AATFACS

Arkansas Association for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences

The core of our Professional Organization..............

A. To actively promote the interests of teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.

B. To encourage higher standards of teaching by Family and Consumer Sciences Educators.

C. To promote harmony and solidarity of group action within the membership.

D. To promote liaison with and representation in organizations and groups having related concerns.

E. To render services to local communities in promoting and stabilizing Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

F. To cooperate with the Arkansas Department of Career Education and its staff in continued development of Career and Technical Education in Arkansas.

G. To expand and improve public knowledge and understanding of the advantages of Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

H. To interest young people in Family and Consumer Sciences Education as a career.

I. To actively support the related Career and Technical Student Organization, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and its purposes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A. AATFACS is affiliated with the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education (AR ACTE), the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), and the National Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS).

B. Membership is open to any individual interested in the purposes of the association.

C. The officers, consisting of a president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian, are elected annually at the AR ACTE conference.

D. The Executive Council of AATFACS officers and committee chairpersons has three meetings annually (Fall and two in the Spring) with additional meetings called by the president.

E. AATFACS is represented on the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education Board by one representative plus one additional representative for every 100 affiliated members.

F. The annual AATFACS meeting may be scheduled during the Arkansas ACTE Conference.

G. Dues are paid annually. Dues may be paid directly to the AATFACS Treasurer at the AR ACTE Conference, or be mailed to the AATFACS Treasurer.

CONSTITUTION

FOR

ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION TEACHERS OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

ARTICLE I - NAME

A. The name of this nonprofit organization shall be Arkansas Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (AATFACS).

B. This association shall be affiliated with the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education (AR ACTE), the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), and the National Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS).

ARTICLE II - Purposes

A. To actively promote the interests of teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.

B. To encourage higher standards of teaching by Family and Consumer Sciences Educators.

C. To promote harmony and solidarity of group action within the membership.

D. To promote liaison with and representation in organizations and groups having related concerns.

E. To render services to local communities in promoting and stabilizing Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

F. To cooperate with the Arkansas Department of Career Education and its staff in continued development of Career and Technical Education in Arkansas.

G. To expand and improve public knowledge and understanding of the advantages of Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

H. To interest young people in Family and Consumer Education as a career.

I. To actively support the related Career and Technical Student Organization, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and its purposes.

               ARTICLE III - Membership and Dues

A. Eligibility

Any individual interested in the purposes of the association shall be eligible.

B. Classification of Members

1.  Affiliated Membership:

Individuals who are actively engaged in the administration,supervision, and teaching of Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

 2. Associate Membership:

a. A teacher holding a certificate to teach Family and Consumer Sciences who is teaching in another area of instruction.

b. Individuals who have retired from active duty in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

c. Individuals who are enrolled as students preparing to become Family and Consumer Sciences Educators.

d. Persons in related fields.

  3. Honorary Membership:

Individuals who have rendered outstanding service to and/or assisted in the advancement of the Arkansas Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences may be selected to honorary membership by the majority vote of the Executive Council.

C. Dues

The dues for membership shall be determined by the Executive Council and approved by the paid members. Arkansas is a unified state and the Arkansas Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences dues shall be paid IN ADDITION TO the annual dues of Arkansas ACTE and ACTE. Full- time student membership dues are determined by ACTE. Honorary members pay no dues.

D. Privileges of Membership

 1. Affiliated members shall be entitled to one vote and may serve as an officer.

 2. An associate member shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of an affiliated member except that of voting and holding office. An associate member shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Council of the organization.

 3. An honorary member shall have no vote and may not hold office.

E. Membership Year

 The membership year shall be from the annual AR ACTE Conference of one year until the following conference, regardless of the time when dues are paid.

ARTICLE IV - Officers and Executive Council

A. The officers of this division shall consist of a president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, and past-president.

B. The Executive Council shall consist of the officers of the association and committee chairpersons.  All members of the Executive Council are entitled to voting privileges.

C. Representatives to the Executive Board of the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education shall be chosen on the basis of one for each one hundred affiliated members during the previous year. (The division president, president-elect, and past-president, respectively, shall serve as Arkansas ACTE membership permits). A proxy shall be kept on file in the Family and Consumer Sciences office in the Department of Career Education, for use when a representative is unable to attend an Arkansas ACTE board meeting. Any affiliated AATFACS member designated by the president or a majority of the Executive Council present may use the proxy.

