ARTICLE I – THE LEAGUE
Section 1. Name
The title of the corporation is THE HORACE MANN LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INC.
Section 2. Mission
The mission of the Horace Mann League, a patriotic and educational organization, is to advance public education. The Horace Mann League will advance public education through the following:
- Promote the importance of public education for a democracy;
- Support educational leaders in identifying and responding to practices and trends affecting public education which are inconsistent with the principles of our democracy, while encouraging those which strengthen those principles.
- Represent and communicate the value and reality of public education to executive, legislative, and judicial bodies, and to the public at large; and,
- Recruit and recognize those who advance public education.
Section 3. Offices
The League’s office(s) shall be located in such place(s) as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Seal
The corporate seal of the League shall have inscribed the name of the League, the word “Incorporated,” and the year of its creation (1922).
Section 5 Meetings
At the direction of the Board of Directors, the League shall hold an annual meeting and such special meetings as its Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine to be desirable. Five percent of the current total membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any Annual or Special Meeting of the League. The President shall call any annual meeting and such special meetings as the Board of Directors may direct. If the President shall fail to call such a meeting, the Board of Directors may direct the President-Elect to do so.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – Membership
Any person shall be eligible for membership who is twenty-one (21) years of age, of good moral character, and who shall give satisfactory evidence of loyalty to the purposes and principles of public education.
Section 2. Invitation
Membership shall be by invitation only, and shall be extended upon nomination by a current member and approval by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall regularly inform the Board of Directors on the status of Current Membership in the League.
Section 3. Dues
The amount of the annual dues shall be established by the Board of Directors. This amount shall be for the calendar year and shall be paid directly to the League through the office of the Executive Director.
Section 4. Special Membership
A special membership category shall be available for persons who, as members, have given outstanding service to the League and its purposes over a period of years. Such persons may be selected by the Board of Directors, and shall be referred to as Honorary Life Members. These persons shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues
Article III Officers and Directors
Section 1. Officers
The officers of the League shall be: President, President-Elect, Vice-President, and Past President, who shall be elected by the vote of a majority of the League members present at an Annual Meeting of the League, and they shall hold office for one year from the close of that Annual Meeting, or until their successors shall be elected. In case of the death or disability of any officer except the President, the Board of Directors is authorized to appoint a successor to serve for the unexpired term.
Section 2. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the League shall be composed of the Officers as provided for in Section 1, plus twelve Members elected for overlapping, three-year terms by the vote of a majority of the League members present at an Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Property
The Board of Directors, through the League Executive Director, shall be responsible for and be charged with the care and custody of all property belonging to the League. Provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall not have power or authority to sell, convey, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of real property belonging to the League without an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of said Board.
Section 4. Planning
The Board of Directors shall prepare, and cause to be executed, plans and guidelines to promote the growth and forward the purposes of the League, and shall generally look after its interests and perform such other oversight duties as may be committed to it by the League or as circumstances may require.
Section 5. Meetings
The President may convene meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall convene such meetings when requested to do so by a majority of the Board.
Section 6. Quorum
At any such called meeting, whether the meeting is held in person, electronically or some combination thereof, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the Directors including the officers. Any business may be transacted that may seem advisable to the Board and that is not reserved solely for the action of the members in an Annual Meeting by these Bylaws.
Article IV Duties of Officers
Section 1. President – The President shall:
- Be the presiding officer of the League and Preside at all meetings of the members, of the Directors, and of the officers,
- Have general supervision and direction of the work of the Executive Director, including the execution of contracts, agreements, orders and resolutions
- Ensure that duties and responsibilities of the officers are properly performed;
- Appoint standing or special committees when directed to do so by the Annual Meeting and/or Board of Directors,
- Take such other actions which further the work of the League, so long as those actions are not specifically reserved to the Board or The Membership through these Bylaws, and
- Be an ex-officio member of all such committees.
Section 2. Vice-President and/or President-Elect
The Vice President and/or President – elect shall
- Counsel and cooperate with the President for the promotion of the Missionof the League;
- Represent the President at events and functions when requested to do so by the President;
- Discharge the duties of President at his or her request, absence or disability; and
- Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Executive Director
- The Executive Director shall be the chief executive officer of The League and serve on an annual appointment at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director shall be those contained within a Job Description which shall be reviewed annually and approved by the Board of Directors.
- The salary and benefits of the Executive Director, including expense reimbursements for carrying out the responsibilities of office, shall be negotiated annually by the Officers and Executive Director and approved by the Board of Directors, subject to funding through the approval of the Annual Budget.
- The Executive Director shall serve as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Nominating Committee
The elected officers of The League, together with the Executive Director serving in an ad hoc capacity, shall serve as an annual Nominating Committee which shall bring to the Board of Directors for approval and submission to the Annual Meeting of The League, nominations for the offices of President, President-Elect, and Director.
Section 5. Advisory Council
The Horace Mann League Board of Directors may appoint an advisory council. The Council, which may consist of 10 to 25 individuals, shall be composed of people who could be called upon for advice and counsel on certain issues and who would be available to assist with membership promotion and recruitment, fund raising, communication, and special projects, as requested by the Board.
The Council is not a formal organization and its role is advisory, not decision making. Following completion of a year as Past President, the immediate past president shall be invited to serve on the Advisory Council. Following initial appointments to the Council, one-third of such appointees will be considered for rotation off the Council each year so that the League might continue to gain the benefit of the advice and experience of new members of the Council.
Section 6. Gifts
All gifts and legacies for which no different use is specified by the donors and other monies may from time to time be transferred by the Board of Directors from the general fund of the League to the permanent fund.
Section 7. Investments
The Permanent Fund shall be invested in interest-bearing securities such as would be approved for that purpose by a licensed trust company. This section shall not be construed to prevent the investment of a portion of the Permanent Fund in suitable real estate to serve as a home or general office for the use of the League.
Article VII – Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended or altered by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any Annual or special meeting of the members, at which a quorum is present, provided notice of the proposed alteration or amendment is contained in the notice of the meeting, sent not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting at which it is proposed to consider such changes or amendments.