Vice President……………….……………………………………..…..Jerry
Burley (Toledo, Illinois 62468)
Secretary-Treasurer………………………………………….………...Pete
Harrington (Illiopolis, Illinois 62539)
Chairman and Southern Committeeman…………………………Chris
Finley (Rosiclare, IL 62982)
Central Committeeman ……………………………………….….....Becky
Payne (Danville, Illinois 61834)
Committeeman-at-Large……………………………………………
Debbie Mullvain (Monticello, IL 61856)
This Association is predicated upon the long-recognized
need of those who work in our service industry for the establishment
of a united force, free from divisive conflict, to accomplish
the organization of all workers within its authority; to advance
the economic and other interests of all members; to safeguard,
enhance, and insure their job security; to enlarge upon their
opportunities, and to provide in every respect their continuing
full share of reward in the growth and expansion of the United
States Postal Service to which they contribute so substantially
in the commitment of their working lives.
This Association shall seek, in unity and with
all of the resources at its command, to realize the highest
aspirations of its members as workers and as citizens. It
deems such realization to be their right, and it shall protect
against all threats of impairment from any source.
This Association is dedicated to the discharge
of its responsibilities and the achievement of its objectives
in accordance with democratic principles, processes, and traditions,
which are embodied in this Constitution. As its basic charter,
this Constitution establishes the Illinois Rural Letter Carriers’
Association and the organic law governing its operation.
A. To maintain democratic procedures and practices,
including provisions for periodic elections to be conducted
subject to recognized safeguards and provisions defining
and securing the right of individual members to participate
in the affairs of the organization, to fair and equal treatment
under the governing rules of the organization, the regulations
of the Department of Labor, and to fair process in any disciplinary
proceedings;
B. To prevent discrimination on the basis
of race, color, age, gender, religion, creed, national origin,
disability, or marital, economic, social, or political status;
C. To prohibit business or financial interests
on the part of organization officers and agents which conflict
with their duty to the organization and its members;
D. To prohibit the interests of those involved
in the “Quality of Worklife Process”, as officers
of this organization from any compromising of the integrity
of the organization. To maintain a strong and viable, as
well as educated and informed membership, those members
of this organization involved in the QWL/EI process must
be active in their attendance and support of the Association
to retain their opportunity to participate in theQuality
of Worklife Process;
E. To maintain fiscal integrity in the conduct
of the affairs of the organization;
F. The State Secretary-Treasurer must be bonded.
The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association bonds
all State Secretary-Treasurers. Bonding is set according
to the amount of the yearly State LM report.
ARTICLE
II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Types of Membership
A. Bargaining Unit Member. Membership is
open to the following rural carriers:
1. Regular Carriers (Designation Code 71), including
regular carriers who are in Injured-
on-Duty/Leave Without Pay (IOD/LWOP) status and assigned
to (980-989) rural routes;
2. Part-Time Flexible Rural Carriers (PTFs, Designation
Code 76);
3. Substitute Rural Carriers (Designation Codes 72 and
73);
4. Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs, Designation Codes 78,
74, 79);
5. Rural Carrier Reliefs (RCRs, Designation Code 75);
6. Auxiliary Rural Carriers (Designation Code 77); and
7. Rural Carriers in the Armed Forces of our country,
provided they were members when
their duty began.
Bargaining Unit Members in good standing are entitled
to all voting rights and to hold both elective and appointive
office at all levels of the Association.
B. Retired Member. Retired membership is open to Rural
Carriers who were members in
good standing at retirement on an annuity. Eligibility
for Retired membership expires on June 30 of the year
following retirement. Failure to pay dues for one full
membership year terminates Retired membership. However,
a Retired carrier whose membership has lapsed, due to
extenuating circumstances, may apply for reinstatement
to the National Secretary-Treasurer by providing proof
of prior membership and the current year’s dues.
The National Secretary-Treasurer shall present the request
for membership to the National Board for a decision. Retired
Members in good standing are entitled to all voting rights
with the exception of ratification of National Agreements.
Retired Members may not be elected to National office.
