Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be called the Council for Exceptional Children-Ohio, hereinafter designated as CEC-Ohio.
Section 2: Organization
CEC-Ohio shall be an educational organization of area regions and subdivisions, and Project Support
within the state of Ohio.
Section 1: Principle Purpose
The principle purpose of this organization shall be to advance the education and welfare of persons with
exceptionalities, and to promote related educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. Specifically,
CEC-Ohio intends to assist and provide support to The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in all its
efforts on behalf of persons with exceptionalities, and to participate in all appropriate governance
activities of CEC subject to the general supervision and control of CEC.
Section 2: Specific Purposes
Specific purposes of CEC-Ohio shall be:
1) to encourage the expansion and improvement of services for persons with exceptionalities;
2) to encourage research related to persons with exceptionalities;
3) to promote the welfare of regions in Ohio, subdivisions in Ohio, and student clubs;
4) to cooperate with organizations and individuals serving the needs of persons with exceptionalities;
5) to disseminate information to the membership regarding legislation and laws aiding persons with exceptionalities;
6) to disseminate information which will increase the public's awareness of the needs and potential of persons with exceptionalities.
7) to promote professional conferences;
8) to encourage recruitment and retention of teachers and other professionals, including persons who have traditionally been under-represented in these professions, to work with persons with exceptionalities;
9) to recruit CEC-Ohio members from diverse/under-represented populations; and
- to foster the improvement of training programs in colleges and universities for teachers and other professionals in the field of special education.
Article III
Section 1: Qualifications
Membership shall consist of professional personnel and other individuals interested in the education of
persons with exceptionalities.
Section 2: Dues
Annual membership dues shall be consistent with the policy of the international Council for Exceptional
Children.
Section 3: Minimum Membership Requirement
CEC-Ohio shall maintain a minimum of one hundred (100) paid members who meet the membership qualifications established by the international Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 4: International CEC Membership Requirement
All CEC-Ohio members must also be members of the international Council for Exceptional Children.
CEC-Ohio may not accept enrollments for local membership only.
Section 1: Relationship to the CEC
CEC-Ohio shall be affiliated with the international Council for Exceptional Children. It shall be a federation of the regions, subdivisions, and student clubs of the international Council for Exceptional Children in the state of Ohio.
Section 2: Fiscal Year and Administrative Term
The fiscal year and administrative term of office shall be January1 through December 31. The policy pertaining to the membership year shall be consistent with the policy of the international Council for Exceptional Children.
Section 1: Special Assessments
Special assessments may be levied by a simple majority vote of the representatives at the CEC-Ohio
Representative Assembly when this matter is considered provided there is a quorum.
Section 2: Payment of Dues
Annual dues shall be payable before the end of the individual's membership year. Members whose dues are not paid by the last day of their membership year shall be considered lapsed and shall lose the privileges of membership in CEC-Ohio.
Section 1: Elected Positions
The officers of CEC-Ohio shall be President, President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2: Election
Officers shall be elected at a Representative Assembly of CEC-Ohio and shall assume office on Jan. 1.
Section 3: Term of Office
The term of office of the President and President Elect is one year. The President Elect automatically succeeds to the office of the President upon expiration of the one year term of office. The office of Secretary shall be for a two year term elected every second year. The Treasurer shall serve a three year term elected every third year. The Secretary and Treasurer may be nominated and re-elected for one additional successive term.
Section 4: Vacancies
A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the President Elect. A vacancy in the office of President Elect, Secretary, or Treasurer shall be filled by Executive Board approval from one of the following options:
1) The office will remain vacant until December 31 of the current administrative year;
2) The office will remain vacant until a duly authorized election can take place at a CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly;
3) The office will be filled by presidential appointment with approval of the Executive Board.
The member so appointed will serve only until replaced by a duly elected successor; or
4) The Executive Board may determine and approve an alternate procedure to insure stable leadership within CEC-Ohio.
During the time an office is vacant, the duties of the office will be assumed by other elected officers as assigned by the President.
