Bexar County Court Reporters Association

Article I – Name and Location

SECTION 1.    The name of this organization is the BEXAR COUNTY COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATION.

SECTION 2.    Offices of the Association will be located in San Antonio, Texas.
        
ARTICLE II – Objective

The objectives of this Association are:

1)    To provide opportunity for the exchange of experiences and opinions through     discussion, study, and publications.

2)    To promote the profession of court reporting; educate members and the public in the advancement, improvement, and uses of court reporters;          and to facilitate growth and advocacy of the profession.
    
3)    To develop and encourage the practice of high standards of personal and     professional conduct among court reporters.

4)    To conduct and cooperate in courses of study for the continuing education of court reporters; to hold meetings and conferences for the mutual          improvement and education of members.

5)    To acquire, preserve, and disseminate data and valuable information relative to the functions and accomplishments of court reporters.

6)    To cooperate with local, state, and national court reporters’ associations in the common endeavor to advance court reporting as a profession. 

7)    To cooperate with federal, state, and local government authorities for the good of     the communities and the court reporting profession.

       Subject to prior approval of the Board of Directors, the Association may take a position and express an opinion on issues directly and generally           affecting court reporting as such. 

Article III – Membership

SECTION 1.     Definition of Membership:  

All current members or persons later admitted to membership in the Association in the manner prescribed herein and whose dues have been paid in full for the current year, shall constitute the voting membership of the Association, excepting any person whose membership has been suspended or revoked by order of the Board of Directors. 

SECTION 2.     Classes of Membership:

    a)    Professional            c) Student
    b)    Honorary/Retired        d) Associate            
    
SECTION 3.     Professional Membership:  

The following persons are eligible for professional membership in the Association:

a)    Dues:  $35.
b)    Any person who is a holder of a current Certified Shorthand Reporter certificate issued by the Supreme Court of Texas.
c)    Any person who is engaged in the active practice of court reporting to include providing services such as CART and closed captioning reporting           in the State of Texas.
d)    Voting rights:   Eligible to vote.

SECTION 4.     Retired Membership:  

a)          Dues:  $35.
All certified reporters from Bexar County and the surrounding areas who have retired, active or not active, who are not required to maintain a CSR certificate.
b)        Voting rights:  Eligible to vote.

SECTION 5.    Honorary Membership:

a)          Dues:  $35 (for voting privileges/waived for non-voting privileges.
May be granted at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors to   individuals who aid and/or endorse the court reporting profession and                  go above and beyond in service to the profession. No more than three (3) Honorary Memberships may be granted by the Board of          Directors in any Membership Year.   Honorary Membership shall be granted only upon a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.
b)          Voting rights:  Eligible to vote ONLY if fee paid.

SECTION 6.     Student Membership:   

a)    Dues:  Fees waived.
b)    Any student of a court reporting program who is certified by a court reporter training program instructor or director as being currently enrolled in said program. 
    c)      Voting rights:  Non-voting.
 

SECTION 7.     Associate Membership:
a)    Dues:  $25.
b)    Any person or entity interested in the advancement of the court reporting profession and the advancement of the goals of the Bexar County Court Reporters Association shall be eligible for associate membership, with a majority approval of the Board of Directors.
c)      Voting rights:  Non-voting.

    
SECTION 8.     Membership Privileges:   

a)    Any person accepted as a professional member retired member/honorary member, when applicable, will be entitled to all privileges of membership, including voting, nominating and holding office.
b)     Any person or entity accepted as a student or associate member will be entitled to all privileges of membership except voting, nominating, and holding office.

SECTION 9.     Membership Application Procedure:      

Any person desiring membership in the Association must make written application accompanied by the membership fees as prescribed herein and state in the application that applicant possesses the qualifications hereinabove required.  Said application is to be filed with the Secretary. 