C. Associate Member. Associate membership is open to
Rural Carriers who were members in good standing and are
now either working in other non-managerial Postal Service
jobs or have left the service and are not receiving an
annuity. Failure to pay dues for one full membership year
terminates Associate membership. Associate Members shall
not be entitled to vote or to hold elective or appointive
office in the Association.
D. Retired Associate Member. Retired Associate membership
is open to Associate Members who have retired on an annuity.
Eligibility for Retired Associate membership expires on
June 30 of the year following retirement. Failure to pay
dues for one full membership year terminates Retired Associate
membership. Retired Associates may not apply for reinstatement.
Retired Associate Members shall not be entitled to vote
or to hold elective or appointive office in the Association.
E. Honorary Member. Honorary membership may be bestowed
by the Association at the National Convention upon recommendation
of the National Board. Honorary Members shall not be entitled
to vote or to hold elective or appointive office in the
Association.
F. Member in Good Standing. A “member in good standing”
is a member who has made timely payment of dues and has
not voluntarily withdrawn or been expelled or suspended
by the Association.
G. Restrictions. Members are prohibited from participation
in the Association while serving in managerial or supervisory
positions, such as Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Acting Supervisor
(204-B) or Postmaster Relief (PMR). Members who accept
managerial positions shall be deemed to have resigned
from all elected and appointed positions within the Association
and the QWL/EI process.
H. Members are not prohibited from participation in this
Association when utilized by the Postal Service to perform
work that benefits both craft and management, such as
assisting with route adjustments or mail counts, serving
on automation or safety teams, or serving as an academy
trainer. In order to avoid any appearance of conflicts
of interest, a steward utilized to perform such work shall
notify the affected carriers whom to contact for representation
in any dispute where the steward is involved.
Section 2.
A. The State Association shall be maintained
by per capita dues.
1. Regular, Associate, or PTF: $345.50
per year
2. Relief Carriers: $148.50. per year
3. Retirees: $57.48 per year
Plus National Dues of:
1. Regular, Associate, or PTF: $153.00
per year
2. Relief Carriers: $50.00 per year
3. Retirees: $30.00 per year
Included in the above State per capita dues
is:
1. Family dues of $10.00 remitted to
auxiliary quarterly
2. County dues of $3.00 remitted back
to each county once a year
B. All persons eligible for and who
choose active membership in this Association shall pay
all per capita dues to the State Secretary in one of the
following ways:
1. Cash dues
2. Standard Form 1187 for the active
members
3. Standard Form 1187R for the retired
member
C. The per capita dues of the membership
shall be determined by the Delegates at the annual meeting
with a 2/3 (two-thirds) vote.
Section 3. The Association
membership and fiscal year shall begin July 1 and end June
30.
ARTICLE
III: OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of
this Association shall be a president, a vice-president,
and a full-time secretary-treasurer, who shall be elected
for a term of one year, or until their successors are elected.
The officers shall discharge the duties of
their respective offices and each shall be entitled to a
voice and vote on all questions in the Annual Meeting including
the election of officers and Board members provided they
are duly elected Delegates.
Section 2. An executive
committee of four (4) elected members.
A. Three (3) of the members shall be elected
one (1) each year, from each of the three leagues for
a three (3) year term or until their successors are elected.
B. The fourth member shall be considered
as the committee member-at-large, and shall be elected
for a two (2) year term or until a vacancy occurs and
or a successor is elected.
C. The Executive Committee shall discharge
the duties of their respective offices and each shall
be entitled to a voice and vote on all questions in the
Annual Meeting including the election of officers and
Board members provided they are duly elected Delegates.
Section 3. The three (3)
elected officers and the four (4) executive committee members
shall compose the State Board also known as the Executive
Board. It shall be the duty of the State Board to have the
general supervision over the affairs of the Association.
Section 4. Compensation
A. All officers shall receive their necessary
traveling, office, and convention expenses during their
term of office.
