(revised April 2002)

of SkillsUSA 

Article I - Name

The official name of this organization shall be "South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA".

Article II - Purposes

The purposes of this organization are:

To unite in a common bond without regard to race, sex, religion, creed, or national origin, students enrolled in classes with trade, industrial, technology and health occupations objectives.

To provide a clearinghouse for information and activities.

To provide local, state and national recognition and prestige through an association with affiliated organizations.

To provide a vehicle, national in scope, for organizations to work articulately with trade, industrial, technology and health occupations student groups.

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 for themselves.

To create enthusiasm for learning.

To promote high standards in all phases of occupational endeavor including: ethics, work quality, 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 a 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, technology and health occupations education.

To develop patriotism through a knowledge of our local community, our state, and our nation’s heritage and the practice of DEMOCRACY.

To emphasize the importance of continuos education consistent to the needs of the individual and the requirements of his/her chosen occupation.

ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA is an organization of local chapters, each operating in accordance with a charter granted by SkillsUSA, Inc.

Section 2. The administration and authority in South Dakota’s Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA will be vested in the State Officers and State Association Officers.

Section 3. The South Dakota State Association Officers are the administrators of the State Headquarters. The State Association Officers shall be the State Supervisor of Trade and Industrial Education and Health Occupations.

Section 4. A State Board of Directors shall be a appointed by the Division of Workforce and Career Preparation Representatives for Trade & Industrial Education and Health Occupations Education to provide counsel, advise and assistance to the State Association in carrying out its function.

The membership of this Board shall be: Secondary State President, Postsecondary State President, DWCP Program Representatives for Trade & Industrial Education and Health Occupations Education, a local postsecondary advisor, a local secondary advisor, a high school administrator, a postsecondary technical institute administrator, a representative of the T & I industry, a health industry representative. The Board shall elect a chairman and a secretary from within its membership. The Board shall meet as needed, but at least on an annual basis. Members of the Board, except the State Presidents, shall serve a 2 year term and may be reelected.

 ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership of the South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA shall consist of the total eligible members of the chartered local chapters.

Section 2. A local association must have at least one Postsecondary Division local club and all members of the local chapters must be members of the state and national organization to qualify for a charter.

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

Section 4. South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA will recognize members only through local chapters. Classes of membership which will be recognized are:

Active Membership - Students enrolled full time in postsecondary vocational courses offered in trade, industrial, technology and health occupations meeting the requirements of the State Plan for Vocational Education.

Associate Membership - Cooperative employers, and/or training station sponsors, advisory council members and lay persons associated with and contributing to the improvement and development of the organization and trade, industrial, technology and health occupations education. They are not eligible to hold office or vote.

Professional Membership - Persons associated with or participating in the professional development of SkillsUSA as approved by a state association. Such members shall include Club Advisors, Teacher Educators and Supervisors. Professional members will pay dues as established by SkillsUSA, but members will be ineligible to serve as a voting delegate, hold office or otherwise represent the local chapter in state SkillsUSA.

Honorary Life Membership - Individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of SkillsUSA and trade, industrial, technology and health occupations education whose membership has been approved by the State Association Officers upon the recommendations of a local association. Such membership shall not require payment of dues.

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

ARTICLE V - STATE OFFICERS

Section 1. The State Officers of the South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA shall be the President, a Vice President from each charter school, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Parliamentarian, and the Historian/Reporter.

Section 2. The President shall be elected at the annual meeting held in conjunction with the Skills Championships.

Section 3. The Vice Presidents shall be elected, one from each postsecondary chartered school, during the month of September by their local chapter.

Section 4. The other State Officers shall be elected by the House of Delegates.

Section 5. Should the Presidency be vacated, the office shall be filled by one of the Vice Presidents following an internal election. The Vice Presidency vacated will be filled by an election at the charter school. Vacancies in any other of the offices shall be filled by appointment by the President and the Vice Presidents.

ARTICLE VI - QUALIFICATIONS FOR STATE OFFICE

Section 1. Candidates for a State Office shall have: Active membership status, and the endorsement of their local chapter.

Section 2. All candidates for State Office must declare their candidacy prior to the election.

Section 3. Candidates for State Office shall submit their qualifications to the voting delegates prior to the election.

Section 4. A two to five minute speech will be given by each candidate prior to balloting.

Before final ballots are cast, the candidates shall respond to a problematic oral question. The question shall be the same for all candidates for their respective offices and shall be originated by the State Staff.

Final ballots are cast by the delegates.

