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TPRA By-Laws:
Article I Name
Section 1.
The name of the Association shall be the Tennessee Park
Rangers Association. For the purpose of the By-Laws the term
Ranger shall include any past or present commissioned
officer of the Division of Tennessee State Parks.
Article II Objectives
Section 1.
The purpose of this Association shall be to work for the
improvement of park and recreation programs, services, and
facilities throughout the State of Tennessee through the
following objectives:
A. To promote professionalism among the employees of the
Division.
B. To support common concerns among the employees of the
Division.
C. To promote improved communications between supervisors,
employees, Central Office and Regional Staff, and the
Commissioner or his or her designee.
D. To re-enforce and promote the "chain of command".
E. To establish guidelines that will promote the highest
hiring standards.
F. To work within departmental policies to upgrade the
working conditions of the Division’s employees.
G. To support and participate in an active "in-service"
training program to achieve the objectives of this Division.
H. To associate with the Tennessee State Employees
Association, to improve Tennessee state government for all
state employees, and to improve services provided to the
general public.
Article III Membership
Section 1.
Membership in the Association shall be open to all
Rangers as defined in Article 1, Section 1. Non-commissioned
employees of the Division of the Tennessee State Parks may
join as associate members; however, they will have no voting
or governing rights. The associate membership is solely a
representation of support for the Tennessee Park Rangers
Association and its members, the past and present
commissioned officers of the Division of Tennessee State
Parks. Members need only fill out the membership application
and mail it in, along with annual dues, to the TPRA address
on the application.
Section 2.
The Tennessee Park Rangers Association will require
annual dues from each member to remain in good standing.
Dues are to be used for operational expenses and services
provided to the membership.
Section 3.
Any member shall be expelled from
and denied membership in the Association if found guilty of
unethical practices by a two-thirds vote of the total Board
of Directors, but only after a written report of the
unethical practice(s) has been reviewed by the Directors and
only after the member has had a full hearing before the
Board of Directors.
Article IV Officers and Succession of
Officers
Section 1.
The officers of the Association shall be elected from the
nine board members.
Section 2.
All Directors shall be elected by a ballot vote at the
Annual Tennessee Park Rangers Association Meeting or at the
sectional meeting, whichever is most expedient, as provided
in these By-Laws, and shall hold office until their
successors are elected and installed in office. Ballot votes
are not needed if only one applicant applies for a position.
Section 3.
In the case of any vacancy on the Board of Directors, the
Chairman shall fill the vacancy by appointment with the
approval of the Board of Directors. Should the Chairmanship
become vacant, the Board of Directors shall elect a new
Chairman from the remaining Directors. The new Chairman
shall appoint a new Director following the procedures
outlined above in this section.
Section 4.
The term of office of the Chairman shall be two (2) years
and he/she shall not succeed him/her self, but may be
elected to the Board. The Chairman should have served as a
board member in the previous two-year term immediately prior
to being nominated for the office of Chairman.
Section 5.
The term of office of the Vice Chairman shall be one (1)
year and shall succeed the Chairperson at the end of the
Chairperson's second year. Vice Chair should be appointed
one year prior to the end of the current Chair's two year
term.
Section 6.
Each district (West, Middle, and East TN) will have two (2)
elected Board members. The office of the Vice Chairperson
shall serve as one of the statewide Board member. As board
members’ terms expire, elections will then be held to elect
new District members to the Board. Any Director is eligible
for re-election to the Board.
Section 7.
The Board shall approve a Secretary and a Treasurer in
addition to those elected to the Board. They shall be
eligible for re-election to the same position.
Section 8. Eligibility to Serve
A. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be a Ranger
who is employed by the Division of State Parks and who is in
good standing and off probation.
B. Directors shall be a Ranger who is employed by the
Division of State Parks and who is in good standing and off
probation.
Article V Duties of
Directors
Section 1.
The Chairman shall preside at all regular and called
meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors,
shall appoint all standing Committee Chairmen with the
approval of the elected Directors, and shall appoint all
special committee Chairmen and members with the approval of
the Directors.
Section 2.
The Secretary shall keep all minutes of meetings, carry on
the official correspondence of the Association, and send out
notices and ballots as prescribed in these By-Laws. No later
than thirty (30) days after the annual meeting, the
Secretary shall communicate to the membership a roster of
all officers and Directors for the ensuing year to the
membership at large. Additional duties of the Secretary
include mailing of greeting cards.
Section 3.