B. The President, Editor and State
Steward shall receive additional monies monthly in the
amounts of:
1. President: $250.00
2. State Steward: $1,000.00
3. Editor: $100.00
C. The full-time secretary-treasurer
shall receive as his/her compensation an amount equal
to the current annual salary for an evaluated route of
46 hours at Step 12, and shall receive an additional salary
of $500.00 monthly plus expenses noted above, and all
benefits as established per USPS regulations. This
additional salary is compensation for home office expenses
and compensation for any and all hours necessary over
46 hours per week. No other monetary compensation
or benefit will be awarded.
D. Assistant Stewards performing official
business for the ILRLCA shall be compensated a monthly
salary of $300. This additional salary is compensation
for home office expenses and for any and all hours required
above their daily pay.
E. The State Steward shall:
1. Receive forty-six (46)K, step 12 pay,
plus additional salary and expenses noted above.
2. Receive all benefits as established
per USPS regulations.
Section 5.
A. Voting for the elected positions shall
be by secret ballot, and in no case by acclamation except
by unanimous consent. A majority of all votes cast is
needed to elect.
B. Nominations for all elected positions
shall be opened on the first day of convention and remain
open until the final day of the convention when the elections
shall be held.
C. If there is but one (1) nominee for a
position, the election may be by voice, provided there
are no objections.
Section 6. Vacancies
A. Vacancies during the term of office occurring
by deaths, resignations, removal from the rural carrier
craft or dismissal from the State Board because of neglect
of duty shall be filled by the appointment of a successor
by the State Board for the unexpired term, the replacement
shall serve until the next Annual Convention, when all
candidates shall be eligible for election.
1. When any vacancy occurs more than
90 days prior to the opening of the next Annual Convention,
in the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer
or Committeeman-at-Large, the State Board will notify
all members in the state that a vacancy has occurred.
2. The notification will have the
time, date, and location of the state meeting to be
held for the purpose of naming a replacement to the
State Board, notification shall be mailed within 15
days of the vacancy.
3. During the state meeting all members
in good standing will be eligible to have their names
placed in nomination. If more than one (1) member
is nominated the decision will be made by secret ballot
of the members in attendance, the successful candidate
will be submitted to the State Board as the replacement.
4. The vacancy will be filled within
seven (7) days of the League meeting, and announced
in the next issue of The Illinois Rural Carrier paper.
2. When any vacancy occurs more than 90
days prior to the opening of the next Annual Convention,
in the positions of the Northern, Central, or Southern
Committeeman, the State Board will notify all members
in the League from which the vacancy occurred.
a. The notification will have the time, date, and location
of the League meeting, to be held for the purpose of
naming a replacement to the State Board, notification
shall be mailed within 15 days of the vacancy.
b. During the League meeting, all members in good standing
will be eligible to have their names placed in nomination.
If more than one (1) member is nominated, the decision
will be made by secret ballot of the members in attendance.
The successful candidate shall be accepted by the State
Board as the replacement.
c. The vacancy will be filled within seven (7) days
of the League Meeting and announced in the next issue
of the Illinois Rural Carrier.
Section 7. Duties of Officers.
A. President: It shall be the duty of the
president to preside over all meetings of the Association.
The president shall direct the Association work throughout
the state.
The President is responsible for appointing
the following:
1. PAC Chairman
2. Editor
3. GMAC insurance representative
4. State Steward
The State Steward is the only appointee
who will also need Board approval.
B. Vice-President:
It shall be the duty of the vice-president to assist the
president in the performance of his duties and to preside
over all meetings in his absence.
C. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall:
-
Keep a correct record of the
proceedings of all meetings of the Association,
-
Read, or cause to be read,
all communications, reports, etc.,
-
Draw and attest all orders
drawn on the Treasury
-
Conduct all correspondence
of the Association
-
Receive all moneys paid into
the Association and keep an accurate account of same,
and shall deposit it in convenient depositories –
such deposits to be made in the name of “The
Illinois Rural Letter Carriers’ Association”,
and any interest thereon shall be credited to the
funds of the Association
-
Issue checks in payment of
all ordinary and properly itemized invoices and statements,
for authorized payroll payments and for other obligations
of the Association
-
Make a complete financial and/or
membership report to the State Board at their demand
-
Keep on file all documents,
including permanent Necrology reports belonging to
the Association, and at the expiration of the Secretary-Treasurer’s
term of office shall turn same over to the successor
upon written authority of the State Board
-
Close all entries in his books
on June 15th, these books to be carefully audited
and a complete report of the audit committee submitted
to the convention
-
Have printed new copies of
the Constitution each year when there are any approved
changes
-
Have printed a supply of the
Constitutions so each county will have at least four
(4) books and mail them to the County Secretaries
-
Verify that the NRLCA has sent
the Bond certificate to the State Secretary-Treasurer.
