RFSA Constitution and Bylaws voted on and approved by the full membership April 27, 2022.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
RETIRED FACULTY-STAFF ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
Article I. Name
The name of this organization is The University of Texas at Austin Retired Faculty-Staff Association. It was founded in 1982 and operates under the Office of the President of The University of Texas at Austin and is administered by the Texas Exes, the Ex-Students Association.
Article II. Mission and Purposes
Section 1. Mission
The Retired Faculty-Staff Association (RFSA) of The University of Texas at Austin provides the point of connection, continuity and communication for the mutual benefit of its members and The University.
Section 2. Purposes
The purposes of the Retired Faculty-Staff Association include
- To render service to The University of Texas at Austin;
- To enrich the retirement experience of members through the provision of activities, information, or other events permitting continuing social and professional contact with fellow retirees and The University of Texas at Austin; and
- To represent members’ concerns related to their retirement benefits and status and to provide feedback to The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas System officials regarding the viability of current retirement benefits and providers, and to offer suggestions about additional needed services.
Article III. Membership
Membership in the Retired Faculty-Staff Association is open to:
- Retired employees of The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas System including their spouses and significant others;
- Retired faculty and staff and their spouses or significant others who were employed at another University of Texas component institution or other academic institutions;
- Retired persons or former employees who have been/are supporters of the Retired Faculty-Staff Association; and
- Spouses or significant others who are members of RFSA, but whose circumstances change (due to death, illness or divorce) are eligible to continue their own membership and may apply for membership in RFSA for a new spouse or significant other.
Article IV. Meetings
The Association will have at least two general membership meetings per year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The spring meeting is the annual business meeting.
Section 1. Elections
Executive Officers are approved by a vote of the RFSA membership at the spring meeting. An unexpected vacancy of an Executive Officer position may be filled on a temporary basis by the Executive Committee, but any permanent replacements must be voted on by the full Association at the spring meeting.
Section 2. Presiding Officer
The President shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Association, including the general membership, the Executive Committee, Officers, and the full Board. The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the event the President is unable to preside.
Article V. Composition of the Board
The RFSA Board consists of the Executive Officers, Administrative Officers and Interest Group Chairs.
Section 1. Officers
The Executive Officers of the Association are the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and four Members-at-Large. One of the Members-at-Large shall be a representative of The University of Texas System. The Executive Officers comprise the Executive Committee.
The Administrative Officers of the Association provide administrative leadership for official functions of the Association, including publications such as the magazine and website, membership, the scholarship fund, business sponsorships, and any other administrative areas designated by the Executive Committee. All officers have one vote on the Board.
Section 2. Interest Group Chairs
Interest Groups are responsible for planning and execution of ongoing programs and activities of the Association. Interest Groups and Chairs are set annually by a vote of the Executive Committee. Each Interest Group is entitled to one vote on the Board.
Section 3. Terms of Office
The terms of the President, President-Elect and Immediate Past-President shall normally be one calendar year. The terms of the Secretary, Treasurer, Historian and Members-at-Large shall be three years, with Members-at-Large serving three-year staggered terms.
Section 4. Ex-Officio and Honorary Members
The Board may honor an outgoing officer who has provided exemplary service to the Association by designating that person as an officer emeritus/emerita. Those positions will not have a vote on the Board.
Article VI. Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Officers listed in Article V, Section 1, shall constitute the Executive Committee, which may transact business in the name of the Association.
Section 2. Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee will be chaired by the Immediate Past-President, with other members appointed by the President. The Nominations Committee shall submit a slate of nominees for any RFSA Board position. The slate of nominees for Executive Officers will be voted on by the full Association membership at the spring meeting. Administrative Officers and Interest Group Chairs will be approved by the Executive Committee and announced at the spring meeting.
Section 3. Other Committees
Other committees may be established by the President, with approval of the Executive Committee. Those committees may be ad hoc, advisory, or long-term.
Article VII. Dues
Members shall pay dues, as set by the Board.
