Approved Constitution (Spring 2000)
EPSILON FIELD CHAPTER
BYLAWS OF THE IOTA LAMBDA SIGMA SOCIETY
EPSILON FIELD CHAPTER
(REVISED 7-25-05)
(REVISED 7-18-07)
(REVISED 3-27-09)

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be IOTA LAMBDA SIGMA SOCIETY, EPSILON FIELD CHAPTER. hereinafter referred to as The Chapter. The business address of the Chapter shall be the location of the current Executive Director. If there is no Executive Director, the address shall be the address of the Secretary.

ARTICLE II - NATURE, OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Nature

The Chapter, an honorary professional society, recognizes individuals for excellence in their various endeavors in workforce education and development. Workforce development includes entry level employment training through advanced education and development in the workplace. Persons invited into this professional society may come from full-time or retired Career and Technical Education, Workforce Development, or Business and Industry.

Section 2. Objectives

The Chapter is organized exclusively for educational and professional development purposes and will conform to all requirements of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Chapter shall participate in the organization and establishment of new chapters in accordance with the Iota Lambda Sigma Grand Chapter Constitution.

Section 3. Purpose

The purpose of this Chapter shall be to promote workforce development by:

3.1 Recognizing scholarship in all areas of Career and Technical Education.

3.2 Creating and maintaining a closer fraternal bond between teachers, supervisors, representatives from business and industry, and directors who are taking, or have taken professional work in an authorized college or teacher training agency in Career Technical Education, Workforce Development, or are engaged in business and industry.

3.3 Serving as a clearing house for outstanding papers written by Career Technical Educators, and circulating these papers. A committee composed of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall determine which will be mailed to the Membership.

3.4 The recognition of professional training in these special fields.

3.5 The promotion of professional development.

ARTICLE III - GRAND CHAPTER DELEGATES

Section 1. Representatives to Grand Chapter

The Chapter shall elect one representative and one alternate to the Grand Chapter prior to November 15. It shall be the duty of the Grand Chapter representative to participate in the election of Grand Chapter officers and business sessions.

Section 2. Members of Grand Chapter Advisory Council

The Chapter shall elect two members to the National Advisory Council who will serve in addition to members who are past presidents of Grand Chapter according to the Constitution of Iota Lambda Sigma. The term of office for elected members of the advisory council shall be three years and the terms of office shall not coincide. In case of inability of an elected member to complete his/her term, the chapter shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by election.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. General Eligibility

Only persons of good character shall be eligible to membership in this society.

Section 2. Regular Membership

Regular membership shall be limited to:

2.1 Persons who are actively engaged in Career Technical Education or Workforce Development in accordance with the provisions of the Alabama Plan for Career Technical Education. All regular members must have a minimum of five years experience in Career Technical Education or Workforce Development to be eligible for membership.

2.2 Persons connected with business and industry, who because of the nature of their responsibilities, may not be expected to meet the requirements above, but who have made a distinct contribution to the field of Career Technical Education.

2.3 Persons who are teacher educators actively engaged in the teaching of Career Technical Education courses at the college/university level.

Section 3. Life Membership

Life membership shall be available to members who have been in active standing for a minimum of five years at the time of application upon payment of a fixed fee that will be determined by the Grand Chapter Executive Board.

The proceeds of fees received for Life Memberships shall be divided between the local chapter and the Grand Chapter. The amount due Grand Chapter shall be remitted to the Secretary of the Grand Chapter and the names of life members reported to the secretary of the Grand Chapter as a part of the Annual Report.

Section 4. Membership

Any member reaching the age of 65 or becoming disabled and who has been an active member paying dues for the previous five years, shall be declared an Emeritus member, retaining all rights and privileges with no further assessments.

Section 5. Honorary Membership

The chapter may elect no more than two persons during any one year to honorary membership. These persons must have a record of distinguished service for the cause of workforce development, career technical education, or Iota Lambda Sigma. A person approved for honorary membership is not required to pay membership fees and does not have a vote.

Section 6. Election to Membership

Candidates for regular membership shall be elected by unanimous vote of the chapter at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present. The vote shall be by acclamation and any member who votes negatively must give his/her reason for same.

Section 7 . Procedure for Nominating Regular Members.

7.1 An application blank is to be submitted to the chairman of the Screening Committee by one member of the Epsilon Chapter as the sponsor of the perspective member.

7.2 The Screening Committee acts on the recommendation of the member and presents their findings to the membership during the Spring meeting.

