Officer Elections Nominations

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TAA Teaching Assistants' Association

Position Descriptions

Nominations will be be open until April 17 at 11:59 PM Central, after which point we will notify nominees and give them the option to accept or decline the nomination. A candidate forum will then be held at the April 24 General Membership Meeting; to submit questions for the candidates or leave anonymous feedback for the Elections Committee, use the form here.

You can learn more about our current officers here. Please direct any questions to your Elections Committee (elections@taa-madison.org).

CO-PRESIDENTS

A. The Co-Presidents shall conduct the affairs of the Association in accordance with this constitution and in accordance with policy decisions of the membership. The specific duties of each Co-President are:

  1. Uphold the TAA Constitution and ensure that all union members and union bodies follow the Constitution.
  1. Call and chair Executive Board meetings.
  2. Chair General and Special Membership Meetings; and prepare and publicize meetings agendas in accordance with Article VI.
  3. Supervise staff; administer the staff contract; and be a member of the TAA committee that negotiates the staff contract.
  4. Oversee management of the TAA office, including routine correspondence.
  5. Act as a spokesperson for the TAA to the press and the university administration.
  6. Act as a liaison to other labor organizations, in coordination with the Labor Solidarity and Organizing Committees.
  7. Be a member of the Finance Committee and oversee all financial matters in coordination with the Treasurer, in accordance with Article XIV.
  8. Sign contracts and other official documents of this Association; with the approval of the Executive Board, Co-Presidents may designate a deputy to sign such documents.

B. Co-Presidents shall decide between themselves how to divide and execute the duties listed above.

C. The responsibility of the Co-Presidents may not be delegated, but they may delegate to a person or persons the execution of such presidential duties as they may in their discretion decide, subject to the limitations of this constitution.

TREASURER

The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Association. They shall receive, and issue receipts for, all monies of the Association. The specific duties of the Treasurer are:

  1. Receive, issue receipts for, and make deposits of all monies of the Association.
  2. Maintain properly and have custody over all accounts of the Association.
  3. Be a member of the Finance Committee and oversee all financial matters of the union in coordination with the Co-Presidents, and in accordance with Article XIV.
  4. Prepare and present a written report on the annual budget and the general financial health of the union not less than once per semester at a General Membership Meeting.
  5. Prepare and send out checks for payment of all liabilities of the Association in accordance with the approved fiscal year budget.
  6. Be responsible for day-to-day financial operations, including writing checks, monitoring credit accounts, and classifying spending according to the approved fiscal year budget.
  7. Prepare the required annual “Maintenance of Membership” mailing to all bargaining unit members, and issue refund checks to those bargaining unit members properly requesting a refund of money under the Wisconsin State laws relevant to “fair share” dues payers.
  8. File proper reports and forward per capita payments to the AFT-Wisconsin and the AFT national affiliates.
  9. Oversee the preparation and filing of all income and other tax reports.

RECORDING SECRETARY

The Recording Secretary shall be the chief recording officer of the Association. The specific duties of the Recording Secretary are:

  1. Maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of General and Special Membership Meetings and provide a summary of such meetings to all union members via the newsletter or electronic communication. Such summaries shall include at minimum all formal motions and voting results.
  2. Maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of Executive Board meetings and provide a summary of such meetings to all Executive Board members and to the Stewards’ Council in writing or by electronic communication. Such summaries shall include at a minimum all formal motions and voting results.
  3. Maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of all Bargaining Committee meetings and provide for a summary of such meetings to all Bargaining Committee members and to the Stewards’ Council in writing or by electronic communication. Such summaries shall include at a minimum all formal motions and voting results.
  4. Alert the Co-Presidents at least 2 days in advance (except in the case of an emergency) if absence from a General or Special Membership, Executive, or Bargaining Committee meeting cannot be avoided; and, if possible, arrange for a replacement to take notes and produce a summary of that meeting. If not possible to arrange for a replacement, the Co-Presidents shall appoint a person to fulfill those duties at the meeting.
  5. Maintain electronic and hard copies of all meeting minutes; oversee long-term filing and archiving of meeting minutes.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

The Membership Secretary shall have responsibility for maintaining accurate membership and mailing lists for use by the Association. These duties shall include:

  1. Maintain membership database and statistics on membership.
  2. Maintain an electronic mail list of all members.
  3. Notify the university Payroll Department regarding changes in membership status.
  4. Approve requests for dues refunds and notify the Treasurer.
  5. Prepare an up-to-date membership roll for all General and Special Membership Meetings; monitor and allow entrance to such meetings only to members in good standing, or to guests approved by the Co-President chairing the meeting.