Article VIII. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution
Proposed amendments to this constitution that alter the essential objectives, structure or functioning of the Association must be presented to the Board at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered and submitted to members in writing at least 14 days before the meeting at which they are to be considered. Adoption of such changes shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members voting.
Proposed amendments that do not alter the essential objectives, structure or functioning of the Association may be adopted by the Board and reported to the membership. Adoption of such changes requires an affirmative vote of the majority of Board members voting.
Section 2. Amendments to the Bylaws
Amendments to the Bylaws may be made by the Board and reported to the membership. Adoption of such changes requires an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board members voting.
UT Retired Faculty-Staff Association
Bylaws
Article I. Membership
Section 1. New retirees will be invited to the first RFSA event following retirement and will be directed to information on the RFSA website including their free RFSA membership for their first year of retirement.
Section 2. Members who are temporarily unable to participate in activities of the Association may be granted inactive status membership by the Membership Chair and pay no annual dues while on inactive status.
Article II. Dues
Dues are listed on the membership application form and the RFSA website. Dues are waived for individuals in their first year of membership, but continuing member’s dues are $25 for a single annual membership or $35 for a joint annual membership. A three-year membership is offered for a discounted price of $70 for a single and $86 for a joint membership. A life membership option has been approved by the Board.
Article III. RFSA Board
Section 1. Should the office of President become vacant, the President-Elect shall immediately become President, serve out the remaining term of his or her predecessor and the entire term to which she or he was elected.
Section 2. Nominations for Executive Officers, Administrative Officers and Interest Group Chairs will be submitted by the Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past-President and shall have at least two other members appointed by the President. The President and President-Elect shall also serve on this committee.
Section 3. The Members-at-Large positions shall be identified as Member-at-Large, 1st Year; Member-at-Large, 2nd Year; Member-at-Large, 3rd Year; and Member-at-Large, UT System. Every Member-at-Large will serve for three years. The UT System Member-at-Large will maintain that classification the full three years. The other three Members-at-Large will rotate through the 1st Year, 2nd Year and 3rd Year designations. All Members-at-Large may be elected to a second three-year term.
Section 4. Job descriptions for all Executive Officers, Administrative Officers and Interest Group Chairs are available on the RFSA website or by request to RFSA Administrator.
Section 5. Emeritus/Emerita Members (honorary). Exceptional RFSA Officers may be granted emeritus/emerita status as a non-voting member of the Board. They are not required to pay dues. This honor is bestowed by the RFSA Board and is a lifelong appointment. They may be listed with the Board as Emeritus/Emerita members.
Article IV. Elections and Voting
Section 1. Election of Executive Officers
The general membership shall be notified electronically and/or by mail of vacant positions to be considered by the Nominations Committee and shall be invited to submit nominations for those positions.
Section 2. The general membership shall be notified electronically and/or by mail at least two weeks prior to the spring RFSA business meeting and luncheon of the proposed slate of nominees. The new Executive Officers shall assume office at the end of that meeting and luncheon.
Section 3. Voting by the board, its committees and the general membership may be in person or by electronic voting with two weeks notice to the members. Votes gathered electronically and/or by mail will be tabulated and reported with the general voting result making no distinction as to the method of voting.
Article V. Meetings
The RFSA President may call meetings of the RFSA Executive Committee, Administrative Officers, and Interest Group chairs which comprise the RFSA Board and any subset thereof. The President may call meetings of any ad hoc, advisory or long term committee.
The RFSA Board must meet at least 2 times a year. Board meetings are open to any RFSA member.
All meetings including voting on business of the Association may be held electronically with two weeks notice to the members.
Article VI. Committees
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint persons to any committees, including ad hoc or advisory, and/or to positions as may be necessary to conduct the business of the Association. Chairs of those committees may be invited to RFSA Board meetings and may participate as determined by the Executive Committee.
Article VII. Amendments to the Bylaws
Amendments to the Bylaws may be made by the Board and reported to the membership. Adoption of such changes requires an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board voting.