minnesota speech coaches' association by-laws
ARTICLE I - MEETINGS
Section A - General Membership Meetings
Biannual meetings of the association shall be held at the spring MSHSL State Speech Tournament and in conjunction with the fall CTAM Conference. A written agenda shall be available at the meeting and posted on the MSCA web site prior to the meeting. Meetings may be held in person, virtually, or hybrid (in person and virtually).
Section B - Executive Board Meetings
The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the president or at the request of three members of the Board. Interim executive decisions may be made, when necessary, by a majority of the officers. Such actions shall be subject to review and decision by the Executive Board at its next duly called meetings. Minutes of all Executive Board meetings shall be made available to the membership.
Section C - Order of Business
1. Call to order
2. Minutes of the General Membership session
3. Minutes of all Executive Board meetings since last general meeting
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Standing Committees' Reports
6. Special Committee's Reports
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Announcements
10. Adjournment
ARTICLE II - QUORUM
Section A - General Membership Meetings
At meetings of the Association, a quorum shall consist of either a majority of the membership in the Association or thirty (30) members of the Association, whichever is smaller.
Section B - Executive Board meetings
A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum for the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III - SELECTION OF OFFICERS & TERMS OF OFFICE
Section A - The membership shall elect the president-elect. The president-elect shall alternate between AA and A schools. The following procedure shall be used for this election:
1. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for president-elect via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media accounts as well as at
the CTAM general membership meeting. 2. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting. Voting may be done electronically.
3. The president-elect shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting.
Section B - The president-elect shall become president in the succeeding year.
1. The president and president-elect shall serve a two-year term of office which shall begin immediately following the spring membership meeting.
2. The other officers shall serve for one year and may serve consecutive terms.
3. Whenever the office of both president and president-elect shall become vacant between elections, the remaining members of the Executive Board shall choose one of their members to serve as president pro tempore until the next membership meeting of the Association.
Section C - The president shall appoint the corresponding secretary, the membership secretary/treasurer and the information coordinator.
ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section A - President
The president shall preside over the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board, appoint the chairpersons and members of the committees, and shall be the executive officer of the Association.
Section B - President-elect
The president-elect shall serve as vice president for the Association. S/he shall work closely with one or more committees as the president may suggest. S/he shall become president at the expiration of the president's term of office or when the presidency becomes vacant.
Section C - Immediate Past President
The immediate past president shall advise the Executive Board, shall assist the president at the latter's request and shall assist the president with Association correspondence.
Section D - Corresponding Secretary
The corresponding secretary shall keep accurate minutes of the Association and Executive Board meetings, shall maintain official files and shall assist the president with Association correspondence. S/he will publish dated copies of the constitution and bylaws, which will be provided for new members and, upon it amendment, to the entire membership.
Section E - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
The membership secretary/treasurer shall hold the funds of the Association and disburse them upon authorization by the Executive Board or president. S/he shall collect from the members their annual dues. S/he shall maintain a roll of the members. S/he shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, shall report to each meeting of the Executive Board, and shall present an annual financial statement to the membership. S/he shall keep the president and the Executive Board informed of the financial condition of the Association.
Section F - Information Coordinator
The Information Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining the Association's web site for so long as it shall exist. The Coordinator shall post on the web site all correspondence, news updates, directory of members, and other items of relevance to the membership of the Association. Members of the Association will be allowed to forward pertinent items to the Coordinator for posting.
ARTICLE V - POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association, set annual dues, approve expenditures, establish policies, and make decisions for the Association within the limits set by the constitution.
ARTICLE VI - SELECTION OF OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS & TERMS OF OFFICE
Section A-State Tournament Jury
1. The Jury shall be made up of one elected representative from Class A schools, one elected representative from Class AA
schools, and one at-large member from either A or AA schools.
2. A juror may not serve consecutive terms.
3. No two jurors may be from the same school or school district.
4. A juror must be currently active as a speech coach and be certified to judge by the MSHSL.
5. A juror should not be a member of the judging pool at the MSHSL State Speech Tournament during their term on the
tournament jury.
6. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for jury members via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media accounts as well as
at the CTAM general membership meeting.
7. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting. Voting may be done electronically.
8. The jury shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting. Class A coaches will vote
for the Class A representative, Class AA coaches will vote for the Class AA coaches and all coaches will vote for the at-large
representative.
9. At the 2015 Fall MSCA meeting, a new Jury member will be elected to replace the at-large member, followed by replacement
of the Class A member in the Fall of 2016, followed by replacement of the Class AA member in 2017. This cycle will continue
to repeat into the future so that each Jury member serves a three-year term.
Section B- MSHSL Speech Advisory Committee
1. The MSHSL Speech Advisory Committee shall be made up of two elected representatives from Class A schools, two elected
representatives from Class AA schools, the MSCA President, and the MSHSL rules clinician.
2. Elected representatives shall serve a two-year term. One Class A and one Class AA representative shall be elected each year
to replace the representatives whose terms have expired.
3. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for Advisory Committee members via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media
accounts as well as at the CTAM general membership meeting.
4. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting.
5. The Advisory Committee shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting. Class A
coaches will vote for the Class A representative and Class AA coaches will vote for the Class AA representative.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section A - There shall be the following standing committees: Category Committees, (Storytelling, Extemporaneous Reading, and Discussion), Awards Committee, and Hall of Fame Committee.
Section B - Other committees shall be established by the president of the Executive Board as the need arises. The tenure of appointed committees shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - AUTHORITY
Roberts' Rules of Order, Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for the Association on all questions not covered by the constitution and bylaws and such standing rules as the Executive Board or membership may adopt.
ARTICLE IX - Assets on Liquidation
No part of the net income revenue, and grants of the Association shall inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered in connection with one or more of its purposes), and non member, officer, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any part of the assets of the Association on its dissolution or liquidation. In the event of such dissolution or liquidation, the assets of the Association, after payment of debts and obligations, shall be transferred to an organization with federal tax exemption for charitable and educational uses and purposes similar to those of the Association, which exempt organization shall be designated by the final Executive committee of the Association.
Revised - June 2022
Section A - General Membership Meetings
Biannual meetings of the association shall be held at the spring MSHSL State Speech Tournament and in conjunction with the fall CTAM Conference. A written agenda shall be available at the meeting and posted on the MSCA web site prior to the meeting. Meetings may be held in person, virtually, or hybrid (in person and virtually).
Section B - Executive Board Meetings
The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the president or at the request of three members of the Board. Interim executive decisions may be made, when necessary, by a majority of the officers. Such actions shall be subject to review and decision by the Executive Board at its next duly called meetings. Minutes of all Executive Board meetings shall be made available to the membership.
Section C - Order of Business
1. Call to order
2. Minutes of the General Membership session
3. Minutes of all Executive Board meetings since last general meeting
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Standing Committees' Reports
6. Special Committee's Reports
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Announcements
10. Adjournment
ARTICLE II - QUORUM
Section A - General Membership Meetings
At meetings of the Association, a quorum shall consist of either a majority of the membership in the Association or thirty (30) members of the Association, whichever is smaller.
Section B - Executive Board meetings
A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum for the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III - SELECTION OF OFFICERS & TERMS OF OFFICE
Section A - The membership shall elect the president-elect. The president-elect shall alternate between AA and A schools. The following procedure shall be used for this election:
1. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for president-elect via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media accounts as well as at
the CTAM general membership meeting. 2. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting. Voting may be done electronically.
3. The president-elect shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting.
Section B - The president-elect shall become president in the succeeding year.
1. The president and president-elect shall serve a two-year term of office which shall begin immediately following the spring membership meeting.
2. The other officers shall serve for one year and may serve consecutive terms.
3. Whenever the office of both president and president-elect shall become vacant between elections, the remaining members of the Executive Board shall choose one of their members to serve as president pro tempore until the next membership meeting of the Association.
Section C - The president shall appoint the corresponding secretary, the membership secretary/treasurer and the information coordinator.
ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section A - President
The president shall preside over the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board, appoint the chairpersons and members of the committees, and shall be the executive officer of the Association.