-
Make available the financial
reports to any member in good standing who requests,
including the auditors report. This is to be done
in a timely manner.
D. In the event the Secretary-Treasurer
is unable to perform the duties of the office as required,
the Vice-President shall be authorized by notification
of the President to perform same. The State Secretary-Treasurer’s
name and the State Vice-President’s name shall be
on the bank signature authorization card with only one
signature required on checks.
E. The Executive Committee:
1. With the aid of other Association members,
act as a credential committee to see that all Delegates
have proper credentials before they are seated in the
convention
2. Audit all expense accounts of the State
Board
3. Perform such duties as authorized by
the State Board
F. The Secretary-Treasurer will be
responsible for preparing a periodic financial report
providing both the statement of activities and statement
of financial position for the State of Illinois. These
reports shall be published in the Illinois Rural Carrier
each issue.
G. The Secretary-Treasurer will be responsible
for adding all Board policies to the state website, ILRLCA.org.
In addition, when any policies are changed, added or deleted,
the changes will be reflected on the website within 10
days.
Section 8. Full-time Employee
Any full-time state official will be the
sole employee of the ILRLCA, and will be prohibited from
working for any other entity, such as QWL-EI.
Section 9. Eligibility Requirement
Only regular, PTF, and relief carriers
in good standing shall be considered for State Board and
Steward positions, whether elected or appointed.
ARTICLE
IV: MEETINGS/DIVISIONS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting:
A. This meeting shall be composed of its
officers and duly elected Delegates of the various County
Associations within the State.
B. The business meeting of the association
shall be held between June 15 (6/15) and July 15 (7/15),
not to include the 4th of July, on consecutive days to
be decided by the State Board, to be announced not less
than sixty (60) days in advance of the first official
session of the annual meeting.
C. The quorum for the annual meeting shall
be a majority of Delegates registered by the Credentials
Committee.
D. The annual meeting is to conduct the
business of the association, including the election of
members to the State Board, and adoption of the annual
audit.
E. The membership of this State Association
shall be notified by the State Secretary at least fifteen
(15) days prior to the opening of the State Convention
of the time and place, the nominating and election procedures,
and the offices to be filled.
F. At the annual meeting when the presiding
officer takes the chair, the officers and members shall
take their respective seats and at the sound of the gavel,
there shall be a general silence.
Section 2. Booster Meetings:
There may be two (2) booster meetings held annually –
one (1) in the spring and one in the fall for the purpose
of information and education. At the Booster Meeting
immediately prior to the State Convention, each League will
host a caucus. The caucus will be held for the purpose of
allowing candidates for office to announce their intention
to run and for informational purposes specific to each league.
Section 3. The State of Illinois shall
be divided into three leagues, namely:
- THE NORTHERN LEAGUE, composed
of Boone-Winnebago, Bureau- Putnam, Carroll, DeKalb, Fulton,
Mercer-Henderson-Warren, Iroquois, Jo-Daviess-Stephenson-Ogle,
Kane-DuPage-North Cook, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake,
LaSalle-Grundy, Livingston-Ford, McHenry, Rock Island-Henry,
Stark, Whiteside-Lee, and Will-South Cook;
- THE CENTRAL LEAGUE, composed
of Adams-Brown-Pike, Calhoun-Jersey-Macoupin, Champaign,
Christian, Douglas-Edgar, Hancock-McDonough, McLean, Macon-DeWitt,
Mason-Logan-Menard, Montgomery, Morgan-Scott-Cass-Greene-Schuyler,
Peoria-4 (Peoria-Tazewell-Marshall-Woodford), Piatt, Sangamon,
Shelby-Moultrie and Vermilion;
- THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE, composed
of Bond, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Coles-Cumberland, Edwards-Wabash,
Effingham-Fayette, Franklin-Williamson-Jefferson, Gallatin,
Jasper-Richland-Clay, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Perry-Jackson,
Randolph, St. Clair-Monroe, Saline, Southern 7 (Johnson-Massac-Alexander-Pulaski-Union-Pope-Hardin),
Washington, Wayne-White-Hamilton.
