Constitution

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics, hereafter referred to as MCTM.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

The purposes of MCTM are:

1. To encourage an active interest in mathematics and its teaching, and to work toward the improvement of mathematics education programs in Maryland.

2. To facilitate the exchange of ideas and facts about current problems, techniques, and experimental programs in the teaching of mathematics by providing such resources as conferences, meetings, newsletter, journal, research studies, and information services.

3. To encourage and assist other state and national organizations concerned with mathematics education at all levels.

ARTICLE III
AFFILIATION

MCTM shall be affiliated with The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, hereafter referred to as NCTM. MCTM may also affiliate with other professional organizations.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY

Membership shall be open to any person or institution subscribing to the purposes of MCTM.

SECTION 2: MEMBERS

1. Regular Member: Persons qualified to be Regular Members are those who subscribe to the purposes of MCTM.

2. Student Member: Persons qualified to be Student Members are those who have not taught professionally and who are enrolled in a teacher education program in the State of Maryland.

3. Life Member: Persons may be Life Members by subscribing to the purposes of MCTM and by paying dues for Life Membership as set by the Board of Directors.

4. Distinguished Life Member: Distinguished Life Members are those persons who have received the Outstanding Mathematics Teacher Award, the Outstanding Teacher of Mathematics Award or the Outstanding Mathematics Educator Award from MCTM.

5. Senior Citizen Member: Persons qualified to be Senior Citizen Members are those who have retired from the teaching profession, and who have either been involved in mathematics education for a minimum of twenty years or have reached the age of sixty. Senior Citizen Members shall be entitled to all rights and benefits afforded Regular Members.

6. Institutional Member: Any school or organization is eligible for Institutional Membership. Such membership will be for informational purposes only and will not involved holding office or voting rights.

SECTION 3. VOTING

Every Regular Member, every Life Member, every Distinguished Life Member, and every Senior Citizen Member shall be entitled to vote on any matter that comes before the general membership.

SECTION 4: DUES

The amount of the dues for all members shall be set by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V
REGIONS
SECTION 1: REGIONAL DIVISIONS

In order that all educational institutions of Maryland may be served by MCTM, the State of Maryland shall be divided into four (4) regions: Eastern Region, Central Region, Western Region, and Southern Region.

SECTION 2: REGIONAL REPRESENTATION

Each region shall have a Regional Representative, elected by the voting membership of MCTM.

ARTICLE VI
GENERAL MEETING
SECTION 1: TIME AND PLACE

1. There will be one general meeting of MCTM each year at the time and place of the Annual Fall Conference.

2. In case of need or desirability, the President may, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, call a special general meeting of MCTM.

SECTION 2: QUORUM

Fifty members shall constitute a quorum unless the total membership is less than one hundred, and then a simple majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1: MEMBERSHIP

There shall be sixteen (16) voting members and three (3) non-voting members on the Board. These members shall be:

1. Voting: President, President-Elect (or Past President), NCTM Representative, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Government Relations Representative, and six (6) Level Representatives (Early Childhood, Intermediate/Upper Elementary, Middle School, Senior High School, Community College/College/University, and Member-at-large) and four (4) regional representatives (Western, Southern, Eastern, Central).

2. Non-Voting: Executive Director, State Specialist, and Treasurer-Elect.

SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY

Voting members of MCTM shall be eligible to hold a Board position. Nominees for the position of Level Representative must be involved in teaching or supervision at the educational level designation of their office. No member of MCTM may hold more than one office concurrently.

SECTION 3: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Initially, upon the acceptance of this Constitution, a slate of officers shall be submitted to, and voted upon by the general membership. Thereafter, as specified in the By-Laws, the Nomination and Election Committee shall present a choice ballot of nominations of officers to be elected. This ballot shall be presented to the entire membership prior to the Annual Fall Meeting. The results of the election shall be announced at the Annual Meeting, and they shall also be published.

SECTION 4: VACANCIES

If a vacancy occurs in any office, the Board of Directors shall name an MCTM member to fill the office. A member so chosen shall serve for the remainder of the term and be eligible for succession.

SECTION 5: DUTIES

The Board shall have general supervision of the activities of MCTM, shall authorize the expenditure or investment of funds, shall set the amount of dues for MCTM membership, shall approve the program for the Annual Fall Meeting, shall establish standing committees as specified in the By-Laws and ad hoc committees as needed, shall make recommendations to the general membership, shall fill vacancies which may arise, and shall take care of all related business which has not been provided for by any other means.

ARTICLE VIII
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in RobertŐs Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern MCTM in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the MCTM Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE IX
AFFILIATED GROUPS

Any organized group of teachers of mathematics, or any organized group of individuals interested in the teaching of mathematics or related disciplines may petition the Board to become affiliated with MCTM. The Board shall specify the conditions under which such affiliation shall take place. An affiliate group shall be entitled to send one non-voting delegate to each MCTM Board meeting.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1: TO CONSTITUTION

A resolution for an amendment to the Constitution may be introduced by petition of fifty (50) members of MCTM or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The resolution shall be publicized, and distributed to the membership at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the voting, which must take place at a general meeting. An affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members present is required to adopt the resolution.

SECTION 2: TO BY-LAWS

By-Laws, consistent with the Constitution, shall be maintained by the Board of Directors. A resolution for an amendment to the By-Laws may be introduced by petition of fifty (50) members of MCTM or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The resolution shall be publicized, and distributed to the membership at least twenty (20)days prior to the voting, which must take place at a general meeting. An affirmative vote by two-thirds of the members present is required to adopt the resolution.

SECTION 3: EFFECTIVE DATE

Unless otherwise stated in the resolution, all amendments shall take effect immediately upon adoption.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION

If at any time MCTM shall cease to carry out the purposes herein stated, all assets and property held by it, whether in trust or otherwise, shall, after payment of its liabilities, be paid over to an organization, selected by the final Board of Directors of MCTM, which has similar purposes and has established its tax exempt status under Section 501 (e) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as now enacted or as it may hereafter be amended, and such assets and property shall be applied exclusively for such charitable, scientific, and educational programs.

Last revised October 2007.