The Treasurer shall be the fiscal agent for the Association,
and shall keep accurate records of all money deposited,
within ten (10) days of the receipt, in a bank approved by
the Board of Directors. Checks should be made out to the
Tennessee Park Rangers Association. Reimbursement receipts
should be retained and given to the Treasurer for refunds.
The Treasurer shall give a financial report at the Board
meetings, at the Annual meeting or sectional meeting
whichever is most expedient, and at any time upon request of
the Chairman. All checks issued by the Association must be
signed by the Treasurer and by another member designated by
the Board. If the expenditure has been approved by the Board
of Directors, then one signature on the check is acceptable.
The Treasurer shall disburse funds budgeted and/or approved
by the Board of Directors. One month following the annual
meeting and membership drive, the Treasurer shall provide
the Board of Directors with a list of all members.
Additional duties of the Treasurer include maintenance of
the membership roster, 501c6 paperwork, monthly checking
account reconciliation, and sending of flowers and/or
memorials.
Article VI Election of Directors
Section 1.
All Directors shall be elected by a majority of the Rangers
voting except as described in Article IV.
Section 2.
No less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting,
the Chairman shall accept nominations for vacant Director
positions from the professional members.
Section 3.
No less than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting,
the Chairman shall prepare a slate of eligible nominees. The
Slate shall consist of at least three (3) willing candidates
from each section for Directors.
Section 4.
The Chairman shall appoint a committee of three (3) Rangers
to receive ballots, to count the votes, and announce the
duly elected Directors at the annual meeting. Any person
seeking a directorship shall not participate in the above
procedure.
Article VII Board of Directors
Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall be comprised of nine (9) duly
elected Rangers: one will be the Chairman, one will be
his/her appointed Secretary, and one will be his/her
appointed Treasurer with the approval of the Board of
Directors. Each board member shall have one (1) vote.
Article VIII Duties of the
Board of Directors
Section 1.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to carry out
the instructions of the Association. It shall investigate
all matters pertaining to policy and legislation. It shall
have research and survey powers to study any and all
problems. Further, it shall act upon the recommendations of
the committees and the membership body.
Section 2.
Any vacancies on the Board of Directors during the year
shall be filled by an appointment of the Chairman with the
approval of the Board of Directors. A person thus appointed
shall fill the unexpired term of his/her predecessor.
Article IX Committees
Section 1.
The Chairman, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint
Committee Chairmen and form committees as needed. The
following are some possible committees:
a. Membership
b. By-Laws
c. (Directors – Superintendents DELETE) Administrative
Liaison
d. Ethics
e. Legislation
f. Nominations and Awards
g. Retirement
h. Website: the Webmaster shall oversee forum and postings
to the website, and retain
and work with the server.
Section 2.
The Board Chairman shall direct the Chairmen of the
committees to select at least three (3) willing committee
members from among the membership to serve on his/her
committee.
Section 3.
Such other committee nominations as may be determined
necessary in the interest of the Association may be
appointed by the Board Chairman, with the approval of the
Board of Directors.
Article X Duties of Appointed Chairman at
Sectional Meetings
Section 1.
He/She (Chairman) shall arrange, promote, and conduct
sectional meetings.
Section 2.
He/She (Chairman) shall preside at all meetings of the
section.
Section 3.
He/She (Chairman) shall represent the section at meetings of
the Board of Directors and other appropriate meetings.
Section 4.
He/She (Chairman) shall prepare a report to the activities
of the section for distribution at the annual meeting of the
Association.
Article XI Meetings and Conferences
Section 1.
There shall be an annual meeting of the Tennessee Park
Rangers Association. When possible, this meeting will be
held during annual park rangers in-service. The place and
date shall be determined by the Director of State Parks. The
business of the Association shall be conducted at the annual
meeting. The annual meeting and all other meetings are open
to all members, all individuals interested in joining TPRA,
and all individuals who have business with the Association.
Section 2.
The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of once every
three (3) months.
Section 3.
An announcement of the annual meeting shall be sent to all
members at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.
Section 4.
A one week (7 day) notice must be given by the Chairman for
all meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.
Two-thirds (2/3) of the Board shall constitute a quorum for
meetings. Two-thirds (2/3) of the Association membership, in
good standing, shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of
the Association.
Article XII Parliamentary Authority
Section 1.
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (revised)
shall govern the proceedings of this Association, except in
such cases as are covered by the By-laws and Standing Rules
adopted by this Association.
Article XIII Amendments
Section 1
These By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
the members voting at the annual meeting, provided a quorum
is present and provided the suggested amendment(s) shall
have been presented in written form to each eligible member
at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.
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