Bylaws+of+MAPEC

Bylaws of the Maryland Adapted Physical Education Consortium Article I. Name The name of this organization will be The Maryland Adapted Physical Education Consortium. Article II. Object The object of this organization will be to be an advocate for and to support the mission statement: Article III. Membership Section 1. Membership will be open to: All physical educators (current, retired, future professionals) working with students with disabilities interested in supporting the mission of the consortium. Section 2. Applications for membership will be considered and acted upon by the Officers. Article IV. Officers Article V. Elections
 * Provide opportunities and resources for education, guidance, and encouragement to empower other professionals to meet the unique challenges of individuals with disabilities in the areas of health, physical education, athletics, recreation, and dance.
 * Promote well developed and "Best Practices" in physical education for individuals with disabilities throughout the state of Maryland.
 * Encourage the promotion and development of quality physical education programs for individuals with disabilities in schools throughout the state of Maryland.
 * Encourage the promotion and development of quality professional preparation programs of adapted physical education in higher education.
 * 1) The officers of the organization will be a Past President, President, Vice President, Secretary, and APE Section Chair for MAHPERD, and two Members-At-Large
 * 2) Officers shall have CAPE certification or an adapted physical education degree from an accredited institution and 3 years teaching experience.
 * 3) Officers will serve for a term of two years or until their successors are elected; the term of office will commence at the close of the annual meeting after the election.
 * 4) Past Presidents will be invited to attend meetings in an advisory capacity.
 * 5) The Officers will have general supervision of the affairs of the Consortium between its business meetings, will fix the hour of meetings, and will perform such other duties as are specified by these bylaws. The officers will be subject to the orders of the Consortium, and none of its acts will conflict with the actions taken by the Consortium.
 * 6) The officers will meet at least once for the period from September to May, subject to the call of the President.
 * 7) The quorum for the officers will be a majority of its members.

Article V. Meetings
 * 1) Elections for officers will be held on even-numbered years.
 * 2) No member will hold more than one office. (other than MAHPERD)
 * 3) If the President is unable to complete his or her term, the Vice President will serve as President for the unexpired term, the office of Vice President becoming vacant.
 * 4) If any office other than that of President becomes vacant, nominations will be called for and a special election will be held; the specially elected officer to serve the unexpired term.
 * 5) The Election Committee will call for nominations from the members for those offices to be filled at the next election. Both the call and the nominations may be made by electronic mail. Members of the Election Committee are ineligible for nomination or election. The deadline for receipt of nominations will be at least three weeks after the call for nominations.
 * 6) Election of officers will be made by email ballot. Election will be by majority of the valid votes cast. If more than two candidates are on the ballot for any office, the ballot will provide for preferential voting; the number of preferences being one less than the number of candidates. First the ballots will be sorted by first choice. Any person receiving the majority of the first choice votes will be elected. In the event that no person receives the majority of the first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first choice votes will be eliminated. The ballots for that person will be distributed to the other candidates according to their second choice. This procedure will be repeated until a candidate has the majority of the votes or until all the levels of preference are exhausted.
 * 7) The Elections Committee will distribute ballots via personal email. Before opening any ballot, the Election Committee chairman will check the names on the email against the membership list. Any email ballots not bearing the listed email name of a member will be deemed invalid. If more than one email ballot bears the name of a member, all such ballots will be invalid. Election Committee Chairman will count the ballots and report the tally to the Officers.
 * 1) There will be a meeting during the 2nd or 3rd week in November and one during the 2nd or 3rd week in February unless otherwise ordered by the Consortium or by the Officers. The February meeting will be the annual meeting. The purpose of the annual meeting will be the receiving reports of officers and standing committees, the installation of newly elected officers, and any other business that may arise.
 * 2) Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Officers. A special meeting will be called at the electronic request of fifteen members of the Consortium. The purpose of the meeting will be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least two weeks’ notice will be given.
 * 3) Two thirds of members will constitute a quorum.

Article VII. Committees Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised will govern the Consortium in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order which the Consortium may adopt. Article IX. Amendment of Bylaws These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote by electronic ballot provided that the proposed amendment has been approved by the officers, by a petition approved by at least 10% of the members of the Consortium.
 * 1) Special committees will be appointed by the President, the Consortium will from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Consortium.
 * 2) The President will be an //ex-officio// member of every committee except the Election Committee.