Section 5: Prerequisite to Nomination and Election
CEC-Ohio officers must: 1) reside or work in Ohio, 2) have prior experience as a member of an
Executive Board at the federation, subdivision, chapter, or regional level in Ohio or comparable
experience as determined by the nominating committee, 3) be members in good standing of the
international Council for Exceptional Children at the time of their nomination and election, and 4)
remain in good standing throughout the duration of their term of office.
Section 6: Removal of Officer
An officer may be removed according to the process outlined in Article I, Section 2 of the Bylaws, "Removal of Officers".
Article VII
Executive Board
Section 1: Composition
The Executive Board shall consist of all regularly elected officers of CEC-Ohio, the standing committee chairpersons, the College CEC-Ohio advisors, the President and a representative of College CEC-Ohio, the Project Support Chairperson(s), representatives of regions in Ohio, representatives of all the subdivisions of CEC-Ohio, and ex officio members as appointed by the President. CEC-Ohio will support and maintain diversity in all aspects of the organization.
Section 2: Appointments
The President may appoint or nominate CEC-Ohio members to serve as representatives on committees, councils, and/or task forces at the state, regional, national, or international level. The appointed representative may serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Executive Board. Such appointments must clearly indicate the purpose, responsibilities, and length of service.
Section 3: Executive Committee
The President may develop an Executive Committee, consisting of the elected officers and President and Governor of College CEC-Ohio, to assist in the administration of the organization.
Section 4: Quorum
A simple majority of the voting members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5: Meetings
The Executive Board shall convene when called by the President at least four times each administrative year.
Section 6: Invited Guests
The President may invite any persons deemed necessary to contribute to current business to attend an Executive Committee or Executive Board meeting.
Section 7: Visiting Members
Members in good standing of the international Council for Exceptional Children may attend an Executive Board meeting as observers by presenting themselves to the President the day of the meeting. Members wishing to be recognized and actively participate by speaking must contact the President at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Section 8: Parliamentary Procedures
The rules of parliamentary practice in the most recently published Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Executive Board meetings subject to any special rules which have been adopted by the Executive Board.
Section 1: Composition
The CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly shall consist of the regularly elected CEC-Ohio officers, chairpersons of the standing committees, representatives of all subdivisions of CEC-Ohio and the representative(s) of each region in CEC-Ohio. Each region in good standing of CEC-Ohio is entitled to four votes. Each subdivision in good standing of CEC-Ohio is entitled to one vote.
Section 2: Quorum
A simple majority of the representatives of the Representative Assembly shall constitute a quorum at a regular or called meeting of CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly.
Section 3: Parliamentary Procedure
The rules of parliamentary practice in the most recently published Robert's Rules of Order Newly
Revised shall govern the proceedings of the CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly subject to any special
rules which have been adopted by the Executive Board.
Section 4: Parliamentarian
The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian to serve at the CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly.
Section 1: Standing Committees
The standing committees of CEC-Ohio shall be the Nominations/Awards Committee, Membership
Committee, Governmental Relations Committee, Finance Committee, Publications/Website Committee,
Public Relations Committee, Constitutional Review Committee, Past President's Committee, and the
Professional Development Committee.
Section 2: Ad Hoc Committees
Other committees may be designated as ad hoc committees by the President, with the approval of the
Executive Board. Ad hoc committees may be established and their functions assigned at the discretion of
the President. Chairpersons serve as ex officio non-voting members of the Executive Board. The
President must indicate in writing the purpose, responsibilities, and length of service of such
committees.
Section 3: Approval to Become a Standing Committee
Ad hoc committees can be established as standing committees on the recommendation of the President, with approval of the Executive Board and upon approval of the CEC-Ohio Representative
Assembly.
Section 1: Name
The College Council for Exceptional Children-Ohio (hereafter referred to as College CEC/Ohio) shall be an association of students with interests in special education as defined in the College CEC-Ohio Constitution.