SECTION 10.     Removal:    

Members of any classification may be removed from membership by the Board of Directors for cause by two-thirds vote.   For any cause other than nonpayment of dues, removal shall occur only after the member complained against has been advised of the complaint lodged against the member and has been given reasonable opportunity for defense; and such member, if removed, may appeal the decision to the Board of Directors, providing that notice of intent to appeal is provided to the President at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting.  

Article IV – Organization Structure

SECTION 1.     Organization:        

To achieve the objectives of the Association, the Board of Directors may, at its discretion, establish organizational units such as committees to serve special interests of the court reporting profession.

The Board of Directors shall have supervision, control, and direction of the affairs of the Association, its committees and publications; shall determine its policies or changes therein; and shall actively execute its objectives and supervise the disbursement of its funds. 
 
The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable and may, in the execution of the powers granted, delegate certain of its authority and responsibility to organizational units such as committees.

Article V – Fees and Credentials

SECTION 1.    Payment of Dues: 

The annual dues for one year shall accompany all applications for membership and shall cover the membership dues for the remainder of the calendar year in which paid. Renewal dues not received by February 1 shall result in loss of membership.

In the event an application is rejected, the entrance fee herein provided shall be returned to the applicant.

SECTION 2.    Dues:    

Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors in an amount not less than the preceding year’s dues and may be increased in an amount not to exceed 25% of the previous year’s dues.

Changes:  

Notice of any change(s) in dues shall be given to the membership not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the change(s), via any or all of the following methods: E-mail, U.S. Mail, newsletter, website posting, social media (Facebook, Twitter, et cetera).

Insufficient Checks:
In the event an insufficient check is issued, the member or the applicant shall be liable for all bank charges incurred by the Association.  Should any subsequent issuance of an insufficient check occur by the same member or applicant, the Association reserves the right to accept cash payment, money order or cashier’s check from said member or applicant going forward.

Article VI – Meetings of Members and Voting

SECTION 1.     Monthly Meetings.    

The monthly meetings of the Association shall be held at such place and dates as may be determined by the Board of Directors. 

SECTION 2.    Special Meetings.    

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Board of Directors or the President at any time.   

SECTION 3.    Notice of Meetings.    

Notification of any meeting of the Association, at which official Association business is to be transacted shall be e-mailed, telephoned, or announced on BCCRA website or social media to each member not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting.  

SECTION 4.    Voting.    

At all meetings of the Association, each professional member, retired member, and /or honorary member shall have one (1) vote, except during Board of Director meetings, and may take part and vote in person. Unless otherwise specifically provided by these Articles of Association, a majority vote of those members present and voting shall govern.  

SECTION 5.    Quorum of Members.    

A quorum shall consist of a minimum of ten (10) members eligible to vote who remain in attendance at said meeting.   At a meeting of members, a quorum shall consist of fifty percent (50%) of those said members eligible to vote who remain in good standing present at said meeting.  

SECTION 6.    Cancellation of Meetings.    

The Board of Directors may cancel any monthly or special meeting for cause, except as may be otherwise provided by these Articles of 
Association. 

SECTION 7.     Rules of Order.    

The meetings and proceedings of this Association shall be regulated and controlled according to current published and released edition of Robert’s Rules of Order except as may be otherwise provided by these Articles of Association.
 

Article VII – Officers

SECTION 1.    Officers.    

The elected officers of this Association shall be as follows:
 President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Immediate Past President.

Each officer shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors. 

SECTION 2.    Qualifications for Office.    

Any professional member or retired member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination and election to any office of the Association.

SECTION 3.    Nomination and Election of Officers.        

A current professional, retired, or honorary member in good standing may present one nominee for each elective office of the Association.   All nominees shall be presented by the October meeting for vote by the members present and voting.

SECTION 4.    Term of Office.    

Each elected officer shall hold office from date of installation and shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until a successor is duly elected and installed.

SECTION 5.    Vacancies – Removal.        

Vacancies in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.  

