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Constitution
of the Technology and Media Division
of The Council for Exceptional Children
(revised 9/1/07)
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Technology and Media Division of The Council for Exceptional Children, hereinafter referred to as TAM.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
Section 1. Purpose
The Technology and Media Division (TAM) is an official division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). The purpose of TAM is to support educational participation and improved results for individuals with disabilities and diverse learning needs through the selection, acquisition, and use technology.
Section 2. Secondary Purpose
The secondary purpose is to provide services to members and other units of CEC, to federal, state and local education agencies, and to business and industry regarding the current and future uses of technology and media with individuals with exceptionalities.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1. Minimum Membership Requirements
The division shall maintain a minimum of fifty 700 (unless exempted by the CEC Board of Directors) paid members who shall meet the membership qualifications established by the CEC Board of Directors.
Section 2. Unified Membership
All members of the Technology and Media Division must hold concurrent membership in the Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 3. Membership Term
The policy pertaining to the membership year shall be consistent with the policy of The Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 4. Membership Categories
- Regular Membership
Regular membership shall consist of professional or paraprofessional personnel engaged in the education, treatment and/or habitation of exceptional individuals.
- Student Membership
Student membership shall consist of (a) pre-service students and (b) students continuing their education in this field who are in attendance during the academic year at an accredited college or university and not engaged in full time employment.
- Corporate Membership
Institutional involvement shall consist of corporations and businesses concerned with the development, manufacture, and distribution of technologies, medias, and software for use by and with exceptional individuals. Organizations desiring such affiliation must designate a person to hold representative membership.
Section 5. Membership Privileges
All members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of this division.
Section 6. Dues
The Executive Board shall recommend the amount of dues. The amount shall be subject to approval of the members at the annual business meeting. Dues are payable at the time CEC dues are paid. Annual dues shall be payable before the end of the individual's membership year. Members whose dues are not paid by the last day of their membership year shall be considered delinquent, and they shall be dropped from membership of the organization.
Section 7. Assessments
Special assessments may be levied by a majority vote of the members at the annual business meeting.
ARTICLE IV - ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Relationship to CEC
The Technology and Media Division shall be affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 2. Administrative and Membership Years
The fiscal year and administrative term of office shall be January 1-December 31. The policy pertaining to the membership year shall be consistent with the policies of the Council of Exceptional Children.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
Section 1. Composition
The elected officers of this organization shall be a President, a President-Elect who shall succeed the President, a Vice-President who shall succeed the President-Elect, a Secretary, and two members-at- large. The Treasurer position shall be filled by an appointment made by the Executive Board.
Section 2. Representatives to the CEC Representative Assembly (RA)
The two members-at-large will serve as the representatives to the RA. If substitutions are needed, they will be appointed by the President.
Section 3. Prerequisite to Nomination and Election or Appointment
All officers must be members in good standing of The Council for Exceptional Children and the Technology and Media Division at the time of their nomination and election and remain so throughout the duration of their term of office.
Section 4. Terms of Officers
The President, President-Elect, and Vice-President shall serve one year terms. The Secretary, Treasurer and members-at-large shall serve two consecutive years. The election for the Secretary and one member-at-large shall be held on even numbered years; the election appointment of the Treasurer and the election of the other member-at-large shall be held on odd numbered years.
Section 5. Vacancies
A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by automatic succession of the President-Elect to the office. A vacancy in the office of the President-Elect shall be filled by automatic succession of the Vice-President to the office. A vacancy in any of the offices except the President and President-Elect, shall be declared and filled by action of the Executive Board upon recommendation by the President, and such person(s) shall serve only until the end of the current administrative year or until replaced by a duly elected successor.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Executive Committee Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, immediate past-President.
Section 2. Executive Board Membership
The voting members of the Executive Board shall consist of the Executive Committee and the Secretary, Treasurer, two members-at-large, chairpersons of standing committees, and the editors of JSET and The TAM Connector.
Section 3.
A quorum shall be constituted by more than 50% of the Executive Board members.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
Section 1. Business Meetings
A minimum of one annual business meeting shall be held.
Section 2. Conventions
The Executive Board shall have the authority to conduct and/or co-sponsor conventions/conferences, and regional meetings.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special Executive Board meetings may be called by the President with the consent of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees
Standing committees shall be the membership committee, publication committee, governmental relations publicity committee, constitution and bylaws committee, finance committee, nominations committee, communications committee, and professional development committee.
Committee chairs for publications, governmental relations, communications and professional development will be appointed by the Executive Board.
Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees may be established, and their functions assigned at the discretion of the President. Such establishment must clearly indicate the purpose and length of service of the committee.
ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of this division, the Executive Board shall, after payment of all liabilities of the division, dispose of all the assets of the Division through one of the following options determined by the Executive Board:
- Forwarding them to the headquarters of the Council for Exceptional Children (a non-profit corporation) with the request that they be retained in a non-interest bearing account and made available to the division should it ever be reorganized, or
- Contributing them to a state/provincial, nonprofit organization or activity, the purpose of which is to serve the needs of exceptional children.
Under no circumstances shall any of the property or assets of the division during its existence or upon the dissolution thereof go and be distributed to any officer, member, employee, or subsidiary of this division.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Constitutional Amendments
This constitution may be amended by either a mail vote or a voice vote, and must pass by a two- thirds majority of the members voting. Proposed amendments to the constitution may be petitioned by ten (10) active members or by the constitution and bylaws committee. The amendment must be circulated with a ballot to the active membership within eight (8) weeks thereafter, subject to a vote at or before the annual convention. All amendments must be submitted to the President.
