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BY-LAWS OF

THE TEXAS LONE STAR CHAPTER

OF THE

ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS

DATE ACCEPTED: 8 November 1995

ARTICLE I
CHAPTER NAME

SECTION 1: The name of this organization shall be the Texas Lone Star Chapter #100 of the Association of Civilian Technicians.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

SECTION 2: The purpose of this non-profit organization is to improve and assure the welfare of all eligible Civilian Technicians as stated in Article III (Membership) of these By Laws, through a united effort.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1: Any person who is or has been employed in a Federally paid Civilian Technician status with the National Guard shall be eligible for membership.- The application for membership shall be made to this Chapter utilizing the SF 1187 (Request for Payroll Deductions for Labor Organization Dues). Other enrollment procedures may be dictated by the National Constitution and take precedence over these by-laws.

SECTION 2: Persons who have been suspended, expelled, stricken from membership or rejected from any other chapter shall not be eligible for membership until all differences with the former chapter have been resolved.

SECTION 3: No applicant shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of membership until his/her appropriate SF 1187 has been submitted - and signed by a chapter-authorized official

SECTION 4: Only members in good standing, and not in arrears of dues are entitled to the rights, privileges, and prerogatives of this Association. Members shall immediately notify the Secretary of this chapter of changes in their address.

SECTION 5: Any member who has withdrawn from membership or has been suspended for failure to pay dues or assessments or has otherwise ceased to be a member of this chapter may be reinstated to membership pursuant to rules and regulations established by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 6: No person shall be eligible for membership in this chapter who has been employed in any capacity which would require them to perform duties inconsistent with membership requirements in this chapter, or with the principles of organized labor or detrimental to the interest of this chapter and/or the National Association. This provision is not intended to exclude those individuals who have left the bargaining unit and wish to continue to support the goals and aims of this Association.

SECTION 7: A member of this chapter who is temporarily dropped from the rolls due to sickness, attendance at service schools or other temporary military duty, shall be entitled to all rights and benefits of membership.

SECTION 8: All members in good standing are entitled to AD & D insurance benefits provided by the National Association of Civilian Technicians.

SECTION 9: A) DUES YEAR: The dues year of this chapter shall commence on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December each year.
B) AMOUNT: The dues of the Association are based upon a percentage of gross base pay of each member's salary. Such amounts to be automatically deducted each pay period if the member is eligible for dues withholding from payroll. If a member is not eligible for dues withholding, dues shall be in accordance with the National Constitution. The percentile rate shall be in the amount of seven-tenths of one percent (.007) of the base pay, with the National Association of Civilian Technicians receiving .0045 and the chapter receiving .0025.

ARTICLE IV
GOVERNMENT / ELECTIONS

SECTION 1: The power and authority to transact all business of this chapter is vested in the Board of Directors, which is comprised of the elected officers, subject to the power and authority of the membership while in a general meeting of this chapter.

SECTION 2: OFFICERS: The officers of this chapter shall consist of a President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and shall include a minimum of four (4) District Vice Presidents.

SECTION 2a: ELECTIONS: Officers of this chapter shall be elected by secret ballot for a term of four (4) years. Beginning in 1999, the election of the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and District 4,5, and 6 Vice Presidents shall be every four years. Beginning in 2001, the election of the President, Secretary and District 1,2 and 3 Vice Presidents shall be held every four years. To be eligible to vote or run for the Office of Vice President they must be a member in that District.

SECTION 2b: FILLING OF VACANT QFFICES: If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the remainder of the term shall be filled by the Executive Vice President. If a vacancy in the office of the Executive Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer occurs, the remainder of the term shall be filled at the discretion of the Board, by a majority vote of the Board. In a District where there is a Vice President vacancy, the Board of Directors shall temporarily appoint someone from that District until a special election can be held by that District membership. Special elections shall be held in accordance with 2.a. above. Such vote to be accomplished within forty-five (45) days subsequent to the date of vacancy.

SECTION 2c: NOMINATIONS: A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President in January of an election year. The nominating committee, after giving full consideration to all facts or petitions for nominations in letter form, presented to it by individual members shall file with the Secretary, in February their nominations. Unless a person has been a member in good standing of the Chapter on or before July 1 of the proceeding year in which the election is to be held, they shall not be eligible for nomination to any office of this chapter. Any candidate may withdraw as a candidate by written notice to the Secretary, but not subsequent to the fifth day of March in the year in which the election is to be held. The nominating committee shall conduct the election in accordance with labor Department directives. Any election that is required to be held by secret ballot need not be held by secret ballot when all candidates are incumbents and all incumbents are unopposed for election. It will be the responsibility of the nominating committee to recommend this option to the Executive Committee for approval.
1) Ballots shall be distributed by the section stewards to the members in their areas.
2) The nominating committee shall validate and count the returned ballots.
3) Announcement of the election results shall be made by the nominating committee.
4) Upon completion of the election, all ballots shall be sealed and retained by the Secretary.

