Practitioner Daily Planning Resource Room Members' Area About NSPRA/Ohio
Practitioner Daily Planning Resource Room Members' Area About NSPRA/Ohio

About NSPRA/Ohio

General Information

Strategic Plan

Contacts

Bylaws

Site Map

Events

Membership Info

NSPRA/Ohio Awards

Bylaws

Bylaws and Standing Rules of the Ohio Chapter, National School Public Relations Association

Article I – Name

  1. The name of this organization shall be the Ohio Chapter, National School Public Relations Association. The organization shall also be known by NSPRA/Ohio.

Article II – Geographical Jurisdiction

  1. The geographical jurisdiction of the chapter shall encompass the area within the boundaries of the State of Ohio.

Article III – Mission and Goals

  1. The mission of NSPRA/Ohio is to strengthen education by:
    • Assisting members in listening to and communicating with their publics.
    • Enhancing the image and role of public relations in educational management.
  2. The goals and responsibilities to support this mission are:
    • To promote the practice of school public relations by demonstrating the professionalism of the organization and its members.
    • To enhance the value of membership.
    • To increase networking opportunities for members.
    • To develop members' professional skills.
    • To monitor and influence public policy.

Article IV – Membership

  1. Membership options in the chapter shall consist of:
    • Regular Membership is open to any person who has full-time or part-time responsibilities in the field of education, communication and public relations, or who teaches in the educational communication field. Regular members shall have the right to hold chapter office and to vote on all issues that may come before the chapter. Membership in the National School Public Relations Association is encouraged.
    • Institutional Membership is available to any organization with employees who have full-time or part-time responsibilities in the field of education, communication and public relations, or who teach in the educational communication field. Institutional Membership shall provide membership for three or more employees of an organization. Institutional members shall have the right to hold chapter office and to vote on all issues that may come before the chapter. Membership in the National School Public Relations Association is encouraged.
    • Associate Membership will be available to individuals who are interested in and supportive of educational public relations but do not have full-time or part-time responsibilities in the field of education, communication and public relations, or who do not teach in the educational communication field. Associate members could include, but are not limited to, students at accredited colleges or universities, retired educational public relations professionals, and business leaders. Associate members are not eligible to vote or hold office in the chapter.
    • Honorary Lifetime Membership may be bestowed by the Board of Directors to nonmembers of the chapter. Honorary members are not eligible to vote or hold office in the chapter.

Article V – Board of Directors

  1. The governing body of the chapter shall be the Board of Directors. It shall consist of the President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President of Member Services, Vice President of Professional Development, Vice President of Contests/Awards, Vice President of Communications, and Vice President at Large. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for all policy decisions affecting the chapter's operation. It shall carry out all directives as voted by the chapter's membership. The Board of Directors shall authorize disbursement of chapter funds by approval and amendment of the annual budget. Business shall be by approval and amendment of the annual budget. Business shall be transacted by a majority (6) of the Board of Directors.
  2. Attendance by all directors shall be required at all regular Board of Directors meetings and association conferences. Two absences within a year by a member of the board from the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors shall call for automatic dismissal from the board. Reinstatement shall be at the discretion of the board members, by a majority vote. Failure to notify the president can be considered grounds for removal from the Board.
  3. For reasons other than attendance, a majority vote of the Board shall be required for removal from the Board.
  4. The responsibilities of the Board of Directors shall be to:
    • Attend all regular Board meetings,
    • Take an active role in at least one committee,
    • Serve as a professional resource to all NSPRA/Ohio members,
    • Plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the objectives of the chapter.

Article VI – Parliamentary Authority

  1. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern this chapter in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with the bylaws of this chapter.

Article VII – Election of the Board of Directors

  1. The election of the Board of Directors shall be conducted annually by a ballot prepared by the president-elect upon receipt of the nominating committee report and distributed no later than March 15 to members.
  2. Official ballots shall be returned to the immediate past president no later than April 10, shall be read by tellers who are members and who are appointed by the Board of Directors.
  3. A majority of the ballots cast shall determine the duly elected directors. In case of a tie, the Board of Directors shall determine the elected director.