7.3 The chapter will act only on names submitted by the Screening Committee during the Spring meeting.

7.4 The candidate is accepted by the chapter and must have a unanimous vote of those present affirming acceptance into Iota Lambda Sigma.

7.5 When a candidate is accepted by the Chapter, the Secretary invites the prospective candidate to join the Chapter. At the same time the sponsors are notified that the invitation has been issued. At this time the sponsors contact the prospective member relative to membership in Iota Lambda Sigma.

7.6 The candidate accepts or refuses the invitation to join Iota Lambda Sigma.

7.7 Upon receipt of an acceptance the secretary sends a second letter acquainting the neophyte of the requirements of initiation, the date of initiation, etc.

Section 8. Procedure for Nominating Honorary Members

8.1 A candidate for honorary membership may be proposed by any regular member who shall submit the name to the board for approval. Four names or fewer shall be presented to the chapter at the spring meeting, due notice having been given that this matter is to be decided, and the two names receiving the highest number of secret ballot votes shall be declared the nominees.

These two names shall then be voted upon separately by secret ballot and a vote of three-fourths of the members present shall elect them for honorary membership.

8.2 The Chapter secretary shall immediately notify each person elected to honorary membership, and, after the nominee has accepted and has been initiated, the chapter secretary shall notify the Secretary of the Grand Chapter.

Section 9. Initiation

Each candidate for membership shall be required to take the formal initiation as provided by the adopted ritual of the Chapter and shall sign the permanent Chapter Roll, giving permanent address at the close of the initiation.

Section 10. Numbering of Members

Each member shall be given a permanent number by the Chapter Secretary upon admission into the Chapter. Chapter members shall be numbered alphabetically according to their surnames, and at each subsequent initiation the same procedure shall be followed. This number is supplied by the Grand Chapter and shall appear on each membership card and certificate.

Section 11. Membership Card

Each member shall receive from the Chapter Secretary a membership card.

Section 12. Membership Key

Each member shall be entitled to receive from the Chapter Secretary the official key, provided the member has paid all fees prescribed by these by-laws of the chapter.

Section 13. Inactive Membership

Members who fail to pay the annual dues of the Chapter after a two-year period of time, shall be dropped from the Chapter roll and classed as inactive members. Upon payment of dues for current year members shall be reinstated.

Section 14. Expulsion of Members

Any member who has been guilty of any violation of the fundamental principles of this Chapter as expressed in this constitution and in the adopted ritual of the Chapter, shall be summoned by the Secretary to appear before the Board and show cause why the member should not be expelled from membership. After giving the summoned member an opportunity to make defense, a secret ballot shall be taken by the Board and upon three-fourths vote of the members present, the member shall be expelled from the Chapter and shall forfeit all rights and privileges of a member. The Chapter Secretary shall notify the Secretary of the Grand Chapter who shall include this item in the annual report to all chapters.

Section 15. Transfer of Membership Affiliation

A member in good standing in one chapter upon becoming a teacher or employee in the vicinity where another chapter is located, may petition that chapter for membership by affiliation. The members in the new chapter, the secretary thereof shall assign a new number, notify the secretary of the chapter of which the person was originally a member, and also notify the Secretary of the Grand Chapter. The fee for membership by affiliation shall be determined by the Grand Chapter.

Section 16 . Deceased Members

The Epsilon Field Chapter shall maintain a plaque bearing the names of deceased members. The secretary will notify the Grand Chapter of the names of deceased members. All members who are deceased in the past year will be honored with a necrology ceremony at the Annual Spring meeting.

ARTICLE V - INITIATION FEES AND ANNUAL DUES

Section 1. Initiation Fees

The initiation fee shall be determined by the Board and shall include Grand Chapter dues and the Epsilon Chapter Dues. Additional costs may be added by the Board.

Section 2. Annual Dues and Assessments

2.1 Regular members shall pay annual dues as set by the Executive Council Board and approved by membership present at a regular business meeting.

2.2 Any change in the Grand Chapter assessments shall automatically change the annual dues accordingly.

2.3 Emeritus (having attained age 65 or disability), Honorary, and Life Members shall not pay annual dues.

ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers - Executive Committee

The officers (executive committee) of the Chapter shall be known publicly as the Director, President, Vice President, Secretary-Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Immediate Past President, and Initiation Team Chairman.

Section 2. Board

The Board shall be composed of the Executive Committee and three additional members at large. The President shall serve as Chair of the Board.

