NAME AND SEAL
Section 1
The name of this organization shall be the Maine Education Association
Retired, a non-profit organization organized under the laws of
the State of Maine.
Section 2.
The seal of this Association, rectangular in form, shall contain
the lamp of learning and bear the legend MEA Retired.
Section 1.
The purpose of this Association shall be to promote the economic,
professional and social welfare of the retired educators of Maine,
to support all measures that help to achieve these aims, to participate
in the promotion of community relations and educational activities,
and to provide an opportunity for service.
Section 2.
The Maine Education Association Retired and the Maine Education
Association are committed to mutual support and assistance. Although
affiliated, both organizations retain their independence.
Section 1: Active Members.
Any educator or educational support person retired from a public
or private school in Maine, eligible for unified membership in
the local and national affiliates of the Maine Education Association
as an active educator, is eligible for active membership upon
payment of dues to the Maine Education Association Retired, the
Maine Education Association and the National Education Association
Retired. Educators or educational support persons whose retirement
benefits issue from a pension fund other than the Maine State
Retirement System or who retired as an employee ineligible for
active unified membership or from a school, school district or
post-secondary institution which had no employee relationship
with the Maine Education Association may join the Maine Education
Association Retired upon payment of MEA-Retired dues only.
Section 2: Associate Membership.
People whose spouses are members but who otherwise are not eligible
for active membership may join the MEA-Retired without joining
the MEA and the NEA-Retired. Active educators who are members
of the united organizations may join the MEA-Retired.
Associate members do not have the right to vote or hold office.
Section 3: Honorary Membership.
Honorary membership may be granted to a person who has made a
noteworthy contribution to education or to this Association. Any
member may present a letter of recommendation to the Board of
Directors. A two-thirds vote of the members of the Board present
is required to ratify the nomination. No more than one honorary
membership may be granted in any one year. No more than 10 living
persons shall be Honorary Members at any one time. The Association
will pay unified and county dues for honorary members.
Section 1.
Members shall pay such dues for this Association as are voted
by the Board of Directors. Dues for membership in the Maine Education
Association Retired shall be paid through the Maine Education
Association, in cash or by deduction from retirement pay. except
for dues of members who need not join as unified members. whose
dues shall be paid to the MEA-R Treasurer. Any member who is in
arrears in the payment of dues for a period of one year shall
be dropped.
Section 2.
Spouses and others who need not join as unified members may pay
their dues to the MEA-Retired Treasurer.
Section 3.
The fiscal year shall be from September 1 to August 31, unless
changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 1.
The Annual Meeting shall be held during the first week in May,
unless the date is changed by a majority of the Board of Directors.
Fifty members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2.
Special Association meetings may be called by the President or
by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on the
first Monday of April, June, and November and on the second Monday
of September. The President or a majority of the Board of Directors
may call a special meeting of the Board.
Section 4.
The President, for good cause and with the agreement of the Executive
Committee, may cancel a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 5.
The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times a year
at the call of the President.
Section 1.
The officers shall be the elected President, a First Vice President,
a Second Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding
Secretary. a Treasurer and the immediate Past President. The Executive
Committee shall consist of these named officers, the chairmen
of the standing committees, the MEA Board of Directors member,
the MEA Retired trustees of the Maine State Retirement System
and the MEA Benefits Trust, and the Clarion editor and the Convention
chair. An MEA Retired member elected to an office in NEA Retired
shall be an ex officio member.
Section 2.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association
and shall have general supervision over its affairs, subject to
the control of the Board of Directors. The President shall be
chairman and preside at all general meetings and shall be an ex-officio
member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
The President may invite individuals and representatives of other
organizations having an interest in matters concerning retired
teachers to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and the
Executive Committee.
Section 3.
At the request of the President, or in the absence of the President,
the First or Second Vice President, in order, shall perform all
the duties of the President.
Section 4
The First Vice President shall assist the President at all times
Section 5.
The Second Vice President shall be assigned any duty the Executive
Committee or the President may determine and, in addition, shall
be chairman of other committees as determined by the Executive
Committee or the President.
Section 6.
The Recording Secretary shall keep the record of the annual meeting
and of the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of
Directors, and shall turn them over to the successor when elected.
The Recording Secretary shall have a copy of Robert's Rules of
Order, Newly Revised at all meetings.
Section 7.
The Corresponding Secretary shall take care of all correspondence
of the Association as directed by the President and/or Executive
Committee and prepare the mailing lists of the affiliates.
Section 8.
