Name
1. The name of this local shall be Foothills Local Association of the Alberta Teachers' Association.

Boundaries
2. The area served by this local shall include Foothills School Division No. 38.

Membership
3. (1) All active members of the Alberta Teachers' Association employed by the Foothills School Division No 38 are members of this local.

(2) Associate members of the of the Alberta Teachers' Association such as are assigned from time to time by the Provincial Executive Council of the Association and who pay the prescribed local association fee may become members of this local association with all the rights and priveleges of active members.

Objects
4. The objects of this local association shall be to further the objects of the Alberta Teachers' Association as set out in section 4 of the Teaching Profession Act and the ATA Genersl Bylaws and such others as may be added by the local and approved by the  Provincial Executive Council.

Fees
5.  This local association shall have the power, subject to the approval of the Provincial Executive Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association, to levy fees for membership in this local association such as are determined from time to time in a general meeting of the local association. 
Such fees shall be additional to the fees prescribed by the Annual Representative Assembly.

Rules of Procedure
6.   The proceedings of all meetings (general, special, local council and executive committee) shall be regulated by the official Rules of Order and Procedure as published in the Members' Handbook.

Organization
7.   The governing body of this local shall be a general meeting of its members, 10 per cent of whom shall constitute a quorum. Those in attendance shall decide any issue unless regulations otherwise decree.

8.   A general meeting of this local shall be held at least once a year to hear reports and deal with same, hold elections, approve and set policy and deal with other such matters as needs arise.

9.   There shall be constituted a local council of this local consisting of:
      (a) all members of the executive committee,
      (b) school staff representatives, other than executive committee members, elected in       September by each school staff according to the following schedule:
            (i) one representative from each staff of one to nine teachers,
            (ii) two representatives from each staff of 10-19 teachers,
            (iii) three representatives from each staff of 20 or more teachers,
      (c) ARA representatives if not members of the executive committee,
      (d) Foothills Economic Policy committee Negotiating Subcommittee members,
      (e) convention representatives as per Palliser District Teachers' Convention Association policy.
      (f) Calgary Area Field Experiences Committee (CAFEC) representative(s),
      (g) Foothills Joint Committee representative(s)
      (h) one representative from the substitute teacher group, elected by the substitute teachers.

10.   Members of this local other than members of the local council may attend council meetings and have a right to address the meeting but may not vote.

11.   The duties of the local council shall be:
      (a) to administer the affairs of the local association,
      (b) to appoint all standing and ad hoc committees as required, unless otherwise specified in this constitution,
      (c) to approve frames of reference for each of its committees,
      (d) to hear reports from committees and decide on action to be taken, if any,
      (e) to appoint representatives to district convention committee, the Annual Representative Assembly, Summer Conference and others as decided by the local council,
      (f) to deal with other matters not inconsistent with this constitution or the ATA General Bylaws,
      (g) to approve local budget each fall no later than the October council meeting,
      (h) to authorize honoraria to positions as deemed necessary.

12.   The local council shall meet at least every other month beginning with September, except for July and August.

13.   Forty per cent of the members of the local council shall constitute a quorum.

14.   The executive committee of this local shall consist of: president, vice-president, past president, secretary, treasurer, communications officer, economic policy committee chair, professional development chair, joint committee chair, political action chair and policy advisory representative (s). All the above have the right to vote. No member shall have more than one vote. The quorum of the executive committee shall be one more than 50 per cent of its members.

15.   The duties of the executive committee shall be:

a)      to prepare the agenda of business for all meetings,

b)      to exercise general supervision of the affairs of the local association,

c)      to prepare and transmit to head office of the Alberta Teachers’ Association such reports and statements with reference to the affairs of the local association as may be required by the Provincial Executive Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association,

d)     to ensure that all Association moneys are used to further the objects of the Association as set out in the Teaching Profession Act,

e)      to set a tentative budget in the spring of each year,

f)       where time is of the essence, to assume the functions of the local council,

g)      to disburse funds of the association in accordance with the budget approved by the October council meeting.

 

16.   The executive committee shall meet as often as local business requires, but at least once per year.

 

17.   Notices of intent to hold a general, special, local council or an executive meeting shall be transmitted by the secretary at least 10 days before such meeting is to be held, and such notices shall include an outline of the agenda of business to be discussed at the meeting provided  that any special or general meeting may, by a two-thirds vote of the members on the general roster, waive notice of a meeting or any motion, brought before this meeting.

 

18.  (1) Meetings of this local association shall be called by the president or on the request of the executive or local council or on the written request of 10 members of the local or at the request of the district representative of whose district this local association forms a part.

 

(2) Meetings of the bargaining unit shall be called by the president or on the request of the executive or local council or by the chair of the Economic Policy Committee or on written request of 10 per cent of the members of the bargaining unit.

 

19.   A record shall be kept of all those attending general, special, local council and executive committee meetings of this local.

 

20.   An executive assistant of the Alberta Teachers’ Association or district representative of whose district this local association forms a part may attend and participate in any meeting of this local association. These individuals shall not have a vote.

 

Duties of Officers

21.(1)  President – The duties of the president shall be:

a)      to call and preside at all general, special, local council and executive committee meetings of this local,

b)      to exercise general supervision over affairs of this local association,

c)      to serve as ex officio member of all local committees,

d)     to serve as an Annual Representative Assembly delegate.

 

(2) Vice-President – The duties of the vice-president shall be:

a)      to take charge of the affairs of this local association in the absence of the president,

b)      to assist the president in the discharge of those duties.

