INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING AND ADOPTING TREA CHAPTER BYLAWS

The most important document a chapter can adopt is its bylaws. These MODEL bylaws are adequate for small and newly chartered

Chapters and may be amended by adding or deleting Articles or Sections as the chapter’s needs change. However, rather than use the

MODEL, a chapter may write its own document which must generally conform to these and/or TREA’s National Bylaws, and no

changes to TREA membership categories may be made.

Before filling in the blank spaces, the Chapter Bylaws and Rules Committee should carefully consider recommendations to the BOD

And membership concerning the following:

1. The name by which the chapter will be known, if applicable.
2. The amount of annual chapter dues (which will be in addition to TREA national dues).
3. The amount of funds the BOD may obligate without further approval by the membership
4. The month (October, November or December) of the annual membership meeting and election of officers.
5. Frequency of membership meetings and the day of the month/week that meetings will be held.

A newly chartered chapter should elect chapter officers before the bylaws are adopted. This will prevent violating the bylaws when electing the initial directors. For example, Article V, Section 1, states that 1 director will be elected each year for 3 years. But initially, 3 directors should be elected—one for 1 year, one for 2 years and one for 3 years. Thereafter, one new director is elected each year to replace the one whose term expires.

The chapter bylaws (unless they conflict with national directives) always take precedence over all other chapter documents, as well as over Robert’s Rules of Order. However, Robert’s Rules of Order shall always govern in situations not covered in chapter or TREA directives.

The initial chapter bylaws may be adopted by majority vote but subsequent amendments require a two-thirds vote. Terms such as "majority vote" means a majority or two-thirds of the voting members present, who actually vote. Abstentions are not counted for or against the motion.

The following are examples of data that may be inserted in the blank spaces in the chapter bylaws. If the blank space is not applicable, insert "N/A:"

1. PREAMBLE: "Great Smoky Mountain" Chapter "150."
2. Article 1, Section 1: Same as in Preamble.
3. Article 1, Section 2: P.O. Box 4326, Knoxville, TN 20202" (A home address is not acceptable).
4. Article IV, Section 1: We suggest that regular and associate members pay chapter dues of at least $5.00 annually and that courtesy members pay at least $10.00 (all of which is retained by the chapter).
5. Article IV, Section 3: The BOD of a new chapter should normally have authority to spend up to about $200 without further membership approval.
6. Article V, Section 4: Annual elections must be held in October, November or December, with assumption of office on January 1. New chapters may elect the initial officers for any period up to 23 months in order to get on a calendar year schedule.
7. Article VIII, Section 2: The frequency of meetings must be no less than quarterly. The following are examples of appropriate entries, depending on whether meetings are monthly or quarterly:
   1. MONTHLY: "on the third Wednesday of each month."
   2. QUARTERLY: "at least quarterly, during the months of February, May, August and November, on the third Wednesday s of these months." (The time of meetings should not be stated in the bylaws).

Date adopted or amended (page 11) should be the date the bylaws were initially adopted by the membership. Each time the bylaws are amended, enter the most recent amendment date but do not change date of adoption.

The TREA National Parliamentarian is available to provide guidance and/or interpretation of the chapter bylaws when the TREA prepared MODEL bylaws are used.

Return to TREA Home Page