CPFA By Laws

Members of the Executive Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") shall be elected for two (2) year terms of office by a majority of the votes cast by the Association membership-at-large. Candidates for Council Chair and all Directors shall be elected from the Association. The Regional Representatives shall be elected from the membership of the respective regions.

Section 2. Vacancy

A. In the event that any Council Member resigns, the Council and Chapter Representatives may appoint a replacement from the membership of the Association by action of a majority of the Council and Chapter Representatives voting (see Article 1, Section 4, Part C of these By-laws). If a face-to-face meeting is not practical, this action can be taken through an expanded E-mail process similar to the normal Executive Council E-mail process (see Article 4, Section 7 of these By-laws) but which also includes the Chapter Representatives and requires a minimum five (5) day discussion period before a decision is called for. The replacement shall serve until the next election. At that time nominations shall be solicited for candidates to fill the balance of the unexpired term of the vacancy.

B. In the event a Council member fails to participate in the business of the Council for forty-five (45) days without leave (leave may be granted by a majority vote of the Council but may not exceed more than six (6) months duration) such action shall be construed as resignation from the Council by said Council Member. The vacancy may be filled by the procedure described in Article 1, Section 2, Part A of these By-laws

C. Barring extraordinary circumstances, vacancies will be filled within one month if 3 months or more remain before the next election.

Section 3. Recall of Executive Council Members

In the event that the membership becomes dissatisfied with the performance of any Council Member, the membership may petition for a recall of that Council Member with a recall petition submitted to the Council and signed by a minimum of thirty (30) Members. These Members must come from at least two different Chapters, and two Chapters must provide a minimum of ten signatures each. Between ten (10) and fifteen (15) days after receipt of said petition, the Council shall hold a special balloting of the Council and Chapter Representatives. Removal of the named Council Member shall require: 1) that a minimum of 75% of the combined body of Chapter Representatives and Executive Council Members cast ballots, and 2) that two-thirds (2/3) of those voting vote for recall.

Section 4. Nominations and Elections

A. Beginning in 1999, elections for Council shall be held each year between April 1st and June 30th and announced to the Association membership by any reasonable means at least fifteen (15) days in advance. The Chair, Director of Administration, Director of Publications, Director of Public Relations, Northern California Representative, and Central California Representative shall be elected in odd numbered years.

The Legislative Analyst, Director of Finance, Director of Membership, Director of Communications, Greater Los Angeles Representative, and Southern California Representative shall be elected in even numbered years. Notwithstanding Article 1, Section 1, Term of Office of these By-laws, in the event that a serving Council Member is elected to a different position, the position he or she holds will be open for nomination in that election even if only one (1) year of the term of office remains. The Chair of the Election Committee will accept nominations for the newly vacated position(s) from the floor for a period of five (5) minutes and verify that the nominee(s) accept nomination.

B. Following the announcement of positions open for election, any Member of the Association may put forth his or her own name in nomination for any position open to him or her, or with the nominee's consent, any Member may be nominated for a position open to him or her by any other Member. Nominations will be by written notice to the Election Committee. Nominations will be closed two (2) hours before the time announced for the election.

Elections will proceed from Chair to Legislative Analyst to Director of Administration to Director of Finance to Director of Publications to Director of Membership to Director of Public Relations to Director of Communications to Northern California Representative to Central California Representative to Greater Los Angeles Representative to Southern California Representative. Notwithstanding Article 1, Section 1, Term of office, of these By-laws, uncontested positions will be declared decided by acclamation. Unsuccessful candidates for one position may be nominated for other positions upon prior receipt of intent to run for other positions by the Election Committee.

C. After ballots are tallied, the nominee receiving over fifty (50) percent of the votes cast will be declared the winner. If no nominee has over fifty (50) percent of the votes cast, the two (2) nominees receiving the highest percentage of votes will take part in a second balloting. The nominee who then receives over (50) percent of the votes cast will be declared the winner.

