As discussed in sessions at the 2019 and 2020 ATPE Summits, a group of ATPE members representing every ATPE region and including several ATPE past presidents has been meeting as the ATPE Ad Hoc Committee on Governance for the past two years. The committee was formed by the ATPE Board of Directors upon the advice of ATPE legal counsel to review the ATPE State Bylaws and recommend amendments that will ensure the association is fully in compliance with state laws, including the Texas Business Organizations Code (TBOC), which governs the operations of nonprofit organizations such as ATPE.

Under the leadership of Chair Dale Lovett, Olney ATPE, and in consultation with legal counsel and professional parliamentarians, the committee submitted its proposed amendments to the ATPE State Bylaws Committee prior to the March 15 deadline specified in the bylaws. To ensure ATPE’s compliance with state law, the Ad Hoc Committee’s proposed amendments move authority for changing the bylaws from the ATPE House of Delegates (HOD) to the elected Board of Directors, with several accompanying changes made to ensure the voice of ATPE members is heard and protected. The Bylaws Committee held its annual meeting March 23 and voted to recommend adoption of the proposed amendments by the 2021 HOD; the ATPE Board of Directors took the same action at its February meeting and also recommends adoption by the 2021 HOD.

All ATPE members will have multiple opportunities to learn more about the Ad Hoc Committee’s proposal:

• A Zoom town hall meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 22. Register at atpe.org/bylaws-town-hall (login required to register).
• A member-only landing page will be published on the ATPE website in the coming weeks.
• The Summer 2021 ATPE News will contain information about the Ad Hoc Committee’s work.
• Members of the Ad Hoc Committee are available to speak at region meetings and address questions.
• Members may email questions to a dedicated email address, bylaws@atpe.org.

In addition, delegates representing their local units and regions in the 2021 ATPE House of Delegates will have additional opportunities to learn more about the proposed amendments, including:

• A delegate Zoom town hall at 7:30 p.m. June 17. Registration will open following the delegate certification deadline.
• A dedicated session during their 2021 ATPE Summit (to be held virtually July 12–15).
• Time during their region caucus during the summit.

Please contact your local unit president (or region president, if you are an at-large member) and are interested in serving as a delegate. Click here to find your local unit president or region president’s contact information.