Idaho Science Teaching Association Bylaws 

Adopted August 4 2022

 

Preamble

These Bylaws are subject to, and governed by, the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act and the Articles of Incorporation of the Idaho Science Teaching Association. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the mandatory provisions of the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act, the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act will be controlling. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation of the Idaho Science Teaching Association, these Bylaws will be controlling.

 

Article I - Purpose

 

1.1 General.  The Idaho Science Teaching Association (ISTA) is a Chapter and Associated Group

(CAG) of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). The purposes for which the Idaho 

Science Teaching Association is organized are: 

 

1.1.1 To create an active interest in science among educators, students, and community

members.

1.1.2 To encourage more effective science teaching at all levels of instruction in both

formal and informal settings in the schools and colleges in the State of Idaho.

1.1.3 To provide professional development for best practices in science instruction.

1.1.4 To create a space for collaboration and idea sharing between science educators about 

pedagogy, practices, and instruction.

1.1.5 To create opportunities for integration of science across all disciplines of teaching.

1.1.6 The ISTA is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, 

and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the corresponding section of 

any future federal tax code. Specifically, the ISTA shall work to strengthen 

nonprofits through consulting, education, networking, and resources. 

 

1.2 Powers.  The Idaho Science Teaching Association is a nonprofit corporation and shall have all of 

the powers, duties, authorizations, and responsibilities as provided in the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act; provided, however, the ISTA shall neither have nor exercise directly or indirectly in any activity that would invalidate its status as a corporation that is exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

 

Article II - Offices

 

2.1 Principal Office.  To best serve the diverse needs and geographical distribution of the membership 

of the organization, the principal office of the Idaho Science Teaching Association shall exist in a 

digital space. The physical location of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer will serve as the address of 

record for the Association.

 

2.2 Other Offices.  The Idaho Science Teaching Association may have such other offices as the 

Executive Committee may determine or as the affairs of the ISTA may require from time to time.

 

Article III - Executive Committee

 

3.1 General Powers and Responsibilities.  The Idaho Science Teaching Association shall be governed 

by an Executive Committee, which shall have all of the rights, powers, privileges and limitations of 

liability of directors of a nonprofit corporation organized under the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation 

Act. The Executive Committee shall establish policies and directives governing business and 

programs of the ISTA and shall delegate to the Executive Director and ISTA staff, subject to the 

provisions of these Bylaws, authority and responsibility to see that the policies and directives are 

appropriately followed. 

 

3.2 Qualifications and Duties.  

 

3.2.1 Each member of the Executive Committee must be a current or former science

Educator who is a member of the Idaho Science Teaching Association (and is 

encouraged to also be a member of the National Science Teaching Association). 

Each member may hold office until a successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

 

3.2.2 Each member of the Executive Committee shall attend board meetings and ISTA

conferences (both face to face and virtual), present at least one session at the annual 

ISTA conference, help promote the annual ISTA conference, be familiar with the 

Bylaws, review and approve the proposed budget as presented annually by the 

Executive Secretary/Treasurer, approve the minutes of the previous meetings and the 

Executive Secretary/Treasurer’s report, and understand they serve as a fiduciary of 

the ISTA and must make decisions in the best interest of the ISTA.

 

3.2.2 In addition to the regular members of the Executive Committee, representatives of 

such other organizations or individuals as the Executive Committee may deem 

advisable to elect shall be Ex-Officio Board Members, but shall not have voting power, shall not count as one of the regular committee members, and shall not be eligible for office. 

 

3.3 Compensation.  The  Executive Committee shall serve without compensation 

with the exception of the non-voting positions of Communications Coordinator and Vendor 

Coordinator. The State Department of Education representative will be an unpaid and non-voting member of the Executive Committee. Reasonable expenses incurred during the execution of 

Idaho Science Teaching Association business may be reimbursed when extended for and in the 

interest of the Association and approved by the Executive Committee in advance.

 

3.4 Elections.  Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Idaho 

Science Teaching Association members. Any member, in good standing, may attend the annual 

meeting and be eligible to vote in the election of Executive Committee members. 