Section 5. Commencement of Terms of Office

Incoming Council Members begin their terms of office with the close of elections. Outgoing Council Members are expected to mentor newly elected Council Members for at least four (4) months.

Section 6. Limitations of Office

No Council Member may serve concurrently in two (2) Council positions or as a Chapter Representative.

Section 7. All Executive Council members shall be responsible for:

a) subscribing to the El Chorro listserv, and participating regularly on the EC list by discussing issues, making motions, and voting as needed;

b) attending all EC conference call meetings and Plenary Meetings, with exceptions for compelling reasons;

c) jointly creating a three-year strategic plan for achieving our mission;

d) jointly reviewing our mission statement each year, evaluating progress on the strategic plan, and revising both as needed;

e) writing quarterly reports on activities and progress in areas of concern.

Section 8 The Executive Council Chair shall be responsible for:

a) presiding over all EC Meetings, including setting dates, times, and agendas, maintaining order, and conducting votes (exception: when voting on the email EC list, Director of Administration tracks votes);

b) planning for and presiding over the Annual Plenary Meetings, including setting the agenda and inviting speakers, calling to order, and conducting votes;

c) establishing relationships with the leaders of key faculty organizations in Sacramento, attending important meetings as needed and reporting back to the council;

d) initiating and developing coalitions with other faculty or labor organizations around the state or nationally;

e) serving as CPFA‚s chief correspondent, the initial contact person for public correspondence or inquiries about the CPFA;

f) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 9. The Legislative Analyst shall be responsible for:

a) reporting to the membership current legislation concerning part-timers and tracking the bills as they move through the process;

b) analyzing the bills and how they affect members;

c) organizing letter writing campaigns as needed;

d) seeking legislators to carry our own bills or legislative proposals;

e) developing relationships with key legislators and educating them about our issues;

f) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 10. The Director of Administration shall be responsible for:

a) researching possible dates and locations for annual Plenary Meeting, and once decision is made, making the reservations;

b) working with a local committee to research lodging options for participants and provide food during the meetings;

c) informing the membership through email and snail mail about the Meeting and lodging options;

d) recording and reporting the minutes at all EC and Plenary meetings;

e) keeping track of votes taken on the EC list, including tracking the motions, seconds, discussion, and setting the clock on;

f) setting up EC conference call meetings as needed.

Section 11. The Director of Finance shall be responsible for:

a) creating and maintaining an annual budget;

b) producing quarterly reports on the budget;

c) distributing reimbursements for operating expenses to EC members as needed;

d) mailing invoices and tear sheets to ProNews advertisers;

e) planning fundraising activities as needed;

f) researching and writing grants as needed;

g) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 12. The Director of Publications shall be responsible for producing a biannual newspaper to be distributed to 107 California community Colleges. Responsibilities include:

(a) planning the content, layout, and design of each issue;

(b) soliciting and editing articles;

(d) writing articles, fillers, as needed;

(e) proofreading the final copy and sending to the printers;

(f) creating an advertising packet and soliciting advertisements;

(g) sending copies of ProNews to members not on campus and to contributors or other interested PT organizations;

(h) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 13. The Director of Membership shall be responsible for:

a) maintaining the membership database and a current membership count;

b) collecting membership dues and depositing dues into the CPFA bank account;

c) tracking and collecting membership renewals, including sending out reminders to the general membership and to individual members as needed;

d) mailing membership packets to new members;

e) mailing quarterly reports to the membership;

f) notifying Regional Representatives when colleges in their area have enough members to qualify for creating local chapters;

g) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 14. The Director of Public Relations shall be responsible for external communications (the media or general public), including:

a) establishing a relationship with educational reporters at major state newspapers;

b) maintaining and enhancing a comprehensive, statewide media list with faxes, phone numbers, and contact persons;

c) creating and sending out press releases as needed to the media;

d) creating CPFA promotional material (videos, media packet, flyers, fact sheets, brochures, articles) as needed to be distributed at special events and for special occasions;