These leagues shall function for the purpose
of distribution of educational information and also for
social purposes.
Section 4. County Association: The
following provisions shall govern the County Associations
within the State:
A. The County Association shall be maintained
by $3.00 per capita dues from the State Association.
B. Each County Association must hold a county
meeting during either the months of April, May, or June
for the purpose of the election of county officers and
the election of county Delegates to the State Convention.
Each county secretary shall notify all county members
by mail at least 15 days prior to the meeting for the
purpose of the election of county officers and Delegates
to the State Convention.
C. Each County Association shall elect two
(2) Delegates to the State Convention and in addition
may elect one (1) Delegate for every ten (10) members
or major part thereof.
1. All elections must be held by secret
ballot unless a nominee for county officer is unopposed.
2. If nominations for Delegates are equal
to or less than the number allowed, no secret ballot
is required.
3. All county officers and Delegates to
the State Convention must be dues paying members, and
have paid their dues for the current fiscal year through
withholding or cash prior to April 15 of each year.
4. April 15 will be the cut-off date for
calculations by the State Secretary-Treasurer for all
membership records for the fiscal year when considering
percentages and Delegates for the annual meeting. A
paid member may not transfer membership from one county
to another after April 15 of the fiscal year until after
the annual meeting has been completed.
D. If there are not enough carriers in a
county to form an effective Association, they may unite
with an Association of an adjoining County, if they so
desire, subject to approval by Delegates at the Annual
Meeting.
E. Failure to hold a meeting annually will
result in the County Association forfeiting reimbursement
from the State Secretary, no Delegates to State Convention,
and their Charter will be forfeited at the next Annual
Meeting of the State Association. The State is obligated
by the U.S. Department of Labor to combine this County
membership with an active county membership. The State
Secretary-Treasurer will notify the membership of this
provision and make all necessary arrangements needed for
forfeiture at the next Annual Meeting of the ILRLCA.
Section 5. Trusteeship
Section A. The President,
with approval of the State Board, may place in trusteeship
any County Association (unit) or subordinate body for
any of the following reasons:
1. To uphold the principles and integrity
of this Constitution.
2. To correct corruption or financial
malpractice;
3. To assure performance of collective
bargaining agreements or other duties of a bargaining
representatives;
4. To restore democratic procedures; and
5. To otherwise carry out the legitimate
objectives of the State Association
Section B. The trustee
shall assume immediate control and authority of the County
Association, with full authority over the Officer and
property thereof. The trustee shall continue to act in
such a capacity for the duration of the trusteeship.
Section C. Within 30 days
of the imposition of the trusteeship, a hearing shall
be held before an impartial member of the State Association
acting as a hearing officer, to determine facts on continuing
the trusteeship. All interested persons shall have the
right to present evidence at the hearing to the hearing
officer, who shall have the sole discretion on the conduct
and procedures at the hearing.
Section D. The hearing
officer shall report, as soon as practicable, after the
close of the hearing, the findings and recommendations
to the President. The President may accept or reject these
findings and recommendations, and the trusteeship may
be continued or terminated accordingly.
Section E. Upon a petition
filed with the President, no earlier than six months after
the appointment of the trusteeship, and at six-month intervals
thereafter, any party may request termination of the trusteeship.
The President, acting on such petition, or at any time,
may terminate the trusteeship and restore government to
the County Officers.
Section F. Any party not
satisfied with the decision of the President under Sections
D or E shall have appeal rights as provided under Article
VII, Section 6, Election Complaints.