Article VIII – Officers

  1. Officers of the chapter shall be a president, president-elect, treasurer and secretary. Officers and the positions of Vice President of Member Services, Vice President of Professional Development, Vice President of Contests/Awards, Vice President of Communications, and Vice President at Large shall be elected by ballot annually and shall be reported to the National School Public Relations Association by June 15. The president-elect must have served at least one year on the Board of Directors in another capacity prior to running for this office.
  2. The president, president-elect, treasurer, and secretary are required by NSPRA National to hold membership in NSPRA National. National dues for elected officers may be paid by NSPRA/Ohio.
  3. Directors will begin their terms of office on July 1. The term of the immediate past president, president and president-elect shall be for one year, with the president-elect succeeding the president. The term of the treasurer and secretary will be for two years. The treasurer and secretary will be elected on staggered terms.
  4. The Board of Directors may contract with an Executive Director whose duties and compensation shall be as defined by the board.
  5. Duties of elected officers include:
    • President – shall preside at meetings of the chapter and the Board of Directors; shall exercise general leadership and supervision of the affairs of the chapter; shall perform all other duties commonly associated with this office.
    • President-elect – shall preside at meetings in the absence of the president; shall be the state coordinator for NSPRA and conduct other duties as assigned by the president. If the president is no longer able to fulfill the responsibilities of the office, the president-elect will immediately assume the office of president.
    • Secretary – shall keep records of meetings and assist in handling chapter correspondence. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
    • Treasurer – shall oversee financial matters of the chapter. The Treasurer, working in conjunction with the Executive Director, shall keep records of funds, monitor the annual budget process as developed and approved by the Board of Directors, present updated financial statements to the board, provide financial statements annually to the membership (and upon request of the Board of Directors or membership), provide required tax and financial statements to NSPRA, and facilitate the disbursement of chapter funds as approved by the Board of Directors. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
  6. Directors shall be elected from among chapter membership. Whenever vacancies occur, appointments shall be made within one month by the president with approval by the Board. Directors’ duties include:
    • Vice President, Member Services – will work with the Executive Director to coordinate membership drives, collect membership dues, maintain membership records and publish a membership directory. The Vice President, Member Services, also will organize and manage services provided to NSPRA/Ohio members including, but not limited to, chapter incentive programs, the chapter resource library, and the PR Peer program. The Vice President, Member Services, will convene a committee to assist with these tasks and serve as chair of said committee. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
    • Vice President, Professional Development – is responsible for arranging the NSPRA/Ohio annual conference and regional workshops, as well as promoting and coordinating professional accreditation activities for NSPRA/Ohio members. The Vice President, Professional Development, will convene a committee to assist with these tasks and serve as chair of said committee. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
    • Vice President, Contest/Awards – is responsible for coordinating all activities associated with the chapter's annual Mark of Excellence, Pyramid, Friend of Education and Crystal Awards. The Vice President, Contest/Awards, will convene a committee to assist with these tasks and serve as chair of said committee. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
    • Vice President, Communications – is responsible for publication and distribution of the chapter's newsletter, working with the webmaster to maintain the organization's web site, and for informing membership and the media about chapter activities and members' professional accomplishments. The Vice President, Communications, will convene a committee to assist with these tasks and serve as chair of said committee. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
    • Vice President At-Large – represents a statewide educational association, governmental agency, and/or is recognized as a practicing educational public relations professional not employed by a public school system. The Vice President At-Large will monitor pending legislation that impacts education and/or educational public relations practitioners and keep the Board of Directors aware of such legislation. She/he shall perform other related duties as may be assigned by the president.
  7. The immediate past president shall be a member of the Board of Directors and serve as the chair of the Nominating Committee.
  8. In the event of a vacancy of the office of president, the president-elect shall succeed at once to the office of president. The president within 30 days will appoint a president-elect whose term will expire at the next election of chapter officers. Should the office of president become vacant at the same time that the office of president-elect is vacant, the secretary will automatically assume the office of president. The Board of Directors within 30 days shall immediately canvass the vice-presidents for nominations for president and president-elect, and conduct an election of the membership to fill the unexpired term and one full term. Should the office of president-elect become vacant, the president within 30 days will appoint a president-elect whose term will expire at the next election of chapter officers.

Article IX – Meetings

  1. There shall be at least one general membership meetings of the chapter annually. The time, place and program shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Other meetings shall be set at the discretion of the Board of Directors and/or the president. The president shall notify all members of meetings. General membership meeting shall be for the purpose of transacting business, to be effected by a majority vote of the members present and constituting a quorum.
  2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least three times annually with meeting notification at least 10 days in advance. Other meetings shall be set at the discretion of the Board of Directors and/or the president. Board of Directors meetings shall be for the purpose of transacting business to be effected by a majority vote of the members present and constituting a quorum.

