ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. The name of the organization is the Washington Educational Research Association.

Section 2. The purposes of the association are to:

A. Promote, maintain, and improve the quality and effectiveness of educational research, evaluation, assessment, and related services;

B. Identify and define educational issues and provide a forum for their discussion;

C. Assist in the dissemination of research and evaluation findings;

D. Promote inservice experiences for personnel who are engaged in educational research, evaluation, assessment, instruction, and related activities.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

A. Institutional membership is available to any school district, college, university or other educational unit, or any educational division of a private or public sector agency or organization. Each institutional membership shall include no more than five (5) official representatives who shall be entitled to one vote each.

B. Individual membership is available to persons, other than the official institutional representatives, from member institutions; to persons from non-member institutions which are eligible for membership under Section 1A; and to individuals interested in educational research and evaluation not eligible under Section 1A. Individual members shall have all rights and responsibilities, including that of voting.

C. Student Associate membership is available to graduate students in approved masters and/or doctoral programs who are interested in educational research and evaluation, and who are not employed full-time in an education-related position during their advanced degree study. Student Associate members have all rights and responsibilities, including that of voting.

D. Member Emeritus status may be conferred to individual members by the Executive Board. Announcement of new Member Emeritus members shall be made at the Spring Conference each year. To be eligible for Member Emeritus status an individual must be retired from education-related employment responsibilities and not currently employed full or part-time in an education-related position, and must have been an active member of WERA. Additionally, the individual must have made a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the WERA mission. A Member Emeritus has all rights and responsibilities, including that of voting, and will not be required to pay membership dues or conference registration fees.

E. Membership shall become effective upon acceptance of an application and payment of dues as determined by the Executive Board. Membership fees accepted after the Spring Conference shall be effective beginning September 1 of that year.

F. The membership year shall be September 1 through August 31.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the association are: President, Immediate Past-President, President Elect, and four Members-at-Large.

Section 2. The officers will hold office for a period of one year from the time they assume office or until a successor has been installed or appointed, with the exception of Members-at-Large, who will serve three-year terms.

Section 3.

A. President. The President is executive head of WERA. He/she shall, with the aid of the Executive Board, develop programs for such meetings as may be scheduled, preside at all such meetings, appoint committees, and with the approval of the Executive Board, shall select an Executive Secretary. He/she shall carry out the instructions of the Executive Board and be an ex-officio member of all committees. At the end of the term as president he/she shall prepare a written summary report of the activities of WERA during that term, and present the summary to the Board at its annual retreat.

B. Immediate Past-President. The Immediate Past-President shall be a voting member of the Board. He/she shall attend and actively participate in all meetings of the Board. The Immediate Past-President shall chair the association's annual spring conference during his/her term as Past-President.

C. President Elect. The President Elect will be the President for the coming year. In the absence of the President, the President Elect shall assume his/her duties.

D. Members-at-Large. The Members-at-Large shall be elected to staggered three-year terms. They shall attend and actively participate in all meetings of the Executive Board. The Members-at-Large shall assist in the planning of the association's annual conferences and be responsible for WERA projects assigned by the President.

Section 4. The officers of the association constitute the Executive Board. In addition, the Executive Secretary shall be an ex officio, non-voting, member of the Board. The Board's responsibilities are to:

A. Transact business as may be directed by the association and this constitution;

B. Enter into a contract for the services of an Executive Secretary as needed for the association;

C. Recommend dues for the association;

D. Review the constitution and propose amendments to the general membership as needed.

E. Review and/or adopt policies and operating procedures for the association.

ARTICLE IV - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. A nominating committee will be appointed by the President. The committee will present nominations for each of the officer and board positions to the executive board on or before December 1 of each year. To be eligible for office, candidates shall be voting members of WERA. The nominating committee will attempt to present nominees from the east side and the west side of the state and from the various types of institutions that are members of WERA. The slate of candidates will be announced to the membership with provisions made for further nominations. The names of additional candidates for any office will be placed on the final ballot upon receipt of such a written nomination signed by five voting members.