SECTION 3: An Executive Committee shall be appointed by the President with concurrence of the Board of Directors. The term of appointment shall be for two (2) years. The Executive Committee will assist the Board of Directors in managing the business of the Chapter. These non-voting members shall be determined at the rate of one member for each twenty-five (25) dues paying members of the Chapter. The immediate Past President shall serve on this committee during the term or terms of his/her successor.

SECTION 4: Delegates of this Chapter to National Business meetings of the Association, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The selection is to be made from the elected officers and unless circumstances dictate otherwise shall normally include the Chapter President Other delegates may be elected by a secret ballot of the membership attending a Chapter meeting called for this purpose.

SECTION 5: Stewards shall be elected annually by secret ballot by the members represented by that stewardship or be appointed by the President with concurrence of the Board of Directors. If the incumbent steward is unchallenged for re-election an election need not be held.

SECTION 6: Absentee ballots for any election of officers of this Chapter shall be made available to any member in good standing by the Secretary, provided the individual requests such ballot a minimum of three (3) days prior to the election.

ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1: PRESIDENT: The President shall normally preside at all meetings of the Chapter. The President1s signature shall be required on all contracts approved by this Chapter or by the Board of Directors. The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees and shall initiate and effectuate plans which, in the President's judgement, are in the best interest of the Chapter. The President shall appoint all committees of this chapter unless the method of selection is otherwise directed or provided for. The President shall assign tasks to members of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee that are within the scope of these by-laws.

SECTION 2: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: The Executive Vice President shall be the direct assistant to the President and shall act for the President in his/her absence. The Executive Vice President shall assist and advise the President in all matters pertaining to this chapter.

SECTION 3: VICE PRESIDENT(S): Vice Presidential duties shall be directed by the President, with guidance from the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4: SECRETARY: The Secretary shall be responsible for the custody of official papers, proceedings and ballots of this Chapter and the record of its proceedings. The Secretary shall give notice of meetings as directed by the President. The Secretary shall record and prepare minutes of all meetings of this chapter.

SECTION 5: TREASURER: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody of all funds of this chapter. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all receipts and expenditures of all monies, securities, and other property owned by this Chapter. The Treasurer shall submit an itemized report at each annual meeting of this chapter and such other reports as the President may require. These accounts shall be open to inspection by members of the Board of Directors and to an annual audit.

SECTION 6: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Shall serve as required to represent the general membership in the transaction of all business before the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS

SECTION 1: Meetings of this Chapter shall normally be held once a quarter. There will be one annual meeting as so designated by the President. The President Upon may call special meetings of this Chapter written request of the majority of the Boar of Directors; the President shall call a special meeting of the Chapter.

SECTION 2: BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS:
A) Regular meetings: The Board of Directors shall hold regular meetings at such time and place, as it shall resolve.
B) Special Meetings: The Board of Directors shall hold special meetings upon call of the President. Upon request of two or more members of the Board, the President shall call a meeting of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3: NOTICES AND QUORUM:
A) Notice: Members shall be given notice of all meetings of this Chapter by written notice on ACT bulletin boards or verbally by stewards a minimum of one (1) week in advance of said meeting.
B) Quorum: 1) The presence in person of 10% of the members entitled to vote, shall be required to constitute a quorum at all meetings of this Chapter. 2) Two-thirds of the Board of Directors shall be required to constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board.

SECTION 4: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES: Parliamentary procedures shall be in accordance with these by-laws and Robert's Rules of Order, Revised. A parliamentary may be appointed by the President to advise/assist on such matters.

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1: If any of the provisions of these by-laws or any rule or regulation is held as a violation of existing law, the other provisions of the by-laws, rules and regulation shall be separable and in full force and effect.

SECTION 2: In any action at law or equity between the chapter and a member, the affidavit ot the secretary based on an examination of the record of any recorded facts, such as the adoption of a rule or regulation, shall be prima facie proof of such fact. No procedural defect or matter of form shall be the defense to any member involving in any such action.

SECTION 3: All elections for officers or stewards of the chapter shall be decided by plurality vote.

SECTION 4: Neither this chapter nor any of its members shall discriminate nor shall they be discriminated against by reason of age, color, sex, religion, or country of origin.

SECTION 5: Contract ratification by the membership is required and will be included in the Memeorandum of Understanding (MOU), which establishes the ground rules for negotiations. Upon completion of a new Labor/Management agreement, and prior to formal signing (execution) of the new agreement, the agreement shall be reviewed by the national office of ACT prior to chapter membership ratification.

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

SECTION I: These by-laws may be amended, repealed or new by-laws may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members present at any meeting or special meeting called for the purpose of amending, repealing, or adopting new by-laws.