Section B - President-elect
The president-elect shall serve as vice president for the Association. S/he shall work closely with one or more committees as the president may suggest. S/he shall become president at the expiration of the president's term of office or when the presidency becomes vacant.
Section C - Immediate Past President
The immediate past president shall advise the Executive Board, shall assist the president at the latter's request and shall assist the president with Association correspondence.
Section D - Corresponding Secretary
The corresponding secretary shall keep accurate minutes of the Association and Executive Board meetings, shall maintain official files and shall assist the president with Association correspondence. S/he will publish dated copies of the constitution and bylaws, which will be provided for new members and, upon it amendment, to the entire membership.
Section E - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
The membership secretary/treasurer shall hold the funds of the Association and disburse them upon authorization by the Executive Board or president. S/he shall collect from the members their annual dues. S/he shall maintain a roll of the members. S/he shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, shall report to each meeting of the Executive Board, and shall present an annual financial statement to the membership. S/he shall keep the president and the Executive Board informed of the financial condition of the Association.
Section F - Information Coordinator
The Information Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining the Association's web site for so long as it shall exist. The Coordinator shall post on the web site all correspondence, news updates, directory of members, and other items of relevance to the membership of the Association. Members of the Association will be allowed to forward pertinent items to the Coordinator for posting.
ARTICLE V - POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association, set annual dues, approve expenditures, establish policies, and make decisions for the Association within the limits set by the constitution.
ARTICLE VI - SELECTION OF OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS & TERMS OF OFFICE
Section A-State Tournament Jury
1. The Jury shall be made up of one elected representative from Class A schools, one elected representative from Class AA
schools, and one at-large member from either A or AA schools.
2. A juror may not serve consecutive terms.
3. No two jurors may be from the same school or school district.
4. A juror must be currently active as a speech coach and be certified to judge by the MSHSL.
5. A juror should not be a member of the judging pool at the MSHSL State Speech Tournament during their term on the
tournament jury.
6. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for jury members via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media accounts as well as
at the CTAM general membership meeting.
7. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting. Voting may be done electronically.
8. The jury shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting. Class A coaches will vote
for the Class A representative, Class AA coaches will vote for the Class AA coaches and all coaches will vote for the at-large
representative.
9. At the 2015 Fall MSCA meeting, a new Jury member will be elected to replace the at-large member, followed by replacement
of the Class A member in the Fall of 2016, followed by replacement of the Class AA member in 2017. This cycle will continue
to repeat into the future so that each Jury member serves a three-year term.
Section B- MSHSL Speech Advisory Committee
1. The MSHSL Speech Advisory Committee shall be made up of two elected representatives from Class A schools, two elected
representatives from Class AA schools, the MSCA President, and the MSHSL rules clinician.
2. Elected representatives shall serve a two-year term. One Class A and one Class AA representative shall be elected each year
to replace the representatives whose terms have expired.
3. The MSCA president will solicit nominations for Advisory Committee members via the MSCA listserv, and/or social media
accounts as well as at the CTAM general membership meeting.
4. A secret ballot shall be cast at the membership meeting.
5. The Advisory Committee shall be elected by a plurality of the ballots cast at the CTAM general membership meeting. Class A
coaches will vote for the Class A representative and Class AA coaches will vote for the Class AA representative.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section A - There shall be the following standing committees: Category Committees, (Storytelling, Extemporaneous Reading, and Discussion), Awards Committee, and Hall of Fame Committee.
Section B - Other committees shall be established by the president of the Executive Board as the need arises. The tenure of appointed committees shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - AUTHORITY
Roberts' Rules of Order, Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for the Association on all questions not covered by the constitution and bylaws and such standing rules as the Executive Board or membership may adopt.
ARTICLE IX - Assets on Liquidation
No part of the net income revenue, and grants of the Association shall inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered in connection with one or more of its purposes), and non member, officer, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any part of the assets of the Association on its dissolution or liquidation. In the event of such dissolution or liquidation, the assets of the Association, after payment of debts and obligations, shall be transferred to an organization with federal tax exemption for charitable and educational uses and purposes similar to those of the Association, which exempt organization shall be designated by the final Executive committee of the Association.
Revised - June 2022
