Section 1 - The retiree unit of this Association shall be known as the Retired Oregon School Employees (ROSE).
Section 2 - Effective June 1, 2008, ROSE shall be a chartered retiree organization of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT/AFL-CIO) as Local 6732R.
Section 3 - Purpose
- To meet the interests and needs of OSEA’s retired members.
- To provide opportunities for retired members to remain active while utilizing their talents and expertise in helping to support OSEA’s overall programs.
- To work with local OSEA chapters to provide volunteers in assisting with mentoring, mobilizing and other chapter activities.
- To enable retirees to remain aware of PERS and the legislative measures affecting retiree issues.
- To become recognized and to participate among other retired organizations, both nationally and statewide.
- To communicate OSEA information among retired OSEA members.
Section 4 - Membership — Any retiree, formerly employed in the classified or certificated service of any public or private school district represented by OSEA or formerly employed by any public or private agency represented by OSEA and who was at one time an active OSEA member shall be eligible for active ROSE membership upon payment of applicable fees. In addition, spouses of ROSE members who themselves did not retire from the classified/ certificated service, as well as retired OSEA staff members and/or their spouses, who were active ROSE members as of June 30, 2009, may continue their active ROSE memberships upon payment of applicable fees.
Spouses of ROSE members who themselves did not retire from the classified/ certificated service and who were not active ROSE members as of June 30, 2009, shall be eligible for ROSE membership as an auxiliary member, which shall carry no voting rights or rights to hold any elected/appointed office.
A “retiree” shall be defined as:
- any person who has withdrawn from employment under the terms and conditions for retirement in the bargaining unit’s collective bargaining agreement; or
- who is qualified for or is receiving a monthly pension allotment from the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) or other qualified pension plan; or
- a person who has withdrawn from employment and, even though not a member of PERS or any other qualified pension plan, is of such age and/or disability that they would be eligible for retirement under the Public Employees Retirement System.
ROSE members in good standing shall be assigned to the zone in which they worked upon retirement, but may request placement in any other zone in which they either worked, lived or currently reside.
ROSE members in good standing shall be eligible for participation in special services, insurance and other membership benefit programs as may be made available to retirees and shall receive the Association’s official publication as well as such other publications approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 5 - Retired (ROSE) Return to Employment Dual Membership — Any active ROSE member who returns to employment in a unit represented by OSEA and performs duties of a nature customarily performed by OSEA unit members may opt to remain an active member under the terms of Article III, Section 2, with all rights and responsibilities associated with active membership, except as provided herein. Rights of dual membership shall continue for the period of reemployment only.
Active ROSE members who opt for this dual membership status shall be eligible for election to offices or Conference delegate positions in the Association, the bargaining unit in which they are employed and the retiree unit. Limitations to dual membership shall be in delegate status. A dual membership member may only serve in one delegate position. To be eligible for any elected office or Conference delegate position, a dual membership member must meet the criteria as outlined in the Association Constitution or the chapter’s local operating procedures for the office or delegate position being considered.
Active ROSE members, pursuant to this section, shall pay the appropriate full OSEA and chapter dues, in addition to maintaining their ROSE membership fees with the State Association, for the period of their reemployment. The member shall maintain active status in both the State Association and ROSE.
Section 6 - ROSE Executive Committee — The ROSE Executive Committee shall be comprised of a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary-Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected from and by the active ROSE membership for a term of two years or until their successors are elected. The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years, and the Vice Chair shall be elected in odd-numbered years. Elected officers shall assume their duties effective July 1.
The ROSE Executive Committee officers shall be counted as voting delegates at the OSEA Annual Conference.
The Chair of the ROSE Executive Committee shall be an automatic delegate to the biennial convention of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT/AFL-CIO). Should the Chair be unable to attend, the Vice Chair of the ROSE Executive Committee shall serve as the alternate. Should neither the Chair nor Vice Chair be able to attend, the Secretary-Treasurer of the ROSE Executive Committee shall serve as the alternate.
Duties of the ROSE Executive Committee officers shall be enumerated in OSEA Board Policy.
