NC FBLA Bylaws
Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Chapter of the Future Business
Leaders of America.
Article II. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of FBLA is to provide as an integral part of the instructional
program additional opportunities for students (grades 6-12) in business
education and to develop vocational and career supportive competencies
and to promote civic and personal responsibilities.
Section 2. The specific goals of FBLA are to:
« Develop competent, aggressive business leadership;
« Strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work;
« Create more interest in and understanding of American business
enterprise;
« Encourage members in the development of individual projects which
contribute to the improvement of home, business, and community;
« Develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism;
« Encourage and practice efficient money management;
« Encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty;
« Assist students in the establishment of occupational goals; and
« Facilitate the transition from school to work.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. FBLA membership shall consist of members of chartered local chapters.
These members shall hold membership in their state and national chapters.
Individual members shall be recognized only through the state chapter of
FBLA.
Section 2. Membership shall consist of the following classes of members:
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Active Members shall be students (Grades 6-12) who are enrolled in
business education, who accept the purpose of FBLA, subscribe to its creed,
demonstrate willingness to contribute to good school-community relations,
and possess qualities for employment. Active members shall pay dues as
established by FBLA and may participate in state and national events, in
accordance with the guidelines of the State and National Awards Programs,
serve as voting delegates to the State and National Leadership Conference,
hold state and national office and otherwise represent their state and local
chapters as approved by their respective state or local advisers. Students
enrolled in a Business Education course either term during the same school
year are considered enrolled for the entire year and may continue as active
members. When students have taken at least three Business Education
courses a student may continue as an active member while they are in high
school even if not currently enrolled in a course.
Associate Members shall be persons not enrolled in business courses who
comply with the rules and policies of FBLA. Associate members shall pay
dues established by FBLA and may participate in chapter activities other
than individual or team competitive events, recognition events, serve as
voting delegates, or hold office.
Professional Members shall be persons associated with or participating in
the professional development of FBLA as approved by the state chapter.
Such members may include local and state chapter advisers, business
teachers, business teacher educators, state supervisors of business
education, employers or supervisors of cooperative work training students,
advisory council members, business persons, and other persons contributing
to the growth and development of FBLA. Professional members shall pay
dues as established by FBLA, but shall not participate in events, serve as
voting delegates, or hold office.
Honorary Life Members shall be elected to a state or local chapter by a
majority vote. They shall be persons who are assisting in the advancement
of business education and/or who are rendering outstanding service to
FBLA. Honorary Life Members shall not vote or hold office and shall not be
required to pay dues.
Article IV. Dues and Finance
Section 1. Each local chapter shall pay annual state member dues per member as
established by the board of directors.
Section 2. Also the national membership dues as set by the National FBLA-PBL,
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Incorporated shall be paid by all high school chapter members. Middle
school chapter members shall join NC FBLA by paying dues as established
by the NC FBLA Board of Directors and shall not be obligated to pay National
dues.
Section 3. The fiscal year of FBLA shall be July 1 through June 30.
Section 4. An audit shall be made annually by a certified public accountant.
Section 5. The state office shall administer all FBLA finances, including the James L.
White Scholarship Account and any other such accounts.
Article V. Board of Directors
Section 1. Membership
Voting members of the Board of Directors shall be composed of the FBLA
State Chairperson, the FBLA State Adviser, the FBLA State Officers, and an
elected Board representative from each of the regions as established by the
Department of Public Instruction and the FBLA State Office. Business
Education State Consultants serve on the Board in a non-voting capacity.
Section 2. Election of Regional Board Members
One Business Education teacher who is a local active chapter adviser shall
be elected to serve on the Board of Directors from each region by vote of the
local chapter membership. Each local chapter may have only one nominee.
The term of office for Board members shall begin immediately following their
election, and they will serve a consecutive three-year term.
