Constitution
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Article I Name
The name of this Association shall be the Lake Washington Education Association (LWEA).
Article II Purpose
The purpose of the Lake Washington Education Association shall be to advocate the interests of the profession of teaching, to promote the cause of education in the
Article III Membership
Section 1 The Constitution and Bylaws shall prescribe eligibility of membership.
Section 2 Membership shall be open, as provided in the Bylaws, to all persons who shall agree to:
(a) subscribe to the goals and objectives of the Lake Washington Education Association, the Washington Education Association, and the National Education Association;
(b) abide by their Constitution and Bylaws; and
(c) adhere to the Code of Ethics of the education profession; if engaged in teaching or other educational work.
Section 3 Membership shall be subject to review and discontinuance as provided in the Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 4 Membership shall not be denied to individuals on the basis of domicile, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, marital status or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap.
Section 5 Any person who transfers into the district during the current year, is a paid-up member in the local from which he/she transferred, and meets the other LWEA membership requirements, shall be given all rights and privileges until the end of the LWEA membership year. This particular membership is only authorized when the other local offers, on a like basis, to Lake Washington Education Association transferees. Written communication by the applicant showing all such qualifications shall activate the membership.
Section 6 The membership year and the fiscal year shall be coincident, September 1 to August 31, inclusive.
Section 7 Membership shall be permanent, or continuing from year to year, except on resignation, retirement, death, expulsion, suspension, or discontinuance as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 8 Only active members shall have the right to vote, to seek and to hold an elective position in the Association.
Section 9 The Executive Committee of the Lake Washington Education Association shall have power to censure, suspend, or expel any member for just cause, after due process including notice and hearing. The LWEA Executive Committee shall have power to reinstate members pursuant to the requirements in the LWEA Bylaws.
Article IV Dues and Assessments
Section 1 The annual local dues of an active member shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the average teacher's salary in the
Section 2 Payment of the state, local, and national dues shall be accompanied and conditional upon the payment of each.
Section 3 The Lake Washington Education Association may levy special assessments on its members as provided in the Bylaws.
Article V Representative Assembly
Section 1 Determination of the policies and programs of the LWEA shall be vested in the Representative Assembly of delegates elected as hereinafter provided. The Representative Assembly shall meet at least once a month, September through June inclusive, at a time and place set forth by the president and may meet in special session at the direction of the Representative Assembly or by order of the Executive Committee, or by petition of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the general membership.
Section 2 The Representative Assembly shall consist of at least one (1) delegate from each work site within the district for the first (15) members, such work site shall be entitled to an additional delegate for each fifteen (15) active members of the Association or major fraction thereof.
Section 3 Additional delegates may be elected at large by a secret ballot by the membership in order to comply with the requirements of the NEA Constitution and Bylaws for ethnic-minority representation. Nominations for at-large delegates for these positions shall be by the ethnic-minority. At-large delegates shall take office upon their election and serve for a one-year (1) term; they may be re-elected if the at-large position is still required.
Section 4 Only active members of the Association shall be eligible to be delegates or to vote for the election of delegates and such members shall vote in one work site only.
Article VI Officers
Section 1 The officers of the Lake Washington Education Association shall be the president and the vice president. The vice president shall serve as the secretary/treasurer.
Section 2 Officers shall assume office immediately upon adjournment of the NEA Representative Assembly.
Section 3 The officers shall be elected by secret ballot by the general membership. Terms of office shall be for one year.
Section 4 Any officer may be recalled with cause at an election called for that purpose. The election shall be called by the Executive Committee within twenty (20) days upon the petition of one-third (1/3) of the members. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members voting shall be required to recall an officer. In the event the president is recalled, removed, or resigns, the vice president shall assume the office of president for the balance of the unexpired term. If the vice president is recalled, removed, resigns or assumes the office of president, a new vice president shall be chosen by the general membership and shall assume the office of vice president for the balance of the unexpired term.
Article VII Executive Committee
Section 1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the following: the officers of the LWEA, and at least one (1) member from each of the categories as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 2 It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to carry out the program and policies of the Representative Assembly and to exercise the general authority of the Representative Assembly between its meetings. The Executive Committee shall develop and adopt standing rules for the Executive Committee, committees, and commissions. The Executive Committee shall recommend a set of, and amendments to a set of, standing rules for adoption by the Representative Assembly.
Section 3 Election of Executive Committee members representing categories shall be by majority vote (50% + 1 of those qualified and voting) of a secret ballot following open nominations by the members of the organization within each category. Each Executive Committee member shall be elected for a one (1) year term and may be elected for additional terms except as provided for in the case of a vacancy or creation of a new Executive Committee member position. In the event that no candidate receives a majority, the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes shall be in a runoff election.
Section 4 Additional Executive Committee members may be elected at-large by a secret ballot by the membership in order to comply with the requirements of the NEA Constitution and Bylaws for ethnic-minority representation. Nominations for at-large Executive Committee members for these positions shall be by the ethnic-minority members. At-large Executive Committee members shall take office upon their election and serve for a one (1) year term. They may be re-elected if the at-large position is still required.
Section 5 Any Executive Committee member representing a category or an at-large position(s) may be recalled or removed, with cause, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members voting by secret ballot within such category or general membership for at-large position(s) at a special election to be called by the Executive Committee within twenty (20) working days upon the petition of one-third (1/3) of the members within such category or one-third (1/3) of the membership for an at-large position(s). In the event of the recall, removal, or resignation of any such Executive Committee members, the president shall appoint a person from the same category or ethnic-minority for at-large position(s) to fill the unexpired term.
Article VIII Committees and Commissions
Section 1 Committees may be authorized by the Representative Assembly or by the Executive Committee and may be abolished by the authorizing body or the Representative Assembly. The membership term and number of members of the committees shall be determined by the Executive Committee unless otherwise determined by Representative Assembly.
Section 2 Commissions may be authorized or abolished by the Representative Assembly. The membership term and number of members of the commissions shall be determined by the Executive Committee for each commission, unless otherwise determined by Representative Assembly.
Article IX WEA or NEA Delegates
Section 1 The WEA or NEA delegate(s) shall be elected by secret ballot following open nominations for up to three (3) years, as provided in the Bylaws and shall assume office upon certification of their election.
Article X Parliamentary Authority
Section 1 The current edition of Sturgis Standard of Parliamentary Procedure governs this organization in all parliamentary situations that are not provided for in the law or in its Charter, Constitution, Bylaws, or adopted rules.
Article XI Amendments
Section 1 This Constitution may be amended by a sixty percent (60%) vote of all members present and voting in a general ballot to be conducted at all district schools and office buildings or at a specially called general membership meeting; provided that the amendment shall be proposed in writing at the Representative Assembly next preceding the balloting and providing further that the text of the proposed amendment shall have been published in an official publication of the Lake Washington Education Association or a written copy furnished to each member of the Association.
Approved by: Executive Committee October 6, 1987
General Membership March 8, 1988
Amended by: General Membership February 12, 1993
Amended by: General Membership April 30, 1999
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