Constitution And Membership
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A SHORT HISTORY OF WERA
Our organization began in 1925 when a group of men representing publishing houses formed the Wisconsin Bookmen's Association/W.B.A. to solve the problems of the day and for social benefits.
In 1947 the National Professional and Fraternal Bookmen's Organization was formed for men of long experience and high qualifications. The Wisconsin Pi Chapter was founded in 1949.
In 1964 the Wisconsin Bookmen's Association joined with Pi Chapter of the Professional Bookmen of America to include on different levels all eligible individuals.
By 1977 our organization reflected a broader base in types of educational areas represented, as well as including a significant number of women taking an active role in educational sales. Therefore, a committee was formed to revise and streamline our constitution to represent our organization's needs of the day. We are know known as the WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION/W.E.R.A.
The following constitution was approved by our members at our October 1981 meeting.
We invite our new members to read this constitution, and become active in participating and perpetuating our long tradition of professionalism and the spirit of friendship within our organization.
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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OCTOBER 1981
WISCONSIN EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION
W.E.R.A.
People Serving Wisconsin Education
PREAMBLE:
The purpose of this organization is to foster and maintain high professional standards among those of us who are representatives of companies or persons calling on the administrators, educators, and teachers of this state; to create a better understanding and solution of the problems common to all; to facilitate the exchange of educational information for common good; to consider such matters of business that may be of common interest; and to expand the spirit of friendship and dignity within our membership.
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
A member is a person who is engaged in sales and/or service of educational products to schools. These products must be used by the teachers and/or students in their actual educational process. Therefore, persons selling products, clothing, cleaning products, athletic and sports equipment, are not eligible for membership.
ARTICLE II - OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
The officers of this organization shall be:
1. President
2. President-elect
3. Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Standing Committees shall be:
1. Executive Committee (President, President-elect, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, and Past President)
2. Nominating Committee: To be appointed by the President.
3. Exhibit Committee: To be appointed by Exhibit Coordinator.
Other committees shall be appointed by the President or the Executive Committee at their discretion.
ARTICLE III - MEETINGS
There shall be a minimum of two regular meetings each year.
ARTICLE IV - DUES AND FEES
The annual dues for all members shall be determined on a yearly basis. Failure to pay the dues by July 1st means an automatic fine of $10.00. Failure to pay the dues and fine by August 1st means the membership is forfeited and the name may not appear on the WERA DIRECTORY. Memberships accepted after December 1st shall pay an initial $10.00 dues fee for the remaining year until July 1st.
ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by either of the following:
A. A two-third majority vote of the members in good standing present at a meeting and voting, providing that:
1. Written notice of the intention to amend this constitution was given to the Executive Secretary at the proceeding meeting and/or
2. The general membership was advised in writing two weeks (14 days) prior to the meeting as to the nature of the proposed amendment.
3. After the amendment has passed, written notice must again be sent to all members in good standing.
B. A two-third majority vote of members in good standing who respond to a mailed ballot procedure.
1. The Executive Secretary is responsible for notice of amendments, tabulation of ballots, and reports of final results.
2. Ballots received after 30 days from date of notice will be void.
ORGANIZATIONAL FLOW CHART/W.E.R.A.
PRESIDENT
I
PRESIDENT-ELECT
I
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER
I
EXHIBIT COORDINATOR
I
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Past President . two year term President . two year term President-Elect . two year term Exec. Sec.-Treas.. three year term Exhibit Coordinator . three year term
I
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Appointed by President for a two year term. Chaired by the past president
I
EXHIBIT COMMITTEE:
Exhibit Coordinator . three year term Appointed members . three year term
BY-LAWS OF W.E.R.A.
ARTICLE I-THE YEAR
The stated year for membership dues and Executive Committee tenures shall be July 1st of each year.
ARTICLE II - THE MEMBERSHIP
Membership may be terminated when member:
1. No longer meets the requirements of occupation.
2. Fails to pay dues or assessments.
3. Brings discredit upon the organization:
With removal by this voting procedure: A three-fourths majority vote of members in good standing who respond to a mailed ballot procedure. The Executive Secretary is responsible for the notice of this vote, tabulation of the ballots, and reporting of the final results. Ballots received after 30 days from date of notice will be void.
