The
name of this organization shall be the Nebraska High School Press Association.
The
purpose of this organization shall be;
1.
To
encourage close relationships among high school publications in the state of
2.
To
furnish an opportunity for the discussion of problems and procedures involved
in scholastic journalism and sanctioned interschool competitions.
3.
To
establish definite standards of quality for high school journalism
4.
To
co-sponsor with the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass
Communications and the Nebraska School Activities Association, the annual
Nebraska Journalism Championships and a fall convention for high school
journalism students in the state of Nebraska. Regulations governing said
activities are to be approved by the Nebraska School Activities Association.
5.
To
sponsor a critique service and rating competition in conjunction with the
annual fall convention.
Section 1.
Regular
membership.
Clause 1. Definition.
Members of the association in good standing shall include all high school
journalism instructors of journalism and/or advisers of student publications in
the state of
Only
paid members may vote on
Section 2.
Associate membership.
Clause 1. Definition.
This is defined as a non-voting affiliation with the
Clause 2. Eligibility.
All persons professionally engaged in journalism in the state of
Clause 3. Middle schools and junior highs with
school publications may become associate members of
Section 3.
Membership fee. The membership fee
shall be determined by the treasurer of
Section 1.
Executive Board
Clause 1. Jurisdiction.
The supreme power and jurisdiction over all members and activities of the
Association shall be vested in the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall
be composed of a journalism teacher from each of the NSAA classifications
(Class A1, A2, B, C, and D), one at-large seat, the treasurer, a communications
director, the Executive Director, and a liaison appointed by the NSAA. A UNL
staff secretary may also be included to perform recording and keeping of
clerical assignments.
Clause 2. Executive Board
Members. They shall function as provided in the Constitution and
By-Laws. The Executive Board members offer input and make requests to the
Clause 3. Officers. The Executive Board will elect a president from
among its members, The president will appoint a
secretary and committee chairs.
Clause 4. Meeting
and Quorum. The Executive Board shall meet at least four times a year at
such time and place as the president shall determine. A majority of the members
of the Board present in person shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is needed
to make a decision and the Board cannot meet in person or a quorum is not
present at a meeting, e-mail or telephone may be used for discussion and
voting.
Clause 5: Powers and Duties. The Executive Board
shall have the power:
A.To manage and control the business of the Association
and to represent and act for the Association in all matters in the interim
between meetings of the whole.
B.
To act an as advisory committee for the Journalism Division of the
Nebraska School Activities Association.
C.To
make all arrangements for the annual convention and the Nebraska Journalism
Championships.
D. To
authorize and appoint such special officers and committees as may be deemed
necessary for the welfare of the Association and to compensate those designated
personnel as deemed necessary and appropriate.
E. To
adopt a budget for the Association and to expend for the purposes of the
Association any monies in the Association treasury.
F. To
appoint and compensate a director of directors to direct a journalism summer
workshop.
Clause 6. Duties
of Executive Board Members. The Board Members shall have the
following specific duties. Except as otherwise noted.
Board Members receive no salaries for their work, but are reimbursed gas
mileage for meeting participation and other expenses incurred in fulfilling
their positions. All members of the Executive Board are voting members, except
the Executive Director, who serves as a liaison between the Executive Board and
UNL's College of Journalism and Mass Communications and the NSAA
liaison.
A.
President. To preside at all meetings of the Executive
Board and the Association; to report to the Association in convention on the
activities and status of the Association since the last convention. The
president shall also develop agendas, notify members of meetings, preside over
general meetings and conventions, answer questions and concerns of the
membership, ensure the enforcement of the constitution, and coordinate
activities with the Executive Director.
