LASPRA Bylaws

The name of this organization shall be the Louisiana School Public Relations Association.

The geographical jurisdiction of the Louisiana Chapter shall encompass all areas within the geographic limits of the State of Louisiana.

The chapter is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, as may qualify it as exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3), or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. More specifically, such purposes include, but are not limited to:

• providing a medium for communication and exchange of ideas;
• encouraging and developing effective educational public relations;
• encouraging cooperation within the allied areas of business, labor, and industrial public relations and with other interested groups;
• fostering and promoting the professional growth of school information personnel;
• recognizing and rewarding outstanding school public relations programs, people and publications.

1. Membership is open to public relations professionals and other individuals who have responsibilities in educational public relations in the State of Louisiana.
2. The chapter officers (including president, president-elect/past president, treasurer, and secretary) shall be members of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and all other Chapter members are encouraged to be members of NSPRA.

1. The establishment of dues, and all policies pertaining thereto, shall be the recommendation of the Chapter’s Executive Board.
2. Approval of two-thirds of the members present shall be required on all matters affecting dues.

Officers shall be a President, a President-Elect/Past President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Offers shall be elected in the spring and shall be reported to the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) by June 5. Newly elected and appointed officers shall take office on July 1. The term of office for officers shall be two years with the exception of President-Elect/Past President as those positions rotate after one year.

In the event of a tie vote for an officer position, a re-vote for that position shall take place as soon as reasonable after informing the candidates and entire membership, but no later than five (5) business days after the first vote. The person who receives the majority in the balloting for the contested office shall be declared elected by the Executive Board. The Executive Board has the authority to modify an election deadline if necessary and appropriate to facilitate a swift resolution of the tie vote.

President:

• Shall be the executive director of the Chapter and shall preside at meetings of the Chapter Board.
• Shall set board meeting dates and locations.
• Shall appoint officers and the chairperson of all standing and special committees and shall approve the selection of committee members made by each chairperson.
• Shall create an annual budget with the Treasurer for approval by the Board.
• Shall approve disbursements as allocated in the LASPRA budget approved annually by the Board.
• Shall confer with the treasurer to jointly approve any expenditure that would cause the approved budget for that line item to exceed the budgeted amount by more than 5 percent.
• Shall communicate regularly with the membership.
• Shall send quarterly reports to the NSPRA regional vice president.
• Shall submit annually required financial reports, as prepared by the Treasurer, and membership data to the NSPRA business manager by October 31.
• Shall attend the NSPRA Leaders’ Meeting at NSPRA Seminar or appoint the President-Elect, Treasurer or another Chapter designee to attend.

President-Elect:

• Shall perform all duties of the President in the event of his/her inability to act.
• Shall serve as President after a one-year term as President-Elect.
• Shall attend the NSPRA Leaders’ Meeting at NSPRA Seminar. If unable to attend, shall work with the President to appoint the Treasurer or another Chapter designee to attend.

Past President:

• Shall organize the orientation of new officers.
• Shall coordinate the chapter awards program and recognition of retiring member(s).

Treasurer:

• Shall confer with the President to jointly approve any expenditure that would cause the approved budget for that line item to exceed the budgeted amount by more than 5 percent.
• Shall provide financial statements and disburse chapter funds as allocated in the budget approved annually by the Board.
• Shall prepare annually required financial reports for submission to NSPRA by the President.
• Shall make any other disbursements as directed by the Board.
• Shall act as a liaison in coordinating appropriate financial reports with the organization.

Secretary:

•  Shall keep records and minutes of meetings and assist in Chapter correspondence.

The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Chapter and any appointed liaison(s).

Appointed Officers:

Appointed officers shall be selected by the President from among the Chapter members. Appointments shall be made within one month of the election or whenever a vacancy occurs.

1. Membership Chair
   • Shall coordinate the annual membership drive by sending membership renewal notices and contacting prospective members through communication with Louisiana school districts and other educational institutions.
   • Shall maintain membership records.
2. Communications Chair
   • Shall be responsible for the LASPRA social media.
   • Shall coordinate with the President, Regional Vice Presidents and committee chairpersons regarding the content of chapter communications.
   • Shall assist the President and Board in any other chapter communications efforts deemed appropriate.

• The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Board which is responsible for all policies. It shall consist of the elected officers of the chapter, immediate past president, and appointed officers so designated in Article VI.
• Bylaws and any amendments to the bylaws shall be approved by the LASPRA Board and NSPRA Executive Board before adoption by the Chapter.
  • These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any Chapter meeting, or by majority of the entire membership via electronic vote. All amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Board of the National School Public Relations Association for approval before adoption by the Chapter to become effective.

1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter in the spring. The time, place and program shall be determined by the Chapter’s Executive Board. Business may be transacted by a majority vote of members attending a meeting, whether a virtual (online) meeting, in-person meeting at a location, or a combination of both.
2. Other meetings of the Chapter shall be set at the discretion of the Executive Board.
3. The secretary shall notify all members of the Chapter of meetings at least two weeks in advance of those meeting dates.
4. The Executive Board shall meet at least once annually on notice from the President. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

No part of the earnings of the chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its directors, officers or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensations for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Bylaws. Except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, no substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of campaign statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of1954, or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization(s) organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization(s) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, as the Board shall determine.