Regions are:
Eastern Southeast Triangle East Central
Triad Southwest Northwest Western
Terms of office of Board members shall be staggered so election of all eight
regional members will not occur within the same year. No region shall have
more than one elected member on the Board at the same time. Board
member terms shall be limited to two consecutive three-year terms. After the
board member has been off the board for one term, they shall be eligible to
be nominated again for a board position. In the event that a vacancy is
created by a Board member, a second election shall be held in the region of
that member to fill the vacancy. The new member shall be elected to fill the
unexpired term only.
Section 3. Duties and Authority of Board Members
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The Board of Directors is empowered by the Constitution to act in an
advisory capacity to the State Chapter, State Chairman, and State Adviser in
developing operating policies and procedures of the organization. In this
capacity, the group may advise in the following areas:
« Attendance at conferences.
« Student behavior at regional, state, or national conferences.
« Contest and elections at regional, state, or national conferences.
« Payment of dues to State and National Offices.
« Qualifications of regional, state, and national officers.
« Any other area requested by State FBLA Chairperson.
Changes in State Chapter rules, regulations, and procedure may be made
in the following manner:
« By a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors, or
« By a decision of the State Chairperson when deemed necessary.
Section 4. Responsibilities of Board Members
At regional meetings, the Board of Directors member from the region shall be
the final authority in the interpretation of the Constitution, bylaws, policies,
and procedures of the association. At any other time, the Board of Directors
member shall act as liaison between the State Staff and Board and individual
local chapter advisers in interpreting actions of the Board. Board members
shall present requests to the Board from one or several local chapter
advisers in their respective regions. Board members shall offer
encouragement, advice, and training to members of their respective regions
in carrying out the FBLA program.
The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the designated Business
Education consultant. A recording secretary shall be appointed on a yearly
basis, rotating by regions. It shall be the responsibility of the recording
secretary to send minutes of Board meetings to the State Chairperson for
distribution to all local chapters. It shall be the responsibility of Board
members to discuss and clarify those minutes with local chapter advisers in
their respective regions.
The Board of Directors may need to establish standing and ad hoc
committees in order to help carry out their work. It shall be the responsibility
of Board members to serve as chairpersons of standing committees.
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Members of the Board of Directors shall be subject to removal from the
Board if they do not carry out their responsibilities.
Section 5. Eligibility Requirements for Board Members
Active local FBLA chapter advisers shall qualify to run for Board of Directors
if they meet the following guidelines:
« Served as an adviser or co-adviser of an active FBLA chapter for at
least three years;
« Attended and participated in at least three leadership conferences at
the state, regional, or national levels;
« Attended and participated in regional FBLA meetings;
« Be willing to assume the responsibilities of Board members; and
« Be willing to promote and uphold the high ideals of FBLA.
Article VI. Executive Council
Section 1. The Chairperson of the Board, the FBLA State Adviser, and the state FBLA
President shall constitute the Executive Council.
Section 2. The Chairperson of the Board shall be empowered to call meetings with the
agreement of the State Chairman and the State Adviser.
Section 3. The Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all Executive Council
meetings.
Section 4. The Executive Council shall represent and act for the Association as the
occasion may demand and plan for the overall welfare of the Association.
Section 5. The Executive Council shall be empowered to plan and implement the total
program of leadership development activities, state leadership training
sessions, and the State Leadership Conference.
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Article VII. Officers and Elections
Section 1. Elected State Officers
The following FBLA State Officers shall be elected by the FBLA voting
delegates at the annual State Leadership Conference: President and eight
Regional Vice Presidents.
Section 2. Appointment of Parliamentarian
The State Parliamentarian shall be that student who makes the highest
written test score in the parliamentary procedure event at the State
Leadership Conference. This student must have the recommendation of the
local chapter adviser. The State Parliamentarian shall have at least one
year remaining before being graduated from a secondary school.
Section 3. The adviser for each regional vice president shall be responsible for making
arrangements for the annual competitive events meetings. Competitive
event entry forms and contest materials will be provided by the state office.
Section 4. Qualifications for State Office
Only active members shall be eligible to hold state office. Only those
applicants present at the State Leadership Conference and officially certified
by the Officer Screening Committee shall be eligible for nomination as a
candidate.
