Date Adopted: March 16, 1972

The name of the organization shall be the Texas State Reading Association.

The purpose of this Association will be:

1. To stimulate and promote research in all areas of reading instruction.

2. To disseminate to the various local, student, and special interest councils

information concerning research and new developments in the teaching of

reading.

3. To assist in the development of more adequate teacher training programs.

4. To promote mutual understanding and cooperative work among educators at all

levels, legislators, parents, and the general public.

5. To sponsor the organization of new councils in areas not now adequately served

by the International Reading Association.

6. To sponsor an annual reading conference, supported by the various local, student,

and special interest councils, with special emphasis upon improving professional

standards in the teaching of reading and related language arts.

Section 1: Eligibility

Membership in the Association shall be open to all persons engaged in the

teaching or supervision of reading at any school level, to parents, and to all other

persons interested in the purposes of the Association.

Section 2: Dues

Dues for individual membership in the Texas State Reading Association shall be

set at the annual meeting of the Delegates Assembly for the ensuing year.

Individual membership dues shall be sent to the office of the Texas State Reading

Association.

All councils shall participate in “Joint Membership” by the year 2001-2002. Joint

membership will entitle participants to membership in the Texas State Reading

Association and in the local council. (March, 2000)

Section 1: Officers

a. The elected officers of the Texas State Reading Association shall be President,

President-Elect, Vice President, Past President, and Secretary, and Council

Development Specialists. All TSRA officers are elected from the state at large.

The elected Vice President enters the presidential succession—President-Elect,

President, Past President.

b. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the Board of

Directors.

c. All members of this organization shall be eligible to hold an office in the Texas

State Reading Association provided they have been members of the

International Reading Association and the Texas State Reading Association for

one year prior to nomination for office.

d. For the presidential succession, a nominee must also have served as a member

of the Board of Directors for at least one year of have served two years as a

chair of a committee.

Section 2: Term of Office

a. The term of office of each officer shall be one year, with the exception of the

Council Development Specialists. Their term of office shall be two years with

Council Development Specialists in odd-numbered regions being elected in evennumbered

years and beginning their terms in odd-numbered years, and Council

Development Specialists in even-numbered regions being elected in oddnumbered

years and beginning their terms in even-numbered years.

b. At the expiration of the term of office, the President shall become the Past

President for a period of one year.

c. At the expiration of the term of office, the President-Elect shall become the

President for a period of one year.

d. At the expiration of the term of office, the Vice President shall become the

President-Elect for a period of one year.

e. Council Development Specialists may run for two terms.

Section 3: Nomination and Election

a. Recommendations for nominations shall be made to the Nomination and Elections

Committee by local, student, and special interest councils no later than 16 weeks

prior to the annual meeting of the Delegates Assembly.

b. It shall be the responsibility of the Nominating and Elections Committee to

prepare a slate of nominees from the submitted nominees of at least one and no

more than eight nominees for each vacant elective office. If there are eight or

fewer nominees, all names will be placed on the ballot. If more than eight

nominees, the Nominating and Elections Committee will prepare a slate of eight

from those nominated that reflects a balance according to council size, geographic

region, race, ethnic origin, and gender.

c. In the event that no candidate is nominated for any one or more of the offices

listed in Article IV, Section 1, Item a, nominations for such office or offices shall

be made by the Nominating and Elections Committee, as outlined in the criteria in

Item b above.

d. The ballot shall be accompanied by a vita for each nominee which must be

received by the Nominating and Elections Committee no later than 14 weeks prior

to the annual meeting of the Delegates Assembly.

e. The ballot shall be mailed separate from any other Texas State Reading

Association communication.

f. The ballot shall be mailed to all eligible members of the Texas State Reading

Association no later than 10 weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Delegates

Assembly.

g. Marked ballots must be received by the Nominating and Elections Committee

Chair no later than 6 weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Delegates

Assembly.

h. Election ballots will be counted by a representative of designee of the

Nominations and Election Committee, the State Coordinator, and the Executive

Director of TSRA. The nominee receiving a majority of the votes for each office

shall be declared elected.

i. In the event no nominee receives a majority of the votes for the office he/she is

seeking, a run-off election shall be conducted between the two candidates

receiving the greatest number of votes. A ballot prepared by the Chair of the

Nominating and Election Committee shall contain the name of the office and the

two candidates for each office for which a run-off election is required and shall be

mailed no later than 3 weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Delegates

Assembly.

j. Marked run-off ballots must be received by the Nominating and Elections

Committee no later than one week prior to the annual meeting of the Delegates

Assembly. Members of the Nominating and Elections Committee will count the

run-off ballots and report the results to the Board at the next board meeting.

k. Results of the election will be announced at the Delegates Assembly.