Members terminated because of job-oriented ineligibility may be reinstated by simply requalifying and resubmitting a new application.
Honorary life membership may be bestowed by the Executive Committee to retired members.
ARTICLE III - DIRECTORY LISTINGS
The yearly mailing of the WERA DIRECTORY of all members of this organization who are in good standing as of August 1st of each year will be to all schools in the state of Wisconsin.
1. It shall show the company's name, address, and zip code, plus the name, address, zip code, and telephone number of the member.
2. Each member is entitled to one listing in the WERA DIRECTORY of the representatives name, address, and telephone number or numbers.
3. Each member will be allowed, for an extra charge, additional listings consisting of company name with cross reference to the representative.
Example: Oddo . see representative for Hammond.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, COMMITTEES, their election, appointments, and duties.
1. PRESIDENT. The President-elect of the past two years shall move up to the Presidency for a term of two years.
2. The PRESIDENT-ELECT shall be elected for a term of two years then move up to the Presidency.
3. The EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER is to be elected for a term of three years.
4. The immediate PAST PRESIDENT shall be a member of the Executive Committee for two years after the term as president.
5. The office of PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER shall take effect July 1st of the year of their election. The Exhibit Coordinator shall take office on January 1st following his/ her election.
Duties and compensation of officers:
1. The President shall preside at meetings, appoint committees, and perform usual presidential duties.
2. The President-elect shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the President's inability to serve for any reason.
3. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer, duties;
Shall receive all monies of the Association (except monies for exhibits), keep a just and accurate account of same, and make disbursements as directed by the Executive Committee or other qualified persons.
Shall keep the minutes of the Association meetings and the Executive Committee meetings.
Shall be responsible for the preparation, printing, and mailing of the annual WERA DIRECTORY.
Shall conduct general correspondence, and with the advice and approval of the Executive Committee assume the responsibility of preparing all necessary forms and blanks.
Shall be responsible for disseminating necessary notices, bulletins, and ballots to the membership.
Shall prepare, with the advice and approval of the Executive Committee suitable publicity material and arrange for its publication through any or all communication channels as needed.
Shall be responsible for maintaining communication with the Executive Secretary of the National Professional Bookmen of America, and for the collection of dues for those WERA members who wish to establish or retain their contact with the National organization.
Shall collect the extra dues as requested by the National organization, fill out all necessary forms and return requested forms and monies due to the National offices.
4. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall be authorized to draw a stipend to be established yearly by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership for administrative and secretarial services rendered.
5. The Exhibit Coordinator, duties:
a. Shall be responsible for handling all details for the WERA exhibit at the WERA convention.
b. Shall assist in coordinating exhibits with educational agencies throughout the state for the betterment of exhibit conditions for WERA members.
c. Shall be responsible for receiving and disbursing all monies related to exhibits.
6. The Exhibit Coordinator shall be authorized to draw a stipend to be established yearly by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership for administrative and secretarial services rendered.
Committees and their duties:
1. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall consist of three members of which two are appointed by the President.
The immediate Past President is the third member and shall be the chairperson.
Duties: They shall present a slate of nominees for President-elect and Executive Secretary-Treasurer for election at the annual spring WERA meeting.
They shall present a slate of nominees for Exhibit Coordinator for election at the annual fall meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any active voting member in good standing.
2. The exhibit committee shall consist of the Exhibit Coordinator who shall be the chairperson with the responsibility to appoint the remaining members.
The exhibit committee shall assist the Exhibit Coordinator in carrying out his/her duties.
ARTICLE V-MEETINGS
There shall be a minimum of two meetings a year. One in the early Spring or late Winter. The Fall meeting should precede the FALL WERA EXHIBIT at Milwaukee.
An agenda for all meetings shall be prepared by the President and be submitted to all members in good standing a minimum of two weeks (14 days) prior to the time of the meeting. This agenda should include the subject areas to be discussed.
A quorum shall exist when not less than 25% of all members in good standing plus two officers shall be present.