 

3.4.1 Nominations can be made in writing before the meeting or may be accepted from the floor of the annual meeting. 

 

3.4.2 New and renewing Executive Committee members shall be approved by a simple

majority of the votes received at the time of voting. Positions with only a single 

candidate may be elected by acclamation. 

 

3.4.3 If the election of Executive Committee members shall not be held at such a meeting, such an election shall be held as soon as possible. Voting that does not happen at the annual meeting shall be either by hard-copy or digital balloting as determined by the Executive Committee.

 

3.5 Term of Office.   All positions on the Executive Committee shall be elected for a term of two years.

Elected officials shall take office at the annual meeting.

 

3.5.1 President and President-Elect shall be elected in odd-numbered years and the

Executive Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years. 

 

3.5.2 District Representatives from odd-numbered districts shall be elected in 

odd-numbered years and District Representatives from even-numbered districts shall 

be elected in even-numbered years. 

 

3.5.3 The Communications Coordinator and Elementary Representatives shall be elected in odd-numbered years, and Higher Education and Administration Representatives will be elected in even-number years.  

 

3.6 Vacancies.  Any vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by a simple majority vote of 

the Executive Committee at an Executive Committee meeting at which a quorum is present. An 

Executive Committee member elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of 

their predecessor in office.

 

3.7 Resignation.  Each Executive Committee member shall have the right to resign at any time upon 

written notice thereof to the President. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall 

take effect upon receipt thereof, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to 

make it effective. 

 

3.8 Removal.  Any Executive Committee member may be removed, with or without cause, at any duly 

constituted meeting of the Executive Committee, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of 

then-serving Executive Committee members whenever, in its judgment, the best interest of the 

Association would be served thereby.

 

3.9 Meetings.  The Executive Committee’s regular meetings may be held at such time and place as shall 

be determined by the Committee. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by or at the request of the President or any two members of the Executive Committee. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Executive Committee may designate any place as the place for holding any special meeting called by them. These meetings may be done using digital communication platforms. Notice of any special meeting of the Executive Committee shall be given at least two days previous to the meeting, either by word of mouth or electronic means. The purpose of any special meeting of the Executive Committee shall be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meetings.

 

3.9.1 In accordance with Idaho Code § 30-311(C), it shall not be necessary for notice of 

annual or regular meetings to be given to each member entitled to vote at such meetings. The Communications Coordinator, the President, or members of the Executive Committee shall endeavor to give notice to as many members as reasonably practicable by either word of mouth or electronic means

 

3.9.2 Whenever any notice is required to be given to any member under the provisions of 

the Idaho Nonprofit Corporation Act as set forth in Title 30, Chapter 3, Idaho Code 

(the act) or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (the articles), a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein shall be gained equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

3.10 Minutes.  At meetings of the Executive Committee, business shall be transacted in such order as 

determined by the President’s meeting agenda. Written minutes will be kept by the President-Elect.  

In the event the President-Elect is unavailable, the President shall appoint a person to act as the 

keeper of the minutes at each meeting. The President-Elect, or the person appointed to act as keeper 

of the minues, shall prepare minutes of the meetings which shall be delivered to the 

Communications Coordinator and members of the Executive Committee within fourteen (14) days 

of each Executive Board meeting. 

 

3.11 Action by Written Consent.  Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the Executive 

Committee, or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee, may be taken 

without a meeting if consent in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by all 

Executive Committee members. Such consent shall be placed in the minute book of the Idaho 

Science Teaching Association and shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the 

Executive Committee taken at an actual meeting. The Executive Committee members’ written 

consent may be executed in multiple counterparts or copies, each of which shall be deemed an 

original for all purposes. In addition, facsimile signatures and electronic signatures or other 

electronic “consent click” acknowledgments shall be effective as original signatures. 

 

3.12 Quorum. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 

business at any meeting of the Committee, but if fewer than a majority of the committee members 

are present at such a meeting, a simple majority of the committee members present may adjourn the 

meeting without further notice. If attendance falls below the number required for a quorum, the 

meeting shall be information in nature with no business transacted. However, an Executive 

Committee member shall be considered present at any meeting if during the meeting they are in cell 

phone or electronic communication with the other Executive Committee members participating in 

the meeting. If at any time the Executive Committee consists of an even number of members and a 

vote results in a tie, the vote of the President shall be the deciding vote. The act of the majority of 

the members serving on the Executive Committee and present at a meeting in which there is a 

quorum shall be the act of the Committee, unless otherwise provided by the Articles of 

Incorporation, these Bylaws, or a law specifically requiring otherwise.  

