[tlg_headings alignment=”left” icon=”” spacing=”mb16″ title=”FEN BYLAWS” subtitle=”AS AMENDED MAY 16, 2017″]

ARTICLE I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Florida Educational Negotiators, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II – Purpose of the Organization

The purposes of the organization shall be to provide a vehicle whereby its members may be able to improve their professional knowledge, skills and performance, enhance their professional status as well as provide a system for effective communication and exchange of information among the membership.

 

ARTICLE III – Code of Ethics

Membership in the organization shall carry a duty and a responsibility for each person to adhere to the minimum standards of professional conduct as described herein. Work cooperatively with each other by freely sharing information, knowledge, and expertise in appropriate areas of interest. Participate actively in the organization and its activities and serve faithfully when chosen for elected or appointed positions. Limit professional responsibilities as described in Article IV of these Bylaws to those activities which best serve the purposes of management. Maintain the confidentiality of such information and material which is provided by the organization or its members.

 

ARTICLE IV – Membership

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – Membership”]Membership shall be limited to regular full-time employees of Florida School Districts who have been designated by their respective school district as chief negotiator and bargaining team members. In the event a district utilizes the services of other than a regular full-time employee as chief negotiator, membership shall be available to any other regular full-time employee who may be designated for such membership by the superintendent of the affected school district. Membership shall carry with it the right to participate fully in the procedures and programs of the organization as provided in these Bylaws. In his/her absence, a member may certify in writing to the president a designee who may exercise the voting proxy of the absent member.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – Commercial Membership”]Commercial membership shall be made available to school board chief negotiators who do not meet the requirements for membership as defined in Section 1.

Commercial membership shall be primarily for the purpose of allowing persons holding such membership to attend and participate in the meetings of the organization. However, persons holding commercial memberships will not have the right to vote or hold office. Commercial membership shall not be used for the purpose of furthering the commercial interest of the person holding such membership.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 3 – Retiree Membership”]Retiree membership shall be open to former active members of F.E.N. who are no longer full-time employees of Florida School Districts. Additionally, individuals in this membership category shall no longer be active members of school district bargaining teams. Retiree membership shall carry with it the right to attend all programs and meetings of the organization for a nominal registration fee or said fee(s) may be waived by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Persons holding retiree membership will not have the right to vote or hold office.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 4 – Application for Membership”]The Board of Directors shall have the authority to approve or disapprove all applications for membership. Such approval or disapproval shall be by a majority vote of those directors present.[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE V – Governing Body

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – Board of Directors”]The officers and the area directors shall comprise the board of directors which shall be the representative governing body of the organization. The board of directors shall have final authority on all matters as provided by these Bylaws or as authorized by the membership.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – Officers”]Officers shall be the president, president-elect, secretary and the immediate past-president. The term of office for officers shall be one (1) calendar year, and a member may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. The immediate past president’s term shall begin immediately following the expiration of his/her term of office of president.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 3 – Area Directors”]There shall be one area director from each of the geographical areas which correspond to the geographical areas which are established by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. Areas VI and VII shall be consolidated into one area at the conclusion of the 2011 May Conference. Directors serving in these two areas shall continue to serve until their term is completed or until one is no longer eligible to serve in accordance with these Bylaws. Each term of office for area directors shall be three (3) calendar years.[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE VI – Election of Board of Directors

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – Nominations”]The Board of Directors shall propose a slate of candidates for consideration by the membership at the annual business meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – Election”]Election of the board of directors shall be conducted each year by a vote of the membership. The newly elected board of directors shall take office immediately.[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE VII – Filling of Vacancies on the Board of Directors

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – Vacancy in the Office of President”]The president-elect shall become president and serve the remainder of the vacated term. He/she shall continue in the office of his/her normal term as president for an additional year as provided in these Bylaws.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – Concurrent Vacancies in Both The President and President-Elect”]The board of directors shall fill by appointment the office of president. Such appointment shall extend until the next annual business meeting at which time the membership shall elect a president and president-elect to take office at said annual business meeting.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 3 – All Other Vacancies”]All other vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled by appointment of the board of directors with the term of such appointment ending at the next annual business meeting at which time the election procedure as provided in these Bylaws shall be used to fill such vacancies.[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE VIII – Duties of Board of Directors

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – President”]

  • presides at all official meetings
  • appoints all committees
  • assists in agenda development for all official meetings
  • provides leadership for the organization
  • serves as the official representative of the organization
  • performs other duties as directed by the board of directors

[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – President-Elect”]

  • presides at meetings and performs other presidential duties in the absence of the president
  • performs other duties as directed by the president

[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 3 – Secretary”]

  • records and distributes the minutes of board of directors meetings to the board
  • prepares and distributes any other communications
  • performs other duties as directed by the president

[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 4 – Immediate Past-President”]

  • serves in an advisory and consultative role to the president and board of directors
  • performs other duties as directed by the president

[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 5 – Area Directors”]

  • act as a communication link between the organization and the other members in his/her geographic area
  • perform other duties as directed by the president

[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 6 – Additional Duties of Board of Directors”](A)  Any member who is unable to attend a scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting shall notify another member to act in her/his behalf.  A signed proxy form shall be used to document this authorization and shall be submitted to the Executive Director prior to the scheduled meeting.  The proxy form to be used shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Florida Educational Negotiators at a regular business meeting.

(B)  Any member who is unable to attend a scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting due to personal and/or professional hardship may request permission to participate via telephone or other telecommunications device(s) as may be available.  An electronic or faxed request shall be submitted to the Executive Director prior to the scheduled meeting.  The form to be used shall first be approved by the Board of Directors of the Florida Educational Negotiators at a regular board meeting.

(C) The Executive Director of the Florida School Labor Relations Service serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Educational Negotiators, Inc.

  • provides fiscal services to the organization
  • executes contracts on behalf of the organization
  • drafts all meeting agendas
  • conducts surveys at the request of members
  • provides salary settlement information to members
  • provides other services as needed by the board of directors, chief negotiators and other members

[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE IX – Funds

[tlg_accordion style=”accordion-style-1 accordion-auto-close”][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 1 – Annual Dues”]Dues are established by the Board of Directors of the Florida School Labor Relations Service. Member School Districts pay the Florida School Labor Relations Service in order to subscribe to the service. A portion of dues paid by each member district is transferred to the Florida Educational Negotiators account for disbursement.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 2 – Other Fees”]The board of directors may set other necessary fees to cover expenses for organization-sponsored activities in which members participate.[/tlg_accordion_content][tlg_accordion_content title=”Section 3 – Disbursement of Funds”]The Florida School Labor Relations Service, Inc. will maintain a depository in a Tallahassee, Florida financial institution for the purpose of receiving and disbursing funds for the organization. The Florida School Labor Relations Service, Inc. will receive and disburse funds in accordance with proper accounting procedures as directed by the board of directors. Disbursement of funds which require the approval of the Florida Educational Negotiators board of directors shall be allowed only after approval of a majority of the board of directors.[/tlg_accordion_content][/tlg_accordion][tlg_spacer layout=”line” height=”32″ height_tablet=”32″ height_mobile=”32″]

ARTICLE X – Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the organization, all assets of the organization shall be turned over to a nonprofit educational organization to be designated by the final board of directors.

 

ARTICLE XI – Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active membership present at an annual business meeting.

 

ARTICLE XII – Rules of Procedure

Business meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the revised Roberts Rules of Order. Adopted at the annual business meeting of the Florida Educational Negotiators.
May 12, 2011 • Tampa, Florida