To be considered for an office in FBLA, an applicant shall:
« Have at least one full school year remaining in the educational
program in a secondary school.
« Hold or have held an elected or appointed office in the local
chapter or region and/or served as chairman of an outstanding
committee; hold or have held elective or appointed offices in other
youth organizations.
« Be recommended by the chapter advisers and principal, and given
parental permission to be a candidate.
« Filed the following with the State Office prior to the State
Leadership Conference:
a. Officer application
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b. Resume, including qualifications for the office and plans for
the next school year.
c. Statement of recommendation from the head of the
business department and the high school principal.
d. Statement of parental approval.
e. Transcript
« Have maintained at least a B average or above in high school.
Section 5. Nominations
Nominations shall be made as follows:
« A local chapter may nominate only one member for a state office. A
nominee for state office must be elected by a two-thirds vote of the
members of his/her local chapter.
« The application for nomination must be in the state office by the date
given on the Calendar of Activities in the Chapter Management
Notebook.
« If no nominations are received from a region for regional vice
president, the Board of Directors will appoint a regional vice
president.
Section 6. Voting
Each chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send voting delegates
from its active membership to the State Leadership Conference in
accordance with the following:
« 50 members and under -- 2 voting delegates
« 51-100 members -- 3 voting delegates
« Over 100 members -- 4 voting delegates
Voting shall be done by official delegates from each chapter at the annual
State Leadership Conference using the voting procedures published prior to
the beginning of the State Leadership Conference:
The president shall be elected by vote of all official delegates in attendance
at the annual State Leadership Conference. The Regional Vice Presidents
will be elected by vote of only the delegates from the schools in the region
they will represent.
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Section 7. Term of Office
State officers shall be elected or appointed for one year, and their term of
office shall begin at the close of the State Leadership Conference, and shall
end at the following State Leadership Conference.
Section 8. Vacancy in Office
Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-Presidents shall
select from among themselves one to assume the duties of the President.
The Board of Directors must confirm the decision of the Vice-Presidents
before the office of President is considered filled. A vacancy in any office,
other than that of President, shall be filled by appointment by the Board of
Directors.
Section 9. Removal from Office
In the event that an elected or appointed state officer does not carry out the
duties and responsibilities assigned that office, and in the event that a state
officer does not behave in an exemplary manner which upholds the high
ideals of FBLA, the officer shall be subject to removal from state office by the
State Adviser and the State Chairman.
Article VIII. Duties of State Officers
Section 1. President
It shall be the duty of the president to preside over all Executive Council
meetings at which time plans will be made for the State Leadership
Conference, various state projects, and the National Leadership Conference.
The President shall appoint all special committees as deemed necessary
and shall serve as ex-officio member of these committees. The President
must promote chapter organization as well as chapter activities. These
tasks, which are most important, can be accomplished by three form letters.
At the beginning of the school year, the first letter should be sent to each
chapter requesting that they cooperate with the President during the year.
The second letter should be sent to chapters who are interested in forming
new chapters. This letter should be a follow-up letter to one written by the
State Chairman and/or State Adviser. The third letter should be a letter of
congratulations to the chapter in becoming an active chapter of FBLA. It
shall be the duty of the outgoing FBLA President to prepare the annual
activities report for the state chapter. The President shall also present state
activities reports at regional and national meetings as requested.
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Section 2. Regional Vice-Presidents
It is the duty of the regional vice presidents, acting under the direction of the
President, to promote the welfare of the FBLA organization in the state.
Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-Presidents shall
select from among themselves one to assume the duties of the President.
The Board of Directors must confirm the decision of the Vice-Presidents
before the office of President is considered filled. The vacant vice presidents
position will then be filled by the Board of Directors. The Vice-Presidents
shall carry out specific duties as may be assigned by these bylaws, the
President, or State Adviser.
