The name of this organization is the Arlington County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, of the Potomac District, in the Northern Virginia Region of the Virginia PTA/PTSA, a branch of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (National PTA).

The articles of organization of a constituent organization include (a) the bylaws of such organization and (b) the certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation of such organizations (in cases in which the organization is a corporation) or the articles of association by whatever name (in cases in which the organization exists as an unincorporated association).

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**Section 1. The Objects of the Arlington County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations in common with those of the National PTA and the Virginia PTA/PTSA are:
a. To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship.

b. To raise the standards of home life.

c. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

d. To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.

e. To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.

**Section 2. The organization is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding Section of any future federal tax code (hereinafter "Internal Revenue Code"). 4/99

#Section 3. The purpose of a council shall be to promote the Objects and interests of the National PTA and the Virginia PTA/PTSA, to strengthen the local units in its membership, and to provide for conference and cooperation among the member units on matters of mutual concern within the council boundaries.
a. The council shall assist the district in the formation of new PTA/PTSAs according to the plan of the Virginia PTA/PTSA.
#b. A council may not legislate for local units in its membership.

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The following are basic policies of this council in common with those of the National PTA and the Virginia PTA/PTSA:

a. The organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan.

b. The name of the organization or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used to endorse or promote a commercial concern or in connection with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the Objects of the organization.

c. The organization shall not--directly or indirectly--participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

d. The organization shall work with the schools to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities.

e. The organization shall not enter into membership with other organizations except such international or national organizations as may be approved by the National PTA Board of Directors. The Virginia PTA/PTSA or any of its divisions may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but a PTA/PTSA representative shall make no commitments that bind the group he represents.

f. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, trustees, officers or other private persons  4/99

g. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

h. Upon the dissolution of this organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more non-profit funds, foundations, or organizations which have established their tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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**Section 1. The council shall be organized and chartered under the authority of the Virginia PTA/PTSA in the area in which this council PTA functions, in conformity with such rules and regulations, not in conflict with the bylaws of the National PTA, as the Virginia PTA/PTSA may in its bylaws prescribe. The Virginia PTA/PTSA shall issue to this council PTA an appropriate charter evidencing the due organization and good standing of this council.

A council in good standing is one which:
a. Adheres to the Objects and basic policies of the National PTA;
b. Has bylaws approved according to the procedures of the Virginia PTA/PTSA; and
c. Meets other criteria as may be prescribed by the Virginia PTA/PTSA.

**Section 2. Each council PTA shall adopt such bylaws for the government of the organization as may be approved by the Virginia PTA/PTSA. Such bylaws shall not be in conflict with the bylaws of the National PTA or the bylaws of the Virginia PTA/PTSA.

**Section 3. Each council PTA shall include in its bylaws provisions corresponding to the provisions of such of the bylaws of the National PTA as are identified herein by a double star.

#Section 4. Each council PTA shall include in its bylaws provisions corresponding to the provision of such of the Virginia PTA/PTSA bylaws as are identified by the state symbol #.  4/99

**Section 5. Each officer or board member of a council PTA shall be a member of a local PTA/PTSA within its area.

**Section 6. Each officer or board member of a local PTA/PTSA shall be a member of such local PTA/PTSA.

**Section 7. Only members of a local PTA/PTSA who have paid dues for the current membership year may participate in the business of that association

**Section 8. The council shall keep such permanent books of account and records as shall be sufficient to establish the items of gross income, receipts, and disbursements of the council, including, specifically the number of its member PTA/PTSAs and the dues collected from them. Such books of account and records shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by an authorized representative of the Virginia PTA/PTSA or, where directed by the committee on state and national relationships, by a duly authorized representative of the National PTA.

**Section 9. Bylaws of each constituent organization shall include an article on amendments.

**Section 10. Bylaws of each constituent organization shall include a provision establishing a quorum.

**Section 11. The bylaws of all constituent organizations shall prohibit voting by proxy, (unless proxy voting is specified by applicable state law).

**Section 12. The members of the nominating committee for officers of a constituent organization shall be elected by membership, Board of Directors/Managers, Executive Board, or Executive Committee.

**Section 13. A PTA/PTSA member shall not serve as a voting member of a constituent organization's board at the local, council, district, region, state or national level while serving as a paid employee of, or under contract to, that constituent organization.

#Section 14. Councils may address legislative items or issues if the position on the legislative item or issue does not conflict with that of the Virginia PTA/PTSA Legislation Program. The council's name must be used and not that of the Virginia PTA/PTSA.

#Section 15. Any dissolution of a council and termination of its affairs shall take place in the following manner:

a. The Executive Board (or other body that, under its bylaws, manages the affairs of the council) shall adopt a resolution recommending that the council be dissolved and directing that the question of such dissolution be submitted to a vote at a special meeting of members having voting rights. Written or printed notice stating the purpose of such meeting is to consider the advisability of dissolving the council    (4/99) shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meeting at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting. Such meeting shall be held only during the academic year.

b. Written notice of the adoption of such resolution accompanied by a copy of the notice of the special meeting of members shall be given to the president of the Virginia PTA/PTSA at least twenty (20) days before the date fixed for such special meeting of the members. The president of the Virginia PTA/PTSA, or his/her designated representative, shall be permitted to attend the meeting and shall be accorded the courtesy of being allowed to speak for at least fifteen (15) minutes if they so desire, prior to the vote on dissolution.

c. Only those persons who were members of local units in good standing with the council on the date of adoption of the resolution and who continue to be members in good standing on the date of the special meeting shall be entitled to vote on dissolution.

d. Approval of dissolution of the council shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote at the special meeting, a quorum being present.

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#Section 16. One president shall preside over PTA councils as prescribed in its bylaws.

#Section 17. One treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and finances of the council.

**Section 18. The charter of this council shall be subject to withdrawal and the status of such organization as a PTA council shall be subject to termination, in the manner and under the circumstances provided in the bylaws of the Virginia PTA/PTSA.

**Section 19. This council is obligated, upon dissolution by the Virginia PTA/PTSA:
a. To yield up and surrender all its books and records and all of its assets and property to the Virginia PTA/PTSA or to such agency as may be designated by the Virginia PTA/PTSA or to another council organized under the authority of the Virginia PTA/PTSA;

b. To cease and desist from the further use of any name that implies or connotes association with the National PTA or the Virginia PTA/PTSA or status as a constituent organization of the National PTA; and

c. To carry out promptly, under the supervision and direction of the Virginia PTA/PTSA, all proceedings necessary or desirable for the purpose of dissolving this PTA council.     4/99

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Section 1. An auditing committee or a professional auditor shall be selected by the Executive Board prior to the end of the fiscal year. An auditing committee shall consist of no fewer than three members and no one with signature authority shall sit on the auditing committee.

Section 2. The council treasurer shall submit the books to the auditing committee or the professional auditor at the end of the fiscal year. The audit report shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board prior to the finalization of the proposed budget for the coming school year.

Section 3. The Executive Board of the council shall, upon resignation of the treasurer during a term, select an auditing committee or a professional auditor within one week of the resignation. The audit shall be performed with fiscal year end auditing procedures and shall be completed within three weeks of the resignation. This audit shall not be performed in lieu of the year-end audit.

Section 4. The newly elected treasurer shall not undertake any duties or responsibilities of that office until the audit is presented to and accepted by the Executive Board.

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ARTICLE VII: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Membership in this council shall consist only of local units chartered by the Virginia PTA/PTSA as authorized by the National PTA in Arlington County upon payment of dues as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. The annual dues for membership in this council shall be twenty-five (25) cents for each member of the local unit. A member is defined as one individual person. Dues shall be payable December 1 and shall be determined by the number of members during the school year. A unit shall be in arrears sixty days after December 1 and shall be notified by the treasurer in writing that the unit is not considered in good standing. A unit may be reinstated upon payment of current dues.

Section 3. Additional units may be accepted as members at any time.

Section 4. Delegates from local PTA/PTSAs whose dues to the council are in arrears shall not participate in the business meetings of the council.

#Section 5. Only members of this council shall be eligible to vote in the business meetings of this council or to serve in any elective or appointive positions.  4/99

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Section 1. The voting body of this council shall consist of the elected officers; the chairs of standing committees; the president of each member unit; one delegate (or alternate) from each member unit, selected by the local PTA according to its own procedure; the principal or teacher alternate from each member unit; and the Superintendent of Schools or his or her representative.

Section 2. The voting body shall vote on routine matters, including budget and election of officers. Voting on such matters shall be by the members named in Section 1 who are present at the meeting, and shall be limited to one vote per member.

Section 3. A unit vote shall be taken on adoption of projects, adoption of bylaws, adoption of amendments to the bylaws and position statements. On unit votes, the vote of the unit PTA president (if present) shall be cast to reflect the unit’s position. If the unit president is not present, the delegate shall vote on behalf of the unit.

Section 4. All members of the voting body shall be members of local units in good standing with the council, Virginia PTA/PTSA and the National PTA

Section 5. Representation from a majority of the member PTAs shall constitute a quorum.

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ARTICLE IX: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1. The officers of the council shall consist of one president (#), a vice-president, a secretary, two special projects coordinators, one treasurer (#), and a communications coordinator. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the council.

Section 2. At the regular meeting in February, a nominating committee of five or more members of the voting body, no two members being from the same unit, shall be elected by ballot. A plurality shall elect the members of this committee. Nominations shall be made from the floor and if there are only five candidates, election may be by voice vote. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate at least one candidate for each office to be filled at the regular meeting in April.

Section 3. Only members from units in good standing shall be considered as nominees for office. The consent of the nominee must be obtained before being placed in nomination. The Nominating Committee shall send the list of nominees for office to the Executive Board and to each County Council member at least thirty (30) days before the regular meeting in April.

Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall report at the regular meeting in April, at which time further nominations for office may be made from the floor. The officers shall be elected at that (4/99) meeting by ballot; however, if there is only one nominee for an office, election may be by voice vote.

Section 5. Officers shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting in May and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected and take office. No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 6. A vacancy in office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a member from a unit in good standing elected by a majority vote of the Executive Board, except that a vacancy in the office of president shall be filled by the vice-president. A member who served more than half of a term shall be deemed to have served a full term.

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ARTICLE X: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the council and the Executive Board; shall sign all orders of the treasury of the council; shall appoint chairs of standing and special committees; shall help to extend PTA/PTSA work into all parts of the county and shall encourage participation by all local units in the work of the council; and shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except the nominating committee.

Section 2. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall serve as an aide to the president.

Section 3. The secretary shall record the minutes of the meetings of the council and the Executive Board; shall keep a roster of the names and addresses of the members of the Executive Board; shall record the local member PTAs, and the names and addresses of their officers and delegates to the council.

Section 4. The communications coordinator shall carry out the duties assigned by the president to foster timely, effective communication with members

Section 5. The treasurer shall have custody of all funds and shall collect and keep a full and accurate account of all moneys of the council; shall pay out funds only as authorized by the council; and shall present a financial statement at each meeting of the council.

Section 6. The treasurer shall submit the books annually for audit by an auditing committee selected by the Executive Board pursuant to the procedures in Article VI.

Section 7. The special projects coordinators shall carry out duties assigned by the president, including analysis and in-depth evaluation and communication of special and long-range school system activities.  4/99

Section 8. All officers shall perform the duties outlined in these bylaws, the parliamentary authority, and those assigned from time to time; shall attend all regular meetings of the council, unless excused; and shall deliver to their successors all official material pertaining to their office within thirty (30) days after the election of their successors. These materials may include a procedure book containing the requirements of the office, a record of activities, important correspondence, annual report, and recommendations.

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Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the council, the chairs of standing committees, three principals (one elementary, one middle, and one high school), the president of two units at large, the Superintendent of Schools or his representative, and the immediate past president of the council. A parliamentarian, appointed by the president, shall serve the organization as needed. A quorum shall consist of 10 members.

Section 2. Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held on the first Monday of each month of the school year. Except in cases of emergency, a meeting date may be changed provided that at least five (5) days’ notice is given. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the president and shall be called upon written request of a majority of the members of the Executive Board.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the council between its business meetings, make recommendations to the council and shall perform other duties as specified in these bylaws. The Executive Board shall have the power to create or discontinue standing committees, except the Committee on Scholarship. The minutes of the May Executive Board meeting shall carry a list of the current standing committees.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall fill vacancies in office, with the exception of president; shall approve plans of work of council committees, where requested; shall report at the regular meetings of the council; shall select an auditing committee or professional auditor as outlined in Article VI (#); and shall act as necessary between meetings of the council.