Each officer of the Association may be subject to removal from office at the discretion of the President upon a minimum of two (2) absences by a majority vote of the Board of Directors if such officer is found to be in violation of the BCCRA Articles of Association.  

Article VIII – Duties of Officers

SECTION 1.    President    The President shall:
a)       Preside at all meetings of the Association, except when necessarily absent.
b)       Conduct proceedings according to the rules of the current published and     
          released edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

c)      Prepare the agenda for all meetings, attend all BCCRA social functions and preside at such. 
d)     Serve as the Chairman of Board of Directors; serve as a member, ex officio on all committees.  The President will not vote on matters before               the Board unless to break a tie. 
e)     May appoint all committees and fill any vacancy in any committee for the             unexpired term;
f)      Promote and advance the objectives of the Association as set forth in the Articles of Association.  
g)     Perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Association or Board of Directors. 
h)     Notify the Board of Directors of any vacancy occurring in any office by reason of death, resignation or inability to serve, and recommend a                   successor to the Board of Directors; and upon approval of the Board of Directors appoint such successor. 
i)      Serve next term as Immediate Past President, fulfilling those duties pertinent.
j)      May serve as the administrator or director of the BCCRA website and social media.
k)     Exercise all other authority not otherwise vested.

SECTION 2.    Immediate Past President      The Immediate Past President shall:
a)          Serve for one (1) year with the same duties and powers as other elected officials.
b)         May serve as the co-administrator or director of the BCCRA website and social media.
c)         Retain voting privileges.

SECTION 3.    Vice President      The Vice President shall:    
a)    In case of death, resignation or inability to act of the President, the Vice President shall succeed to the office vacated and shall have the powers         and perform all duties of that office.
b)    The Vice President may become President at the conclusion of the term of   office as Vice President.  In the event of notification to the Board of          Directors of the inability or refusal to serve as President, the voting members in good standing will nominate and select a Vice President to take          the place to be filled.  
c)     Coordinate with the Board of Directors to provide all BCCRA files, records, and database information, if possible, to be presented to the                        incoming board and to provide appropriate information concerning their duties and responsibilities. 
d)      In absence of President, preside in his/her place at functions.
e)      Retain voting privileges.

SECTION 4.    Secretary    The Secretary shall:

a)   Record minutes of all meetings.     
b)   Give a report of the previous month’s meeting at each meeting or via BCCRA website or social media.
c)    Per the current published and released edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, produce a signed copy of the minutes by the President and the                     Secretary of  monthly meetings to be maintained for BCCRA records.
d)    Maintain a file of membership applications and active members.
e)    Retain voting privileges.

SECTION 5.    Treasurer    The Treasurer shall:

a)     Report to the Board of Directors and active members all income and expenditures of the association at monthly meetings or as such time as              may be requested.
b)    Pay all bills incurred by the Association upon approval of the Board of Directors from the business account.   
c)    Maintain a file of bank records, receipts, and reimbursements.
d)    Retain voting privileges.

SECTION 6.     Historian    The Historian shall:

a)    Chair and be the contact person for the BCCRA website, including updating new members as provided by the Secretary.
b)    Record BCCRA events photographically.
c)    Retain voting privileges.

Article IX – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1.    Composition and Election.    

The Board of Directors shall consist of the following officers:
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and the Immediate Past President.

SECTION 2.    Quorum – Call of Meeting.    

A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any and all duly called meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall call such meetings of the Board of Directors as the business of the Association may require, or a meeting shall be called by the President on request of two (2) members of the Board of Directors.  

Article X – Standing Committees

SECTION 1.    Committee on Membership    
The President may annually appoint a committee of two or more members to be known as the Committee on Membership with the Vice President chairing the committee.   Said committee shall actively solicit the court reporters residing in Bexar County, Texas (and/or the surrounding area), to become affiliated with the Association.   Such members shall represent the Association and shall endeavor in every way to promote increased membership and give regular progress reports to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.    Committee on Articles of Association
The President may appoint a committee of three or more members to be known as the Committee on Articles of Association.   The duties of such committee shall be to propose such amendments as it deems necessary to coordinate and simplify the Articles of Association and to eliminate conflicting and impracticable provisions.   To this committee shall be referred before publication any proposed amendments to the Articles of Association.   After careful scrutiny, the committee shall report to the Board of Directors as to whether such amendments, if adopted, would be in consonance with the Articles of Association. 