e) maintaining a file of articles/press releases published about CPFA or PT issues;

f) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

Section 15. The Director of Communications shall be responsible for facilitating communications between the EC and the membership, including:

a) monitoring the email list to make sure that members‚ questions and concerns are answered;

b) making sure that issues of concern to the membership are addressed by the EC and reporting back to the list as appropriate on these issues;

c) reporting to the list on major decisions (the results of votes, etc.) made by the EC;

d) soliciting quarterly reports from EC members and compiling these into quarterly reports to be sent to the membership through email, the website, and snail mail;

e) subscribing to and monitoring other PT listserves and forwarding relevant articles to the CPFA list;

f) subscribing to educational, faculty, adjunct publications to keep abreast of issues.

Section 16. The 4 Regional Representatives shall be responsible for:

a) contacting part-timers at colleges in their areas to inform them about CPFA and encourage membership;

b) contacting CPFA members at each college with enough members to form local chapters and helping them to do so;

c) organizing one annual CPFA Regional Meeting for members;

d) forming as needed Regional Advisory Boards composed of one representative from each local chapter;

e) organizing the distribution of ProNews in their area by identifying contact persons at each district where drop shipments can be made;

f) creating committees as needed to help carry out these responsibilities.

A. The Northern Regional Assembly shall represent membership from the following CCC districts:

Cabrillo Chabot-Las Positas
Contra Costa
Foothill-De Anza
Freemont-Newark
Gavilan
Hartnell
Marin
Mendocino-Lake
Monterey
Napa
Peralta
Redwoods
San Francisco
San Jose-Evergreen
San Mateo
Solano
Sonoma
West Valley-Mission

B. The Central Regional Assembly shall represent membership from the following CCC districts:

Butte
Feather River
Kern
Lake Tahoe
Lassen
Los Rios
Merced
San Joaquin Delta
Sequoias
Shasta-Tehama-Trinity
Sierra Joint
Siskiyous
State Center
West Kern
West Hills
Yosemite
Yuba

C. The Greater Los Angeles Region shall represent membership from the following CCC districts:
Alan Hancock Joint
Antelope Valley
Cerritos
Citrus
Compton
Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo)
El Camino
Glendale
Long Beach
Los Angeles LACCD
Mt. San Antonio
Pasadena
Rio Hondo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clarita
Santa Monica
Ventura

D. The Southern Region shall represent membership from the following CCC districts:
Barstow
Chaffey
Coast
Copper Mountain
Desert
Grossmont-Cuyamaca
Imperial
Mira Costa
Mt. San Jacinto
North Orange
Palo Verde
Palomar
Rancho Santiago
South Orange CCD
San Bernardino
San Diego
Southwestern
Victor Valley

Section 17.

Notwithstanding Article 1, Sections 7 through 16 inclusive, the Executive Councilmembers Job Descriptions describe the ideal, what we hope to accomplish as Directors and Reps, but that without volunteers from the membership to serve on committees or as assistants to the Directors, we may not be able to accomplish all the items on this list. Directors and Reps will have to make their own priority list of what they can accomplish on their own, and then try to find help with the rest. It will be their responsibility to make every reasonable effort to find assistants to help with what they can't do, or to form committees to do so, but if no volunteers are forthcoming, then some of the duties in this job description may not be fulfilled. The Directors and Reps should not be held responsible for what is left undone for lack of volunteers to help.

ARTICLE 2. REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES AND LOCAL CHAPTERS

(repealed December 8, 2001)

ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Dues

Annual dues of thirty dollars ($30.00) low income rate or fifty dollars ($50.00) regular rate, at member's discretion shall be assessed of each member of the Association. Dues are payable at the time of application for membership and at the corresponding date each year thereafter. The rights of membership may be withdrawn from any member who fails to pay his or her dues in a timely manner.

Section 2. Dues Relief for Hardship.

Individuals concerned with financial hardship may appeal to the Council in writing for relief from dues and/or fees.

Section 3. Honorary or Emeritus Membership.