B. Treasurer. To collect all dues and fees of
the Association; keep a true and just account of all monies of the Association
and all funds and pay them out only on order of the Executive Board. The
treasurer is authorized to compensate board members and other committee members
for gas mileage and other related expenses in fulfilling
C. Secretary. To compile all minutes from full
adviser membership meetings and executive meetings; to take care of all
necessary correspondence required by the organization; mail minutes to board
members, provide minutes of previous general meetings to members, handle thank
you notes and other necessary correspondence
D. Communications Officer. To develop and edit
all publications for the organization; including the Format, the NHSPA's
official newsletter, to
write and distribute press releases for the organization; to be responsible for
all official forms, to work on creating a positive image for
E. Executive Director. The
Executive Director shall perform or shall supervise the performance of such
tasks as the Board of Directors may assign. As a member of the faculty of the Clause 7. Duties of
Committees/Other Appointments. The Executive Board shall be directed by
the adviser membership to create, add or delete committees as needed to
coordinate the activities of the organization. The Executive Board will appoint
individuals to preside over each committee. This appointment process can
involve applications and interviews for positions such as the Summer Workshop
Director, but the selection procedure is up to the discretion of the Executive
Board. Committee members, with the exception of the Summer Workshop committee,
are not paid for their work, but are compensated for gas mileage and other
necessary expenses as needed to perform their committee work. Clause 8.
Executive Board Members who are not officers or committee chairs will
assist with the planning and coordination as needed and learn the roles and
responsibilities of one of the positions so he/she can assume it when someone's
term ends or he/she chooses not to serve as an officer or committee chair. Clause 9. A Director or Directors
for the As
a general rule, the Summer Workshop committee and directors function
independently of the Executive Board and are empowered to conduct all business
as is necessary for the operation of the Summer Workshop. The Director must
maintain a balanced budget and work in conjunction with personnel at the Section 2. General
meetings. Clause 1. Regular Meetings.
The Association shall meet to conduct the business of the Association during
the annual convention, the time and place of the meeting to be determined by
the Executive Board. An additional adviser business meeting will be held on the
day of the Spring Journalism Championship. Advisers are invited to attend this
meeting, even if they do not have students competing in the contest. Section 1. Election of Executive Board
Members The Executive Board members
shall be elected at the Fall Convention and serve a term of 3 years except for
the Treasurer and Communications Director, who shall appointed or reappointed
by the Executive Board at their discretion. Each year, two of the six elected
Board positions will be up for election. If a candidate cannot be found to fill
a particular NSAA classification, the position will become an at-large position
until the end of the 3-year term. In the event the Fall Convention cannot be
held, the Spring Championship adviser meeting shall constitute a regular convention
or new Board Members shall be elected by a mailed ballot in the event the
convention is canceled. Section 2. Vacancies Mid-term vacancies in any Board
position shall be filled by a candidate elected by the Executive Board for the
remainder of the 3-year term. If a mid-term vacancy cannot be filled by someone
of the same NSAA classification as is being vacated, the position will remain
an at-large position until the 3-year term has ended. Section 3. Voting Each regular member of the
Association shall be entitled to one vote.
The president, when presiding at the Fall Convention or the Spring
Championship shall vote only in case of a tie. Section 1. Operating Fund The fund of the Association to
be known as the Operating Fund shall be used to defray the general operating
expenses of the Association. This fund
shall be credited with income from membership fees, rating charges, and all
other registration fees. In addition to the Operating
Fund, money may be placed in certificates of deposit, government bonds or other
similar secure investments.
Accounts
shall be kept and administered by the Treasurer of the organization under the
direction of the Executive Board. Section 1. By Convention This constitution may be amended
by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership in convention of general membership
meeting assembled. Clause 1.
Notice of Amendment.
All proposed amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the
Executive Board not less than two months prior to the annual convention at
which they are to be submitted to the membership of the Association. Clause 2.
By Whom Proposed.
An amendment may be sponsored by any one of the following: (a)
A member in good standing. (b)
A voting member of The Executive Board. (c)
A committee authorized to do so by the Executive Board. Section 2. Effective Date Amendments to the constitution
shall become effective upon the adjournment of the members assembled in Fall
Convention or Spring Championship adviser meeting. The Executive Board of General
membership may amend from time to time the Code of By-Laws may be recommended
by any one of the following: (a)
A member in good standing. (b)
A voting member of The Executive Board. (c) A committee authorized to do so by the
Executive Board. Return to the
F. NSAA Liaison. To coordinate the aspects of the Spring Contest in accordance
with other NSAA state championships including eligibility, mailings, medals
ceremony, and documentation of winners for historical archive.
Article
V Elections
Article
VI—Funds
Article VII
Amendments
Revised 2003