By-Laws

Updated June 8, 2011

Article 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be: Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. (Friends) wherein AB SpEd PAC stands for the Acton and Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

Article 2: Purpose

The purpose of this Organization shall be to:

  1. Raise funds to support the Acton and Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council’s (AB SpEd PAC) goals and mission.

The mission of Friends of AB SpEd PAC shall be exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

The Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. will pursue grants and donations and engage in fundraising for the purpose of raising monies to support activities that promote and advance the AB SpEd PAC’s mission to:

  1. Improve communication among parents/guardians, staff, administrators (both within and outside of the district), and the School Committee on special education issues.
  1. Serve as a resource and support network for parents/guardians of children with special needs regarding procedures, educational, and non-educational issues.
  1. Advise the Acton and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committees/districts on issues related to the education and safety of special education students and participate regularly in the planning, development and evaluation of the districts’ special education programs.
  1. Serve as advocates for equal educational opportunities for all special needs children.

Article 3: Membership

  1. Annual membership shall be granted to anyone who is a parent or a guardian of a child who resides in or is attending school in the Acton Public Schools or Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools and who pays the annual dues as set forth by the voting membership.
  1. Only members may vote in annual Officer elections or on any other business that comes before the Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd

Article 4: Officer Duties

Section 1.  Membership

  1. The Officers of the Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. shall be the President, Director, Secretary, and Treasurer. In June of each year, Friends’ Officers will be elected by the organization’s voting membership.

Section 2:  Duties

Duties of the Officers shall be as follows:

1.     President and Director

  1. Preside at all meetings of the organization and all meetings of the Officers.
  2. Execute and supervise responsibilities related to contracts and agreements in the organization’s behalf, and sign any such contracts and agreements as approved by the Officers.
  3. Oversee the functioning of Friends’ committees, special projects, and events.

2.     Treasurer

a.   Preside over financial matters that may arise and report at all meetings.

3.     Secretary

  1. Keep the minutes of all Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. meetings.
  2. Maintain the organization’s records, including a current membership list

c.   Keep and disseminate minutes.

Article 5: Elections

Section 1:

Officers shall be elected at the Annual meeting in the spring of each year and shall serve from July 1st to the following June 30th or until at least one successor to the position is elected. Officers may appoint an Interim Officer if a position becomes vacant during the year.

Section 2:

In the event that an Officer has a concern about the actions or behavior of another Officer, the President and Director will give the individual in question written notice of their concerns and an opportunity to make appropriate changes prior to initiating action to remove the individual from office. An Officer may be removed by a majority vote of the Officers for behaving in a manner unbecoming a representative of the organization or for taking actions counter to the goals or purpose of the organization. Officers may appoint an Interim Officer to fill the resulting vacancy until the next election is held at which time a permanent replacement will be elected by the voting membership.

Article 6: Powers

Section 1:

The Officers will act on all matters that affect the Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd.

Section 2:

A majority vote of Officers attending a meeting shall be required to approve any action or commit the Friends to contractual obligations and to authorize financial disbursements.

Section 3:

Three officers, at least one of which must be the President or Director, must be present to constitute a quorum for business requiring a vote.

Article 7: Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the voting membership present at any Business Meeting, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment is given prior to the meeting.

Article 8: Grants, Donations and Fundraising

The Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. may pursue grants and donations and engage in fundraising for the purpose of raising monies to support activities that promote and advance its purpose. The organization is authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions that promote and advance its purpose. Officers shall not receive compensation from Friends except when being reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out the business of the Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd.

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall be used to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons for purposes other than those stated above.

The Officers will approve all fundraising activities and all expenditures of funds.

Article 9: Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the Friends the organization’s assets shall be distributed to the Acton-Boxborough Public School District with a request that the assets be used to support special education programs and services in the district. If this gift is refused or becomes unqualified for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, the assets shall be distributed to another section 501(c)(3) entity as chosen by majority vote of the Officers.

Article 10: Non-Permissible Activities

The Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd. does not participate in political campaigning on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, nor does it attempt to influence legislation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization will not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article 11: Parliamentary Authority

In the event that the Friends of AB SpEd PAC, Ltd.’s bylaws are silent on an issue, the rules contained in the current edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall govern the Friends.