Administrative & Service Faculty at WSU
Constitution and Bylaws
Constitution and Bylaws
Minnesota State
University
Association of Administrative & Service Faculty
Of
Winona State University
PART 1 - ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - Name and Affiliation
Section 1. Name
This organization shall be known as the Association of Administrative and Service Faculty of Winona State University (hereinafter called the Winona Chapter). It shall be considered a Chapter of the Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty.
Section 2. Affiliations
The Winona Chapter may not become a party to any merger or affiliation with any professional employee union or group except if approved by majority vote of the State Board of Directors and subsequent ratification by local chapters.
ARTICLE II - Purpose
The main purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare of the administrative and service faculty of Winona State University. Secondly, to cooperate with the other Minnesota State University campuses via the MSUAASF organization to achieve common goals in the area of employment conditions.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1. Eligibility
Membership in MSUAASF shall be open to any person in a position designated in the bargaining unit as established by the Bureau of Mediation Services.
Section 2. Good Standing
Persons shall be considered in good standing when they have paid membership dues as set by the state and local chapters. A signed authorization to withhold dues via payroll deductions on file in the Minnesota Teamsters office shall be considered a paid membership.
ARTICLE IV - Officers
Section 1. Names of Officers
The officers of the Winona Chapter shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President, representative to the State MSUAASF Negotiations Committee, and representative to the state MSUAASF Legislative Affairs Committee. They shall be elected by the general membership and have the powers and the duties specified in the Bylaws.
Section 2. Executive Committee
The officers of the Winona Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall act for the Winona Chapter between general meetings in accordance with the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V - Meetings and Transaction of Business
Section 1. Regular Meeting
Regular monthly meetings of the Winona Chapter shall be held once each month except July. A specific schedule of regular meetings shall be determined by the President and shall be established for the entire academic year at the beginning of each academic year.
Section 2. Special Meetings
The President may call a special meeting at any time for any appropriate matter of business. A special meeting may be called by the President if at least one of the members in good standing submits a written request to the President for such a meeting specifying in the written request the agenda for that meeting. The President may add other items to the agenda at such a specially-requested meeting.
Section 3 - Quorum
The quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of at least 15 members in good standing.
Section 4. Notification of Meeting
The President shall distribute to all members in good standing of the Winona Chapter a written notice of any meeting, regular or special, indicating the probable agenda, prior to the scheduled meeting.
Section 5. Extraordinary Circumstances
As determined by the President and/or the Executive Committee, the Committee may conduct business of the Winona Chapter by mail, email or over the phone. Quorum requirements shall not be waived in these circumstances.
Section 6. Mode of Voting at Meetings
Normally, motions presented at a meeting shall be voted upon by acclamation unless a motion for a secret ballot is made and passed by a majority of the members in good standing present at the meeting.
Section 7. Parliamentary Procedure
Roberts Rules of Order shall be the guide for all business meetings.
ARTICLE VI -Adoption and Amendments to this Constitution
Section 1. Adoption of this Constitution
This constitution shall be in effect upon its approval by a majority of eligible members in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 2. Amending this Constitution
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the votes of members in good standing cast at a regularly scheduled meeting. Such amendments shall have been presented in writing to members in good standing of the Winona Chapter at least one month prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.
PART 2 - BYLAWS
CHAPTER 1- Dues
Section 1. Initial Membership Fee
The Winona Chapter shall pay initial membership fees for any employee assigned to the MSUAASF bargaining unit who chooses to become a member in good standing.
Section 2. Determining the Amount of Dues
Dues are assessed to all full share members as established by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 320 in compliance with the Teamsters International Constitution and Bylaws. Fair share members are assessed 85% of the full share membership fee.
Section 3. Special Assessments
Special assessments may be levied upon members in good standing of the Winona Chapter by majority vote of the members in good standing present at any regular or special meeting where a motion to that effect is presented.
CHAPTER 2 - Election of Officers
Section 1. Nominations
A Nominating Committee consisting of three members in good standing shall be elected by the membership at the regular Chapter meeting in April and shall present a slate of candidates from among members in good standing of the Winona Chapter at the regular May meeting.
Section 2. Elections
All officers shall be elected upon receiving the majority vote of those members in good standing casting such ballots at the regular May meeting. Election shall be by secret ballot. If candidates are running unopposed, members shall have the opportunity to case a vote of non-confidence.
