USPRA Charter and Bylaws

USPRA Charter and Bylaws
Amended at USPRA Chapter meeting, 20 January 2006
Download PDF version

Article I - Name

This non-profit organization shall be known as the Utah Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association, or the Utah School Public Relations Association (USPRA), hereafter referred to as the Utah Chapter.

Article II - Geographical Jurisdiction

The geographical jurisdiction of the Utah Chapter shall encompass the area within the boundaries of the state of Utah.

Article III - Purpose and Objectives

A. The purpose of the Utah Chapter shall be to advance the cause of education in the state of Utah through sound public relations practices in schools, school districts, and other educational institutions of the state. This shall be accomplished through the following objectives:

To promote fair and responsible communication of the educational process to educators and the community

To increase school board and administrative understanding of the importance of sound public relations practices in educational institutions and support for such practices

To promote cooperation and an exchange of ideas among chapter members

To encourage training and professional development for chapter members

To provide a force dedicated to proper training of educators in solid techniques of public relations

To support the ethical standards of school public relations as outlined in the National School Public Relations Code of Ethics

Article IV - Membership

USPRA members must be employed either full or part-time by a public or private school, school district, or higher education institution, Utah State Office of Education, education foundation, PTA, or other organization acceptable to the USPRA chapter operating within chapter boundaries as set by NSPRA

Members’ employment should include responsibilities for external communications, public relations, or community relations

Members dues should be paid by each year by October 31

The amount of dues are proposed by the USPRA committee in the March meeting and must be accepted by a majority vote of members at the April meeting

Article V - Dues

A. The establishment of dues and all policies pertaining thereto shall be on the recommendation of the chapter’s Executive Committee.
B. All dues, policies and practices will apply to Full and Associate Members.

Article VI - Executive Committee

The Utah Chapter executive committee shall consist of president, president elect, treasurer, and at least one committee member.

A. The governing body of the chapter shall be the executive committee.
B. The executive committee shall be responsible for all policy decisions affecting the operation of the chapter and shall carry out directives as voted by the chapter membership.
C. The executive committee shall prepare an annual report of the chapter and present it at a meeting in September designated as the annual meeting. Copies of the report shall be sent to general membership, the NSPRA Regional Vice President and the national office of NSPRA.
D. During chapter meetings, the president ensures that someone takes notes on member suggestions, recommendations, and decisions. Sends a copy of the notes to chapter leadership.

Article VII - Officers

A. The elected officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, treasurer and chapter committee member, with responsibilities as follows

President:

Must be a member of NSPRA
Serves a term of one year, from July through June
Organizes chapter meeting content, recruits location and host, conducts meetings
Signs expense requests (for chapter meals, etc.)
Attends NSPRA national conference. May send designee in exceptional cases. The president organizes a report on key NSPRA conference issues for a USPRA meeting.
USPRA may pay for NSPRA membership for the president during the term of service.
Coordinates with other southwestern region NSPRA chapters
Maintains USPRA membership roster, with addresses, phone numbers, fax, etc. Distributes to members.
Oversees content of USPRA website

President Elect:

Must be a member of NSPRA
Serves a term of one year, from July through June
Works with president to help organize chapter meetings, recruit presenters, etc.
USPRA may pay for the NSPRA membership or an equivalent amount toward attending the NSPRA national conference of the president elect during term of service
Is responsible for USPRA member recruiting. Coordinates membership drive with treasurer.

Treasurer:

Must be a member of NSPRA

Serves term of two to four years, based on availability. Term begins in July following election.

May not serve in leadership when nominated. May not serve in any other office while serving as treasurer.

Is nominated in March, elected in April meeting

Bills and collects USPRA dues from members in September. Provides president a report on member dues payments.

Maintains USPRA checking account

Writes checks for payments upon written authorization by president

Submits annual chapter cash flow report to NSPRA by 30 October each year

Reports USPRA financial status at May chapter meeting

Chapter committee member:

Is nominated in April and elected in May

Assists president or president elect in meetings organization and other chapter duties or projects

Is not considered "leadership" for the purposes of being nominated for president, president elect, or treasurer

The number of committee members (in addition to one required) is recommended by the USPRA Executive Committee in the March nomination meeting

B. Any vacancies, other than president, that occur during the year shall be appointed by the executive committee for the unexpired term.

Article VIII - Election of Officers

Nominations occur at the March USPRA chapter meeting
Elections occur at the April chapter meeting
Members must be present to be nominated
Any member may be nominated, except those currently serving as president elect or treasurer
A president elect is nominated and elected each year
The president elect automatically succeeds the president
The president, president elect, and treasurer must be NSPRA members during their terms of service
The president, president elect, and treasurer must have two years of USPRA membership prior to assuming office

Article IX - Meetings

USPRA chapter meetings are held monthly, with the exception of July and August
Meetings should be held on the same day each month, the day and time determined by a majority of the members attending the April meeting.
A meeting date may be changed in a given month by the president, after polling members and obtaining a majority of the registered USPRA members
The president recruits the host district for each meeting.
The host district arranges for facilities. The host arranges for lunch, which may be paid from the USPRA account by the treasurer.

Article X - Amendments

The standing rules and provisions of these chapter bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the chapter membership, either at a chapter meeting or by mail ballot.

Article XI - Bylaws

Bylaws are established or changed by either a majority vote of members at any regular chapter meeting, or by written agreement by all USPRA committee members with 30-days notification to members before enactment.

Article XII - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Utah Chapter will be 1 July to 30 June.

Prohibited Activities

No part of the earnings of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Bylaws. Except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, no substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of campaign statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provisions of any future Unites States Internal Revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Upon dissolution of the Chapter, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payments of all the liabilities of the Chapter, dispose of all the assets of the Chapter exclusively for the purposes of the Chapter in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, education, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization of organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, as the Executive Board shall determine.