RFSAByLaws

The name of this organization shall be: The Texas State Retired Faculty and Staff Association (hereinafter "Association").

Section 1. The purposes of the Association are to maintain and promote connectivity between Texas State University-San Marcos and retirees as well as retirees with each other. The objectives are:

A. Represent retired faculty and staff regarding University benefits and other
issues directly relevant to retirees;

B. Serve as a conduit for communication between the University and retired faculty and staff;

C. Maintain and enhance the ongoing relationship between faculty and staff throughout the retirement years;

D. Promote the participation of retired faculty and staff in University activities;

E. Develop and organize activities and events of special interest to retirees; and

F. Identify and support scholarships, lectures, and other special events of the University.

Section 2. The work of the Association is considered to be part of the work of and benefit to Texas State University. Coordination of effort and staff liaison are provided through the office of the Vice President for University Advancement.

A. Membership will be open to all retired members of the Texas State faculty, administrative officers (unclassified) and staff, and spouses or partners of deceased Texas State retirees.

B. Prior to each fall meeting, an Association officer shall notify all retirees of the preceding year that they are eligible for membership.

Retired faculty and staff members of other accredited colleges or universities may become Associate, non-voting members upon application to the officers, who shall recommend applicant to the Association.

A.There are no dues established for membership in the Association.
Voluntary contributions, however, will be accepted throughout the year to cover necessary expenses of the Association.

B.The Association's Executive Committee, in consultation with the Board,
may determine that annual membership dues are required to achieve the purposes and objectives of the Association.

1. In the event that the Executive Committee determines the need for annual dues, a majority vote of those members attending the semi-annual meeting in which the dues are put forward will be required to become effective.

2. As per UPPS No.04.04.53, Honors and Benefits for Retired Faculty and Staff, a retiree's first year of membership to the Association is free.

A. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a vice-president, a
secretary, a treasurer and an ombudsperson. The officers are elected by majority vote of those attending the spring meeting of the Association and take office on September 1.

B. Officers shall be elected for one-year terms and may be elected to serve for no more than three successive terms.

C. The officers, together with the past president, shall constitute the Executive Committee, which will have general oversight of the activities of the Association and shall transact its business in the intervals between meetings of the membership.

D. The Association's Board shall be constituted of the Executive Committee, elected representatives, appointed Assistants, and standing committee chairpersons. The Board shall provide general guidance to the Executive Committee.

E. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President, the Vice-President, or the Board.

Section 2: Representatives

At the annual spring meeting the Association shall also elect a faculty retiree and a staff retiree to one-year terms to facilitate communication with the Faculty Senate and the Staff Council, respectively. These Association representatives will monitor agendas, minutes, and meetings as necessary to assure that University governance issues of interest to the Association are called to the attention of the Executive Committee."

Section 3: Assistants

A. The President, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, may appoint other members of the Association to serve as assistants to the Secretary or Treasurer, and if appointed such persons shall have the title Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

B. Such assistants shall serve during the term of the officer whom they are appointed to assist, and may succeed themselves.

Section 4: Standing and Ad Hoc Committees

Standing or ad hoc committees may be created by the Executive Board as needed to meet new programmatic needs. The members of the standing and ad hoc committees (including the chairs) shall be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee and shall serve during the term of office of the President who appointed them and may succeed themselves. Committee chairs must be Association members. Chairs of standing committees are automatically members of the Board.

Section 1: Regular meetings of the Association shall be held in the fall and spring of each year, the time and place to be arranged by the Executive Committee.

Section 2: A special meeting shall be called by the president, vice-president, or the Executive Committee on petition of fifteen per cent of the active members of the Association.

A. Prior to each regular spring meeting of the Association, the president, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint a nominating committee to provide nominees for vacancies resulting from term expirations or vacancies among the officers and representatives.

B. One member of the nominating committee shall be a member of the Executive Committee and shall serve as chairperson of the nominating committee.

Section 2: Candidates shall be nominated for election at the spring meeting with additional nominations possible from the floor.

Section 3: In event of a vacancy resulting from resignation or the inability of an elected member to complete the term of office, the president, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint a replacement.

Section 1. These articles may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that a written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to each member of the Association at least ten days before the date of the meeting.

Section 2: Amendments to the Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption.

_____________________________________________________Co-Chair