ARTICLE I
N A M E  O F  T H E  O R G A N I Z A T I O N
The name of the organization shall be the

Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators.

ARTICLE II
P U R P O S E  A N D  F U N C T I O N S  O F  T H E  A L L I A N C E

The purpose of the Alliance is to promote and facilitate quality education for all students, particularly students of African-American descent; to establish a coalition of educators of African-American descent and others involved in the educational process; to identify and develop teachers and other professionals of African-American descent, who will assume leadership positions in education; to foster the recruitment, development and retention of teachers and prospective teachers of African-American descent; to create various forums for the exchange of ideas and strategies to improve educational opportunities; to develop funding streams for Alliance related programs and activities; to influence public policy concerning the education of people of African-American descent; and to promote and strongly encourage persons of African-American descent to research and develop teaching and learning strategies that enhance achievement of students of African-American descent.

The functions of the Alliance shall be:

  A. To work to eliminate and to rectify the effects of racism in education.

  B. To work to increase the academic achievement level of all students,

      particularly those of African-American descent, by promoting            

      programs and effective teaching techniques;

  C. To influence the development of specialized training for teachers and 

      others who will positively affect the learning outcomes of students

      (early childhood to higher education);

  D. To provide services that inform and promote the general welfare of the

       membership;

  E. To develop and articulate positions on key issues which affect the

      education of students of African-American descent and impact

      public policies;

  F. To pioneer research related to the education of students of African-

      American descent and to foster the dissemination of effective teaching

      and learning strategies and findings.

ARTICLE III
O R G A N I Z A T I O N  O F  T H E   A L L I A N C E

Section 1. General Membership
Any person who serves in an administrative, instructional, supportive, supervisory, policy position, or who is associated with any phase of educational work shall be eligible for active membership. The educational service for those eligible for membership may be in a public or non-public school; region, state, national, or federal educational agency or association; college or university.

Life Membership
Life membership shall be open only to retired educators who have been MMABSE members for three years immediately preceding retirement. Retired members shall enjoy all rights and privileges as all other members.

Student Membership
Student membership shall be open to all students enrolled in accredited colleges or universities.

Section 2. Dues and Fees
Every application for membership or renewal of membership shall be accompanied by a remittance for the year’s dues. Membership dues shall be established annually by the Executive Board. A member is “in good financial standing” when the payment of current dues has been confirmed.

Section 3. Commissions
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators shall be composed of commissions, each of which shall be organized for the purpose of affording meaningful dialogue and participation of members in order to enhance the attainment of the goals of the Alliance. Each commission shall prepare and present bi-annual reports, including statements of beliefs, goals, and plans of action that are consistent with the philosophy of the Alliance. Each commission shall elect, by majority vote, a chairperson, chairperson-elect, secretary, and other commission officers or representatives, as prescribed by the Bylaws. Such officers shall serve terms that are concurrent with the terms of officers of the Alliance. The commissions shall select representatives or other officers as deemed necessary.

Each member shall be encouraged to participate in the commission of his/her choice and to select a commission which parallels his/her job function. Selection of a commission shall be made upon establishing or renewing membership.

A. Governance in Education Commission
This commission shall examine proposed/existing federal, state, and local government statutes and regulations pertaining to school districts or prevailing policies of local governing boards of school districts or institutions of higher education in the metropolitan Milwaukee area to assure that the most advantageous policies regarding the welfare African-American students and staff are in effect. Where analysis or existing statutes, regulations, of policies suggest that modifications are required, it shall be the responsibility of this commission to develop proposed new policy, regulation or legislation. This commission shall work collaboratively with elected officials, community-based organizations, lobbyist, and the media.

B. District Administration Commission
This commission shall review and work toward changing prevailing policies of Boards of local school districts and the Department of Public Instruction to ensure that needs and concerns of African-American students are addressed in the learning environment.

C. Higher Education Commission
This commission shall monitor the status of African-American students in post-secondary institutions. This commission shall encourage efforts to increase the number of African-American students in all fields of higher education, especially teacher education.

