• INDSPRA Bylaws
    Indiana Chapter, National School Public Relations Association (INDSPRA) 
    Article I – Name 

    The name of this organization shall be the Indiana Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association and will be known by the acronym INDSPRA. 

    Article II – Philosophy of Mission 

    The Indiana Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association is a professional organization whose members support education by empowering school communication professionals to advance the education industry through school communications. INDSPRA serves public education leaders in Indiana by promoting effective public relations practices, providing professional development and collateral support in all facets of communication for its members. 

    Article III – Specific Objectives and Purposes 

    1. Objective

      It is the objective of INDSPRA to provide effective programs, services, and exchanges to promote sound ethical public relations performance in the school community relations programs of its members.

    2. Purpose

      INDSPRA seeks to accomplish its objective
      1. by providing timely and appropriate professional development for INDSPRA members
      2. by building connections and resources among members to exchange information and ideas while growing the school public relations network
      3. by encouraging, assisting, and promoting the development of effective school public relations throughout Indiana. 

    Article IV – Membership 

    Membership shall be open to persons employed within Indiana whose duties entail responsibility for the internal and external public relations program for the school districts or on a state-wide basis. Vendors, excluding school public relations consultants, are not eligible to be INDSPRA members. 

    Members are considered in good standing if their annual fees are paid according to policy and abide by all provisions of these bylaws. Members in good standing are eligible to vote, participate in general meetings, and may serve as officers and/or on the Executive Board, unless their membership type excludes voting and Executive Board positions. Membership in NSPRA is especially encouraged by INDSPRA. 

    To continue in good standing, the chapter must continue to have at least 10 members who are also NSPRA members. State and regional chapters may be established by the NSPRA Executive Board on a petition of 10 or more members in good standing in a given area. INDSPRA recognizes that it shall operate within the boundaries of the state of Indiana. 

    Levels of Membership: 

    1. Professional membership may be held by anyone who is employed or contracted in education whose job responsibilities involve communication, promotion and/or its support, including, but not limited to public relations professionals, administrators, board members, educators, school support staff and consultants. Professional members in good standing have voting rights and may serve on the Executive Board. 
    2. Institutional membership is available to any organization with employees who hold a professional position in educational public relations, communication, or marketing. Institutional membership shall provide membership for up to three employees of an organization. Institutional members shall have the right to vote and may serve on the Executive Board. 
    3. Retired membership is available to anyone who has been an active member of INDSPRA for at least five years and who is no longer providing public relations services to schools. Retired members cannot vote and may not serve on the Executive Board, but may participate in any committee and all Chapter offerings. 

    Executive Board complimentary memberships: 

    1. Life membership may be awarded to an individual who has had a long and significant impact on the Association. Life members cannot vote or serve on the Executive Board. 
    2. Honorary membership may be awarded to a prominent, local, state, or national official who has had a significant impact on education in Indiana and/or the nation. Honorary members cannot vote or serve on the Executive Board. 

    Article V – Dues 

    Annual membership dues shall be established by the INDSPRA Board of Directors. Membership operates on a September 1 to August 31 fiscal year as required by NSPRA. 

    Article VI – Officers 

    Officers of INDSPRA shall be elected at the spring conference during even years to serve a two-year term and shall be reported to the NSPRA Regional Vice-President. Newly elected officers shall take office on September 1 following a joint meeting of old and new officers at a summer Executive Board meeting. The Chapter President, Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be members of NSPRA. All other Chapter officers and members are encouraged to be members of NSPRA. 

    President - Shall preside at meetings of the chapter using Robert's Rules of Order. 

    1. The President shall appoint the Chairs of all standing and special committees, and
    2. Shall approve the selection of committee members made by the Chairpersons. 
    3. Upon completion of the term, the President will become the Immediate Past President. They shall chair the program committee. 
    4. The President or designee submits annually required financial reports, as prepared by the Treasurer, and membership data to the NSPRA business manager by October 31. 

    Vice President/President-Elect - Shall perform all duties of the President in the event of the inability of the President to act. They shall also be in charge of: 

    1. Membership recruitment, 
    2. Compiling a state directory, 
    3. Procuring professional development articles for the distribution, and 
    4. Regional coordinator management 

    Secretary - They shall also be in charge of: 

    1. Keeping records of meetings, 
    2. Assisting in handling Chapter correspondence, and 
    3. Seeing that a newsletter is distributed regularly 

    Treasurer - Shall be appointed annually by the Executive Board. They shall also be in charge of:

    1. Keeping records of funds, 
    2. Providing financial statements annually to the membership, 
    3. Disbursing Chapter funds as approved by the Executive Board, and 
    4. Preparing an annual budget for board approval at the summer Executive Board meeting
    5. Preparing annually required financial reports for submission to NSPRA by the President. 

    Article VII - Executive Board

    The governing body of INDSPRA shall be the Executive Board. It shall consist of the elected officers of INDSPRA, the Treasurer, and up to seven Directors and/or Chairpersons of standing committees. The Executive Director serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member. 

    1. The Executive Board shall be responsible for all policy decisions affecting the Chapter’s operation and shall carry out all directives as voted by INDSPRA. 
    2. The Executive Board shall be responsible for determining the need for and hiring an Executive Director. The Executive Board will determine Executive Director duties, hours, and pay. 
    3. A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. 
    4. The Executive Board shall meet on notice from the President or upon one-third of the membership of the Executive Board. 
    5. The position of an Executive Board member who fails to attend five consecutive meetings of the Executive Board shall be declared vacant. The exception shall be if they are on sick leave or FMLA in which the Executive Board may choose to extend and cover the position while on leave. 
    6. The Executive Board shall fill all vacancies occurring in the elective offices. Appointees shall serve until the next annual election. 
    7. The Executive Board shall approve the creation of all standing committees. 
    8. Terms will be for periods of two years and reappointment is permitted following review, with a maximum of six consecutive years on the Executive Board. Following six consecutive years on the Executive Board and one year off, the member may be eligible again to be on the Executive Board. The Executive Board may make an exception if there is no one else qualified or willing to assume the position. 

    Article VIII - Regional Coordinators

    Regional Coordinators and the geographical areas they represent may be appointed by the President upon review of the Executive Board. Terms will be for periods of two years, and reappointment is permitted following review with a maximum of three terms. After three consecutive terms and one year off, the member may be eligible again to be a Regional Coordinator. Coordinators are expected to attend specific Executive Board meetings and may be removed if Board meeting attendance does not occur at least once per fiscal year. 

    Article IX – Meetings 

    1. Meetings of the Chapter shall be set at the discretion of the Executive Board. 
    2. There shall be at least one annual general membership meeting each year. 
    3. The Executive Board shall meet on notice from the President.                                                                 

    Article X– Amendments 

    The Bylaws shall be approved by the INDSPRA Executive Board before adoption by the Chapter which requires a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any spring or fall conference meeting or voting via digital ballot. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Board of the National School Public Relations Association before adoption by the Chapter to become effective. 

    Article XI - Prohibited Activities 

    No part of the earnings of the Chapter shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its directors, officers or any other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Bylaws. Except as provided in Section 501 (h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, no substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of campaign statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. 

    Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on: 

    1. by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, or 
    2. by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. 

    Upon dissolution of the Chapter, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Chapter, dispose of all the assets of the Chapter exclusively for the purpose of the Chapter in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law as the Executive Board shall determine. 

    Article XII – Affiliation 

    All chapters with duly approved charter petitions and bylaws shall be affiliates of the National School Public Relations Association. 

    Amended Sept. 2010 
    Amended Nov. 2017 
    Amended Mar. 2022