Section 3. Dates of the Elections
Subsection 1. The election of officers shall be held every even numbered year. Terms of office will commence on June 1.
Subsection 2. The election of a member in good standing to serve on the Meet and Confer Team and the election of an Alternative Representative to the State MSUAASF Negotiations Committee shall be held at the September membership meeting in even numbered years
Section 4. Resignation of Officer or Inability of Elected Officer to Serve
Subsection 1. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President and complete the President's term of office in the case of the President's inability to fulfill his/her responsibilities or in the case of the resignation of the President. The Past President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence of the President and Vice President, in the case of the President's and Vice President's inability to fulfill their responsibilities, or in the case of the resignation of the President and Vice President. The Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence of the President, Vice President and Past President, in the case of the President's and Vice President's and Past President's inability to fulfill their responsibilities, or in the case of the resignation of the President and Vice President and Past President.
Subsection 2. In the event of resignation or inability to serve of any elected officer except the President, the Executive Committee shall nominate member(s) in good standing to be elected to serve out the unexpired term(s) and conduct the election at a regularly scheduled meeting as soon as feasible.
Section 5. Removal of Officers
Officers may be subject to recall upon submission to the Executive Committee of a petition signed by one-third of the members of good standing. A secret ballot on the petition shall be conducted within 10 business days. The results shall be tabulated at specially scheduled meeting of the general membership. Passage of the ballot shall require a two-thirds majority of the members in good standing. Removal shall be effective immediately. A recalled officer may not later serve as an officer in any capacity.
Section 6.- Duties of Officers
Subsection 1. Duties of the President
The President shall preside at all meetings, may call special meetings, shall establish the annual meeting schedule, shall prepare agendas for and provide notification of future meetings, shall be responsible for conducting the affairs of the Winona Chapter during the term of his/her office, shall be the Association's delegate to the MSUAASF State Board of Directors and shall report State Board activities to the general membership. If unable to attend a State Board of Directors meeting, the President may select and appoint a proxy representative. The President shall solicit volunteers to serve on search committees and make appointments, in consultation with the Executive Committee when there are more volunteers than vacancies.
Subsection 2. Duties of the Vice President
The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence of the President, in the case of the President's inability to fulfill his/her responsibilities, or in the case of the resignation of the President, and shall serve on the Campus Evaluation Committee. The Vice President shall solicit volunteers to serve on All-University Committees and University-wide Task Forces and make appointments, in consultation with the Executive Committee when there are more volunteers than vacancies.
Subsection 3. Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall make all arrangements for meeting rooms and meeting refreshments; shall keep records of all official meetings and money transactions; shall distribute minutes of official meetings; shall encourage eligible persons to become members in good standing of the MSUAASF Chapter; shall maintain the member's list, and shall represent the Winona Chapter on the State MSUAASF Membership Concerns Committee.
Subsection 4. Duties of Past President
The immediate Past President shall advise the Executive Committee and shall serve as the Winona Chapter grievance officer to represent a member and or the membership in the resolution of a grievance and shall represent the Winona Chapter on the state MSUAASF Grievance Committee.
Subsection 5. Duties of the Representative to the State MSUAASF Negotiations Committee
The representative to the state MSUAASF Negotiations Committee, in conjunction with representatives from other MSUAASF campus associations, shall represent the interests of members of the Winona Chapter in collective bargaining with the employer. S/he shall regularly report on the progress of negotiations while they are being conducted. An Alternative Representative to the State MSUAASF Negotiations Committee shall be elected at the September membership meeting in even number years and shall assume the duties of the Representative in the event of the absence of the Representative, in the case of the Representative's inability to fulfill his/her responsibilities, or in the case of the resignation of the Representative.
Subsection 6. Duties of the Representative to the state MSUAASF Legislative Affairs Committee
The representative to the State MSUAASF Legislative Affairs Committee shall represent the interests of the members of the Winona Chapter in the development of state MSUAASF positions on proposals before the legislature, and shall organize campus association efforts to influence legislation.
Subsection 7. Duties of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall contribute to agendas for regular MSUAASF meetings, shall attend all regular meetings and all Meet and Confer sessions, shall be available for special meetings called by the MSUAASF President, and shall assist the MSUAASF President in conducting the business of the membership between regular meetings.
