About FBLA-PBL

About Arkansas PBL

Arkansas PBL Bylaws

Revised 2002
Revised 2003
Revised 2005
Revised 2006

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this division of Arkansas FBLA-PBL, Inc. shall be "Phi Beta Lambda" and may be referred to as "PBL."

ARTICLE II: Purpose

Section 1.

The purpose of PBL is to provide opportunities for post-secondary students to develop vocational competencies for business and office occupations and business teacher education. PBL is an integral part of the instructional program and in addition promotes a sense of civic and personal responsibility.

Section 2.

The specific goals of PBL are to:

Develop competent, aggressive business leadership
Strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work
Create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise
Encourage members in the development of individual projects which contribute to the improvement of home, business, and community
Develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism
Encourage and practice efficient money management
Encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty
Assist students in the establishment of occupational goals
Facilitate the transition from school to work

ARTICLE III: Classes of Membership

Section 1.

Arkansas State Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda shall consist of members of chartered local chapters. These members shall hold membership in their respective local, state, and national chapters.

Active Members shall be students enrolled in business and/or business-related fields who accept the purpose of PBL and subscribe to its creed. Active members shall pay dues as established by PBL and may be eligible to participate in state competitive events, serve as voting delegates to the National and State Leadership Conference, hold national and state office, or to otherwise represent their state or local chapter as approved by their respective state or local advisers.

Professional Members shall be persons associated with or participating in the professional development of PBL as approved by local chapters. Such members may include local and state chapter advisers, business teachers, business teacher educators, state supervisor of business and office education, employers or supervisors of cooperative work-training students, advisory council members, and other persons contributing to the growth and development of PBL. Professional members shall pay dues as established by the National Office, but shall be ineligible to participate in events, serve as voting delegates, or hold office.

Honorary Life Members may be persons making significant contributions to the field of business and office education and to the growth and development of PBL. Honorary Life members may be recommended by local chapters and approved by the State Executive Council and by the State Board of Directors. These members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office and are not required to pay dues.

Section 2.

The membership year shall be July 1 through June 30.

ARTICLE IV: Governing Board

Section 1.	The governing body of Phi Beta Lambda shall be the FBLA PBL State Board of Directors that composed of the State Chairperson, FBLA State Adviser, PBL State Adviser, and State Presidents of FBLA, PBL, and the Professional Division.
Section 2.	The State Executive Council shall be under the leadership of the State Board of Directors. This Council shall consist of the State Adviser, each State Officer, and each Officer's Adviser. The voting membership of the Council shall be comprised of the elected State Officers.

ARTICLE V: Dues & Finances

Section 1.	Annual state dues for PBL shall be five dollars ($5), of which one dollar ($1) shall be submitted to the Arkansas FBLA PBL State Foundation. The National Office must receive dues of members no later than 30 days prior the State Spring Leadership Conference.
Section 2.	All disbursements must be approved by the PBL State Adviser, and payment made by check. The check shall be signed by the State Chairperson and State Adviser.
Section 3.	A financial statement shall be submitted to the delegates at the Spring and Fall Leadership Conferences.
Section 4.	The FBLA PBL State Board of Directors or its designee shall conduct an annual audit of the financial records of the State Chapter within 30 days following the Spring Leadership Conference.
Section 5.	The fiscal year of Phi Beta Lambda shall begin July 1 and end on June 30 of the calendar year.

ARTICLE VI: Officers and Elections

Section 1.

The Officers of Arkansas PBL shall consist of President, Executive Vice President of Membership, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Director of Communications, Director of State Programs, Secretary-Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. No more than two (2) State Officers (excluding Parliamentarian) shall be from the same local chapter.

Section 1A.

The President, Executive Vice President of Membership, and Secretary Treasurer shall be nominated and elected annually at the Spring Leadership Conference. These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of local chapter voting delegates.

Section 1B.

The Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Director of Communications, and Director of State Programs shall be nominated and elected annually at the Fall Leadership Conference. These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of local chapter voting delegates.

Section 2.

Voting shall be by secret ballot. Should no candidate receive a majority in the first ballot, the two candidates with the largest number of votes shall be included in a second ballot. Each local chapter is represented by voting delegates as follows:

Under 50 Members	2 Voting Delegates
50 - 100 Members	3 Voting Delegates
Over 100 Members	4 Voting Delegates

Section 3.

The PBL member scoring the highest on the Parliamentary Procedure written test who has one full year left in his/her educational program and has submitted an application prior to taking the written test shall be appointed Parliamentarian. He/she shall be an ex officio (non voting) member of the State Executive Council and should attend all meetings.

Section 4A.

To be eligible for nomination to state office, a person must meet the following qualifications:

be an active member in good standing in a recognized PBL chapter in Arkansas,
hold or have held an officer position in his/her local chapter or in a similar organization,
will be enrolled in school during their complete term of office, by carrying a minimum of six credit hours each semester, and
if currently serving as a state officer, the term of office must be expiring at the end of the conference where the officer is seeking nomination.

Section 4B.

Each interested person must submit an application to the State Adviser at least 15 days prior to the Spring Leadership Conference or Fall Leadership Conference.

Section 5A.

Should a vacancy occur for the office of President, the Executive Vice President of Membership will serve the remainder of the term. The State Board of Directors will then accept applications for candidates who meet the officer qualifications and who shall be willing to serve the remainder of the Executive Vice President's term. For other vacancies, the President shall appoint the new officer with two thirds consent of the Council. Preference shall be given to an individual from the vacating officer's chapter, providing that the individual meets all the qualifications for the position.

Section 5B.

Exception to the above shall be for the office of Parliamentarian. Should a vacancy occur in the office of Parliamentarian, the individual who scored the next highest score on the Parliamentary Procedures test shall fill the vacant office, providing that the individual meets all the qualifications for the position.

Section 6.

State Officers may be removed from office under the following condition(s):

Two consecutive absences from their respective assignment, which includes Executive Council meetings, Leadership Conferences, and other assigned meetings.
Failure to fulfill duties and/or obligations to acceptable standards as described in the Bylaws and in the State Officer Candidate Guide section of the Arkansas PBL State Handbook.
Public misconduct, which may cause damage to the State Association's reputation or community standing.
Failure to maintain school enrollment during both the fall and spring semesters of their term (year) in office, by carrying a minimum of six credit hours each academic term.

Removal Procedures

Charges for removal must be initiated by any two (2) members of the Executive Council or any two members from the State Board of Directors.
A committee of five (5) shall be appointed by the State Adviser and State Chairperson to hear dismissal charges. This shall consist of three (3) Executive Council members and two (2) members from the State Board of Directors, excluding the State Adviser.
Once the disciplinary committee has been appointed, the Officer in question and his/her Adviser must be contacted in writing by certified letter with the special charges detailed.
A formal hearing will be held in the State Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, 21 days after the date of certified, receipt requested letter to the Officer.
During the hearing, the highest-ranking PBL State Officer will act as Chairperson of the Committee.
The Officer in question must supply any materials and/or witnesses in his/her defense.
Upon completion of the hearing, a decision by secret ballot will be made.
It will take a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full Disciplinary Committee for dismissal of the Officer in question.

ARTICLE VII: Duties of State Officers

The duties of the State Officers shall be as follows and as set forth in the State Officer Candidate Guide and Application section of the Arkansas PBL State Handbook.

All Officers shall assist in planning, organizing, and attending to the details of the Fall and Spring Leadership Conferences.

All Officers are expected to attend National, Regional, and State Leadership Conferences, including Institute for Leaders.

During their term of office, all Officers will submit a monthly state officer report by the 5th of each month to the State President. The reports will be compiled by the State President and forwarded to the State Adviser for distribution to local chapters by the 15th of each month.

