ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND PURPOSE 
 
Section 1: 

  1. This organization shall be known as the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English.  
  1. The Association is affiliated with The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.


Section 2: 

The purpose of this organization shall be: 

  1. To stimulate professional development.
  1. To provide opportunity for group study and discussion of problems which confront English Language Arts teachers in the province.
  1. To act as a clearinghouse in circulating information of value and in keeping teachers informed as to the latest educational movements and findings.
  1. To publish significant research findings and to promote best classroom practise.
  1. To make available to its members the work of leaders in the literary and educational fields.
  1. To promote and to foster professional ties among English Language Arts teachers at all levels.
  1. To cooperate with other organizations in sponsoring activities related to the teaching of English Language Arts in the province.
  1. To encourage the establishment of conditions which will make the teaching of English Language Arts more effective.
  1. To act as the provincial affiliate of the Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts.
  1. To act as the provincial affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English.
  1. To represent the interests of English Language Arts teachers to the provincial government and to the public in accordance with Manitoba Teachers’ Society policy.


ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1: 

  1. The majority of members of Manitoba Association of Teachers of English (60% or more) must be active or associate members of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.
  1. Anyone who has a professional interest in the teaching of English is eligible for membership.
  1. Membership in Manitoba Association of Teachers of English is voluntary and open to any active or associate member of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.


 

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS 

Section 1: 

  1. The Executive shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The term of office shall be one year, except for Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Representatives, in which case the term shall be two years, each being elected in alternate years.
  1. Any member of Manitoba Association of Teachers of English shall have the right to hold elected office.
  1. All members of Manitoba Association of Teachers of English shall have the opportunity to participate in the nomination and election of officers to the Executive. To accomplish this, a list of nominees shall be available to the membership at least thirty days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Section 2: 

A vacancy in any office which occurs during the term or for which there is a vacancy at the Annual General Meeting shall be filled by appointment by the president, with the advice of other officers. 

Section 3: 

The nominating committee, chaired by the president, shall be appointed by the officers of the organization. It shall be the function of this committee to prepare a list of nominees for the annual election. 
 

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS 

Section 1: 

The time, number, and place of general meetings shall be determined by the Executive, subject to amendment by the membership. 

Section 2: 

Special meetings may be called by the Executive or by written request of five members. 

Section 3: 

The president will call for an annual general meeting in the spring or in the autumn. 

Section 4: 

  1. The quorum at Executive meetings will be forty percent of the elected officers of Manitoba Association of Teachers of English. The elected officers are as follows: President, Vice-President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Senior Years Representative, Middle Years Representative, Early Years Representative, Classmate Editor(s), SAG Chairperson, Pandora Chairperson, Canadian Council Teachers of English Language Arts Representatives, and National Council of Teachers of English Liaison Officer. The appointed officers are as follows: Representatives of the University of Manitoba (Department of English), University of Manitoba (Faculty of Education), University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Red River Community College, Manitoba Education and Training, SAG Council Representative, National Council of Teachers of English Director, Membership Chairperson, Professional Development Chairperson, and members-at-large (if and when appointed by the Executive). A maximum of three offices may be filled by the same person. In determining a quorum, multiple office holders may be counted more than once.

 

  1. The quorum at the Annual General Meeting will be ten members of Manitoba Association of Teachers of English.

Section 5: 

A.  If funding is available, the Executive may give consideration to paying expenses for the following individuals, for the purposes designated: 

    1. The President, or his or her designate, for the purpose of attending the annual conference of the Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts.  
    1. The Editor(s) of Classmate, for the purpose of attending the annual conference of the Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts or another suitable conference.  
    1. The Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts representatives, for the purpose of attending the Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Board of Directors’ meetings, as Manitoba Association of Teachers of English representatives. 
    1. The National Council of Teachers of English Director, or his/her designate, for the purpose of attending the National Council of Teachers of English annual convention, as Manitoba Association of Teachers of English representative at meetings of the National Council of Teachers of English Board of Directors.  
    1. If funds are available, the Executive may give consideration to offering financial support for requests which may come, from time to time, from individuals (whether on the MATE Executive or not) or from organizations, associations, or groups whose mandate is the promotion and furthering of literacy education. Those receiving such grants will be expected, in return, to offer their professional expertise to the association through such activities as workshop leadership, presentations, and/or the writing of an article for publication in Classmate.

 

B. In order to obtain funding, the member of the executive will bring an estimated budget request proposal to a meeting of the Executive outlining details. In all cases where the Executive passes a motion to pay expenses based on this estimate up to a specified limit for a member of the Executive to attend a conference, convention, or Board of Directors’ meeting, the recipient of this funding will submit all receipts to the Treasurer for transportation, accommodation, registration, and meals. Compensation for meals will not include alcohol and will not normally exceed the MTS Rate.  Under no circumstances will the compensation exceed actual expenditure.  In cases where advance funding is provided based on the estimate which exceeds actual expenditures, such funds shall be returned to the executive in a timely manner.
 

 

BY-LAWS 
 

ARTICLE 1 - COMMITTEES 

Section 1: 
 
The Executive shall consist of the elected officers and the appointed officers of the organization. The elected officers are as follows: President, Vice-President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Senior Years Representative, Middle Years Representative, Early Years Representative, Classmate Editor(s), SAG Chairperson, Pandora Chairperson, Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Representatives, and National Council of Teachers of English Liaison Officer. The appointed officers are as follows: representatives of the University of Manitoba (Department of English), University of Manitoba (Faculty of Education), University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Red River Community College, Manitoba Education and Training, SAG Council Representative, National Council of Teachers of English Director, Professional Development Chairperson, Membership Chairperson, and members-at-large (if and when appointed by the Executive). 

Section 2: 

The Executive may, from time to time, confer Lifetime Memberships in the organization upon individuals in recognition of their having made an outstanding contribution to the teaching of English Language Arts in the Province of Manitoba . Individuals granted Lifetime Membership will be presented with a certificate noting the honour, and will be recognized with a citation. 

Section 3: 

The responsibilities of Executive members are outlined in the handbook. 

Section 4: 

In the event that Manitoba Association of Teachers of English ceases to function; that is, it has not formed an Executive for two successive years, the remaining funds in the Association shall be turned over to the Manitoba Teachers’ Society to be held in trust for another two years. If, at the end of this four-year period, there is no Manitoba Association of Teachers of English Executive, the funds are to be donated to the Endowment Funds of the three provincial universities: the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and Brandon University.


ARTICLE II - DUES 

Section 1: 

The dues are to be set by the Annual General Meeting. Notice of motion of any change in dues must be presented to the membership at least thirty days prior to the Annual General Meeting. The three membership categories are: full fee for regular members, partial fee for student members, and no fee for lifetime members. 

Section 2: 

Special assessments may be levied by a majority vote of members present at a general meeting.  
 

ARTICLE III - CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW 

The Constitution and By-laws shall be reviewed at least every fifth year by a Constitutional Review Committee appointed by the Executive. Changes and amendments must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive before they are submitted to the Annual General Meeting for ratification. 
 

ARTICLE IV - STANDARD AUTHORITY 

The rules contained in Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-laws of the Association. 

I certify this to be a true copy of the Constitution of the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English, as revised and ratified at the Annual General Meeting of May 21, 2008.


Tina Gordon, President
Kenneth Clark, Constitutional Review Chair
Christine Harasymec, Secretary
 

Ratified at the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English Annual General Meeting May 21, 2008.

 


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