D. Program Development, Research, and Evaluation Commission
This commission shall monitor, review and evaluate the educational programs of school districts in the metropolitan Milwaukee area to support and recommend to the districts the implementation of practices that have proven to be successful for African-American students.

E. Parent Commission
This commission shall be composed of members who are parents and/or court recognized advocates. The function of this commission shall be directly related to the motivation and collaboration of parents who support the mission of the Alliance.

Section 4. Committees
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Alliance of Black School Educators shall be composed of committees charged with specific duties and responsibilities for the purpose of enhancing the operation of the Alliance. The President shall appoint committee chairpersons with the approval of the Executive Board. Appointments of committee chairpersons shall be made as soon as possible after the election of the President. The length of service and other duties and responsibilities, in addition to those stated in the Bylaws, shall be determined by the Executive Board, unless specified in the Bylaws.

A. Membership Committee
This committee shall design and implement membership campaigns and maintain and update membership lists.

B. Bylaws Committee
This committee shall review and evaluate the Bylaws every five years, or as often as necessary.

C. Nominating Committee
This committee shall nominate the officers and members of the nominating committee for the next administration.

D. Budget Committee
This committee shall formulate a proposed budget for the Executive Board and for the general membership. The budget shall be presented during the May meeting for approval for the next year’s operation. The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the committee and shall provide a copy of the proposed budget to the Executive Board. The budget may be modified by the Executive Board as necessary.

E. Conference Planning Committee
This committee shall plan the Annual Fall Conference including the conference site and logistics; maintain records of conference correspondence, procedures, contacts, and contracts; and coordinate the publication and dissemination of the conference report.

F. Scholarship Committee
This committee shall establish and implement the rules for awarding scholarships as well as evaluate scholarship applicants. The committee shall be composed of the President, Treasurer, Public Relations Chairperson, Recording Secretary, two faculty members from a degree-granting institution, and a legal advisor familiar with scholarship funds.

G. Public Relations Committee
This committee shall arrange media coverage of the Alliance, disseminate information (print and non-print), and generate and process news releases and statements.

H. Publications Committee
This committee shall generate, elicit, edit, and publish organizational documents including, but not limited to, newsletters, policy/position papers, and curricular documents.

I. Audit Committee
This committee shall consult with the Treasurer to establish and maintain a system of bookkeeping; inspect the financial records of the Alliance to insure adequate documentation of all expenditures and income; insure that bank reconciliations are timely; and make recommendations to the Executive Board for improved practices.

J. Social Committee
This committee shall coordinate all social activities of the Alliance.

K. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees and the length of service of ad hoc committees shall be determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV
E X E C U T I V E   B O A R D

Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of elected officers, the immediate Past President, commission chairpersons, and standing committee chairpersons, except for those appointed for a short period of time.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management and governance of the Alliance. The Executive Board shall serve as the representative of the membership, shall be empowered to make decisions regarding policies, and shall conduct any business it deems appropriate and/or necessary for the advancement of the Alliance and its objectives. The Executive Board shall adopt a priority theme and focus on the theme annually.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall meet one or more times during the months of August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and May. A special meeting may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Board members when deemed necessary.

Section 4. A quorum for conducting the business of the Executive Board shall be not less than one-half of its officers.

Section 5. Each outgoing Executive Board must leave in the treasury a sum equal to the unpaid bills or obligations for which the administration is responsible.

Section 6. The Executive Board must report to the membership, at the successive membership meeting and/or in writing, actions taken during the Executive Board meetings.

ARTICLE V
O F F I C E R S

Section 1. Officers
The officers of the Alliance shall consist of the immediate Past President, President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Historian, Conference Chairperson, and Conference Chairperson-Elect, all of whom except the Past President shall be elected by a simple majority vote by members in good financial standing, present and voting.

Section 2. Duties of Officers

President
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Alliance. The President may call special meetings. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, with the exception of the Auditing and Nominating Committees. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Board. The President shall make interim appointments as needed with the approval of the Executive Board; sign all checks with the Treasurer; sign all contracts with the Recording Secretary after approval of the Executive Board; and sign all membership cards with the Treasurer.

