a date specified in the letter of resignation.

B. Membership shall be terminated upon the non-payment of dues. If dues have not been received within six months of the beginning of the fiscal year, membership shall be terminated.

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Article V - Elected Officers and Duties

Section 1: Officers

The elected officers of FAMTE shall consist of President, Secretary, Treasurer, President-Elect or Immediate Past President and three Members-At-Large (at least one from public and one from private institution).

Section 2: Duties of President

The President shall ensure that the affairs of the FAMTE are conducted in accordance with this Constitution, Bylaws, and policies of the FAMTE; shall be the presiding officer at the annual business meeting, Board of Directors meetings and any special meetings; shall call special meetings as provided for in Section VII-2 of this Constitution; shall coordinate the activities of standing committees; and shall provide leadership for the attainment of the goals of the FAMTE.

Section 3: Duties of President-Elect

The President-Elect shall serve as assistant to the President and assume the office of President in the year following her/his election. The President-Elect, with the consent of the Board of Directors, shall assume the Presidency during his/her term of office upon the incapacity or unavailability of the President.

Section 4: Duties of Immediate Past President

The Immediate Past President shall serve as a resource person to the President during the year following the Immediate Past President’s term of office as President of FAMTE. The Immediate Past President, with the consent of the Board of Directors, shall reassume the Presidency during the year following her/his term as President upon the incapacity or unavailability of the President.

Section 5: Secretary

The Secretary shall record and maintain a file of the minutes of official meetings of the Association and its Board of Directors and shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Association.

Section 6: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall ensure that all revenues and expenditures of FAMTE be in conformity with the Constitution, Bylaws, and policies of the FAMTE; shall be responsible for maintaining records of all monies received and paid in the name of the Association; shall maintain a current and accurate membership list; shall maintain the Association’s non-profit status; shall transact the financial affairs of the Association upon recommendation of the Board of Directors; and shall prepare financial reports to be presented at the meetings of the Board of Directors and prepare reports to be presented at FAMTE's business meeting.

Section 7: Members-at-Large

The Members-at-Large shall assume those responsibilities determined by the President.

Section 8: Term of Office

The terms of office for the elected officers of FAMTE and Members-at-Large shall be three years, except for President-Elect and Immediate Past President who shall serve one-year terms, and the President, who shall serve a two-year term. The Immediate Past President will serve in the first year of the President's term and the President-Elect shall serve in the second year of the President's term. Elected officers of FAMTE and the Members-at-Large shall assume office at the end of the annual meeting at which their election is announced. Officers or the Members-at-Large may serve only one term in a specific office.

Section 9: Vacancies

When a vacancy on the Board of Directors occurs, the president will appoint some one to complete that term, with the approval of the Board of Directors.

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Article VI - Organization

Section 1: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, three Members-at-Large and shall be the policy-making body of FAMTE.

Section 2: Standing Committees

There shall be standing committees of FAMTE as provided in the Bylaws of the Association. Standing committee members and chairpersons shall be appointed by the President of FAMTE with the approval of the Board of Directors.

The Nominations and Election Committee shall be a standing committee of the Association.

Section 3: Representatives to Affiliated Organizations

The Board of Directors shall appoint a member in good standing to be the representative to the Organizations to which FAMTE is affiliated. The representative must also be a member of the affiliated organization. The term of the representative shall be one year.

Article VII – Meetings

Section 1: Annual Business Meeting

FAMTE shall hold two Business Meetings per year as specified in the Bylaws of the Association. These meetings will be open to all members.

Section 2: Special Meetings

Special Meetings of the Association shall be called by the President at the direction of the Board of Directors or upon petition of 20% of the membership.

Section 3: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall hold meetings as necessary.

Section 4: Parliamentary Procedure

Roberts’ Rules of Order Newly Revised shall prevail at all Association meetings, except as provided for in the Bylaws.

Section 5: Quorum

Quorum for the Annual Business Meeting and/or Special Meetings of the Association shall be the members present. The membership shall be notified of the time and place of a meeting at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting or any special meeting.

The presence of a majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at Board of Directors meetings.

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Article VIII - Nominations and Elections

Section 1: Nominations and Election Committee

The President shall appoint and the Board of Directors shall approve a Nominations and Election Committee as specified in Article VI.

Section 2: Elections

Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the membership by the spring meeting.

The President-Elect shall be elected in odd-numbered years. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected every three years. One Member-at-Large shall be elected each year.

The officers and the three Members-at-Large of the Board of Directors will assume office at the end of the Spring Business Meeting at which their election is announced.

Article IX – Referendum

All formal actions taken by the Board of Directors shall be subject to a referendum of the membership in the following manner.

Section 1: Reconsideration

Upon presentation to the Board of Directors of a petition bearing the signatures of a minimum of 10% of the voting members, the Board of Directors shall, at a meeting called within a reasonable time, reconsider its formal action as specified by the petitioners.

Section 2: Referendum

If, after reconsideration, the Board of Directors reaffirms its action, that action shall be subject to a ballot of the membership within 30 days of the reconsideration. If a majority of the regular members of FAMTE who vote reject the Board of Directors action, that action shall become null and void.

Article X - Amendments to the Constitution

This Constitution may be amended by the following procedure.

A. Any member(s) may propose amendments.

B. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Board of Directors two months prior to a business meeting. A proposed amendment endorsed by 20% of the Regular Members present at the Business Meeting shall be considered at the meeting.

C. The Board of Directors shall present for discussion all proposed Constitutional amendments at a Business Meeting. Proposed Constitutional amendments receiving a majority vote of the Regular Members present at the Annual Meeting shall be submitted to the membership for ratification by ballot within 60 days of a Business Meeting and shall take effect when approved by a two-thirds majority of those Regular Members in good standing who vote.

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Article XI - Ratification of the Constitution

This Constitution is ratified when it is approved by 60% of the Regular Members in good standing who vote.

Article XII - Dissolution of FAMTE

This Association may be dissolved only at a Business Meeting. Notification of the intention to dissolve the Association shall be sent to all members in good standing prior to the meeting. The resolution for dissolution shall be discussed at a Business Meeting. If the resolution to dissolve the Association is approved by more than 50% of the Regular Members in good standing who vote at the Business meeting, then FAMTE shall be dissolved.

Upon any such dissolution of the Association, all its property remaining after satisfaction of all its obligations shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or corporations which is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes and has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The determination of how to distribute the funds will be determined at the meeting at which the dissolution of FAMTE is decided.

Article XIII - Internal Revenue Code

This association qualifies for 501(c) (3) status under the Internal Revenue Code. As such, this association is organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.)

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Ratified: February 21, 2004