Section 6. Association Auxiliary
A. The purpose of the Association Auxiliary
is to support the Association.
B. In order to maintain the family type
organization, the Association underwrites the expense
of the Auxiliary.
C. A family membership fee is charged
to all classes of membership in the amount of ten ($10.00)
dollars per annum, in addition to the State per capita
dues.
1. The Association shall remit the current
amount to the State Auxiliary each quarter.
2. Those members not wishing to participate
in the family plan may request in writing to the Auxiliary
Secretary for a refund at the end of the fiscal year.
ARTICLE
V: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The State Board, also known as
the Executive Board, shall consist of the president, the
vice-president, the secretary-treasurer, four (4) elected
committee people, and the state steward.
Section 2. The State Steward, is an appointed
member of the State Board, serving full time as a non-voting
ex officio advisor of the State Board, governed by the rules
and regulations issued by the National Rural Letter Carriers’
Association. The State Steward shall be responsible for
scheduling and training for the purpose of enhancement,
all local, area and assistant stewards, and providing at
least 3 additional trainings per year.
A. The State Steward will be evaluated by
the State Board as any employee of any employer, annually
prior to the State Convention.
B. The Board shall review the continued
need for the full time state steward and assistant state
steward positions annually at their pre-convention Board
meeting to determine if the full time position continues
to be necessary. A report will be given to the convention
body with the President’s Report.
C. The elected officers of the Association,
if they are certified by the State Steward, shall act
as stewards (Assistant or Area) in the area of the state
that they are assigned.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall:
A. Have the general supervision over the
affairs of the Association,
B. Be empowered to make such interim amendments
to the Constitution of the Association as may be necessary
to conform to the requirements of federal law and the
National Constitution and Bylaws, such amendments to be
effective only until the following Convention of the Association,
C. Fill vacancies in elective positions,
D. Set dates for Association meetings,
E. Meet in between the annual meeting
as needed.
F. The State Steward shall provide the State
Board, on a semi-annual basis, a listing of all local
stewards and the steward training record. If the local
steward has not attended an enhancement training after
one year, that steward shall be decertified immediately.
Section 4. A quorum for state Board
meetings shall be a majority of voting members.
ARTICLE
VI: COMMITTEES
Section 1. The President shall make any necessary
appointments and the following committees:
committee on auditing, committee on the Constitution, committee
on mileage and per diem, committee on resolutions, advisory
committee consisting of Presidents and Past National Officers,
and National Delegate Election committee or any committee
deemed necessary.
Section 2. These committees
shall discharge the duties implied by their names.
Section 3. Eligibility
A. Any regular, substitute, auxiliary,
rural carrier relief, rural carrier associate, PTF, or
retired rural carrier who is eligible to serve on a committee.
B. Any former regular, substitute, auxiliary,
rural carrier relief, rural carrier associate, PTF, or
retired rural carrier who has been appointed permanently
or temporarily to the position of Postmaster, Officer-in-Charge,
or other supervisory position, may not be appointed to
any committee at state level as long as they remain in
a management position in the United States Postal Service.
ARTICLE
VII: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATION
Section 1. The Association
shall be entitled to representation in the National Association
by one Delegate-at-Large, and one Delegate for each hundred
(100) or major fraction thereof of members, based on the
current membership year.
Section 2. Delegate Eligibility
A. All regular carriers, PTFs, substitute
carriers, auxiliary carriers, rural carrier reliefs, rural
carrier associates, and retired carriers who are paid
active members in this Association are eligible to be
National Delegates provided they meet the membership requirements
set forth in this Constitution.
B. Any former regular, substitute, auxiliary,
rural carrier relief, rural carrier associate, PTF, or
retired rural carriers who have been appointed permanently
or temporarily to the position of Postmaster, Officer-in-Charge,
or other supervisory position may not vote, hold office,
serve as a Delegate, or be appointed to any committee
at state level as long as they remain in a management
position in the United States Postal Service, or have
so within one year.