SECTION 3.    Nominating Committee.    
The President may annually appoint a committee of (2) two or more members to be known as the Nominating Committee.  The Immediate Past President may chair the committee or such active member nominated by the Board of Directors may chair the committee.

SECTION 4.    Budget and Finance Committee.    
The Budget and Finance Committee may consist of the President, the Vice President, and the Immediate Past President or such active member nominated by the Board of Directors.   The Vice President shall serve as Chairman.   The committee shall counsel with the President on the annual budget of the Association and prepare recommendations for the Board of Directors.   The committee may perform such other duties in connection with the finances of the Association as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.   

SECTION 5.    Program Committee.        
The Program Committee may consist of the President, the Vice President, the Immediate Past President or such active member nominated by the Board of Directors, and two (2) members from the general membership.  The Immediate Past President or such active member nominated by the Board of Directors shall chair the committee.   The committee shall determine the short- and long-range goals of the Association and prepare recommendations for the Board of Directors consideration and vote. 

SECTION 6.    Student Committee.  
The Student Committee may consist of (3) three or more professional and/or associate members in good standing designated by the Board of Directors and may include members of the Board of Directors.

Article XI – Special Committees

The President with the approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint such other committees, subcommittees, or task forces as are necessary and which are not in conflict with other provisions of these Articles of Association, and the duties of any such committees shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors upon their appointment.  

ARTICLE XII – APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS

The Association may use its funds to accomplish its objectives and purposes for the benefit of the membership at the direction of the Board of Directors.

Article XIII – Finance

SECTION 1.    Fiscal Period.  
The fiscal period of the Association shall be January through December of each year.  The Treasurer shall furnish the membership a financial report for the annual fiscal period, within sixty (60) days following the end of same.

SECTION 2.    Expense Reimbursements
All expenses incurred or proposed to be incurred on behalf of BCCRA must meet one of the following two standards to be reimbursable:

A pre-approved budget/spending cap of $100 or an amount voted upon in a monthly meeting by active members is allowed on any expenditure necessary to complete a voted project, with an expense reimbursement request must be presented in detail to Treasurer for reimbursement; or

If the expenditure was not pre-approved by the Board of Directors, an expense reimbursement request must be submitted to the entire Board of Directors and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors and then presented for discussion and voted on at a monthly meeting by active members before it can be reimbursed.  E-mail is an acceptable forum for the above-mentioned request.  

ARTICLE XIV – CHARITY, DONATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS    

The charity purpose is to be related to the profession of court reporting.
The aggregate monetary amount donated may not exceed $2,000 per fiscal year and only as funds are available.
Upon approval of the Board of Directors and majority vote of active members at monthly meetings, student scholarships may be awarded as funds are available in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors each fiscal year.

Article XV – Amendments

At the meeting designated by the President, these Articles of Association may be amended, altered, or repealed upon approval of the Board of Directors and the majority vote of active members at a monthly meeting by a two-thirds vote of active members present and voting, provided notice of such amendment, alteration, or repeal with the text thereof has been filed with the President and the Articles of Association Committee and disseminate to active members not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the said meeting designated by the President, at which the proposed amendment, alteration, or repeal is to be considered.   

Active members shall provide to the Board of Directors written or electronic notice of any proposed amendment, alteration, or repeal not less than (15) fifteen days preceding the said meeting designated by the President.  

The amendment, alteration, or repeal shall take effect immediately upon adoption by a two-thirds vote of active members present and voting thereon at the said meeting designated by the President.