 

3.13 Proxy.  A member must be present during a meeting to cast their vote. Proxies shall not be 

recognized.

 

3.14 Board Member Attendance.  An elected Executive Committee member who is absent from three 

consecutive regular meetings of the Executive Committee during a fiscal year is encouraged to 

re-evaluate with the President their commitment to Idaho Science Teaching Association. The Executive Committee may deem a Committee member who has missed three consecutive meetings without such a re-evaluation with the President to have resigned from the Executive Committee.

 

Article IV - Organization of the Association

 

4.1 Executive Committee Members and Officers.  All Executive Committee members, including the 

officers, shall be elected by the general membership of the Idaho Science Teaching Association

according to the guidelines set forth in article 3.4 of these Bylaws with the exception of the State Department of Education Representative and the Vendor Coordinator.

 

4.1.1 The Executive Officers of the Idaho Science Teaching Association shall be: Previous Past Presidents, Past-President, President, President-Elect, Executive 

Secretary/Treasurer, and Communications Coordinator. Any two or more offices 

may be held by the same person, except the office of President and the office of 

Communications Coordinator.  

 

4.1.2 The Executive Committee shall consist of the above-named officers and one 

representative elected by the membership from each of the following 

geographical districts in the state of Idaho:

• District 1. Boundary, Bonner, Benewah, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties

• District 2. Latah, Clearwater, Idaho, Nez Perce, and Lewis Counties

• District 3. Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon, and Owyhee Counties

• District 4. Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln, Cassia, Minidoka, Twin Falls, and Jerome Counties

•  District 5. Bear Lake, Franklin, Oneida, Power, Bannock, Caribou, and Bingham Counties

• District 6. Clark, Fremont, Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Teton, Madison, Jefferson, and Bonneville

• District 7. Valley, Boise, Ada, and Elmore Counties

 

4.1.3 The Executive Committee shall also include an Elementary Representative, a Higher 

Education Representative, and an Administration Representative.  

 

4.1.4 The State Department of Education Representative position shall be filled, at the 

discretion of the President, by the person currently responsible for coordinating 

science education in the state of Idaho.  The Vendor Coordinator position shall be 

appointed by the President and serve at their discretion. 

 

4.2 Duties and Job Descriptions.  

 

4.2.1 The President shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee, have general 

charge of the affairs of theIdaho Science Teaching Association and will represent ISTA in official and public relations capacities (including publications and press releases), maintain contact with Idaho Department of Education and NSTA liaisons, attend the regional or national NSTA annual meetings if funds allow, attend the National Congress on Science Education (NCSE) if funds allow, provide a written agenda for each business meeting, preside over all meetings of the ISTA Executive Committee, write and distribute a monthly newsletter to membership, approve all payment of bills and reimbursements, ensure that each member of the Executive Committee has a current copy of the Bylaws, conduct the elections for new board members, appoint standing or ad Hoc committee chairpersons, subject to the ratification by the Executive Committee, and be in charge of awards and related funding.

 

4.2.2 The President-Elect shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee, actively 

support the President in an intern role, in the President’s absence, preside over meetings of the Executive Committee, attend the National Congress on Science Education (NCSE) if funds allow, attend the regional or national NSTA annual meeting if funds allow, maintain minutes from official business meetings of the Executive Committee at the direction of the President, and supply the minutes of business meetings to the Communications Coordinator and members of the Executive Committee within fourteen (14) days of each Executive Committee meeting.

 

4.2.3 The Past-President shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee, compile the

slate of candidates for the annual election, in the absence of the President and 

President-Elect, preside over meetings of the Executive Committee, and serve as the 

Conference Coordinator by planning and preparing the annual Idaho Science Teaching 

Association conference (developing a conference theme, planning and securing 

speakers, presentations, and workshops, and writing grants and securing appropriate 

funding) with the assistance of a committee and the Vendor Coordinator.