Section 7 - ROSE Membership Meetings — ROSE membership meetings shall be held quarterly during the fiscal year and shall be open to any ROSE member. At least two Executive Committee officers and a majority of ROSE Zone Coordinators must be present to constitute a quorum.
Section 8 - Executive Committee Officer Elections — Nominations and a mail ballot election shall be conducted not later than May 1 of each year. Only active ROSE members in good standing for the year preceding the election, and who were active OSEA members prior to retirement, shall be eligible for election. The mail ballot shall provide for write-in candidates who must meet the eligibility requirements to run for elected office. It shall require a plurality vote to elect. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot. Rules and procedures for the election of ROSE Executive Committee officers shall be set forth in OSEA Board Policy. All candidates for ROSE officer positions shall comply with OSEA Campaign Guidelines as set forth in OSEA Board Policy.
Section 9 - Filling of Vacancies — Should any Executive Committee officer position become vacant during the officer’s term of office, a special election shall be held immediately pursuant to the procedures and requirements set forth in Section 8 of this article.
Section 10 - ROSE Zone Coordinators — The retiree unit shall have seven Zone Coordinators appointed by the OSEA State President, with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors. Term of appointment shall be for two years or until their successors are appointed, with coordinators in Zones 1, 3, 5 and 7 appointed in odd-numbered years and coordinators in Zones 2, 4 and 6 appointed in even-numbered years. Nothing shall preclude reappointment to succeeding terms. In the event a specific zone has no assigned active ROSE members or active ROSE members who are willing or available for appointment, that Zone Coordinator position shall remain vacant.
Zone Coordinators shall attend all quarterly ROSE membership meetings and report on the activities in their specific zone. Zone Coordinators who have missed more than one quarterly meeting without being excused by the OSEA State President shall be relieved of their appointment. In this event, the position shall be deemed vacant and will be filled by the OSEA State President, with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors.
Zone Coordinators serve as coordinators for all retiree functions within assigned zones and shall work in partnership with OSEA Zone Directors in promoting the ROSE program. Other specific duties of Zone Coordinators shall be enumerated in OSEA Board Policy.
Section 11 - OSEA Annual Conference — A maximum of ten delegates, consisting of ROSE Executive Committee officers and one elected delegate from each zone, shall represent the retiree unit (ROSE) as voting delegates at the OSEA Annual Conference.
All zone delegate/alternate positions shall be elected by mail ballot conducted within each zone prior to May 1 of each year. Only active ROSE members in good standing for the year preceding the election and who were active OSEA members prior to retirement shall be eligible for election as a ROSE zone delegate. In the event a zone delegate is not elected in a specific zone, that zone delegate position shall remain vacant. Rules and procedures for the election of ROSE zone delegates and alternates shall be set forth in OSEA Board Policy. Candidates for ROSE zone delegate positions shall comply with OSEA Campaign Guidelines as set forth in OSEA Board Policy.
Delegates from ROSE shall have full voting rights on all business brought before the delegate body with the exception of resolutions involving dues and/or assessments and the OSEA budget. ROSE zone delegates may only vote in OSEA Zone Director elections for the specific zone in which they are assigned as a ROSE member.
Section 12 - Membership Fees — Membership fees can only be increased or decreased by resolution and passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting body present at any regular Conference.
Membership fees of the retiree unit (ROSE) shall be an annual fee payable in advance as follows:
- Single membership: $20
- Single life membership: $150
- Single life membership 65+ years of age: $120
- Married couple: $25
- Married couple life membership: $250
- Married couple life membership (one or both 65+ years of age): $200
Section 13 - Budgetary Control — The ROSE fiscal year shall be June 1 through May 31. A line item account detailing income and expenditures for ROSE shall be maintained in the OSEA annual budget. Provisions for expenditures, fundraising and other funds, accounts and procedures applicable to ROSE shall be prescribed in OSEA Board Policy.
ROSE shall have their financial records and books audited each year and a copy of such audit shall be provided to the OSEA Board of Directors and shall be made available to any ROSE member upon request.