 

(3) Secretary – The duties of the secretary shall be:

a)      to keep accurate records of all proceedings of this local association,

b)      to bring before the executive committee of this local association all communications received by the local,

c)      to prepare and send notices calling all meetings whether regular, special, local council or executive committee,

d)     to prepare and send to head office of the Alberta Teachers’ Association such statements and reports as may be required,

e)      to act as custodian of all official documents of or belonging to the local association,

f)       to distribute newsletters and other material from head office of the Alberta Teachers’ Association to proper local officials.

 

(4) Treasurer – The duties of the treasurer shall be:

a)      to keep accurate records of all moneys received and collected and to take charge of same,

b)      to make disbursement of the funds of this local association as authorized by the executive committee, the local council or general meeting,

c)      to arrange to have the local and professional development books audited annually according to the regulations of the Alberta Teachers’ Association,

d)     to prepare and send to head office of the Alberta Teachers’ Association such statements and reports as may be required,

e)      to prepare and bring before executive and council meetings written financial reports.

 

(5) Local ARA Representatives – the duties of each representative of this local association shall be:     a) to represent this local association at all representative assemblies of the Alberta Teachers’ Association,

          b) to report the proceedings of  all representative assemblies of the Alberta Teachers’ Association to the local council and to other such gatherings as may be decided,

          c) to attend meetings specifically called for ARA and to attend local council meetings (reasons for absence to be reported to local president).

 

(6) School Staff Representatives – It shall be the duty of the school staff representatives to report on the activities of the local council to their respective school staffs.

 

(7) Local Communications Officer – It shall be the responsibility of this officer to carry out a communications program with the teachers in the local and its various publics. All actions of this officer shall be subject to prior approval by the executive of the local involved.

 

(8) Policy Advisory Representative (s) – it shall be the duty of the policy advisory representative(s) to represent local council on the policy advisory committee(s).

 

(9) Convention Representatives – It shall be the duty of the convention representatives to attend meetings of the Palliser District Teachers’ Convention Association Committee and report back to local council.

 

(10) Past President – It shall be the duty of the past president to chair the annual nomination committee and to perform any other duties as assigned by the president.

 

Committees

22. (1) Economic Policy Committee – It shall be the duty of the Economic Policy Committee to operate according to the frame of reference as approved per clause 11(c) of this constitution.

 

(2) Communications Committee – It shall be the duty of this committee to assume general responsibility for all public relations activities undertaken by this local association and to render assistance as requested by the communications officer to facilitate both internal and external communication.

 

(3) Professional Development (PD) Committee – It shall be the duty of the PD committee to operate according to the frame of reference as approved per clause 11(c) of this constitution.

 

(4) Joint Committee – It shall be the duty of Joint Committee members from this local to discuss problems and issues of mutual interest with members of the board appointed to the committee.

 

(5) Sabbatical Committee – It shall be the duty of the sabbatical committee to meet with board representatives to select the teacher(s) who will be granted sabbatical leave(s) for the following school year.

 

(6) Political Action Committee – It shall be the duty of this committee to work with the local executive in initiating teacher and local participation in both provincial and school board elections; to maintain constant liaison with and advise the MLA of local ATA concerns; in conjunction with the local communications officer to prepare for release to the press material in support of the teachers’ concerns, to invite and act as host to political persons at local ATA social functions; to lead action in political matters initiated by Provincial Executive Council and advise on political implications of proposed courses of action.

 

Elections

23. (1) The officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, ARA representatives and local communications officer) shall be elected by a vote of members of this local association not later than June 25 of each school year. The term of office shall be the period from September 1 to August 31.

 

(2) A vacancy on the executive committee occurring between annual elections shall be filled by appointment of a member of this local association by the remaining members of the local council.

 

(3) Should one or more of the ARA representatives or EPC representatives be unable to fulfill the term of office, replacements shall be appointed by local council.

 

(4) The Economic Policy Committee shall be elected pursuant to the EPC frame of reference for that bargaining unit.

 

(5) The Professional Development Committee shall be elected pursuant to the PD frame of reference.

 

(6) The representatives to the Palliser District Teachers Convention Association board shall be elected at a council meeting, no later than the April council meeting each year for the following years convention.

 

Substitute Teachers Group

24. (1) At the request of 10 or more substitute teacher members, this local shall organize a substitute teachers group.

 

(2)  Those eligible for participation in the group shall be members who substituted for at least one day during the previous twelve-month period.

 

(3) An appropriate budget for the group shall be as follows:

a)      its objects shall be to advance the professional skills and knowledge unique to substitute teaching and to advance within the local the special interests of substitute teachers,

b)      it shall have at least one general meeting per year,

c)      it shall elect a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary-treasurer and two members-at-large to an executive which shall be responsible for organizing activities to promote the objects of the group,

d)      its executive shall present to the local an annual report on its activities and of the disbursement of its funds.

 

General

25.   The financial year of this local shall be July 1 to June 30.

 

26. (1) This local association shall reimburse members acting on its behalf for all authorized out-of-pocket expenses.

 

(2) This local association shall pay all expenses as determined and authorized by the local council or general meeting.

 

27. Amendments to this constitution may be made after a two-month notice of motion and on the recommendation of the executive or local council by a two-thirds vote at a general meeting of this local association subject to ratification by Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers Association.

 

 

Ratified by TOC on behalf of PEC, 1995 01 09

Amendments ratified by TOC on behalf of PEC 1999 11 08, 2004 10 13