 

4.2.4 Previous Past-President(s) shall be a voting member(s) of the Executive Committee 

and assist the Past-President to prepare the annual Idaho Science Teaching Association conference.

 

4.2.5 The Executive Secretary/Treasurer shall be a voting member of the Executive 

Committee, collect dues, pay authorized bills, and report the financial status to the Executive Committee at business meetings, provide post-conference wrap up financial report, close the books on June 30, and present the results of an internal audit to the Executive Committee within 90 days (the audit will be done by an Association member who is not part of the Executive Committee), propose and present, prior to June 30, a budget for the following fiscal year, maintain necessary documents pertaining to 501C3 status, and serve as custodian of the Association records.

 

4.2.6 The Communications Coordinator shall be a non-voting member of the Executive 

Committee (paid position), create and actively maintain the website of the Idaho Science Teaching Association under the direction of the President (i.e. - a history of ISTA programs, recognitions/awards, President’s newsletters, meeting minutes, etc.), coordinate with the President the distribution of pertinent information through monthly newsletters and social media platforms, collect membership information/fees from website, maintain current membership list (including name, district, and email address of each member), report on membership at board meetings, and collect fees from annual conference vendors and attendees from website.

 

4.2.7 The District Representatives shall be voting members of the Executive Committee, 

assist in the organization of the state-wide conference when held in their region, recruit new and encourage continuing-membership members from districts, encourage regional activities, networking and support among district members, encourage networking and support among and with informal science education members,  actively seek members from their district for awards and recognition, actively disseminate pertinent information from ISTA leadership to members in their districts and bring regional concerns to the Executive Committee, and submit information about regional activities to the Communications Chair to be posted on the website and social media.

 

4.2.8 The Elementary/Higher Education/Administration Representatives shall each be a 

voting member of the Executive Committee, assist in the organization of the state-wide conference when held in their region, recruit new and encourage continuing-membership members from their respective membership categories, encourage their respective membership categories, encourage and recruit pre-service educators to join the ISTA, actively seek members from their respective membership categories for awards and recognition, actively disseminate pertinent information from ISTA leadership to members in their membership categories and bring concerns to the Executive Committee, and submit information about activities to the Communications Chair to be posted on the website and social media

 

4.2.9 The State Department of Education Representative shall be a nonvoting member of 

the Executive Committee, serve as liaison between the ISTA and the Idaho Department of Education, and report on science education related topics from around the state at Executive Committee meetings.

 

4.2.10 The Vendor Coordinator shall  be a non-voting member of the Executive Committee 

(paid position), identify and recruit potential conference vendors,  assist with the conference registration process, and coordinate vendor logistics at the annual Idaho Science Teaching Association conference.

 

4.3 Members.  Any person or entity shall be admitted as a member of the Idaho Science Teaching 

Association upon payment of the annual dues as set by the Executive Committee for the fiscal year 

in which such member or entity applies for membership. Each entity’s or person’s membership shall 

expire according to requirements established by the Executive Committee. Conditions of 

membership and procedures for the suspension or termination of a membership by the ISTA 

may be established from time to time by the Executive Committee and recorded in the minutes of 

the proceedings of the Executive Committee. The ISTA shall have the following classes of 

members:

 

4.3.1 Members are any individuals or entities who support the purposes and goals of the 

ISTA as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and in Article I of the Bylaws. 

Members shall have full voting privileges and shall be eligible to hold any office or 

serve on the Executive Committee as per qualifications set forth in Article III of the 

Bylaws.

 

4.3.2 Student members are any individuals or entities who support the purposes and goals 

of the ISTA as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and in Article I of the Bylaws and who are interested in science or science education as a potential career. Student members may be entitled to one vote on any issue or matter submitted to a vote of the membership. Student members may serve on the Executive Committee if duly elected as one of the officers of the ISTA.

 

4.3.3 Honorary life members are any individuals or entities who support the purposes and 

goals of the ISTA as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and in Article I of the Bylaws and who have, in the past, made significant contributions to the purposes of the ISTA, serving in any capacity. Honorary life members shall be nominated by the membership and approved through a vote of the membership.

 

4.4 Staff.  The Executive Committee shall employ an Executive Director as needed and shall authorize 

the employment of other employees as are needed to carry out the purposes of the organization. The 

Executive Director shall select the other employees, who shall be hired by the Executive Director 

after ratification of their selections by the Executive Committee. The salary or wages and other 

terms of employment shall be set by the Executive Committee, who may enter into contracts of 

employment with such employees on behalf of the Idaho Science Teaching Association. The 

Executive Committee may elect to contract certain duties as needed.

 

Article V - Committees

 

5.1 Subcommittee Chairs. The President may designate and appoint subcommittees of the Executive 

Committee as deemed necessary. Each subcommittee shall be chaired or co-chaired by an Executive

Committee member appointed by the President or, at the President’s discretion, selected by the 

subcommittee’s members, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Non-Executive 

Committee subcommittee members may be appointed to any subcommittees at the discretion of the 

President. 

 

5.2 Standing Committees. The Executive Committee will serve as the primary standing committee of 

the Idaho Science Teaching Association.  The President may establish such additional committees 

as are necessary and appropriate to carry out the business of the ISTA. These may include a 

membership committee and an auditing committee as well as any other other committees the work 

of the Association shall demand. To the extent possible, the President shall appoint members of the 

standing committees so as to provide a broad geographic representation on these committees. 

 

5.2.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and representatives of the 

Idaho Science Teaching Association as outlined in article 4.1 of the Bylaws and, by the President’s decision, the chairpersons of the standing committees. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for conducting ISTA affairs in the intervals between annual meetings, dealing with matters of urgency that may arise between annual meetings, and coordinating the annual performance review of the Executive Director. The Executive Committee shall meet at the discretion of the President. 

 

5.2.2 The Membership Committee shall be responsible for bringing the purposes and 

advantages of membership in the Idaho Science Teaching Association to the 

attention of science educators across the state of Idaho. The Membership Committee 

shall develop long-range membership plans and prepare and recommend an annual 

membership campaign to the Executive Committee. 

 

5.2.3 The Auditing Committee shall perform an annual internal audit of the completed 

fiscal year budget, which is prepared by the Executive Secretary/Treasurer. The Auditing Committee should be composed of at least two (2) ISTA members who are not part of the Executive Committee. The resulting audit will be available for review at any time upon written/typed request of a member or standing committee.

 

5.5 Term of Office. Each member of a committee shall serve a term of one year, unless the committee is 

sooner terminated or unless a committee member is removed from such committee. 

 

5.6 Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership of any committee may be filled by appointments made in 

the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointments. 

 

5.7 Quorum: Manner of Acting. The act of the majority of the committee members present at a meeting

 at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

 

5.8 Rules. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these Bylaws 

or with rules adopted by the Executive Committee.

 

Article VI - Miscellaneous

 

6.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Idaho Science Teaching Association shall be from January 1st to 

December 31st. 

 

6.2 Annual Budget. The Executive Committee shall adopt an annual operating budget, which specifies 

major expenditures by type and amount. 

 

6.3 Books and Records. The Idaho Science Teaching Association shall keep correct and complete

books and accounting records and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its Executive 

Committee. 

 

6.4 Contracts and Grants. The Executive Committee may authorize any officer(s) or agent(s) of the 

Idaho Science Teaching Association to enter into contracts, leases, and agreements with and accept

grants and loans from the United States; its departments and agencies; the State of Idaho; its 

agencies, counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions; and public or private corporations, 

foundations, and persons; and may generally perform all acts necessary for a full exercise of the 

powers vested in it. The President and the Executive Director shall have authority to enter into such contracts and expend such funds on behalf of the organization as the Executive Committee may specify. 

 

6.5 Checks, Drafts, or Orders for Payment. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, 

notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Idaho Science Teaching 

Association shall be signed by such officer(s) or agent(s) of ISTA and in such manner as shall from 

time to time be determined by resolution of the Executive Committee. In the absence of such 

determination by the Executive Committee, such instruments shall be signed by either the President 

or the Executive Director and co-signed by the Executive Secretary/Treasurer. 

 

6.6 Deposits. All funds of the Idaho Science Teaching Association shall be deposited from time to time

to the credit of ISTA in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Executive Committee shall select. 

