EAGLE EYES LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION BYLAWS Article I-Name The name of Organization shall be Eagle Eyes and is the Louisiana School for the Deaf Parent Teacher Organization. Article II-Purpose The group is organized for the purpose of supporting the education of children at The Louisiana School for the Deaf by fostering relationships among the school, parents, teachers, government leaders and larger deaf community. Article III-Organization The Louisiana School for the Deaf Parent Teacher Organization will initially be organized as an unincorporated association. In the event that the Organization decides to collect and/or disburse monetary funds in the future the Organization will form the appropriate legal entity to be registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State and these By Laws will be amended as is appropriate to effectuate the change. Article IV-Members Section 1. Members with voting rights. Any parent, guardian, or other adult who has legal custody of a student at the school may be a member with voting rights. The director and any teacher or staff employed at the school may be a member and have voting rights. In order to be a member with voting rights one must formally join the organization by completing or updating a yearly registration form. Section 2. Members without voting rights. Any person who does not meet the requirements of Section 1 may be a member of the organization. Any members who do not meet the requirements of Section 1 will not have voting rights and may not be an officer or member of the executive board. Section 3. Dues shall not be required to be a member of this organization. Section 4. All members of this organization have the right to speak at regular meetings. Article V-Officers and Elections Section 1. Officers. The officers shall be president, vice president, secretary. a. President. The president shall compose all meeting agendas, preside over meetings of the organization and executive board, serve as the primary contact for the principal, represent the organization at meetings outside the organization, and serve as an ex officio member of all committees. b. Vice President. The vice president shall assist the president and carry out the president’s duties at his or her request, in absence, or inability to serve, and coordinate the work of committees so that the purpose of the organization is served. Proposed Changes of 4/24/2012 Eagle Eyes Bylaws Page 1 c. Secretary. The secretary shall keep all records of the organization, take and record minutes, send out the meeting agendas as directed by the president, handle correspondence, and send notices of meetings to the membership. The secretary will keep a copy of the minutes book, bylaws, rules, membership list, and any other necessary supplies, and brings them to meetings. Section 2. Nominations and Elections. Nominations will be held at the second to last regular meeting of the school year. Elections will be held at the last regular meeting of the school year. Nominations may also be made from the floor during the last regular meeting. Voting shall be by voice vote if a slate is presented. If more than one person is running for an office, a ballot vote shall be taken. Section 3. Eligibility. Members are eligible for an office in the organization if they are an active member, meaning that they have been a member of the organization for six (6) months, and have attended at least 80% of regular meetings in the previous six (6) months before the election, either in person, by phone, or video. Section 4. Terms of Office. Officers are elected for one (1) year and may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. Each person elected shall hold only one office at a time. Section 5. Vacancies. If there is a vacancy in the office of the president, the vice president will become the president. At the next regular meeting, a new vice president will be elected. If there is a vacancy in any other office, members will fill the vacancy through an election at the next regular meeting. Section 6. Removal from Office. Officers can be removed from office with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of those present at a regular meeting where notice has been given to all regular membership fourteen (14) days prior to the removal meeting. Any officer who misses more than three (3) consecutive meetings is subject to removal. Article VI-Meetings Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the organization shall be held at a time and place determined by the executive board at least one (1) month before the meeting. The annual meeting will be held at the last regular meeting of the school year. The annual meeting is for receiving reports, electing officers, and conducting other business that should arise. The secretary will notify the all members of the meetings by email and by letter sent home with the students at least one (1) week prior to the meeting. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the president, any two (2) members of the executive board, or five (5) regular members submitting a written request to the secretary. Notice of special meetings shall be sent to all organization members at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the meeting by emails or phone calls. Section 3. Voting. Members with voting rights may vote by one of the following methods if unable to physically attend a meeting: 1) vote by written proxy; 2) Vote by email, fax, or telephone call to the secretary, provided the vote is received one (1) week before the regularly scheduled meeting. Proposed Changes of 4/24/2012 Eagle Eyes Bylaws Page 2 Article VII-Executive Board. Section 1. Membership. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, director, school parent liaison, and standing committee chairs. Section 2. Duties. The duties of the Executive Board shall be to transact business between meetings in preparation for the regular meetings, create standing rules and policies, create standing and temporary committees, deal with the LSD Foundation for any monetary needs, and prepare reports and recommendations to the membership. Section 3. Meetings. Executive Board meetings will be held at a time and place determined by the executive board during the previous executive board meeting. Special meetings may be called by the president or any two (2) members of the executive board. Notice of special meetings shall be sent to all executive board members at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the meeting by emails or phone calls. Section 4. Quorum. Executive Board members in attendance. Article VIII-Committees Section 1. Membership. Committees may consist of members and board members, with vice president coordinating the work of the committees so that the purpose of the organization is served. The president will act as an ex officio member of all committees. Section 2. Standing Committees. Necessary standing committees with committee chairs will be organized by the Executive Board to support the goals for the organization. Suggested committees such as: Membership; Communications; Nominations; Elementary, Middle, and High School Liaisons; and Book Fair. Article IX-Finances Section 1. In the event the group decides to begin collecting funds these bylaws will be amended in accordance with Article III and the approval provisions for the handling of funds will be added to these bylaws by amendment. Section 2. Prior to the enactment of changes detailed in Article IX Section 1 the group will work with the Louisiana School for the Deaf Foundation if it is decided that financial assistance is necessary to accomplish the goals of the group. Article X-Parliamentary Authority Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern meetings when they are not in conflict with the organization’s bylaws. Article XI-Standing Rules Standing rules may be approved by the Executive Board, and the secretary shall keep record of the standing rules for future reference. Article XII-Dissolution The organization may be dissolved with previous notice, fourteen (14) calendar days and a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting. Proposed Changes of 4/24/2012 Eagle Eyes Bylaws Page 3 Article XIII-Amendments These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting providing that previous notice was given in writing to all members of the organization by the secretary via email and by letter sent home with the students at least two (2) weeks prior. Bylaws may be amended with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) vote of those voting by written proxy, email, fax, or telephone call to the secretary, provided the vote is received one (1) week before the meeting. Proposed Changes of 4/24/2012 Eagle Eyes Bylaws Page 4