Section 3. The Delegates to represent
the State Association at the National Convention
shall be elected in the following manner:
A. Nominations for National Delegates shall
be accomplished by submitting nominations on a “nominating
ballot” or a copy thereof, to be published in the
“National Rural Letter Carrier” in the first
issues in February, March, April and May. Such nominations
may include self-nominations. The nominating ballot
shall be signed, showing the name and address of the member
making the nomination and sent by U.S. mail to the State
Secretary/Treasurer.
B. Nominations for candidates for National
Delegate shall be in the office of the State Secretary-Treasurer
at least forty (40) days prior to the opening of the State
Convention.
C. The Secretary/Designee shall arrange
for the rental of one post office box for receipt of the
ballots. Undeliverable ballots shall be returned to the
ILRLCA address. The State Secretary-Treasurer shall make
every attempt to see that ballots are delivered. The President
shall appoint an Election Committee and Chairman. It shall
be the duty of the State Secretary-Treasurer, the Chairman
of the Election Committee, and two (2) other members of
the Election Committee, to meet one day and draw names
by lottery system, to determine the placement order on
the ballot listing the nominees for the position of Delegate
to the National Convention and to mail said ballot to
all members at least twenty (20) days prior to the opening
of the State Convention.
D. No member whose name appears on the ballot
may serve on the Election Committee. Any candidate may
observe the ballot tabulation. Ballots shall be mailed
and returned to a post office box accessible only to the
Election Committee. At the end of the cut-off period,
said ballots shall be collected and counted at the State
Convention by the Election Committee appointed by the
State President. The validity of all such ballots to be
determined by a majority of this committee.
E. An envelope marked “ballot”,
in which to send the ballot, shall be provided each member.
F. The sealed plain envelope containing
the ballot shall be mailed in another envelope by the
member to the designated post office box. The other envelope,
also marked “Ballot enclosed”, shall clearly
identify name and address of the member, to permit verification
of membership enrollment and to maintain the integrity
of the voting procedure.
G. The number of candidates to be voted
upon by each member shall not be more than the total number
of Delegate votes to which this State Association was
entitled the previous year. Appropriate instruction shall
be on each ballot, state the number of Delegates to be
elected and the proper address for returning the ballot.
The ballot must be returned tothe proper mailing address
at least by the Saturday nearest to the first business
session of the State Convention. Tabulations of votes
shall be entered in a standard tally book(s), dated and
signed by the Chairman of the National Delegate Election
Committee, and with such book(s) to be retained in the
custody of the Secretary-Treasurer for a period of at
least three years. In reporting the results of the vote
tabulation, the candidates shall be placed on the roster
in accordance with the number of votes received. The required
number of Delegates for this State Association shall be
declared regular Delegates and the remaining candidates
shall be declared Alternates in the order of their finish.
In the event of a tie in Delegate votes, the National
Delegate Committee shall determine the tiebreaker by lottery
drawing.
H. From elected National Delegates, a Delegate-at-Large
and other National-paid Delegates to which this State
Association is entitled in accordance with Article XVIII,
Subsection 2 Representation, of the National By-laws.
The position of Delegate-at-Large will be filled by state
officer ranking, beginning with the State President, provided
that they are a regular elected delegate. In addition,
other National-Paid Delegates shall be named in accordance
with the plurality of votes received.
I. The President, if elected as National
Delegate, shall be left free for committee appointment
and the remaining state officers be designated Chairman
of the Delegation beginning with the Vice President then
Secretary/Treasurer, and members of the Executive committee
in accordance with their seniority.
J. In addition, the State shall send four
(4) declared Alternate Delegates to the National Convention
who shall be paid one half of the mileage and one half
of the per diem of a regular paid delegate. The paid Alternate
Delegates shall comply with the regulations and rules
that apply to Paid Delegates.
Section 4. Any regular elected
Delegate/Paid Alternate attending a National Convention
must be present at the first official roll call on Tuesday
morning of National Convention and must remain present for
each and every roll call and session.
