KGTC Constitution

Adopted October 6, 2008

PREAMBLE

The responsibility for educating gifted students in the State of Kansas requires the attention, effort, and collaboration of educators, education leaders, policy makers, and lay persons. The fulfillment of this responsibility can be furthered through this organization by uniting, supporting, and further developing these individuals’ understanding of giftedness.

ARTICLE I - NAME AND MISSION

The name of this organization shall be Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative or (KGTC).

The mission of KGTC is to promote, support, and improve services for talented, intellectually, and creatively gifted youth of Kansas.

The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.  
Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

 

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to advocate for improved gifted education services and increased resources by:

1. providing professional development and networking opportunities on matters pertaining to gifted education

2. supporting opportunities for students to develop  further their gifts and talents

3. providing paper and electronic publications

4. maintaining and disseminating research information to stakeholders

5. collaborating with leaders in education, policy makers, and with colleges and universities to enhance the professional skills of educators, school leaders, and others who work with gifted students.

6. advocating at the local, state, and national levels to improve policies, funding,  services, and understanding related to the needs of gifted students

7. collaborating with and supporting families in their special relationships with gifted children.

ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION

Section 1. KGTC shall consist of the executive committee (elected officers), the board of directors (elected officers and appointees) and the membership-at-large.    

Section 2. Each member of the board of directors (BOD) must be a member in good standing of KGTC.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. All persons shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2.  All paid memberships of KGTC shall be classified as "active" with the member considered to be in good standing.

Section 3.  Membership dues will be determined annually by the BOD at the first meeting of the new calendar year.

Section 4. Memberships shall be for the calendar year. Memberships are not prorated, but memberships paid after July 1 will begin immediately and will continue through the following calendar year, including membership gained in conjunction with the annual convention.

ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (ELECTED OFFICERS)

Section 1. Officers of KGTC shall be the president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer. 

Section 2. All officers shall be elected to a two-year term. The president and president-elect cannot serve more than one consecutive term in said office.

Section 3. Secretary and treasurer shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 4. President-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of president.

Section 5. Election of the secretary, treasurer, and the president-elect shall take place in odd numbered years, or in any year in which a vacancy occurs no later than October 31. The official terms will begin on January 1 of even numbered years.

ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Appointed BOD members shall serve at the pleasure of the president and shall include:

a. One representative from each geographic region in the state. Geographic regions will be determined by the BOD, but will consist of a minimum of five (5) regions.

b. Additional positions shall be determined by the president and approved by the elected officers. The president shall select persons to fill those additional positions in collaboration with the elected officers.

c. The number of appointed positions shall not exceed 12.

Section 2. The president may appoint committees from the general membership for special projects or tasks upon approval of the executive committee.

ARTICLE VII  - MEETINGS

Section 1. A business meeting of the general membership shall be held during the annual KGTC convention.      

Section 2. At a minimum, four (4) regular meetings of the BOD shall be held each year.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed, in writing, by any elected officer of the organization at one of its regular BOD meetings or by petition of at least one-tenth of the active membership of KGTC.

Section 2. After BOD approval, proposed amendments must be approved by majority vote of active members attending the annual meeting of the general membership or at a special meeting called in compliance with Article X, Section 5.

Section 3. Active members shall be notified of proposed amendments not less than twenty calendar days prior to the annual or special meeting.

ARTICLE IX - Vacancy of Elected Officers

Section 1.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of president, the president-elect shall succeed to the office of president and shall serve for the remainder of that term. If the remaining term is less than one-half of the original term, the new president will also serve the original presidential term for which s/he was elected.

Section 2.  In the event of a vacancy in other offices, the president shall appoint a representative to fill the position(s) until such time as the position(s) can be filled by regular voting procedures. The appointment must be approved by the majority of the BOD and shall be filled within 30 days.

Article X - Meetings and Rules of Procedures

Section 1.  Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all regular and called meetings of the membership and the BOD. The legislative liaison shall serve as the parliamentarian.

Section 2.  A quorum for the BOD shall be a majority of the members of the board and must include two (2) elected officers.

Section 3.  Annual Meeting – Active members of KGTC shall be notified of the time and place of the annual meeting of the membership not less than twenty (20) days before such meeting.

Section 4.  Board Meetings – The meetings of the BOD shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the president. The president shall notify all board members no less than twenty (20) days before regular meetings.

Section 5.  Special Meetings – Special meetings of the active membership may be called by the BOD or by a petition having the signatures of at least ten percent of the active members of KGTC.  In all such cases the secretary shall notify the membership not less than ten (10) days prior to said meeting, stating the time, place, and express purpose of said special meeting. Business shall be limited to the stated purpose(s) of the special meeting as indicated in the notice.

Section 6. Committee Meetings – Designated committees of the BOD shall meet as needed. A quorum shall consist of 50% of the committee members and must include the chairperson or designee.

Article XI - Minutes of Meetings

Section 1.  The secretary shall send a draft of the minutes of BOD meetings and the annual business meeting to all members of the BOD within two weeks of the conclusion of the meeting and again two weeks prior to the next scheduled meeting.

Section 2. Minutes will be reviewed at the next meeting and archived for future reference.

Article XII - Business between Meetings

Section 1.  The BOD and executive committee shall be empowered to conduct the necessary business of KGTC between its regularly scheduled meetings.

Section 2. The BOD and executive committee may vote on issues via electronic means with votes recorded in the minutes of the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Article XIII – Constitutional Revision

Section 1.  Revision of the Constitution shall be by majority vote of the BOD and subject to approval by the majority of the active membership in attendance at the next business meeting of KGTC.

Article XIV - Nominations for elected office

Section 1.  In election years, a nominating committee shall meet consisting of the outgoing president or presidential designee as chairperson and of the BOD representatives from each region (Regional Representative.)

Section 2. A person serving on the nominating committee whose name is offered in nomination for an elected office shall withdraw from the committee.

Section 3. The nominating committee shall obtain consent from the nominees before presenting their names for election

Section 4. In election years, the nominating committee shall submit a slate of nominees (one nominee per open office) to the BOD for approval not less than six weeks before the election.

Section 5. After BOD approval, the slate shall be submitted to the active membership not less than three weeks before the election. The election may include write-in nominations. A simple majority of votes cast by active members shall constitute election. In the event of a tie, ballots shall be cast until the tie is broken.

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