The regional vice presidents with the advice and counsel of the state advisor
shall determine which vice presidents will assume or begin the rotation for
the following responsibilities:
« Each regional vice president shall assume responsibility for publishing the state
FBLA newsletter, THE NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESS LEADER. Beginning
with September, one vice president shall publish the newsletter (four pages
minimum) highlighting events in his/her region as well as state and national
activities. The monthly newsletter shall be published on a rotating basis and
each vice president shall be responsible for only one month each year. Each
year the region that published the September newsletter will move to May the
following year and the other vice president’s responsibility will rotate as far away
as possible from the month for which their region was responsible the previous
year. Electronic copies of the newsletter would be made available to local
chapters.
« Each vice president collects the news from each chapter, sends news items
concerning the North Carolina FBLA to local and state newspapers to
TOMORROW’S BUSINESS LEADER, the national news publication for FBLA.
Each regional vice president must notify each chapter of the deadline for
submitting news. After news items are received from individual chapters, the
vice presidents must check each article for correctness of form and write the
news item in third person if this was not done by the chapter reporter.
« One regional vice president shall serve as guardian of the FBLA State Sign and
is expected to carry it to all regional and national meetings and to be
responsible for seating the state delegation together at the regional and national
meetings.
« Two regional vice presidents shall record accurate records of the sessions of
the State Leadership Conference, State meetings at National Conferences and
of the meetings of the Executive Council. One copy of the minutes shall be sent
to the State Adviser for the permanent files, one copy kept for the secretary’s
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files and one copy sent to each local chapter in the state. These vice presidents
shall keep on file copies of the state and national constitutions and shall perform
such other duties as directed by the President or State Adviser.
« Three regional vice presidents shall record activities of interest pertaining to the
local, state and national organizations and keep a history in the form of
videotape. These vice presidents shall secure as much footage as possible of
state activities to be used in videotapes to be made available to member
chapters. These vice presidents should write a short note to local chapters
early in October reminding them to begin collecting video footage to be placed
in the state videotape. In early February, these vice presidents shall notify all
chapters of the deadline for submitting video footage to be included in the state
video tape.
« Three regional vice presidents shall organize materials for the FBLA website.
These vice presidents will review the materials in the website to ensure that they
are accurate and current. Materials will be moved out of the website whenever they
are no longer accurate or needed. Collaborating to improve the website will be the
responsibility of the all three of these vice presidents. One of these three vice
presidents will become the key contact with the website provider to ensure that
information flows through an organized process to the webmaster.
Section 3 Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall be thoroughly familiar with parliamentary procedure
and have sufficient knowledge to rule on all points of order during meetings of
the association. The Parliamentarian should have a copy of the state and
national constitutions and bylaws and a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly
Revised on hand at all times.
Article IX. Meetings and Conferences
Section 1. Local chapters shall hold their meetings monthly or more throughout the school
year and at such time and place as may be decided upon by the local chapter
and according to local school policy.
Section 2. Fall workshop shall be held yearly in each region. The regional competitive
events shall be held during January and February of each year. Management of
the fall workshops will rotate through the schools in the region according to a
plan developed and managed through the leadership of the board of directors
member.
Section 3. The State Leadership Conference shall be held annually at least 45 days prior
to the National Leadership Conference at a time and place to be determined by
the State Chairman and State Adviser.
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Article X. Rules, Regulations and Policies
Section 1. Such rules, regulations, and policies are deemed necessary for the proper
conduct of the organization shall be adopted.
Section 2. No rules, regulations, and policies shall be adopted which are contrary to the
state and national constitutions.
Section 3. In all meetings, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall serve as standard
procedure.
Article XI. Amendments
Section 1. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted in writing by local
chapters to the Board of Directors.
These proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Board, which, in turn,
shall submit them to local chapters with recommendations. Amendments may
be adopted by one of two ways:
« A simple majority vote of local chapter delegates in attendance at the State
Leadership Conference, or by
« A simple majority of local chapter delegates votes by mail.
Revised 1997
Approved -------1998