Section 1:	The President shall Serve as Chair of the State Executive Council Preside over the Council meetings and business meetings of PBL Serve as a member of the Board of Directors Appoint appropriate committees and committee chairmen Serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of all committees Create and publish the State Chapter Annual Business Report for National competition and distribution to local chapters by May 15th Perform other duties for the promotion and development of local, state, and national PBL, including the Arkansas business community Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL Consider serving as an Honorary State Officer Adviser for the year following elected term of office
Section 2:	The Executive Vice President of Membership shall Establish, maintain, and coordinate recruitment and retention of members, chapters, Alumni, Professional Division members, and Lifetime members Coordinate officer visits to active and inactive local chapters Coordinate officer interaction with FBLA and travel to FBLA District and State Conferences. Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL Assume the responsibilities of the Office of President if the President is unable to complete his/her term of office
Section 3:	The Director of Marketing and Public Relations shall Develop and maintain promotional materials for State Chapter Coordinate utilization of State Website to serve members and promote State Chapter Develop and maintain corporate and business database and partnership relations around the state to foster continuous involvement with State Association Coordinate interaction with Arkansas PBL Alumni, by creating and maintaining a database and fostering continuous Alumni involvement with State Association Coordinate promotion of PBL to Arkansas FBLA Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL
Section 4:	The Director of Communications shall Gather news from state chapter and local chapters to publish and distribute newsletters to members, inactive chapters, Alumni, Professional Division members, and business partners, etc. Initiate communication with state and national officers to promote quality articles for national publications Create press releases related to State Chapter activities and send to Local, State, and National media Create and maintain local chapter adviser directory Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL
Section 5:	The Director of State Programs shall Assist the State Adviser in planning of state conferences by coordinating workshop topics, workshop presenters, keynote speaker, etc. Assist the State Adviser with competitive events guidelines and coordination Coordinate State Chapter involvement with Arkansas Children's Hospital, the March of Dimes, and other nationally - and state - approved charitable organizations Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL
Section 6:	The Secretary-Treasurer shall Keep an accurate record of all business meetings of the State Leadership Conferences and the State Executive Council Promptly supply at least one copy of the minutes and substantiating reports to the President and State Adviser Present a financial report to members at the Spring and Fall Leadership Conferences Assist the President with the State Chapter Annual Business Report Coordinate collection and preservation of souvenirs, mementos, programs, and other items that can serve to trace the history of the State Chapter Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL
Section 7:	The Parliamentarian shall Advise the President of the orderly conduct of business in accordance with PBL Bylaws and the most recent version of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised Coordinate preparation of Arkansas's Parliamentary Procedure team for National competition Promote and facilitate state officer election process and procedures under direction of the State Adviser Serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the State Executive Council Serve as an Ambassador for Arkansas PBL
Section 8:	These officers shall serve on the State Executive Council, and perform such duties as directed by the PBL President and the State Adviser and not inconsistent with the Bylaws and other rules adopted by PBL.

ARTICLE VIII: Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee to assist in the growth and development of PBL may be appointed as deemed necessary by the State Board of Directors. Recommendations of persons for such appointments shall be requested from the State Executive Council and local chapters.

ARTICLE IX: Meetings

Section 1.	The Spring Leadership Conference shall be held annually and at least 45 days prior to the National Leadership Conference.
Section 2.	The Fall Leadership Conference shall be held annually prior to November 30. The time and place shall be determined by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE X: Emblems and Colors

Section 1.	The official emblem and insignia item designs are described and protected from infringement by registration in the U. S. Patent Office under the Trademark Act of 1946. The State Chapter of PBL in cooperation with the National Chapter shall govern the wearing or displaying of this emblem.
Section 2.	Emblems and insignia shall be uniform in all local chapters and within special emphasis groups; they shall be those of PBL.
Section 3.	The official colors of PBL shall be blue and gold.

ARTICLE XI: Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, shall govern PBL in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules of FBLA PBL, Inc., these Bylaws, or any special rules of order that PBL may adopt.

ARTICLE XII: Amendments

Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the State Chairperson no later than 60 days prior to the Fall or Spring Leadership Conferences by authorized representatives of local chapters or by the State Officers. Proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Executive Council and shall be approved by the Board of Directors before they are submitted to the voting delegates. Amendments may be adopted by a two thirds vote of the Voting Delegates attending the Fall or Spring Leadership Conference. Voting shall be by secret ballot.