Article X – Bylaws Adoption

  1. The bylaws must first be adopted by a majority of the chapter's members. After chapter approval, they shall be submitted to the executive committee of the National School Public Relations Association for approval before they become effective.

Article XI – Amendments

  1. The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any chapter meeting or by a two-thirds vote of members voting by mail, electronic, or other ballot , provided at least 30 days notice in writing has been given of any proposed amendment. After chapter approval, all amendments shall be submitted to the executive committee of the National School Public Relations Association for approval before they become effective.

Article XII – Delegates to National Seminar

  1. The official delegate to the National Seminar is the president.
  2. In the event the president is unable to attend, the president-elect is the alternate. Any other replacements are made by the Board of Directors.
  3. Registration fees and other travel expenses incurred in attendance at the National Seminar for the president or the alternate may be paid by NSPRA/Ohio as determined by the current financial status of the association. Expense estimates must be provided to and approved by the Board of Directors prior to the conference.

Article XIII – Prohibited Activities

  1. No part of the earnings of the chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its directors, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Bylaws. Except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, no substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing of distribution of campaign statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
  2. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the organization shall not carry on other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.
  3. Upon dissolution of the Chapter, the Board of Directors, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Chapter, dispose of all the assets of the Chapter exclusively for the purposes of the Chapter in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, as the Board of Directors shall determine.

Article XIV – Finances

  1. All financial accounts shall be reconciled monthly by an individual who is not authorized to deposit or withdraw on the respective accounts. Reports submitted to the board shall reflect a monthly reconciliation report, appropriate ledger sheets and bank statements.
  2. Two Board members shall be designated as authorized signers with the bank. The President, President-Elect, Treasurer and Executive Director may be designated as authorized signers on the checking, savings and other bank accounts.
  3. The Board shall appoint an Independent Financial Review Committee or other individual(s) for the purpose of performing a regular independent financial review. The independent financial review should be performed at a minimum of biennially and should take place at the beginning of the Treasurer’s regularly scheduled term. The independent financial review should cover the previous biennial period. The financial accounts and supporting documentation maintained by the Treasurer and others within the organization shall be offered for examination. The Board may authorize an independent financial review at any time or may vote to temporarily alter the biennial schedule.

Standing Rules

Article I – Membership

  1. Regular and Institutional Membership includes voting privileges and the right to hold office.
  2. Honorary membership shall be life membership and shall carry no other special privileges.
  3. Associate memberships shall carry no other privileges.

Article II – Committees

  1. The chapter shall have standing and ad hoc committees as determined by the Board of Directors and the organization's bylaws. The president shall recommend the chairpersons of all ad hoc committees to the Board of Directors for approval. Ad hoc committees shall exist until the conclusion of their charge.
  2. The Board of Directors shall select a nominating committee not to consist of more than two directors. The nominating committee shall select a slate of candidates for President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President of Member Services, Vice President of Professional Development, Vice President of Contests/Awards, Vice President of Communications, and Vice President at Large . The nominating committee shall prepare a ballot to be mailed to the chapter's voting members. The immediate past president shall chair this committee and shall submit this slate to the membership no later than March 15.

Article III – Dues

  1. The establishment of dues and all policies pertaining thereto shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
  2. Dues shall provide membership for the period of July 1 to June 30.
  3. The fiscal year of the chapter shall be July 1 to June 30.

Article IV – Official Chapter Communications

  1. Any communication or project that may be considered to represent the Ohio Chapter, National School Public Relations Association, or its membership to the general or professional public should receive prior approval of the Board of Directors. Materials to be considered should be submitted to the president.

Article V – Enabling Article of 1983

  1. To enable the formation of the Ohio Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association the following procedures will be used contingent upon adoption of the bylaws/standing rules by the NSPRA executive board:
    • Representatives of the four regions shall select regional vice-presidents to serve on the executive board for a term of one year, beginning July 1, 1983. Names of the vice-presidents shall be submitted to the NSPRA mid-east regional vice-president elect by June 30.
    • For the first year of the chapter's formation, the state coordinator of the 1982-83 year shall serve as the past president.
  2. The Central Buckeye Chapter, the Tri-State Chapter and the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association endorse the merging of these chapters into one chapter hereby known as the Ohio Chapter (NSPRA/Ohio).

Adopted: Spring 1983
Revisions: September 1995, January 2005
Copyright © NSPRA/Ohio. All rights reserved. NSPRA/Ohio Homepage