Watch your email on September 10 for your opportunity to vote on two changes to the TEPSA Bylaws. The election runs September 10-12. At their summer meetings, the Board of Directors voted to send the following recommendations to members for a vote. Proposed changes are indicated in red.
Vote to Approve the Bylaws to reflect the status of the TEPSA governance structure upon its final implementation in 2024-2025.
Rationale: To remove temporary language from the Bylaws to reflect the final implementation of the organizational restructure.
TEPSA Bylaws ARTICLE V: OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
Section 7. Term of Office, Removal, Filling of Vacancies
The President track shall be a three-year total commitment and shall automatically progress based on the following terms: Vice President (1 year), President-Elect (1 year) and President (1 year), each with a one-year term limit (with the exception of the 2023-2024 year in which the 2022-2023 President will serve her Past President term as President Emeritus). The Member(s) at-Large shall serve a two-year term which will be staggered to ensure continuity. Each elected officer shall hold office for the term until it expires or until his or her death, resignation, disqualification, or removal from office as provided in these Bylaws. Any officer may be removed at any time by a majority of the number of directors fixed by these Bylaws, when, in the judgment of the Board, such removal shall be deemed in the best interest of the Association, and provided that the notice of the meeting shall state that removal of officers is to be considered. If the office of President shall become vacant, the President–Elect shall become President immediately, and shall complete that term plus the next full term of office. If any other office becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by an affirmative vote of a majority of the number of directors fixed by these Bylaws.
Vote to Change Nomination Requirements for TEPSA Vice President
Rationale: To honor the work of the serving Member At-Large and to make the elections process easier for members. The second recommendation approved by the Board of Directors would change the requirements for candidates who choose to run for the office of Vice President. The current Bylaws require that the Nominating Committee puts forward two candidates to run for the office of Member At-Large and for the office of Vice President. While the number of nominees for the office of Member At-Large has grown with the new governance structure, the Nominating Committee is not seeing that same trend for the office of Vice President. As a result, the recommendation is to add the current language to Article VI. Section 4: If a candidate for Vice President is currently serving their second year as Member At-Large, they may run unopposed if another candidate does not submit their name by the deadline.
This change would still allow any eligible member to put their name in for consideration for the Vice President position; however, the Nominating Committee would not be required to recruit a second candidate if the current serving senior Member At-Large (in their second term) chooses to submit their name for the office of Vice President. If the Member At-Large chooses not to submit their name, then the Nominating Committee would ensure that two candidates move forward for election.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Section 4. Powers and Duties of the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall conduct an annual skills and needs assessment of the Board; shall maintain a sufficient pool of qualified potential Board members to allow for normal replacement and unforeseen vacancies; shall develop Nominating Committee policies and procedures subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and the Board; shall in the event there are not at least two candidates for each of the offices of Member at-Large and Vice President, nominate two (2) qualified and eligible candidates for the office or offices for which no nomination was received. If a candidate for Vice President is currently serving their second year as Member At-Large, they may run unopposed if another candidate does not submit their name by the deadline.