This includes being present through the
end of the Convention when the gavel sounds the “official”
Adjournment. Failure to be present at any roll call or
session, unless serving on a National Committee, or for
a duly excused reason approved by the Chairman of the
Delegation, shall deprive the Delegate/Alternate of per
diem for that session. Therefore, any Delegate/Paid
Alternate missing major portions of the sessions may have
per diem for the day pro-rated or totally eliminated as
determined by the Chairman.
In addition, all Delegates/Paid Alternates
shall remain in session except for officially called breaks
by the Convention Chairman. Should a Delegate/Paid
Alternate need to be excused from the session for personal
reasons, the Delegate/Paid Alternate must check out and
back in with the Chairman of the Delegation. The
Chairman will determine if these Breaks are excessive
and could cause the Delegate/Paid Alternate to also have
per diem payments pro-rated for attendance during a session(s).
The Chairman of the Delegation will furnish
a roll call sheet daily for verification of attendance
of all Delegates/Paid Alternates to the State Secretary-Treasurer. All
payments to Delegates/Paid Alternates will be authorized
with the written agreement of the Chairman of the Delegation,
the State President and the State Secretary-Treasurer. Upon
their sign off on the final attendance sheet, the State
Secretary-Treasurer will issue Delegate/Paid Alternate
checks after the closing of the National Convention.
Section 5. Delegates to the
National Convention shall be paid the same as the Delegates
at-Large to the National Convention.
Mileage at the rate of twice the current
rate reimbursed by the Postal Service for one-way travel
by the most direct route over federal state highways,
as determined by the Mileage and Per Diem Committee from
the official current mileage guide, and $75.00 per diem
during sessions of the convention. These payments
are based upon the attendance of all Delegates at each
official session of the National Convention, and as approved
by the Chairman of the Delegation.
Section 6. Election Complaints
A. Any member not satisfied with the National
Delegate election procedure followed prior to the State
Convention may appeal to the State Board, in writing,
within thirty (30) days following the close of the Convention.
B. The State President shall select a member,
the grieved shall select a member, and the two shall select
a third member to act as chairman. The three-member committee
shall conduct a hearing and render a decision at or prior
to the next State convention. All decisions are subject
to appeal to the assembly at the State Convention and
the Assembly will render a decision before the National
Convention.
ARTICLE
VIII: INSURANCE
The Illinois Rural Letter Carriers’
Association Executive Board may negotiate and put into
affect a contract to Group Health and Hospital, Group
Auto and Group Life Insurance with the companies selected
by the Board. An administrator shall be appointed by the
Board when necessary to administer that plan. The Board
shall set the fee for the administrator. The administrator
shall be bonded to cover the largest amount to be collected
in any one (1) quarter.
ARTICLE
IX: TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS
Section 1. All tentative agreements affecting
wages, hours and conditions or employment between the
NRLCA and the United States Postal Service shall be submitted
to the active membership of this state for ratification.
Section 2. The National Secretary-Treasurer
shall cause a ballot to be mailed via First
Class mail to all regular, part time flexible
(PTF), substitute, rural carrier associate, rural carrier
relief, and auxiliary carrier members in good standing.
The ballot shall clearly define a “yes” vote
as in favor of ratification and a “no” vote
as opposed to ratification. The ballot shall also clearly
indicate a deadline for receipt in the National Office
as determined by the National Board to allow for tabulation
and reporting of results to the U.S. Postal Service in
a timely manner.
ARTICLE
X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Rules of procedure and other adopted Association
rules not covered by the Constitution, shall be governed
by Robert’s Rules of Order (“Newly Revised”
current edition).
ARTICLE
XI: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution
may be made at the annual meeting, and upon two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the membership present, and become effective
at the close of the annual meeting. A written report of
the Constitution Committee shall be available at least
one (1) session before the report is given.
Section 2. The State Board may make interim
amendments to the Constitution of the Association to conform
to requirements of Federal Law, and the National Constitution/Bylaws,
and report it to the membership at the next annual meeting
or the next state newspaper, whichever is first.
THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION FROM
STATE CONVENTION IN EFFINGHAM, JUNE, 2007 IS BEING AMENDED.........