Candidates receiving a majority vote on the primary ballot shall be elected to office and said office shall not be listed on the final ballot. The two candidates for all other offices receiving the most votes, but failing to receive a majority on the primary ballot, shall have their names placed on the final ballot for election.

ARTICLE VII - STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. The State Executive Council shall consist of the State President, the Vice Presidents, and the State Association Officer(s) with advisory capacity only and with no voting privileges.

It shall be the duty and function of the State Executive Council to:

Conduct business pertaining to the students they serve.

Advise the State Association Officers concerning the execution of the decisions of the House of Delegates.

Preside over the State meetings and conferences.

Call special meetings and conferences, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Propose and revise amendments to the Postsecondary Constitution and Bylaws and recommend legislation to the House of Delegates.

Adopt and distinguish, as appropriate, the existing State Association emblem, colors, motto, creed, jewelry and wearing apparel, and create, design or select other items it may wish to adopt as official property of the organization with approval of the State Association Officers.

ARTICLE VIII - HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Section 1. The House of Delegates shall consist of three voting delegates and a Vice President from each active chartered local club for a total of four(4) voting delegates. Each delegate shall have one vote and must be present to vote. It shall be the duties and functions of the House of Delegates to:

Enact bylaws, rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the affairs and activities of the organization.

Elect State Officers of the organization.

Act upon items of business as requested by the State Association Officers.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS

Section 1. A meeting of the South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA will be held at such time and place as the State Officers and State Association Officers may decide.

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

Section 3. Parliamentary procedures at all meetings will be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.

ARTICLE X - VOTING

Section 1. Members shall exercise their franchise at State meetings or conferences through duly elected representatives or delegates of the chartered local associations.

Section 2. All official delegates and alternates must be certified by the SkillsUSA advisor of each chapter to the State Association Officers.

Section 3. Voting on State Officers and honorary positions shall be done by secret ballot.

Section 4. Any person running unopposed for State Office shall be elected by acclamation.

Section 5. If a delegate is unable to attend a meeting, an alternate will be selected by the local chapter and written verification of delegate status provided by the local club advisor.

ARTICLE XI - FINANCES

Section 1. Local associations shall be responsible for annual state and national dues according to the number of individual members claimed in each membership classification.

Section 2. All organization monies from the local associations shall be deposited with the State Association Officers.

Section 3. The annual state dues shall be $3.00 per active member, $3.00 for professional members and $3.00 for all other memberships.

Section 4. Upon final dissolution or liquidation of the South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA, and after the discharge of satisfaction of all outstanding obligations and liabilities, the remaining assets shall be used by the State Association Officers for the benefit of students of Trade, Industrial, Technology, and Health Occupations education.

Section 5. The fiscal year of the South Dakota Postsecondary Association of SkillsUSA shall be September 1 through August 31.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The constitution and bylaws may be amended as follows:

A proposed amendment must be presented in writing to the local officers and to the State Association Officers 15 working days prior to a state meeting.

The amendments shall be reviewed by the State Executive Council and State Association Officers.

It must then be presented for vote at an official business meeting of the House of Delegates at the State meeting. Amendments to the constitution shall be adopted upon two-thirds affirmative vote of the House of Delegates. Amendments to the bylaws shall be adopted by a majority of the House of Delegates.

ARTICLE XIII - BYLAWS AND OPERATING POLICIES

Section 1. Bylaws shall be adopted by a majority vote of the House of Delegates.

Section. 2 Operating policies shall be adopted as determined by the State Executive Council and State Association Officers.

Section 3. A student elected to a State Office must remain in an active membership status until the completion of the term of office.

ARTICLE I - COMMITTEES

Section 1. It shall be the responsibility of the State President to appoint State Committees and delegate their duties.

Section 2. The State President shall appoint committees each year at the state meeting as necessary.

Section 3. All business to be brought before the House of Delegates must first be reviewed by the appropriate committee before presentation to the House of Delegates.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS FOR STATE OFFICE

Each local association is eligible to submit candidates for state office. Postsecondary officers to be elected are President, a Vice President from each chartered school, Treasurer, Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Historian/Reporter.

All official forms must be filed with State SkillsUSA by the deadline date published annually. All candidates must follow the nomination and election procedures as published annually. The following qualifications may be updated by the State Executive Council and the State Association Officers:

Active membership status.

Endorsement of local association through nomination by a majority vote of the local members. 

Must be available to represent the state organization through personal appearances during his/her tenure of office.