Section 3. Elections

The officers, with the exception of the Director, shall be elected at the annual Summer meeting, the time and place of which shall be determined by the Board, provided that a written notice of said meeting be mailed to each member two weeks prior to the holding of the meeting. Officers shall take office immediately following the installation at the annual Summer meeting. The Director shall be appointed by the Board and shall take office immediately upon his/her appointment.

Section 4. Term of Office

Each officer shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are appointed or elected. The President shall be sworn into office with an appropriate Gavel Ceremony. The President shall have succeeded from Vice Presidency. In the event that the President shall be unable to fulfill the term of office, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President but shall retain the title of Vice President until succession to the Presidency as provided for above. All officers except the President and Vice President may serve as many years as the membership wishes but must be re-elected each year. The three members at large on the Board shall each serve a one-year term and may be re-elected each year for a maximum of three continuous years. The Director shall not be elected but shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve on a continuing basis at the wishes of the Board.

Section 5. Removal from Office

Officers may be removed from office upon a two-thirds vote at a regular or special Chapter meeting provided that due notice has been given to all members two weeks prior to the vote on removal from office. The officer or board member shall be given an opportunity to respond to the charges before the membership prior to the vote.

ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS

Section 1. Director

It shall be duty of the director to coordinate the affairs of the Epsilon Chapter as directed by the Board. He/She shall work with all Officers, Board Members, Committees, and members to see that all affairs of the Chapter are conducted in a timely, orderly, and consistent manner. He/She should keep a time schedule for all events and activities and advise officers, committee chairmen, and Board members about actions that need to be taken. The Director shall be the Chapter planner.

Section 2. President

It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, regular and special, as well as meetings of the Board. The President shall also work with the Director in planning and leading all programs and committees. He/She shall appoint all standing and special committees and serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3. Vice President

It shall be the duty of the Vice President to preside in the absence of the President and to perform any other duties regularly devolving upon the President in case of the President's absence or disability. The Vice President shall be Program Chairperson. The Vice President shall assist the President by doing all duties assigned by the President. (Thus relieving the burden of the office of President.)

Section 4. Secretary-Membership Secretary

The Secretary-Membership Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Chapter, be responsible for all Chapter correspondence, maintain the Chapter Membership roll, publish the annual roster, distribute membership cards to active members, submit the Annual Report to the Grand Chapter and request Treasurer to remit Grand Chapter fees and assessments.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall collect all dues, fees, and other moneys as may be received by the Chapter, make routine disbursements upon the request of the Secretary, Director, or President and with the approval of the President. The Treasurer shall deposit the funds of the Society in a bank or trust company approved by the Board and such deposit shall be in the name of Iota Lambda Sigma Epsilon. The signature card and all checks shall be signed by the Treasurer. The President and Director shall also sign the signature card and have authority to sign checks in case of an emergency. The Treasurer may, with the approval of the Board, purchase Government Bonds or other securities in the name of Iota Lambda Sigma, Epsilon.

Section 6. Duties of the Historian

It shall be duty of the Historian to maintain and preserve a complete history of the Chapter and its members.

Section 7. Duties of the Immediate Past President

It shall be the duty of the Immediate Past President to serve as a council to the President and Board; and to install new officers and board members for the coming year.

Section 8. Board

The management of all affairs, property, and business of the Chapter shall be vested in the Board within the limitations of these Bylaws and the Grand Chapter Constitution of Iota Lambda Sigma. The President or Vice-President, Secretary, and five additional Board members shall constitute a quorum at any Board meeting that has been properly announced at least two weeks in advance. It shall be the duty of the Board to seek and appoint a Director when a vacancy occurs. On the occasion of a vacancy in any office, it shall be the duty of the Board to appoint an eligible member to fill that position until the next regular election.

ARTICLE VIII- AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the members of the Chapter by a vote of two-thirds, provided notice specifying the amendment shall have been presented to the Secretary and presented to the board either at a meeting of the Board, or sent electronically, at least one month or more prior to the action thereon. The Secretary shall include a notice of the proposed amendment, in the notice of the regular meeting which shall be sent to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS

Section 1.

The dates of Chapter meeting shall be set by the Board of Directors at the recommendation of the President and Director at the Fall Board meeting. Special meetings may be called by the president or director with the approval of the Board.

Section 2.

At least two (2) Chapter Meetings shall be held each year, one in the Spring and one in the Summer months (time and place to be determined by the Board).