Section 4: Installation

a. Each officer shall be installed at the annual convention of the Texas State Reading

Association.

b. Although installed at the annual state convention of the Texas State Reading

Association, each officer shall assume the duties of office at the beginning of the

new fiscal year following election.

c. The fiscal year shall begin June 1. All records maintained by all officers shall be

given to the incoming officers by June 1.

Section 5: Duties

a. Duties of the President

The President shall act as Executive Officer of the Texas State Reading

Association and shall preside at the annual meeting of the Delegates Assembly.

During the one-year term of office, the President shall direct the affairs of the

organization, plan and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, carry out

such duties as the Board of Directors shall assign, and co-sign with the Treasurer

vouchers for expenditures of the organization’s funds as outlined in the current

edition of the TSRA policy manual.

b. Duties of the President-Elect

The President-Elect shall assume and perform the duties of the President in event

of absence or incapacity of the President and fulfill such duties as are assigned by

the Board of Directors.

c. Duties of the Vice President

The Vice President shall assume the management and monitoring of the Lone Star

Status program and perform such duties as are assigned by the Board of Directors.

d. Duties of the Past President

The immediate Past President will perform such duties as the President or the

Board of Directors may assign.

e. Duties of the Secretary

The Secretary shall execute the duties essential to the recording of all business

and happenings at all general meetings and all meetings of the Board of Directors,

keep a permanent book of the minutes of all meetings, and furnish a copy of such

minutes to all members of the Board of Directors and Delegates Assembly

f. Duties of the Council Development Specialists

The Council Development Specialists shall maintain open communications

between local councils and the Board of Directors, plan and execute an annual

leadership workshop for local, student, and special interest councils in

coordinating and exchanging program ideas, serve as liaison with publications

editors regarding council activities within the region, and help local, student, and

special interest councils identify areas where assistance is needed.

g. Duties of the Treasurer

The Treasurer, having custody of the funds of the Association, shall be bonded.

The Treasurer shall maintain accurate records of all funds received and dispersed.

The Treasurer shall monitor the deposit of funds and the issuance of all checks

issued by the Executive Director as outlined in the current edition of the TSRA

policy manual.

Section 6: Interim Replacement of Officers

a. In the event of a vacancy of an office of the Texas State Reading Association,

other than the presidential succession, the Board of Directors shall have the power

to fill the vacancy until the next regular election is held. In the case of a Council

Development Specialist, the council presidents in that specific region of vacated

Council Development Specialist shall be polled for nominations. The president

will then bring these suggestions to the board for approval.

b. In the event of a vacancy between elections of the office of President, the

President-Elect shall continue his/her present office and shall also assume the

duties of the vacant office. In the following year, this person shall become

President.

c. Should the office of the President –elect become vacant, the Vice President shall

serve the unexpired portion of the President-Elect’s term in addition to continuing

his/her duties as Vice President. The following year, this person shall become

President, and at the regular election, the membership shall elect a new President-

Elect and Vice President.

d. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President, the Board of Directors

shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the next regular election is held.

e. In the event that any officer or committee chairperson fails to perform the duties

of that office, the Board of Directors shall declare that office vacant and fill the

office as prescribed in this constitution.

Section 1: Composition

a. The members of the Board of Directors shall be the elected officers of the Texas

State Reading Association, the State Coordinator, the Treasurer and the editor of

the newsletter.

b. The State Coordinator is a voting member of the Texas State Reading Association

Board of Directors and is selected according to guidelines of the International

Reading Association.

Section 2: Duties

a. The Board of Directors shall exercise supervision and control over all the

activities of the Texas State Reading Association and shall take suck actions as

are necessary to facilitate the purpose of the Texas State Reading Association

within the powers delegated by the Bylaws.

b. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the expenditure of funds relating

to council activities and is authorized to make expenditures.

Association newsletter.

d. The Vice President shall develop and promote membership for the state

organization. The Vice President will select target group(s) appropriate for local,

special interest, and student councils, and plan recruitment strategies. The Vice

President well prepare and send membership reports to local council presidents,

e. The State Coordinator shall work in cooperation with the state President and

fulfill duties as designated by the International Reading Association.

Responsibilities include promoting new Councils and maintaining a system of

communication among all councils in the state.

Section 3: Quorum

A Quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet during the annual convention and have at least

one additional meeting during the fiscal year. The President shall call such

additional meetings as are necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of

the Board of Directors.

