The Technology Student Association is a national organization as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws. These define the TSA's purpose, motto, creed, organizational structure, meeting procedure, and parliamentary authority, as well as its emblem and colors.

TSA Constitution

ARTICLE I. NAME

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARTICLE VII. THE LOCAL TSA ADVISOR

ARTICLE VIII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE IX. COUNCIL OF STATE PRESIDENTS

ARTICLE X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

ARTICLE XI. EMBLEM AND COLORS

ARTICLE XII. MOTTO AND CREED

ARTICLE XIII.

© 2009 Technology Student Association

BY LAWS OF THE ABINGDON HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I NAME

Section 1. The official name of this organization shall be the " Abingdon High School Technology Student Association" and may be referred to as “AHSTSA”.

ARTICLE II PURPOSES

Section 1. The general purposes of this organization are:

1. To promote leadership, fellowship, and scholarship among students of Abingdon High School,
2. To promote technology education at Abingdon High School,
3. To increase the knowledge and understanding of our industrial society and its relationship to technological advancement.
4. To promote creativity and innovation in the development and application of technological solutions to complex problems facing our school, community, nation, and world.
5. To promote community service and outreach.

Section 2. The specific purposes of the Association are:

1. To develop through group action the ability of members to plan together, organize and carry out worthy activities and projects.
2. To provide good leisure time activities and hobbies.
3. To promote high standards of craftsmanship and safety.
4. To assist in providing guidance and counseling for students interested in technology and in making meaningful choices in selected occupational fields.
5. To prepare individuals for enrollment in advanced or highly skilled vocational and technical education programs.
6. To develop consumer knowledge in students
7. To provide occupational information and instructions pertaining to a broad range of occupations.
8. To provide exploratory experiences in technology laboratories, and observations in business or industry to acquaint students with jobs in the different occupations
9. To promote and encourage all students in creative expression.
10. To promote and encourage all students to utilize basic essential skills.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The Abingdon High School TSA will be chartered as a member of TSA Incorporated, upon approval of Virginia TSA Incorporated.

Section 2. The Abingdon High School TSA will recognize individual membership through local chapter affiliation with the Technology Student Association

Section 3. The Abingdon High School chapter will govern membership eligibility. Individual membership shall be recognized as active, alumni, associate, or honorary membership.

Section 4. Active members shall be students enrolled in or having completed any Technology

Education course. An active member shall pay dues and may be declared eligible to

hold office, to participate in competitive events and projects, to serve as a voting

delegate or otherwise represent his or her chapter in Abingdon High School TSA

affairs as may be approved by the Abingdon High School TSA Bylaws.

Section 5. Alumni membership may be obtained after graduation from school by paying annual dues. Alumni members cannot hold office or vote.

Section 6. Associate members are parents, guardians, or patrons who manifest an interest in Technology Education and who contribute an amount at least equal to annual dues and enjoy all rights and privileges except holding office and voting.

Section 7. Honorary life members may be individuals who have made or are making contributions to the advancement of Technology Education, and shall be exempt from annual dues. Honorary life members may not hold office or vote.

Section 8. The membership shall be August 1to July 31.

Section 9. The Chapter Officers, referred to as the executive team, shall consist of a: President, Vice president, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Immediate Past President.

Section 10. The executive team shall serve as a credentials committee to review all chapter officer candidates and their qualifications. Also, the executive team will have the right to fill by appointment any vacancy that occurs in the chapter officers for the unexpired term, except the office of President, which shall be filled by the Vice president.

ARTICLE IV VOTING

Section 1. All registered voting delegates in attendance at the general assembly shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

ARTICLE V MEETINGS

Section 1. Officer’s meetings will be held on certain dates to be designated by the Abingdon High School TSA executive team. The time and place of the meeting is also to be designated by the Abingdon High School TSA executive team.

Section 2 The chapter officers and the chapter faculty advisor shall have the right to set up special meetings.

Section 3 There shall be an election of officers held on a pre-determined date for the coming school year.

Section 4. Parliamentary procedure by the guidelines set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, or any revision thereof, shall govern all meetings of the Abingdon High School TSA.

ARTICLE VI CHAPTER OFFICERS

Section 1. With the exception of the Immediate Past President, chapter officers shall be elected by a majority of delegate votes cast at a general meeting at a pre-determined date to hold office for the coming year and until new officers are elected. The position of Immediate Past President shall be filled by the president of the previous AHSTSA membership year to hold office for the coming year and until new officers are elected.

ARTICLE VII DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. President

The association president shall:

1. Preside at and conduct meetings according to parliamentary procedure.
2. Appoint committees and serve as ex officio member of each.
3. Keep the meetings moving at an interesting pace.
4. Call upon other officers to take the chair when necessary or desirable.
5. Keep association activities progressing in a satisfactory manner.
6. Represent the association in outside activities.
7. Serve as a member of the association advisory committee or appoint a member from the Executive Board to fulfill that duty.