Section 3.

The Board shall meet prior to or after all Chapter Meetings. The Board shall also have a planning meeting in the Fall to approve the annual calendar, and handle other important Chapter business. Other meetings may be called as deemed necessary by the President and Director. Members are to be notified at least 2 weeks in advance of a called meeting. The Director, with input from the President, shall notify of time and place.

Section 4.

The Secretary shall give due ample notice of meetings to active members for the coming year. It shall be the duty of the secretary to work with the Public Relations Chair in publishing these dates well in advance. 

Section 5. Quorum for Meetings

Ten members, two of whom shall be the President or Vice President and Secretary, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business except voting on candidates. The quorum for election of candidates shall be ten active members and a majority of the Officers and Board.

ARTICLE X - STANDING COMMITTEES

The Standing Committees of the Epsilon Chapter shall be: Program, Initiation, Nominations, Screening, Scholarship, Audit, Awards, Public Relations, Chapter of the Year, and Necrology.

Section 1. Program Committee

It shall be the duty of the Program Committee to plan all programs of the Chapter. This includes: recommending meeting sites to the Board; securing the location for the meeting; recommending and securing the main speaker; planning the printed program; and working with the Chapter Printer to have the Program and other handouts printed and at the meeting and on the tables. The Vice President shall serve as chairperson of this committee and shall have the opportunity of recommending members to serve on the committee.

Section 2. Nominations Committee

It shall be the duty of the Nominations Committee to nominate all officers and board members, with the exception of the director, to the Chapter during the Spring Meeting. The committee shall keep up with the staggering terms of board members, make sure that all segments of the membership are represented on the board (secondary, postsecondary, technical, technology, and health occupations). The committee shall assist the Immediate Past President with the installation of officers at the close of the Spring Meeting.

Section 3. Screening Committee

It shall be the duty of the Screening Committee to: set a deadline on receiving Applications for Membership; receive and screen Applications for Membership; recommend to the membership worthy candidates for membership who meet the standards set forth for member in these Bylaws; and notify candidates and members who nominated them that they have been received for membership.

Section 4. Initiation Committee

It shall be the duty of the Initiation Committee to initiate all new members approved by the membership; secure proper records from initiates on the date of the initiation; get this information to the Membership Secretary; and introduce new members to the chapter during the Initiation Banquet and Summer Meeting.

Section 5. Scholarship Committee

It shall be the duty of the Scholarship Committee to lead in raising funds for scholarships; inform all career technical teachers about the availability of the teachers and students scholarships; receive and evaluate Application Forms from students and teachers; select and award scholarships during the Spring Meeting; and notify winners and arrange to have them present during the Spring Meeting. The teacher scholarships are to be given out during the Spring Meeting.

Section 6. Audit Committee

It shall be the duty of the Audit Committee to audit the Epsilon Chapter financial records and report their findings to the membership during each meeting. The audit should ascertain that all monies received are properly receipted, that proper deposit records are kept, that an invoice is on file for each expenditure documenting to whom the check was written and the goods and/or services purchased.

Section 7. Awards Committee

It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee to make all members aware of the awards to be presented each year, set a date for award applications to be received; encourage members to recommend members to receive awards; receive and evaluate award applications; decide on award recipients; notify award candidates and have them present at the Summer Meeting; have award plaques prepared; present awards at the Summer Meeting; and prepare and submit award applications to Grand Chapter on or before the deadline.

Section 8. Public Relations Committee

It shall be the duty of the Public Relations Committee to: prepare and have PR publications such as brochures printed; schedule the trade show booth during the ACTE Summer Conference; work with the web master to maintain an ILS web page on the internet; prepare and submit news releases for all Chapter activities and award recipients, and publish a minimum of three (3) ILS Newsletters yearly. An edition of the ILS News is to be published one month prior to the Spring Meeting and the Summer meeting.

Section 9. Chapter of the Year Committee

It shall be the duty of the Chapter of the Year Committee to collect, compile, and put into a scrapbook all information necessary to competitively compete in the Chapter of the Year. Members shall prepare the necessary forms and scrapbook and present to the Grand Chapter on or before the deadline for submission.

Section 10. Necrology Committee

This committee will be responsible for placing the names of the deceased members on the ILS Epsilon deceased member plaque and conducting the Necrology Ceremony at the Spring meeting.

Article XI - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws, the Constitution of the Grand Chapter, and any special rules of order the Chapter may adopt.