Section 1: Standing Committees

a. The standing committees shall be 12 in number: Awards; Bylaws, Policies and

Resolutions; Governmental Relations; Conference Committee; Nominating and

Elections; Program; Public Relations; Studies and Research; Technology and

Literacy; Early Literacy; Multiculturalism; Parents and Reading; Exemplary

Reading Program Award; Student Scholarship; Read Across America;

Newspapers in Education; Membership and Assessment, Evaluation and

Standards. (March 2000)

b. The duties and responsibilities of the standing committees shall be as specified in

the current edition of the Texas State Reading Association Policy Manual.

c. The Chairperson and members of each committee shall be appointed by the

President and approved by the members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Ad Hoc Committees

The President may appoint ad hoc committees with the approval of the Board of

Directors.

Section 3: Members

a. The Nominating and Elections Committee shall consist of nine members, one

from each of the nine regions and a chairperson at large, appointed by the

President with the approval of the Board of Directors. A Nominating and

Elections Committee member shall not be succeeded the following year by a

member of the same local council.

b. Beginning in 2000-2001 the Nominating and Elections Committee shall consist of

seven members, one from each of the seven regions. (March, 1999)

c. Members of all other committees shall be appointed by the President with the

approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 1: Membership

a. The Delegates Assemble shall be composed of all members of the Board of

Directors of the Texas State Reading Association and the certified delegates from

local, student, and special interest councils.

b. Each local council is entitled to one delegate for the first 1-25 members of the

council who are also members of the Texas State Reading Association as of

January 1. No local council shall be entitled to more than four delegates. A local

council must reach state council membership of 50 to receive two delegates, 75 to

receive three delegates, and 100 to receive four delegates.

c. The local council President, or his/her alternate, is automatically a delegate and is

counted in the total number of delegates and not in addition to the authorized

number of delegates.

d. Each student and special interest council shall be entitled to one representative to

the Delegates Assembly.

e. The Vice President shall certify for each local council the number of

representatives for which the council is entitled and verify that delegates have

current state memberships. The Treasurer shall verify that each council has

current state membership.

Section 2: Duties

The Delegates Assembly shall be the legislative body of organization. It shall

serve as the final authority in the establishment of dues and in matters concerning

the Bylaws of the organization.

Section 3: Quorum

In the Delegates Assembly, a quorum shall consist of 20% of the eligible

delegates.

Section 4: Interim Replacement

In the event that an assigned delegate cannot attend the Delegates Assembly, it

shall be the responsibility of the local, student, or special interest council to fill

the vacancy.

Number of Meetings

1. At least one regular conference of the State Association shall be held each year,

the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.

2. A meeting of the Delegates Assembly shall be convened during the annual

conference. The President shall notify in writing all local, student, and special

interest councils of the time and place of this meeting at least thirty days in

advance of the meeting.

Representation of the Texas State Reading Association at the Delegates Assembly of the

International Reading Association shall be in accordance with that specified in the

Bylaws of the International Reading Association in Article IV, Section 1, which reads in

part as follows: “…Each state, provincial, regional, or special interest council of the

Association shall be entitled to one delegate, provided the delegate has paid dues for the

current year to the Association. Each national affiliate shall be entitled to one delegate

for the first fifty members who have paid dues to the Association as of January 1 each

year and an additional delegate for every fifty additional members of International

Reading Association on record January 1. One person may represent only one council in

the Assembly. A council may send an alternate for each delegate; an alternate may vote

only when the delegate is absent.”

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall serve as reference of authority regarding

questions of procedure, order, and/or organization.

In case of the dissolution of the Texas State Reading Association, any assets remaining

after the payment of debts, or the provision therefore, will revert to the International

Reading Association.

Section 1: Origin

Proposed amendments may be submitted to the Delegates Assembly by any local,

student, or special interest council or by the Board of Directors. Written copies of

proposed amendments must be mailed to the President at least forty-five days

prior to the meeting at which they are to be acted upon by the Delegates

Assembly. Copies of the proposed amendments shall be sent to the Council

Coordinator at IRA Headquarters.

Section 2: Voting

Amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Delegates present at the

Delegates Assembly.

Amended: November 2, 1978; January 28, 1981; March 10, 1983; March 1, 1984;

January 30, 1986; February 27, 1987; March 9, 1990; February 28, 1991; March

6, 1993; March 1, 1997; March 4, 1999; March 1, 2000; February 28, 2002,

November 7, 2007