Section 2. Vice-President

The association Vice-President shall:

1. Assist the president
2. Serve and record member votes.
3. Succeed the president in case of vacancy.
4. Serve as chairperson of the membership and program committee.
5. Meet with and be responsible for all committees.

Section 3. Secretary

The association Secretary shall:

1. Prepare and read the minutes of each meeting.
2. Count and record member votes.
3. Read correspondence and communications at meetings.
4. Keep association permanent records.
5. Post notices to members pertaining to association activities and send invitations to guests.
6. Be responsible for association correspondence.
7. Call the meeting to order in the absence of the presiding officer.

Section 4. Treasurer

The association treasurer shall:

1. Report all financial standing at each meeting. (A written report should be provided to each officer.)
2. Keep an accurate record of receipts and payments.
3. Obtain and present ideas and suggestions for increasing the treasury and financing activities.
4. Keep the state advisor apprised of the financial changes of the Abingdon High School TSA.

Section 5. Reporter

The association reporter shall:

1. Prepare articles for publication.
2. Contact members to obtain news regarding the association.
3. Contact personnel in charge of other publications and provide copy conforming to their requests.
4. Act as historian of the association by keeping an association publications archive.
5. Assist with planning and arranging association exhibits.
6. Act as editor of association publications with the responsibility of developing and publishing.

Section 6. Sergeant at Arms

The association sergeant at arms shall:

1. Serve as parliamentarian for the association.
2. Arrange meeting rooms and care for association paraphernalia.
3. Be responsible for the comfort of those present at all meetings.
4. Assist officer candidates prior to and during elections.
5. Arrange entertainment, refreshments, and other details related to meeting programs.
6. Serve as chairperson of the welfare committee.

Section 7. Immediate Past President

The association immediate past president shall:

1. Assist the president and other officers by providing guidance and insight.
2. Promote the general welfare of the association.

ARTICLE VIII THE ABINGDON HIGH SCHOOL TSA ADVISORS

Section 1. It is recommended that a Technology Education teacher serve as the chapter faculty advisor; however, in the case where there is no such interested teacher, a state certified educator may be appointed by the school’s principal. The appointed advisor would have all the rights and privileges of a regular advisor as long as her/she maintains his/her chapter in good standing.

Section 2. There may also be additional adult chapter advisors who offer expertise, guidance, and supervision, appointed by the executive team and faculty advisor with the approval of the principal.

ARTICLE IX ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The Abingdon High School Association of TSA is an Association of students in our school interested in technology.

Section 2. The administration of Abingdon High School TSA interests will be vested in the Chapter Advisor and the Chapter Officers.

ARTICLE X FINANCES

Section 1. The Abingdon High School TSA will be responsible for dues as determined by the executive team and advisors.

Section 2. The Abingdon High School TSA shall prepare a budget including receipt and expenditures, for presentation at chapter general assembly meetings.

ARTICLE XI EMBLEM AND COLORS

Section 1. The TSA emblem is a rectangular shape with three parts. The middle section and largest part of the emblem contains the letter TSA in a very large, bold print. The letters are white on a Navy Blue background. Below these letters and about 1/3 the size, is the name of the association—Technology Student Association—in white letters on a red background. The top portion contains the name – Abingdon High School—in white letters on a red background. The logo is a modern, futuristic symbol that represents the association’s commitment to technology and its impact on the future.

Section 2. The colors of Abingdon High School TSA shall be scarlet (red) PMS 1795, white, and navy blue PMS 286.

1. Scarlet (red)—represents the strength and determination of the technology education students and teachers to obtain their goal.
2. White—represents the high standards, morals, and religious beliefs we hold.
3. Blue (navy)—represents the sincerity of the technology education students and teachers in obtaining a greater knowledge of our technical world.

ARTICLE XII MOTTO, CREED, AND MISSON

Section 1. The motto of the Abingdon High School Technology Student Association will be “Learning to live in a technical world.”

Section 2. The creed of the Abingdon High School Technology Student Association will be:

I believe that Technology Education holds an important place in my life in the technical world. I believe that there is a need for the development of good attitudes concerning work, tools, materials, experimentation and processes of industry.

Guided by my teachers, artisans from industry, and my own initiative, I will strive to do my best in making my school, community; state and nation better places in which to live.

I will accept the responsibilities that are mine. I will accept the theories that are supported by proper evidence. I will explore on my own for safer, more effective methods of working and living.

I will strive to develop a cooperative attitude and will exercise tact and respect for their individuals.

Through the work of my hands and mind, I will express my ideas to the best of my ability.

I will make it my goal to do better each day the task before me and to be steadfast in my belief in my God and my fellow Americans.

Section 3. The mission of the Abingdon High School Technology Student Association is to foster personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design and engineering. Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts through activities, competitive events, and related programs.

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS

Section 1. An amendment to this By Laws must be submitted in writing by an active member, at least thirty (30) days or one regularly scheduled meeting, whichever passes first, prior to a regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 2. The proposed amendment must be approved by a three-fourths majority of the voting delegates present.

Section 3. Amendments will become effective in sixty (60) days unless a different time period is stipulated.