The Council may bestow Honorary Membership or Emeritus Membership on individuals who have strongly supported the Association's goals. Notwithstanding Article 3, Section 1, Dues, of these By-laws, Honorary and Emeritus Members of the Association shall have their dues assessment waived.

Section 4. Founding Members.

Members joining the Association on or before June 30, 1999 will be honored as "Founding Members."

Section 5. Sustaining Members.

Members who have chosen to pay dues of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more per year will be honored as "Sustaining Members."

Section 6. Institutional Membership.

Institutional support of the California Part-time Faculty Association is encouraged by "Regular Institutional Membership" with dues of $250 to $499. Institutional Members who choose to support the California Part-time Faculty Association with dues of $500.00 or more will be honored as "Sustaining Institutional Members." Institutional membership is non-voting.

Section 7. Payroll Deduction of Dues

Notwithstanding Article 3, Sections 1, 4, and 5, payroll deduction will be established when and where feasible. Regular membership dues will be assessed at a rate of $3.00 per pay period for low-income memberships or $5.00 per pay period for regular memberships (usually $3.00 or $5.00 for 10 months). Sustaining memberships will be assessed at a rate of $10.00 per pay period(usually $10.00/month for 10 months).

Section 8. Student Members.

Annual dues of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be assessed for student membership.

ARTICLE 4. MEETINGS

Section 1. Plenary Meetings.

A plenary meeting of the Association will be held once each year between April 1st and June 30th to elect Council Members and Regional Representatives in accordance with Article 1 of these By-laws and to conduct other Association business. Other plenary meetings may be called from time to time as determined by the Executive Council. An announcement of a plenary meeting will be made to the Association membership by any reasonable means at least fifteen (15) days in advance and will include at least the following information:

(a) the time the meeting will begin,

(b) the time it will adjourn,

(d) the specific agenda of business to be conducted

Section 2. Special Meetings.

A. Special Meetings of the Council may be called by the Council Chair or by any three other Council Members with at least two weeks' notice of

(a) the time the meeting will begin,

(b) the time it will adjourn,

(d) the specific agenda of business to be conducted.

B. Notice of meetings will be to all Executive Council Members and Regional Representatives by any reasonable means.

Section 3. Emergency Meetings.

An Emergency Meeting of the Council may be called by fifty percent (50%) of the Executive Council at any time.

Section 4. Quorum at Meetings.

A Quorum at Plenary, Special, or Emergency Meetings of the Council shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the Council Membership.

Section 5. Adjournment of Meetings.

Meetings will end at or before the time announced on the agenda unless there is a majority vote to continue.

Section 6. Meeting Processes.

Unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution or By-laws of the Association, all meetings will be conducted according to The Modern Edition of Robert's Rules of Order. Meetings will be open to Members of the Association in good standing and guests. However, guests have no voting privileges on matters before the membership.

Section 7. Executive Council and Committee Business by E-mail.

Council and committee business will often be conducted via E-mail postings to all relevant members. Where consensus can be reached on a matter within forty-eight (48) hours after posting, said matter will be deemed by the Chair to have passed. However, if a vote is called for or an objection raised, then, unless a majority of votes cast within forty-eight (48) hours of the call for the question are supportive and the total votes so cast represent at least fifty percent (50%) of the members, the matter will be deemed as failed. Otherwise, the matter will be deemed as passed.

Section 8. Minutes.

Minutes of all business conducted by the Association shall be kept and made available on-line as soon as reasonably possible or from the Director of Administration within thirty (30) days of a request. Business here means:

(a) Motions/decisions passed or failed,

(b) Amendments to the Association Constitution or By-laws (passed or failed),

ARTICLE 5. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

There shall be established the following Standing Committees:

The Membership Committee
The Print Media Committee
The Speakers Bureau Committee
The Electronic Media Committee
The Video Media Committee
The Research Committee
The Finance Committee
The Public Relations Committee
The Elections Committee

Section 2. Membership of Committees.