The Treasurer shall be in charge of all funds of the Association,
shall pay them out in accordance with budgetary limitations or
on order signed by the President and shall give itemized reports
at the annual meeting, at all meetings of the Board and the Executive
Committee, and at other times when requested to do so. The annual
accounts shall be audited previous to the annual meeting where
they will be presented for action. The Treasurer, in consultation
with the President, shall prepare an annual budget to be approved
by the Board of Directors at a spring meeting.
Section 9.
All officers shall be elected at the annual meeting held in odd-numbered
years and shall serve for terms of two years, or until their successors
have been duly elected and installed. No officer, except the Treasurer,
shall serve more than two consecutive terms. The newly elected
officers shall assume office on July 1 of the year in which they
are elected.
Section 10.
Vacancies in office shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Vacancies in committees shall be filled by the Executive Committee.
In case of vacancy in the presidency, the First Vice President
shall become President for the unexpired term.
Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the Association,
chairmen of standing committees, the President and First Vice
President or their proxies of each county unit and AFUM Retired,
the MEA Board of Directors member, the MEA Retired trustees of
the Maine State Retirement System and the MEA Benefits Trust,
the Parliamentarian, and Association delegates to the Maine Education
Association Representative Assembly. They shall transact any business
in the interim between annual and special meetings of the Association.
Section 2.
One-third of the Board of Directors, including at least three
officers, shall constitute a quorum
Section 1.
All members of standing committees must be members of MEA- Retired.
Section 2:
The Executive Committee shall act for the Association between
meetings of the Board of Directors. It may present to the Board
of Directors recommendations for its consideration. It shall be
responsible for nominations, to be submitted to the Governor,
for an Association representative on the Maine State Retirement
System's Board of Directors. It shall appoint an Auditor at the
first meeting following the biennial election. A majority of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3.
A Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by
the Executive Committee in advance to submit nominations for the
various offices for which elections are to be held at the annual
meeting. One candidate for each office shall be nominated.
Section 4.
The Legislative Committee shall consist of a chairman appointed
by the President and confirmed by the Executive Committee and
a chairman from each county unit elected or appointed by the county
unit. Its responsibility shall be to promote the legislative agenda
for the Association and to educate members on current legislative
issues.
Section 5.
The Community Participation Committee shall consist of the chairman
and four members appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Executive Committee. At least two of the members should hold a
similar position in a county unit. Its responsibility shall be
to promote and to encourage service by retired educators in the
community by volunteerism and by active participation on community
boards, councils and other local groups that make policy and furnish
services for all people in the community.
Section 6.
The informational Services Committee shall consist of the chairman
and four members appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Executive Committee. At least two of the members should hold a
similar position in a county unit. Its responsibility shall be
to promote the well being of retired educators by informing them
of programs and services which will help them solve or avoid financial
and personal problems, improve their health care, and understand
the various insurance offerings.
Section 7.
The Pre-retirement Committee shall consist of the chairman and
two members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Executive
Committee. Its responsibility shall be to provide opportunities
for retirement planning to active educators, educational support
persons and other audiences deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors.
Section 8.
The Membership Committee shall consist of a chairman and four
members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Executive
Committee. Its responsibility shall be to prepare a plan for recruitment
and retention of members, to develop membership materials, and
to assist with publicizing the existence of the organization with
active members of the MEA. The membership Chair and Committee
shall be responsible for an annual mailing to non-unified dues
retired members. The Chair shall also send dues notices to those
who do not qualify for unified dues deductions.
Section 9.
An Auditor shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to review
the Treasurer's accounts at least once annually. The Auditor shall
present a written report of findings at the Annual Meeting of
the Association.
Section 10.
The Necrology Chair duties shall be assumed by the Immediate Past
President. The Chair shall collect the names of deceased members
from the county chairs and shall arrange a memorial servlce at
the Annual Meeting.
Section 11.
A Resolutions Committee shall consist of the chairman and two
members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Executive
Committee It shall prepare resolutions for review by the Executive
Committee for presentation at the MEA- Retired Annual Meeting
and shall annually review the MEA Resolutions and recommend such
changes as are deemed appropriate to the Executive Committee and
then submit the changes to the MEA Representative Assembly.
Section 12.
The President will appoint a Parliamentarian to serve during his/her
term of office.
Section 13.
An ad hoc committee for any purpose may be named by the President
with the approval of the Executive Committee.
The President and First Vice President shall serve as official delegates to the NEA- Retired. First alternate shall be the Second Vice President and second alternate shall be the Recording Secretary.
The parliamentary authority of this Association shall be Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, when not in conflict with these bylaws.
These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided the members have been given a notice of such amendments at least ten days prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendments are to be considered for action.
If the Maine Education Association Retired should be dissolved, all outstanding bills and obligations shall be paid. Any remaining monies shall be turned over to the Maine Education Association or to its successor organization.