The
Virginia PTA acknowledges that "sharing
the work load" is a legitimate concern among
our constituent associations. However, each local
unit must recognize that there are acceptable parliamentary
options available to help alleviate this concern.
Co-presidents are not one of those options.
" Information
for this article was obtained from a National
PTA memo issued in 1998-1999 by the National
PTA Bylaws Chairman to all state Presidents
and state Bylaws Chairmen."
Why
NO Co's.....
There are legal as well as parliamentary problems that exist when a unit installs
co-presidents. For example:
" When
there are co-presidents, who casts the deciding
vote when there is a tie vote? Robert’s Rules
of Order Newly Revised points out that it is the
presiding officer’s responsibility to cast
the deciding vote when there is a tie. With co-presidents,
how can they split one vote?
In
terms of legal contracts and papers, which co-president
is responsible for signing such paperwork? Accountability
for the actions of the PTA is important, both for
the members and for the others with whom we work.
Sharing
duties and responsibilities, communicating with
each other and others, representing the PTA, delegating
and supporting the PTA board can be very difficult
for people who know each other well and are friends.
The potential for problems and misunderstandings
is very great. Rather than having "co’s",
local PTAs can delegate work to Vice-Presidents
and other officers.
If one of the "co’s" does something wrong (for instance, if
a co-treasurer misappropriates PTA funds), the other person can be held responsible.
Dividing
the tasks for any position can be complex, and
there will often be matters that have not been
resolved from the outset which will cause conflict
both between the two people and within the PTA.
In
some states, corporate non-profit law does not
allow co-presidents."
While
some PTAs consider co-presidents as a means to "share
the work load", we should remember that as
stated above there are other parliamentary alternatives
available that do not produce the legal and parliamentary
complexities.
Vice-Presidents: These
individuals are elected officials of the unit who
have the same fiduciary responsibilities as the
other officers. Bylaws provide the "how" and "when" these
officers should be utilized to assume the duties
of the president. Your unit could assign additional
duties to the Vice-Presidents that will help "share
the work load" of the President. Traditionally,
Vice-Presidents are seen as "Presidents in
training" and assigning additional duties
will only further prepare them to succeed in the
President’s office.
President-Elect: Some
units have found this addition to their elected
officers as a successful alternative. Modeling
after the National PTA, they have amended their
bylaws to reflect how this office is addressed
by the nominating committee, which duties will
be assigned to the office and how a vacancy in
office will be handled. If you are interested in
initiating the office of President-Elect, please
contact a member of the State Bylaws committee
for assistance.
It
is important that local units understand that "co-presidents" are
prohibited by the Virginia PTA Bylaws (Article
V, Section 21, Local Unit Bylaws). To have co-presidents
puts your unit in conflict with the Bylaws of the
State PTA and deems your unit "not in good
standing"—unable to participate in State
and National PTA programs and projects (Reflections,
membership awards, Outstanding Local Unit award,
grants, etc.) |