SKILLS USA BY-LAWS
GEORGIA CHAPTERArticle I – NAME:
The official name of this organization shall be “West Georgia Tech SkillsUSA and may be referred to as “West Georgia Tech SkillsUSA”.
Article II – PURPOSES:
The purposes of this organization are:
1. To unite in a common bond without regard to race, sex, religion, creed, or national origin students enrolled in classes with vocational trade, industrial, technology and health occupational objectives.
2. To provide leadership abilities through participation in educational, vocational, civic, recreational and social activities.
3. To assist the local members in their growth and development.
4. To foster a deep respect for the dignity of work.
5. To assist students in establishing realistic vocational goals.
6. To help students attain a purposeful life.
7. To create enthusiasm for learning.
8. To promote high standards in all phases of occupational endeavor including: ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety.
9. To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize, and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of the democratic process.
10. To foster as wholesome understanding of the functions of labor and management organizations and a recognition of their mutual interdependence.
11. To create among students, faculty members, patrons of the school and persons in industry a sincere interest in and esteem for trade, industrial, technology and health occupations education.
12. To develop patriotism through a knowledge of our nation’s heritage and the practice of democracy.
13. To emphasize the importance of continuous education consistent to the needs of the individual and the requirements of his or her chosen occupation.
Article III – ORGANIZATION:
Section 1. The West Georgia Tech SkillsUSA organization shall be affiliated with the Georgia Association of SkillsUSA. The Club shall operate in accordance with its charter granted by the Georgia Association.
Article IV – MEMBERSHIP:
Section 1. Membership in the Club shall be open to students enrolled in postsecondary preparatory courses in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations education at West Georgia Tech.
Section 2. Club membership shall be open to all students regardless of race, creed, or national origin.
Section 3. State and National membership shall be permitted only through the Club, and all members of the local Club must be members of the state and national organizations.
Section 4. Classes of membership which will be recognized are:
Active Membership – Students enrolled in a coherent sequence of courses or career major that prepares the student for further education and/or employment related to trade, industrial, technology, and health occupations and is earning credit toward a diploma/certificate or its equivalent.
Associate Membership – Cooperative employers and/or training sponsors, advisory council members and lay persons associated with and contributing to the improvement and development of the organization and vocational trade, industrial, technical and health occupations education. They are not eligible to hold office or vote.
Professional Membership – Persons associated with or participating in the development of SkillsUSA, who pay dues as established by SkillsUSA, will be recognized as professional members. Such members shall include club advisors, teacher educators and supervisors. Professional members are ineligible to serve as voting delegates, hold office or otherwise represent the club.
Alumni Membership – Former active members who are no longer enrolled in vocational-technical education. Although alumni members pay dues and may participate at the national level through the Youth Development Foundation of SkillsUSA, Inc. they are not eligible to serve as a voting delegate, hold office or otherwise represent the State active association membership in National SkillsUSA. The alumni association members may become a member of “Friends of VICA” . Their purpose will be to assist any local SkillsUSA club with fundraising.
Honorary Life Membership- Individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of SkillsUSA and vocational trade, technology, and health occupations education whose membership has been approved by the club executive council upon recommendation of the club. National Life Membership may be attained with the approval of the National Executive Council upon the recommendation of a state association. Such membership shall not require payment of national dues.
Section 5. A membership year shall be from September 1 through August 31.
Article V – EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
Section 1. There shall be an executive council for the club consisting of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Parliamentarian
Section 2. The officers of the West Georgia Tech SkillsUSA shall be nominated and elected by ballot at the first regular business meeting of the school year. A majority of the active members shall be necessary to elect.
Section 3. Should the office of President be vacated, the vice president shall succeed to the office of President. Vacancies in any other office may be filled by appointment from by the President with the approval of the advisors and active membership.
Section 4. Officers shall have attended West Georgia Tech for 1 quarter prior to be elected for office, shall maintain good attendance in accordance with the school’s attendance policy, shall be in good standing with the school academically by maintaining a C average (2.0 GPA).
Section 5. Members seeking office must submit a qualifying form which must be signed by his/her instructor verifying the items in section 4.
Section 6. An elected officer must vacate his/her office under the following conditions:
1. When 3 executive council meetings, 3 club meetings, or a combination of executive and club meetings, have been missed during 1 quarter.
2. When an officer has been dismissed from school or placed on probation for attendance or academic problems.
3. When an officer has graduated or withdrawn from school, the vacated office must be filled at the next regular meeting.
4. When a member who is serving as an officer finds that school, personal, or work obligations are such that he/she can not carry out all the duties and responsibilities of that office.
Article VI – MEETINGS:
Section 1. Regular club meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of the month unless there is a conflict. The meeting shall time shall then be agreed upon by advisors and the executive council.
Section 2. The executive council shall meet in advance of the regular meeting and at other times as deemed necessary by the council and/or the advisors.
Section 3. Parliamentary procedures at all meetings will be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Article VII – FINANCES:
Section 1. The club will be responsible for state and national SkillsUSA dues, according to the number of individual members claimed in each membership classification, times the amount established for that classification.
Section 2. The club advisor shall be responsible for the finances and will furnish an annual audit to the State SkillsUSA Director and the membership.
Section 3. The club may conduct fundraisers with the approval of the Vice President of Student Services.
Article VIII – VOTING:
Section 1. West Georgia SkillsUSA members shall exercise their franchise through voting delegates at state conferences as assigned by Georgia SkillsUSA.
Section 2. Each active member in good standing shall have the right to cast his/her vote concerning all club business and election of officers.
Article IX – AMENDMENTS:
The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended as follows:
All proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the club executive council.
If the executive council passes the proposed amendment (s) or an amended form of the proposed amendment by a majority vote and the membership by 2/3 majority for the amendment, it shall be effective.
Article X – RULES, REGULATIONS, AND BYLAWS:Section 1. Such rules, regulation, and bylaws as are deemed necessary for the proper conduct of this organization shall be adopted.
Section 2. No rules, regulations, or bylaws shall be adopted which are contrary to this constitution.
Article XI – COMPETITIONS:
Section 1. Student participants in state, national, and international competitions shall maintain good attendance in accordance with the Institute’s attendance policy and shall be in good standing with the Institute academically by maintaining a 2.0 GPA.
Revised 3/2005