Vice-President
It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to officiate in the absence of the President from any of the Alliance meetings (Executive, regular, and special); carry out duties assigned by the President; and to plan program calendar activities for the year to be approved by the Executive Board. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to assume the duties of the President during the President’s absence or until the next regular election in the event of a vacancy of the Office of President or in the event that the President is temporarily unable to assume his/her duties on a long or short-term basis.

Recording Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to record the minutes of all proceedings of the Executive Board and general membership meetings. The Recording Secretary shall furnish the Alliance with all information with regard to its proceedings. At the conclusion of the year, such documentation shall be bound in a ledger with permanent (numbered) pages so a permanent record shall be available for review by the membership and for use by the Historian. The Recording Secretary, with the President, shall sign all contracts for the Alliance. In the event of a vacancy of the Office of Vice-President or in the event that the Vice-President is temporarily unable to assume his/her duties on a long or short-term basis, the Recording Secretary shall assume the duties of the Vice-President during the Vice-President’s absence or until the next regular election.

Corresponding Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to give notice of all meetings to be held to each and every member, stating the time and place of such meetings, to handle other correspondence as directed by the President or Executive Board, and to keep a current list of paid members’ names, home and office addresses, and telephone numbers.

Financial Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to prepare all authorizations for payment as authorized by the Executive Board and forward to the President and Recording Secretary for signatures; keep an accurate record of all receipts and authorizations for payment for filing with the treasurer’s financial records for the Alliance; in the absence of the treasurer, present a statement of account at every meeting of the Executive Board and at other times when requested by the Alliance; make an annual report to the Alliance; and perform such other duties as may be delegated by the President or Executive Board.

Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect all funds due the Alliance, from whatever sources, and to keep a correct account of the same. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds for payment of the Alliance. The Treasurer shall pay bills and other items duly authorized by the membership or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all funds received and all funds dispersed. The Treasurer shall provide a summary of the financial report at each regular meeting. A complete record shall be available for review upon advance request by any member wishing to inquire about the Alliance’s financial standing. The Treasurer’s account shall be examined annually by the Auditing Committee. The Treasurer shall keep a list of paid members, their home and office addresses, and their telephone numbers. The Treasurer must be bonded. The Treasurer shall sign all checks and membership cards with the President. The Treasurer shall keep restricted funds of the Alliance in separate accounts. The Treasurer shall submit an annual report to the membership. The Treasurer shall be the chairperson of the budget committee.

Historian
It shall be the duty of the Historian to keep the history of the Alliance current and submit a written annual report to the membership during the May regular meeting. The Recording Secretary shall cooperate with the Historian in this assignment.

Parliamentarian
It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to decide all questions of parliamentary procedure.

Conference Chairperson
It shall be the duty of the Conference Chairperson to formulate a detailed plan for the Annual Fall Conference. The Conference Chairperson shall coordinate activities relative to the Annual Fall Conference.

Conference Chairperson-Elect
It shall be the duty of the Conference Chairperson-Elect to assist the Conference Chairperson in carrying out the responsibilities assigned to that office. In the event of a vacancy of the Office of Conference Chairperson, it shall be the duty of the Conference Chairperson-Elect to assume the duties of the Conference Chairperson. The Conference Chairperson-Elect shall succeed the Conference Chairperson in office.

Section 3. An officer who does not comply with assigned responsibilities may be relieved of office by majority vote of the Executive Board. Appointment of a replacement shall be made by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 4. The chairpersons of committees shall be appointed by the President immediately after installation of the President. Committee chairpersons must be approved by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI
E L E C T I O N S

Section 1. A nominating committee consisting of a chairperson and two members shall be elected at the time of regular elections. At the end of the term, the committee’s duty shall be to nominate the officers and members of the nominating committee for the next administration.

A report of the nominating committee shall be made during the meeting held during the month of March. Nominations from the floor shall also be in order at this meeting.

Section 2. An elections committee of three members shall be appointed by the President to conduct the elections according to the procedures established in the standing rules.

Election of MMABSE officers shall be held during the May membership meeting. The election shall be by secret ballot of those members present and voting. Newly elected officers shall be installed at the end of the May meeting. All officers must have at least two consecutive years of membership in the Alliance and must be in good financial standing.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected for the following terms of office: