BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME - The name of this organization shall be the Council on Military
Education in Texas and the South (COMETS.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES
A. Promote and support quality education programs that are available to military personnel, their dependents, and DOD civilians of all services stationed within the State of Texas and the South.
B. Develop and maintain a close, effective working relationship among military, college educators and other professional organizations concerned with education.
C. Identify, study and seek solutions to issues that jointly affect colleges and the military services. Submit findings to institutions and governmental agencies concerned in order to support the purposes of the organization.
D. Recognize the achievements of those persons and organizations that have contributed to the advancement of education opportunities for personnel in Texas.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS
Section 1. Full membership in this organization may be held by:
A. Officials of universities and colleges offering programs for military personnel stationed in Texas and the South who are the designated institutional representatives to COMETS.
B. Military and civilian employees of the Federal Government who are the designated organizational representatives to COMETS and involved in the delivery of education programs to personnel stationed in Texas and the South, including reserve and National Guard components.
C. Representatives of State and U.S. Government education regulatory agencies.
D. Any other organization or individual, which actively supports the military community, with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Delegate membership may be held by: Any individual not meeting the requirements for full membership as specified in Section 1 of this article, but who is directly concerned with the purposes for which the council was formed. These applicants must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Each academic institution, military installation, and professional organization will have one vote. Delegates from these organizations will be permitted to actively participate in activities of the organization as delegate members.
Section 4. All full members in good standing are entitled to vote on any issue brought before the membership. Delegate members may not vote on issues brought before the membership; however, they may serve in an advisory capacity and on committees, and may hold elective office.
Section 5. Any member who shall be in arrears in the payment of any installment or dues shall not be in good standing and shall not be entitled to vote as a member.
Section 6. Termination and suspension of membership.
A. Causes of termination. The membership of any member of any classification shall terminate upon occurrence of any of the following events:
1. The resignation of the member.
2. Expiration of the period of membership, unless the member renews for a subsequent period at the renewal rate set by the Board of Directors.
3. Failure of a member to pay dues, fees or assessments as set by the Board of Directors, within ninety (90) days after they become due and payable.
4. The occurrence of any event, which renders such member ineligible for membership, or failure to satisfy membership qualifications.
5. The expulsion of the member, based upon the good faith determination by the Board of Directors, or a committee authorized by the Board of Directors to make such a determination, that the member has failed in a material and serious degree to observe the rules of conduct of the organization, or has engaged in conduct materially and seriously prejudicial to the purposes and interests of the organization.
B. Suspension of membership. A member may be suspended based on the good faith determination by the Board of Directors, or a committee authorized by the Board of Directors to make such a determination, that the member has failed in a material and serious degree to observe the rules of conduct of the organization, or has engaged in conduct materially and seriously prejudicial to the purposes and interests of the organization. A person whose membership is suspended shall not be a member during the period of suspension.
C. Procedure for Expulsion. If grounds appear to exist for expulsion or suspension of a member under Subsections (A) or (B) of this Section, the procedure set forth below shall be followed:
1. The member shall be given 15 days prior notice of proposed expulsion or suspension and the reasons for the proposed expulsion or suspension. Notice shall be given by any method reasonably calculated to provide actual notice. Any notice given by mail shall be sent by first class mail to the member's last address as shown on the organization's records.
2. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard, either orally or in writing, at least five days before the effective date of the proposed expulsion or suspension. The hearing shall be held or the written statement considered by the Board of Directors or by a committee authorized by the Board of Directors to determine whether the expulsion or suspension should take place.
3. The Board of Directors or committee shall decide whether or not the member should be expelled, suspended or sanctioned in some other way. The decision by the Board of Directors or committee shall be final.
4. Any action challenging an expulsion, suspension or termination of membership, including a claim alleging defective notice, must be commenced within one year after the date of expulsion, suspension or termination.
ARTICLE IV
DUES
Section 1. Each member in good standing shall pay dues annually. The dues amount shall be due and payable by the date of the Annual Meeting of the organization. Only full members whose dues are current will be eligible to vote on matters brought before the organization.
Section 2. The amount of the membership annual dues shall be recommended by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Directors prior to October 1 each year.
ARTICLE V
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall supervise, control and direct the affairs of the organization, pursue its purposes and determine its policies, except as otherwise provided in the charter of the organization or in these Bylaws. In the execution of the powers granted by the charter, the Board may propose such operating rules and procedures as shall be deemed advisable to carry on day-to-day operations. The organization membership shall be informed within 45 days of any policies adopted by the Board since the last regular meeting. These policies shall remain in effect unless the voting members elect to rescind them, or the Board changes or rescinds them.
Section 2. Composition. The Board shall be composed of the Officers.
Section 3. Officers. The officers of this Association shall be: President, President-Elect, immediate Past-President, Vice President-Military, Vice President-Institutions, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director of Technical Support. All officers shall be voting members in good standing with the organization. Salaries shall not be paid to the officers of the organization.
A. Election of Officers.
1. A Nominating Committee shall each year be appointed by the president three months prior to the Annual Business Meeting. The committee shall consist of members representative of the organization's population, i.e. a member from the military education community, a member from the on-base institution community, etc. The Committee shall nominate a slate of officers for each available position. In addition, nominations shall be solicited from the floor at the Annual Business Meeting. The officers shall be elected by ballot. If there is only one candidate for an office, the election to that office may be by voice vote. The person receiving the most votes shall be elected.
2. Every attempt will be made by the nominating Committee to alternate the office of the President-Elect among the various representative areas of membership.
3. All officers except the President shall serve until their successors have been duly elected and assume office at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. The President-Elect assumes the office of President at the close of the meeting at which his/her successor is elected.
B. Terms of Office. The term of office of the President shall be one year, preceded by a term of one year as President-Elect. The officers of the organization (with the exception of the President and the President-Elect) shall serve staggered two-year terms. At the first election, the Vice President-Institutions and the Treasurer shall be elected for two-year terms to complete the staggered cycle.
C. Vacancies in Offices. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal or other causes shall be filled by appointment by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Meetings. The Board shall meet at least annually and at such additional times as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Meetings of the Board shall be held in locations designated by the Board. Minutes of the meetings of the Board shall be kept and constitute a record of the business conducted by the Board. Scheduled meeting dates shall be available to all members.
Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI
ADMINISTRATION
Section 1. Duties of Officers.
A. President. The President shall be the principal officer of the organization and shall:
1. Preside at the annual meeting, the meetings of the Board and at special meetings.
2. Be an ex-officio member of all committees.
3. Appoint all standing and special committee chairs with the advice and consent of the Board.
4. Ensure a program is developed and carried out to achieve the purposes of the organization.
5. Ensure that all expenditures of the organization are properly authorized.
6. Appoint replacements for the offices of Vice President-Military, Vice President-Institutions, Secretary or Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Board, if any of the positions become vacant.
7. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board and/or membership.
8. Be one of the three officers authorized to sign organization checks.
B. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall:
1. Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the President.
2. Assume the office of the President when it becomes vacant.
3. Act in any capacity requested by the President and consistent with these Bylaws.
4. Serve as Chair of the Program Committee.
5. Be one of the three officers authorized to sign organization checks.
C. Vice President-Military. The Vice President-Military shall:
1. Represent the Department of Defense constituency within the organization.
2. When the position of President-Elect is held by a military representative, perform the duties of the President-Elect in the absence of the President-Elect, or assume the office of the President-Elect if the office becomes vacant.
3. Serve as Chairman of the Legislative Committee.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.
D. Vice President-Institutions. The Vice President-Institutions shall:
1. Represent the Civilian higher education constituency.
2. When the position of President-Elect is held by an institutional representative, perform the duties of the President-Elect in the absence of the President-Elect, or assume the office of the President-Elect if the office becomes vacant.
3. Serve as Chair of the Membership Committee.
4. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.
E. Secretary. The Secretary shall:
1. Keep or cause to be kept a record of the deliberations of the organization.
2. Maintain or cause to be maintained the correspondence and history of the Association.
3. Serve as Chair of the Public Relations Committee.
F. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
1. Maintain or cause to be maintained all monetary accounts of the Association, keeping accurate records of all transactions.
2. Establish or cause to be established and maintained a checking account for the deposit of the organization's funds.
3. Be one of the three officers authorized to sign organization checks.
4. Serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.
G. Director of Technical Support. The Director of Technical Support shall:
1. Maintain or cause to be maintained the web site for the Association to include appropriate links, Association information, and conference information when appropriate.
2. Be responsible for setting up media presentations and trouble shooting any media problems at the annual conference.
H. Executive Director. The Board may obtain the services of an Executive Director, who shall perform such duties as are assigned by the Board of Directors and are identified in any contract of employment, and shall receive such compensation and expenses as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 2. Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all meetings of the Association and of the Board insofar as they are not inconsistent with applicable statues, the articles of incorporation and these Bylaws, unless other specific procedures are provided by the Board.
Section 3. Power of Attorney. The officers of the Association shall have authority as attorney-in-fact to execute and acknowledge on behalf of the Association, legal documents or other instruments in connection with the operation of the Association as approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Finances.
A. Banking. The funds of the Association shall be deposited in such financial institutions as may be approved by the Board, and such depositing authority may be delegated by them to the Executive Director.
B. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December of each year.
C. Budget. The Association shall operate under a budget approved annually by the Board of Directors. The budget shall be available to any member.
D. Limitations on Use of Funds.
1. The funds of the Association shall be used only to support the purposes of the Association as stated in Article II.
2. Funds of the Association may not inure to the personal or private benefit of any member, officer or director of the Association.
E. Audit. The Board of Directors shall provide for a review of the finances of the Association annually. The Board shall report the results of such review at the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 5. Liability of Members. Personal liability of officers and directors when acting on behalf of the Association is limited in accordance with the provisions of the non-profit corporation code.
ARTICLE
VII
STANDING COMMITTEES
The Standing Committees of the Association shall be: Finance, Legislative, Membership, Program and Public Relations. The duties of each Committee shall be determined annually by the Board of Directors as part of the yearly program of work.
ARTICLE
VIII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Amendment of these Bylaws may be proposed by any member of the Association.
Such proposals shall be referred to a Bylaws review group appointed by the president for study and recommendation to the Board. If approved by the Board, the recommended amendment will be distributed in writing to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to a regular meeting. Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those members present at the Annual Business Meeting.