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Amendments
People Serving Wisconsin Education
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
It is the recommendation of the Executive Committee that a change in the starting date of the office of Executive Secretary-Treasurer be made. The recommendation is to move the effective date from July 1st to January 1st following his/her election. The reason for this change is to make the transition from one officer to the next as easy as possible. Changing officers on July 1st puts it right in the middle of assembling the directory. Moving the effective date to January 1st would avoid this conflict.
This necessitates two amendments to the constitution.
1) Article IV - Officers, Directors, Committees now reads:
1. PRESIDENT. Tho President-elect of the past two years shall move up to the Presidency for a term of two years.
2. The PRESIDENT-ELECT shall be elected for a term of two years then move up to the Presidency.
3. The EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER Is to be elected tor a term of three years.
4. The Immediate PAST PRESIDENT shall be a member of the Executive Committee for two years after the term as president.
5. The office of PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER shall take effect July 1st of the year of their election. The Exhibit Coordinator shall lake office on January 1st following his/ her election.
Section 5 should read: The office of PRESIDENT and PRESIDENT ELECT shall take effect July 1st of the year of their election. The EXHIBIT COORDINATOR and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER shall take office on January 1st following his/her election.
2) Committees and their duties now reads:
1. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall consist of three members of which two are appointed by the President.
The Immediate Past President is the third member and shall be the chairperson.
Duties: They shall present a slate of nominees for President-elect and Executive Secretary-Treasurer for election at the annual spring WERA meeting.
They shall present a slate of nominees for Exhibit Coordinator for election at the annual fall meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any active voting member In good standing.
Section 1 Duties should read:
They shall present a slate of nominees for PRESIDENT-ELECT for election at the annual spring WERA meeting.
They shall present a slate of nominees for EXHIBIT COORDINATOR and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-TREASURER for election at the annual fall meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any active voting member In good standing.
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Membership Benefits
Why should an educational products Sales Representative in Wisconsin join the Wisconsin Educational Representatives Association (WERA)?
• Members are listed on our website directory. This shows rep information and the information of your company or companies amongst all of the other reps and companies covering Wisconsin. Your competitors are listed.
• We now offer company logos to really jump out at the customer. This logo is “live” as on many websites, so a click on this logo takes the customer right to the company site! Your customer can link to your email right off the On-Line Directory as well.
• In order to differentiate the territories of two or more reps from one company covering different areas of Wisconsin we offer Sales Territory pop-up maps to help our customers find the right rep.
• Potential customers can use our Curriculum Adoption Services and submit an Adoption Materials Request Form to be posted on our Curriculum Adoption Schedule. Customers can also use our website Browse by Subject and County feature. When searching through our Online Companies Directory or the Directory by Representatives Name, the customer can build a list of members or companies to contact through our Contact Builder window.
• In the fall we will do a mailing and emailing blitz to Principals, Librarians, Curriculum Directors and Administrators, promoting our website and the information it offers. The WERA website is a conduit of information to the educational marketplace.
• The On-Line directory can be printed out as a PDF file.
• We have a comprehensive Exhibits Schedule for the entire school year. This schedule also allows you to click and send emails to the contact people for the particular exhibit or to link to the organization’s website.
• Perhaps most importantly, membership in WERA offers us the opportunity meet and network with other professionals within our industry. Most of our members are very open and friendly and share the concerns prevalent in trying to do our job. WERA has two meetings each school year. We have a fall meeting which coincides with WEAC (the end of October) and a late winter meeting which coincides either with the Central Wisconsin Educators conference (first Friday of March) in the Wausau area or the Northeast Wisconsin Education Association (NWEA) meeting (second Friday of March), which is in Green Bay.
• WERA tries to keep to a high standard of excellence in our dealings with educational professionals and with our fellow members. We are aware that the educational conferences and exhibits are not as well attended and in many cases not as productive as in the past. We are attempting to work with the leaders of these conferences to insure that the money and time invested pays off for us and for the publishers and distributors we represent. We are certain that if we are positioned properly and if attendees are given adequate time to visit exhibits and encouraged by the conference organizers to visit exhibits, that the experience will be good for exhibitors and for us as representatives.
• When there are employment opportunities, whenever possible, we try to let our members know. When independent, commissioned lines are looking for representation, we make that information available if possible. In short, we try to look after our members.
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Join WERA
You can now join WERA directly from our web site. If you are not yet a member and wish to join, please click here..
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