Section 5. The Executive Board can authorize expenditures not covered in the budget in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) per expenditure.

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ARTICLE XII:  MEETINGS

Section l. Regular meetings of the council shall be held monthly from September through May, unless otherwise provided for by the council or Executive Board. Five (5) days’ notice shall be given of any change of date.   4/99

Section 2. The regular meeting in May shall be the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of installing the newly elected officers and for any other business that may arise.

Section 3. Special meetings of the council may be called by the president, and shall be called upon the request of a majority of the Executive Board or a majority of the local PTA/PTSAs in membership. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least five (5) days' notice shall be given.

Section 4. Meetings of the council shall be open to all members of PTA/PTSAs holding membership in the council, but the privilege of introducing motions and voting shall be limited to the voting body as described in Article VIII.

#Section 5. A minimum of four council meetings a year is required.

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Section 1. Within thirty (30) days after assuming office, the elected officers shall meet to formulate plans. The president shall appoint the chairs of standing committees and notify the Executive Board.

Section 2. Members of standing and special committees shall be appointed by the president to promote the Objects and to carry on the work of the council. Chairs of standing committees must be members in good standing of units holding council membership.

Section 3. The president, with the approval of the officers, shall select two unit presidents to serve as members-at-large.

Section 4. Chairs of standing committees shall, on request, present a plan of work to the Executive Board for approval. No committee projects or work shall be undertaken without approval by the Executive Board.

Section 5. The Committee on Scholarship is a permanent standing committee of the council. This committee shall consist of three (3) members appointed by the president, with the approval of the Executive Board. One member shall be appointed each year for a three-year term to serve as director of the Arlington County Scholarship Fund for Teachers, Inc. The term of appointment expires in December. One member shall be designated as chair. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made only for the unexpired term.

Section 6. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 7. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.  4/99

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Section 1. The PTA/PTSA fiscal year shall begin and end as designated in the bylaws with the ending date the last day of a calendar month.

Section 2. The fiscal year of this council shall begin on August 1 and end on July 31.

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The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order--Newly Revised shall govern the National PTA and its constituent organizations in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws, the bylaws of the Virginia PTA/PTSA and the bylaws of the National PTA, or the articles of incorporation.

#Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of this council by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided a quorum has been established. Written

notice of the proposed amendments shall be given to each member PTA/PTSA and to each member of the Executive Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting at which action is taken, and provided the amendments are not in conflict with the required articles prescribed in the bylaws of the Virginia PTA/PTSA and the National PTA.

a. A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the existing bylaws by a majority vote at a meeting of the council. The procedure for action on amendments in Section 1 will then be followed.

b. After approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a meeting of this council, two copies of all amendments or revisions shall be sent to the state office for approval to the Virginia PTA/PTSA.

**Section 2. The adoption of an amendment to any provision of the bylaws of the National PTA identified by a double-star shall serve automatically and without requirement of further action by the constituent organization to amend correspondingly the bylaws of each constituent organization. Notwithstanding the automatic character of the amending process, the constituent organization shall promptly incorporate such amendments in their respective bylaws.

#Section 3. The adoption of an amendment to any provision of the bylaws of the Virginia PTA/PTSA identified by the number symbol (#) shall serve automatically and without requirement of further action by the constituent organization to amend correspondingly its bylaws. Notwithstanding the automatic character of the amending process, the constituent organization (4/99) shall promptly incorporate such amendments in its respective bylaws.

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The bylaws of this council shall be submitted to the state office every five (5) years for approval by the Virginia PTA/PTSA Bylaws committee on behalf of the Virginia PTA/PTSA Board of Managers.

Standing Rules may be adopted from time to time, as needed. They may be adopted without previous notice by a majority vote of the Executive Board. No standing rule resolution, or motion is in order that conflicts with the bylaws of the council or those of its members PTAs.

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The County Councilor shall be the official publication of the Arlington County Council of PTAs and shall contain official reports and other communications from the council and local units.  4/99

Last amended May, 1999

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