Section 1 - Appointments — Each standing committee shall consist of 6 members with the exception of the Government Relations Committee which shall consist of 1 member from each Zone and a maximum of 2 non-voting AACSE Director/Alternate Directors, all of whom shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
- Term of service shall be from date of appointment through the conclusion of the ensuing Annual Conference. Nothing herein shall preclude a chair or member being reappointed in succeeding years to the same or different committee.
- The President shall attempt to have as many Zones represented as possible on each committee each year, except the Scholarship Review Committee shall include members from at least 3 Zones.
- Committee chairs shall be appointed by the President from among the members of each committee. No member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed as chair and may only be assigned to a committee as a liaison to the Board, without voting rights.
Section 2 - Responsibilities — All committees shall adhere to the Constitution and written policies of the Association and direction of the Annual Conference delegates, Board of Directors and the President.
- Committee chairs are responsible for supervising the work of their committees, submitting periodic reports to the President and to the Board of Directors when appropriate or required. Additionally, chairs shall prepare and submit to the Annual Conference a report each year outlining the activities and accomplishments of their committee during the year.
- Committee chairs shall be subject to removal from their position if the chair makes policy commitments beyond or conflicting with adopted policies of the Association or for failure to carry out the chair’s assigned duties.
- Committee members, including chairs, who have missed more than 1 committee meeting without first being excused by the chair or the President may be relieved of their committee responsibilities. If members resign their position(s) or are removed before their term has expired, such position(s) may be immediately filled by the President.
- A majority of voting members of any committee must be present at any official committee meeting to constitute a quorum.
- Committees may, when necessary and authorized by the President, conduct meetings in whole or in part through electronic means (i.e., audioconference, videoconference, etc.). Specific rules and procedures for the conduct of such meetings shall be enumerated in OSEA Board Policy and consistent with OSEA’s parliamentary authority.
Section 3 - Specific duties of each standing committee are as follows:
- Government Relations — The duties shall be to support favorable legislation and oppose unfavorable legislation to the Association, and to make recommendations to the Board on political and legislative issues.
- Finance — The Finance Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the preparation of the Association’s annual budget, providing input and attesting to thoroughness and accuracy of its content. The committee shall meet with the Executive Director and/or the Director of Fiscal Operations at least three (3) times each fiscal year to review the financial status of the Association and shall provide recommendations relating to current funding levels and long-range financial needs and goals. The committee may, if deemed necessary and with approval of the Board of Directors, submit resolutions to the Annual Conference regarding revisions of Association per capita dues/fees or assessments.
- Election — The duties shall be to search for members in good standing to run for the positions and, if possible, each Board position shall have more than one candidate, who will be voted on at the Annual Conference; and nothing herein contained shall limit other nominations from the Conference floor. The committee shall also inform all candidates for office of the approved campaign guidelines and ensure that such guidelines are consistent with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).
Finally, the committee shall monitor all campaigning and also be made aware of mailings to Conference delegates to ensure that all candidates have equal opportunities to access resources. - Resolutions/Constitution — The duties shall be to review and edit all resolutions received by the Executive Director on or before February 1 prior to each Annual Conference in order to ensure the proposed resolutions correctly convey the author’s intent and that any required action, if approved, will not conflict with current provisions of the Constitution and/or written policies of the Association or the requirements of law; to confer with and advise other appropriate state committees and the Board of Directors regarding the effects of any proposed resolution on the membership or the Constitution and/or written policies of the Association; and to cause to be published in the OSEA Journal the pro and con arguments for such proposed resolutions placed in the OSEA standard format for action at any Annual or special Conference.
- Scholarship Review — The duties shall be to review applications for scholarships and make awards to the proper applicants subject to the established guidelines.
- Public Relations — The duties shall be to identify programs and activities that benefit the organization, the membership and/or the public at large. It shall also develop and implement a plan to promote and publicize such programs and activities to the membership and the public by utilizing internal and external media sources.
- Civil and Human Rights — The duties shall be to inform and engage members about civil rights issues and concerns; address economic justice issues; promote respect and understanding among OSEA’s diverse membership; work toward creating a culture of inclusion; develop a strategy for increasing institutional awareness of inequity; and develop informational and educational opportunities for members regarding issues of civil and human rights as related to workplace equity, political advocacy and union organizing.