D. All officers and representatives shall be active members in good standing in AATFACS, the Arkansas Association for Career and Technical Education, and the Association for Career and Technical Education.

E. Officers shall assume duties immediately following the meeting at which they are elected and installed.

F. An advisory committee, composed of past presidents from the three previous years, will serve on the Executive Council.

ARTICLE V - Election of Officers and Representatives

A. The nominating committee shall submit to the membership at the annual meeting of AATFACS or at a time and place designated by the Executive Council, one name for each elective office. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

B. The election of officers shall be held at the time and place of the annual AATFACS meeting or at a time and place designated by the Executive Council. Election to office shall require a majority of votes cast.

C. The officers shall be elected annually for one year or until a successor has been elected.

D. The president-elect shall succeed to the office of president.

E. The immediate past-president shall act in an advisory capacity to the president and shall serve on the AATFACS Executive Council.

F. If a vacancy should occur during any term of office, the Executive Council shall elect a member to fill the vacancy.

BY-LAWS

FOR

AATFACS

ARTICLE I - Duties of Officers and Executive Council

A. The president shall preside at all meetings of the association, be responsible for the program, and shall perform the duties usually delegated to that office. A notebook of all activities shall be kept during the term of office and recommendations made to the successor.

B. The president-elect shall fulfill the duties of the president during the absence of the president. The president-elect shall be responsible for the promotion of membership. A record of all activities shall be kept during the term of office and recommendations made to the successor.

C. The secretary shall keep a complete and accurate record of proceedings of the general meetings of the organization and all meetings of the Executive Council. The secretary shall prepare correspondence, and fulfill such other duties as the president and the Executive Council shall assign. 

D. The treasurer shall receive and, under the direction of the president and Executive Council, shall hold in safekeeping all monies paid to AATFACS, and shall expend the same upon receipt of a written order from the president or upon approval of the majority of the Executive Council. The treasurer shall keep accurate membership records, a record of expenditures, and all receipts of expenditures. A financial report shall be made at the annual business meeting and at each Executive Council meeting. This report will be audited by the Executive Council.

E. The parliamentarian will ensure that all meetings are governed by Robert's Rules of Order. The parliamentarian will publicize all meetings. The parliamentarian will assist the treasurer in collecting dues at the professional development conference.

ARTICLE II - Committees

A. Standing Committees shall be appointed by the president. The committees shall be as follows: Awards, By-Laws, Audit Review, Nominating, Resolutions, and CTE Support Fund.

B. The president may appoint other committees.

ARTICLE III - Quorum

A. A majority of the members of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum. 

B. During the annual Arkansas ACTE meeting, AATFACS shall hold at least one official announced business meeting. Members of AATFACS present shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE IV - Meetings

A. The annual business meeting of AATFACS shall be held at the time and place of the annual Arkansas ACTE Conference or the designation of the Executive Council.

B. The Executive Council shall meet at such time and place as the president may direct. A majority of the members of the Executive Council may call a meeting provided all Executive Council members receive a notice 10 days prior to the date of the proposed meeting.

C. Professional meeting expenses of the Executive Council representatives shall be defrayed by the division when funds are available.

ARTICLE V - Amendments

A. The constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at any annual meeting, provided notice has been given at the preceding annual meeting or by mail to all members thirty days prior to the annual meeting.

B. In the event of an emergency, this Constitution or its By-Laws may be amended by mail. A majority of votes cast shall prevail.

ARTICLE VI - Dissolution

 If AATFACS is dissolved, the balance of the treasury and all assets shall be transferred to the professional Family and Consumer Sciences Program Area of the Arkansas Department of Career Education to administer a scholarship fund for students to study Family and Consumer Sciences at a state college, university, community college, or technical college.

ARTICLE VII - Parliamentary Authority 

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern any provision not covered by the Constitution of AATFACS and which is not consistent with the Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE VIII - Adoption

This revised Constitution and By-Laws replaces and supersedes all prior constitutions, amendments, and by-laws of AATFACS and shall become effective August 1, 2005.

Revised: July 24, 2012