Section 2. The President shall arrange for the presentation of the slate of candidates to the members by the first week in February with all voting to be completed by the third Friday in February. In cases where there are more than two candidates for an office or board position, the Hare voting system shall be used.

Section 3. The ballots will be counted by the President, President Elect and the Executive Secretary. In the case of tie votes, the winner will be selected by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4. The newly elected officers will assume their responsibilities May 1.

Section 5. In case of vacancy in the Presidency during the normal term of office the President Elect will assume the responsibilities of the Presidency. In the case of all other officers, the Executive Board may fill the vacancy with a voting member either by appointment or by calling a special election.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Section 1. The association shall contract for the services of an Executive Secretary selected by the President, with the approval of the Executive Board. The annual contract shall be approved by the Executive Board. The Executive Secretary position will be reviewed annually with notice of either a continued contract for services or dismissal provided by the President on or before June 1 of each year. The Executive Secretary shall be an ex officio, non-voting, member of the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Executive Secretary is charged with the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Serve as secretary to the Executive Board, fulfilling such duties as: recording, preparing and disseminating accurate and timely minutes of each meeting; handling all correspondence as directed by the President or Executive Board; maintaining an accurate membership list; preparing membership brochures; reproducing and disseminating WERA publications; securing necessary office supplies and materials; and producing new board member training sessions and accompanying materials.

B. Serve as Treasurer to the Executive Board fulfilling such duties as: maintaining accurate and timely financial statements and records; preparing and recommending an annual budget; establishing a close working relationship with Association vendors and conference co-sponsoring individuals or agencies; recommending sound investment practices; preparing and disseminating in a timely manner an annual billing for membership dues; maintaining a record of all receipts and expenditures of WERA in a depository account approved by the Executive Board; prepare an annual financial report to be submitted to WERA membership as designed by the Executive Board.

C. Serve as WERA Historian in fulfilling such responsibilities as producing a historical record of WERA and maintaining a "scrapbook" or file on WERA activities, conference proceedings and other significant events.

D. Serve as Conference Registrar in fulfilling such responsibilities as: preparing conference and workshop fliers; promoting conference and workshop attendance; coordinating with joint sponsors WERA conference planning activities and schedules; registering conference and workshop participants, providing accurate billing statements and fulfilling disbursement requirements in a timely manner and in securing an annual audit report.

E. Fulfill all other responsibilities as directed by the President and Executive Board, including entering into contracts with service providers and others.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. The association shall conduct a business meeting once a year unless additional meetings are called by the Executive Board.

Section 2. A quorum consists of voting members of the association present at a meeting called at least two weeks in advance.

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Section 1. The annual fee for institutional, individual, and student associate membership in WERA will be as recommended by the Executive Board and approved by a majority vote of the voting members in attendance at a regular or special meeting of the association, providing a copy of the recommended annual fees has been mailed to all voting members at least two weeks prior to the meeting; or by a majority vote of those members voting on a ballot mailed to all voting members.

ARTICLE VIII CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND FUNDS

Section 1. Contracts. The Executive Board may enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the association, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 2. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the association, shall be signed by one of the following: President, President Elect, or Executive Secretary.

Section 3. Deposits. All funds of the association shall be deposited in a timely manner to the credit of the association in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Executive Board may select.

Section 4. Gifts. The Executive Board may accept on behalf of the association any contribution, gift, bequest, or grant for general purposes or for any special purpose of the association.

Section 5. Audit. There shall be an annual audit of the financial records and transactions of the association. An auditing committee will be appointed by the President and will be responsible for the audit.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members in attendance at a regular or special meeting of the association, providing a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed to all voting members at least two weeks prior to the meeting; or by a two-thirds vote of those members voting on a ballot mailed to all voting members.

ARTICLE X - OTHER MATTERS

Section 1. In all matters not covered by its constitution and policies and operating procedures, this organization shall be governed by the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Revised. The President is empowered to appoint a parliamentarian.

Revised: November 15, 2004