Subsection 8. Special Executive Committee Meetings
The President may call a special Executive Committee meeting at any time for any appropriate matter of business. A special Executive Committee meeting may be called by the President if at least one member of the Executive Committee submits a written request to the President for such a meeting specifying in the written request the agenda for that meeting. The President may add other items to the agenda of such a specially-requested meeting.
Subsection 9. Meet & Confer Team
The Meet and Confer team shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Past President, Legislative Representative, Negotiations Representative, and at least one other member in good standing of the organization. The member in good standing shall be elected at the September membership meeting in even number years.
Section 10. Members' Responsibilities
Subsection 1. Members shall notify and confer with the President prior to entering into negotiations with Human Resources to create Memos of Agreement or Letters of Understanding. The President shall be authorized to sign any such Memos of Agreement or Letters of Understanding upon the approval of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee.
Subsection 2. Members shall notify and confer with the Vice President prior to submitting position descriptions to Human Resources for consideration by the Campus Evaluation Committee.
Subsection 3. Members serving on Search Committees for MSUAASF positions shall ensure candidates scheduled for on-campus interviews have an opportunity to meet with an Officer to receive information on the Winona Chapter and entry-level salary determinations.
ARTICLE IX -Adoption and Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 1. Adoption of these Bylaws
These bylaws shall be in effect upon their approval by a majority of eligible members in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 2. Amending these Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended by a majority of the votes of members in good standing cast at a regularly scheduled meeting. Such amendments shall have been presented in writing to members in good standing of the Winona Chapter at least one week prior to the regular scheduled meeting.
AMENDMENTS
The following amendment describing the distribution and management of professional development funds and professional improvement funds was passed by the MSUAAF general membership at the monthly membership meeting on April 1, 2003.
AMENDMENT I: Distribution and Management of Professional Development Funds
Principles: The MSUAASF contract allocates Professional Development (PD) funds based on the FTE number of MSUAASF employees on local campuses. PD funds distributed locally to an individual MSUAASF member are to be used at the discretion of the individual, in accord with contractual provisions. Any funds allocated to an individual remain under her/his control for the duration of her/his continuing employment as a Winona State University MSUAASF employee.
Distribution: PD funds received from the contractual allocation are distributed to local members based on employment status as of July 1. (Note: See exception under balance limit.)
Allocation: A MSUAASF employee employed full-time (FTE of .75 or greater) receives a full share. A MSUAASF employee employed part-time (FTE of less than .75) receives a half share.
Balance limit: Each September the MSUAASF President shall review PD funds account balances and by September 30 shall notify individuals who have a balance of PD funds greater than $2,000 that funds in excess of $2,000 must be expended by the end of the FY to be eligible to receive funds at the next scheduled distribution of the contractual allocation.
Each May, the MSUAASF President shall review updated PD funds account balances and by May 30 shall notify individuals who have a balance of PD funds greater than $2,000that those individuals with funds in excess of $2,000 as of June 30 will not be eligible to receive funds at the next scheduled distribution of the contractual allocation.
On July 1, the MSUAASF President shall request the campus Budget Director to verify the current PD funds account balances. Those individuals who have not expended funds in excess of $2,000 will not be eligible to receive additional PD funds at the next scheduled distribution of the contractual allocation. Individuals may choose to return excess funds to be re-distributed to the general membership.
Transferring employee: A MSUAASF member transferring from one department to another retains control of any PD funds previously allocated to him/her
Terminating employee: The balance of PD funds available to a terminating MSUAASF member are redistributed to the general membership. The terminating MSUAASF member shall determine the balance of PD funds available to her/his credit as of the date of her/his termination and shall notify the MSUAASF President of that amount within ten (10) business days of the termination date. The MSUAASF President shall arrange for the funds to be transferred to a MSUAASF PD funds holding account for distribution to all eligible MSUAASF members at the next scheduled distribution of the contractual allocation.
Professional Improvements Funds: Professional Improvement Funds (PIF) shall be awarded through an application process. There will be two application rounds for the distribution of PIFs each FY. At least 25% of the total available will be reserved for distribution during the second round of applications.
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Constitution and bylaws revised and adopted June 3, 2003.
Article V, Section 3, amended May 4, 2010.
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