Section 2: Constitution and Bylaws
College CEC-Ohio shall maintain its own Constitution and Bylaws and elect its own officers who serve as a vital link between student members and the CEC-Ohio Executive Board.
Section 3: Membership on CEC-Ohio Executive Board
The President and one representative of College CEC-Ohio shall serve as members of the CEC-Ohio Executive Board.
Section 4: Financial Assistance
CEC-Ohio shall annually provide financial assistance to College CEC-Ohio as specified in the annual
CEC-Ohio budget. Expenditures of these funds shall be contingent upon submission of an annual budget
by the Student President and the Faculty Advisor(s).
Section 5: Faculty Advisor(s)
The Executive Board shall approve College CEC-Ohio faculty advisors in accordance with the College CEC-Ohio Constitution. The College CEC-Ohio Faculty Advisor(s) shall serve as ex officio non-voting members of the Executive Board.
Article XI
Section 1: Name/Membership
Project Support Clubs (hereafter referred to as Project Support) shall be organizations of grades K - 12
students with interest in special education as defined in Article II of the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Student Club for Exceptional Children.
Section 2: Constitution and Bylaws
Project Support Clubs shall maintain their own Constitution and Bylaws and elect their own officers
who serve as a link between the club members and the Project Support Chairperson(s).
Section 3: Representative to the CEC-Ohio Executive Board
The President of CEC-Ohio shall appoint a person(s) as Project Support Chairperson(s) who shall serve
as the link between club members and the CEC-Ohio Executive Board.
Section 4: Financial Assistance
CEC-Ohio shall annually provide financial assistance to Project Support to assist in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Project Support. Expenditures of these funds shall be contingent upon submission of an annual budget by the Project Support Chairperson(s) and Executive Board approval of the proposed budget.
Section 1: Annual Convention
CEC-Ohio shall hold an annual Ohio Federation convention preferably before the convention of the international Council for Exceptional Children to present information and consider issues pertinent to the education and needs of persons with exceptionalities.
Section 2: Representative Assembly
The CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly shall meet at least one time annually; meeting time shall be determined by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. Special Representative Assemblies may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Board and 30 day notice to membership.
Section 3: Additional Conferences
The Executive Board shall have the authority to conduct conferences in addition to an annual convention. The Executive Board may hold or conduct similar sessions jointly with other organizations holding such meetings.
Section 1: Advance Notice to Executive Board
Any proposed amendment to or revision of this Constitution and/or Bylaws shall be submitted in writing
to the Executive Board for review not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting of the CEC-Ohio
Representative Assembly at which the amendment or revision shall be acted on.
Section 2: Advance Notice to Membership
Any proposed amendments or revisions presented to the Executive Board shall be submitted to the
membership in writing not less than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the CEC-Ohio
Representative Assembly at which the amendment or revision shall be acted on.
Section 3: Majority Vote Requirements
Any proposed amendment or revision to this Constitution shall become part of this Constitution by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at any legally constituted meeting of the CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly. Any proposed amendment or revision of the Bylaws shall become part of the Bylaws by a simple majority vote at any legally constituted meeting of the CEC-Ohio Representative Assembly.
Section 1: Payment of Debts
In the event of dissolution of CEC-Ohio, the Executive Board shall pay all liabilities or make provision for the payment of all the debts and liabilities with all available CEC-Ohio funds.
Section 2: Deposition of Assets
The Executive Board shall select and approve one of the following options for disposition of all assets:
1) Contributing them to the Foundation for Exceptional Children, a nonprofit, tax exempt public foundation which operates to advance the education of persons with exceptionalities, or
2) Contributing them to any state/provincial, nonprofit organization or activity, the purpose of which is to serve the needs of persons with exceptionalities.
Section 3: Distribution of Property/Assets
Under no circumstances shall any of the property or assets of CEC-Ohio during its existence, or upon dissolution thereof, go to or be distributed to any officer, member, employee, or subsidiary of CEC-Ohio.
CEC\CONSTIT.596
Revised 9/22/01: 1/16/2005