Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION CONSTITUTION

Revised January 2005

ARTICLE I – NAME

The official name of this organization shall be the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division which may be abbreviated SkillsUSA Minnesota, High School Division.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

The purposes of this Association are:

  • To unite in a common bond without regard to race, creed, or national origin, full time students enrolled in classes with vocational trade, industrial, technical and health objectives.
  • To provide leadership for the local chapters.
  • To provide a clearinghouse for information and activities.
  • To provide recognition and prestige through an association of local chapters.
  • To develop leadership abilities through participation in educational, vocational, civic, recreational, and social activities.
  • To foster a deep respect for the dignity of work.
  • To assist students in establishing realistic vocational goals.
  • To help students attain a purposeful life.
  • To create enthusiasm for learning.
  • To promote high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety.
  • To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize, and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of the democratic process.
  • To foster wholesome understanding of the functions of labor and management organizations and a recognition of their mutual interdependence.
  • To create among students, faculty members, patrons of the school, and persons in industry, a sincere interest in and esteem for trade, industrial, technical, and health education.
  • To develop patriotism through a knowledge of our Nation's heritage and the practice of democracy.
  • To emphasize the importance of continuous education consistent with the needs of the individual and the requirements of his/her chosen occupation.

ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division, is an Association of local chapters of the State of Minnesota operating in accordance with a charter granted by the National SkillsUSA.

Section 2. The administration of SkillsUSA Minnesota, High School Division, shall be vested in the Board of Directors of SkillsUSA Minnesota, Inc.

Section 3. The Executive Council of SkillsUSA Minnesota, High School Division shall be composed of the elected state officers; and the State Executive Director shall act as Advisor of the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall meet upon the direction of the Executive Board to plan and state meetings and other SkillsUSA Minnesota activities.

Section 4. The State Executive Director is the administrator of the State Headquarters. The Director shall be hired by and will be responsible to the Executive Board for conducting the work of the State program.

Section 5. Charters shall be issued to local chapters by the Executive Council of the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division.

Section 6. A Corporate Board of SkillsUSA Minnesota, Inc. composed of leaders from Education, Management, and Labor may be appointed to provide counsel, advice, and assistance to SkillsUSA Minnesota in carrying out its function.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership of the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division, shall consist of the total eligible members of the local chapters, and members shall hold the same membership status as in their respective local chapter.

Section 2. A local chapter must have at least five active members and a local advisor, and all members of SkillsUSA Minnesota must be members of the National Organization to qualify for a charter.

Section 3. Each local chapter shall be open for membership to all students regardless of race, sex, religion, creed, or national origin.

Section 4. Classes of membership that will be recognized by the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division, are:

Active Membership: Students enrolled in a coherent series of courses or career major that prepares them for further education and / or employment related to technology, the health industry, trades or industry and who are earning credit toward a high school diploma / certificate or its equivalent.

Professional Membership: Persons associated with or participating in the professional development of SkillsUSA who pay dues as established by SkillsUSA will be recognized as professional members.

Alumni Membership: Former active members who are no longer enrolled in vocational education. Alumni members will have all rights and privileges of Active membership, except:

  • (a)the right to vote
  • (b) the right to hold elective offices in the High School Division; and
  • (c) the right to participate in SkillsUSA contests.

Alumni members will organize and elect their own officers and develop their program for participation in the SkillsUSA programs and activities.

Honorary Life Membership: Individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of SkillsUSA and vocational trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations education whose membership has been approved by the National Executive Council upon the recommendation of the State Association. Such membership shall not require payment of dues.

Section 5. A membership year shall be from September 1 through August 31, inclusive.

ARTICLE V - VOTING DELEGATES

Section 1. The active SkillsUSA member shall exercise his/her franchise through Voting Delegates at State and National meetings.

Section 2. Each chapter shall elect delegates who shall be considered Voting Delegates at the Delegate Assembly, and other regional and state conferences. The number of delegates shall be determined as provided by the by-laws.

Section 3. The number of Voting Delegates at National SkillsUSA Conferences shall be variable with the directives of the National Constitution.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. A State Delegate Assembly shall be held each year, and this shall serve as the official annual meeting of the SkillsUSA Minnesota, High School Division.

Section 2. The Executive Council, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall be empowered to call special meetings.

ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division, shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Historian, and Reporter.

Section 2. These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the voting delegates at the annual State Delegate Assembly Conference.

Section 3. Officers shall serve for a term of one year.

ARTICLE VIII - DUES

Section 1. State Dues shall be determined by the Executive Board for the school year which follows and shall be payable by a prescribed time as determined by the State Executive Director. Dues will be sent to the National Association of SkillsUSA and they will forward the appropriate State Dues to the state director.

Section 2. The State Executive Director shall report on or before December 1 of each school year, as to which chapters have paid their Membership Dues in full. These chapters shall be designated as Chapters in Good Standing.

ARTICLE IX - EMBLEM AND COLORS

The emblem of the Minnesota Association of SkillsUSA, High School Division, and its colors shall be the same as those adopted by National SkillsUSA.

ARTICLE X - AUDIT

The accounts of the State Director shall be audited each year by an appointee of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. To amend this Constitution, the proposed amendment must be presented by a local chapter through one of its Voting Delegates to the Constitution by-laws Committee. This committee has the right to correct the proposed amendment, but must not alter its purpose. The committee chairman will present the amendment to the voting delegates for consideration. The amendment will then be presented at the next State Conference to the Voting Delegates who may adopt the amendment by a two-thirds majority of the Voting Delegates, a quorum being present.

Section 2. Only such amendments shall be made as are in keeping with the purposes stated in Article II of this Constitution.

ARTICLE XII - RULES, REGULATIONS, AND BY-LAWS

Section 1. Such rules, regulations, and by-laws as are deemed necessary for the proper conduct of this organization shall be adopted.

Section 2. No rules, regulations, or by-laws shall be adopted which are contrary to the Constitution.

Section 3. In all meetings, Robert's Rules of Order, Latest Edition shall serve as standard procedure.