 

6.7 Acceptance of Gifts. The Executive Committee may accept on behalf of the Idaho Science Teaching 

Association any cash contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general purposes, or for any 

special purpose, of ISTA. Prior to acceptance of a significant non-cash contribution, gift, bequest, or 

devise, the Executive Committee shall determine, by resolution thereof, that the acceptance of such 

non-cash contribution, gift, bequest, or devise by ISTA would be consistent with and further the 

purposes of ISTA. 

 

6.8 Contracts Involving Executive Committee Members and/or Officers. Upon full disclosure of a 

direct or indirect interest in any contract relating to or incidental to the operations of the Idaho 

Science Teaching Association, members of the Executive Committee and officers of ISTA may be

permitted to maintain a direct or indirect interest in any such contract, notwithstanding that at such 

time they may also be acting as individuals, or trustees of trusts, or beneficiaries of trusts, members 

or associates, or as agents for other persons or corporations, or may be interested in the same 

matters as shareholders, trustees, or otherwise; provided, however, that any contract, transaction, or 

action taken on behalf of ISTA involving a matter in which a trustee or officer is personally 

interested as a shareholder, trustee, or otherwise shall be at arm's length and not in violation of the

 proscriptions in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws which prohibit ISTA’s use or 

application of its funds for private benefit; and provided further that no contract, transaction, or act 

shall be taken on behalf of ISTA if such contract, transaction, or act would result in denial of ISTA’s 

exemption from federal income taxation under the Code and its regulations, as they now exist or as 

they may hereafter be amended. In no event, however, shall any person or entity dealing with the 

Executive Committee or officers of ISTA be obligated to inquire into the authority of the Executive 

Committee and officers to enter into and consummate any contract, transaction or take other action. 

Any Executive Committee member who would directly or indirectly benefit from a contractual 

relationship as described above shall not participate in the decision on whether that Executive 

Committee member shall be permitted by the Executive Committee to maintain such an interest. 

 

6.9 Investments. The Idaho Science Teaching Association shall have the right to retain all or any part of 

any property – real, personal, tangible, or intangible – acquired by it in whatever manner and 

pursuant to the direction and judgment of the Executive Committee, to invest and reinvest any 

funds held by it without being restricted to the class of investments available to trustees by law or 

any similar restriction. 

 

6.10 Exempt Activities. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, no Executive Committee 

member, officer, employee, or representative of the Idaho Science Teaching Association shall take 

any action or carry on any activity by or on behalf of ISTA which is not permitted to be taken or 

carried on by an organization exempt from federal income taxation under sections 501(a) and 

501(c)(3) of the Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended, or 

by an organization contributions to which are deductible under section 170(a)(1) of the Code and its

 regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended, by virtue of being charitable 

contributions as defined in section 170(c)(2) of the Code and its regulations as they now exist or as 

they may hereafter be amended. 

 

6.11 Captions. Captions (i.e., article and section headings) are inserted in these Bylaws for convenience 

only and in no way define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of these Bylaws, or any provision 

hereof, nor in any way affect the interpretation of these Bylaws. 

 

6.12 Severability of Clauses. If any provision of these Bylaws is held illegal or unenforceable in a 

judicial proceeding, such provision shall be severed and shall be inoperative, and the remainder of 

these Bylaws shall remain operative and binding.

 

6.13 Nondiscrimination. The Idaho Science Teaching Association is an equal opportunity employer and 

shall make available its services without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, 

marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 

political beliefs, or any other category protected by applicable law. 

 

6.14 Parliamentary Procedure. All meetings of the Executive Committee and membership shall be 

governed by Roberts Rules of Order, current edition, unless contrary procedure is established by the 

Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws or by resolution of the Executive Committee.

 

Article VII - Amendments

 

7.1 Initiation of Amendments.  Proposed amendments may be initiated by the Executive Committee or 

by any one of the district representatives. Written text for the amendment should be submitted to the 

President at least 7 days prior to the next Executive Committee meeting for review of the Executive 

Committee.

 

7.2 Voting.  The Executive Committee may amend these Bylaws by majority vote at any regular or 

special meeting. Written notice setting forth the proposed amendment or summary of the changes to 

be effected thereby shall be given to each member within the time and the manner provided for the 

giving of notice of meetings.