ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH OF QUEBEC
CONSTITUTION
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- The NAME of the Association shall be the Association of Teachers of English of Quebec (l’Association des Enseignants(es) d’Anglais du Québec) hereinafter referred to as the ATEQ. ATEQ is a non-profit, educational organization.
- Its LOCATION shall be the city of Montreal, Quebec, but it may locate its office or offices as the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may establish.
- The PURPOSES of the ATEQ are:
- To encourage research and innovation in English Language Arts and in the teaching of English Language Arts
- To facilitate the professional cooperation of its members teaching at the elementary, secondary, collegial and university levels
- To serve as a resource body from which the individual teacher or groups of teachers may request the consideration and study of problems and needs of English teaching
- To further the professional interests and development of the teachers of English Language Arts of Quebec
- To consult with the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (MELS) and other official bodies on matters of mutual concern.
- MEMBERSHIP in the ATEQ shall be open to all persons engaged in the teaching or supervision of English Language Arts at any educational level in the province, and to all others with
parallel interests, as determined by the Executive Committee. Membership shall be in the following categories:
- Regular: individuals who by payment of dues enjoy all the privileges of the Association
- Emeritus: individuals who retire after ten or more years as regular members may be accorded emeritus status
- Student: undergraduate and graduate full-time students at a university
- Affiliate: professional groups organized at the local levels that apply for affiliate status. [See Section v.]
- Institutions: Institutions may become members.
- AFFILIATIONS
- Any group may form an affiliate of the ATEQ, subject to the by-laws of the ATEQ and with the approval of the Board of Directors.
- The ATEQ may become affiliated with any similar professional organization, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
- The ATEQ is an affiliate of the Canadian Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (CCTELA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the Conseil pédagogique interdisciplinaire du Québec (CPIQ) and the Advisory Board on English Education (ABEE) of the MELS
- Members of the ATEQ pay an ANNUAL FEE to be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by members at the Annual General Meeting.
- The FISCAL and ADMINISTRATIVE YEAR of the ATEQ shall reflect the academic year and extend from July 1 to June 30 within which period an Annual General Meeting shall be held.
- The financial statements of the ATEQ shall be audited annually; the selection of the auditors shall be approved at the Annual General Meeting.
- The POLICIES of the ATEQ shall be set by its Board of Directors, in accordance with the by-laws.
- A BOARD OF DIRECTORS of up to 20 members shall be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting and shall be responsible for shaping the policies of the ATEQ. The idea is to have representation from a variety of regions and educational communities in Québec, including members from different teaching levels and members from other organizations and/or affiliations with an interest in English Language Arts education. The Chair of Springboards, the ATEQ annual conference, and the editor of E-notes are voting members of the Board of Directors during their terms. Each regular member of the Board of Directors shall serve for a term of five years and regular attendance at meetings of the Board over this time is compulsory. Specifically, Board members are only permitted to miss a total of two (2) meetings throughout their term of office, unless special circumstances are responsible for absence. After a member of the ATEQ executive has completed his/her term, the member may begin a new 5-year term as a regular member of the ATEQ Board of Directors. Finally, any member (i.e. of the executive or of the Board of Directors) may request a leave of absence of up to one (1) year.
- One half plus one of the membership of the Board of Directors shall constitute a QUORUM for the conduct of business. If a quorum is lacking, those present may proceed with the agenda as distributed, but may not pass any motions.
- At least one half plus one of the members of the Board of Directors must be present at the Annual General Meeting and shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at that meeting.
- The ADMINISTRATION of the policies of the ATEQ shall be carried out by the Board of Directors.
- The Board of Directors shall establish committees when necessary.
- The Board of Directors appoints (the) editor(s) or (the) chair(s) of any and all ATEQ publications, projects and committees.
- The Chair of any committee is responsible to the Board of Directors and may not make decisions impinging on the constitution of the ATEQ, without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
- Springboards is a permanent standing committee of the ATEQ. Its Chair is recommended by the outgoing Chair and confirmed by the Board for a period of one year. Each year, after the conference, the treasurer of Springboards presents a financial statement to the Board. Any profits are returned to the ATEQ; any losses are assumed by the ATEQ. In the case of the former, the intention is to reinvest all or a portion of the aforesaid profits in the operating budget of Springboards in the following year, in order to assure that Springboards flourishes.
- The Board of Directors appoints the editor of E-notes for a period of three years.
- At the beginning of its mandate, each committee must establish its budget and submit it to the Board of Directors for approval.
- The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall administer all policies shaped by the Board of Directors on its behalf between regular meetings of the Board. The Executive shall consist of the officers elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting:
- Past President, to serve a two-year term: The Past President shall assume responsibility for coordinating the efforts of all standing and special committees.
- President is elected to a six-year position including a two-year term as Vice-President, a two-year term as President, and a two-year term as Past President: A candidate for President must have previously served on the Executive Committee. The President shall preside at all meetings and have charge of conducting the business of the ATEQ.
- Vice-President, to serve a two-year term: The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President and assist the President in the execution of business. S/he shall be the President-elect and shall succeed to the office of the presidency.
- Secretary or Administrative Assistant(i.e. on contract), to serve a two-year term: The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of all Board meetings and all correspondence of the ATEQ. S/he will also preserve reports submitted by committees and be responsible for the list of members of the ATEQ.
- Treasurer, to serve a three-year term: The Treasurer, in collaboration with the Secretary or the Administrative Assistant, shall keep an accurate account of all financial transactions incurred by the ATEQ and prepare regular reports at the request of the Board of Directors.
- In the case of the Administrative Assistant, s/he serves on the ATEQ Executive as a non-voting member.
- This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all ATEQ members present at any regular meeting, provided that ATEQ members have been given notice of the exact nature of such amendments, not less than thirty days before the meeting.
- The ATEQ supports minority involvement in all aspects of its work.
- If ATEQ is dissolved, its assets, as a non-profit, educational organization will be distributed according to Canadian and Québec tax law to other tax exempt organizations whose main purposes are similar to its own.
Last revision: June 1, 2008