The Chairperson of the standing committees shall be appointed from the Association by the Council each year before the last day of October. Committee members shall be approved by the Chairs of their respective committees.

Section 3. Council Members Serving on Committees

At least one (1) member of each standing or ad hoc committee shall be a Council Member. However, no Council Member may serve on more than a total of three (3) committees. No committee may have more than two (2) Council members on it. However any Council Member may ask, or may be asked by, any Committee Chair to participate in a committee in an advisory or non-voting participant capacity, should such participation be deemed valuable in accomplishing the business of the Association. No candidate for or current holder of an Executive Council Position up for Election in a given year will be a member of the Election Committee in that year.

Section 4. Replacing Committee Members.

The Council shall have the power to remove and/or replace any Committee Chair, but the power to remove and/or replace committee members shall reside with the Committee Chairs and their respective committee members. A two-thirds (2/3) majority (notwithstanding Article 4, Section 7) of the committee members voting is necessary to remove a committee member.

Section 5. Committee Reports.

A regular Monthly Report of committee business and actions shall be submitted to the Council Members by E-mail during the first week of each month.

Section 6. Ad Hoc Committees.

Ad hoc Committees may be initiated, continued, or terminated by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Council.

Section 7. Committee Plans.

Each year before the end of the first month of committee operation (November for standing and continuing ad hoc committees), each committee is to submit a proposal of its plans by E-mail to the Council.

Section 8. Committee Actions.

All committee actions are subject to approval by the Council.

ARTICLE 6. FINANCES

Section 1. Financial Reports.

Each September, December, March, and June, the Director of Finance shall send each member of the Council a financial report giving the current status of all association funds, debts, and outstanding obligations, and describing the financial activity of the Association during the previous three months.

Section 2. Duties of the Director of Finance.

A. Select and chair the Finance Committee, which shall consist of three (3) to five (5) other members who will assist the Director as delegated.

B. Take responsibility for the financial operation of CPFA by (1) maintaining bank accounts and records; (2) overseeing all deposits and withdrawals; (3) submitting quarterly, yearly, and long-range budget proposals to the Council; (4) overseeing all matters relating to assets and liabilities of CPFA; (5) carrying out the Standing Rules of Finance regarding dues and reimbursement policies; and (6) providing quarterly financial statements to the Council.

Section 3. Standing Rules of Finance

A. Bank Accounts: All funds shall be kept in a state-wide bank. Except for necessary minimum amounts for checking, funds will be deposited in an interest bearing account.

B. The Director of Finances will appoint up to four (4) signatories including him/herself and the Council Chair. Necessary bank signature cards will be signed annually. The Director of Administration shall keep copies of all required bank resolutions.

C. Dues collection procedures shall be coordinated with the Director of Membership.

Section 4. Deposits

Designated members of the Finance and/or Membership Committees may deposit dues and donations as received. Photocopies of checks and deposit slips shall be forwarded weekly to the Director of Finance.

Section 5. Disbursements

A. In order to assist Members of the Council with out-of-pocket expenses, the Director of Finance will issue checks for monthly portions of the budget to each Council Member. Recipients of these funds shall submit the monthly Expense Account Form with receipts attached. Failure to submit the monthly Expense Account Form by the 10th of the month will result in that Member losing the privilege of receiving advance funds.

B. Expenditures up to $200.00 require one signature from those eligible to sign checks. Expenditures over $200.00 require two signatures from those eligible and Council approval for the expenditures.

C. The budget expenses will include costs of duplication, mailing, telephone, travel (including fares, lodging, gas, and food), promotional activities, publications, banking expenses, and other categories approved by the Council.

D. Unbudgeted expenses over $50.00 that are not included in the budget shall have prior approval by the Council Chair and the Director of Finance.

ARTICLE 7. CHANGES TO THE BY-LAWS

Section 1. Changes to the By-laws.

Changes to these By-laws shall be made in accordance with Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution of the California Part-time Faculty Association.

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