The purpose of the By-Laws committee is to solicit changes (amendments) from the TES membership. Once submitted, the committee verifies the proposal doesn’t conflict with other sections of the By-Laws, or applicable laws and regulations. The wording is cleaned up as necessary, and the By-Law Amendment is presented to the membership for ratification at the annual Membership Meeting & Election. The amendment is ratified if at least Two-Thirds (2/3) of the votes cast are in favor. In other words, twice as many members (plus 1) must vote for the amendment as vote against it.
The current By-Laws can be found on the TES website Here:
– Don W, Chair, By–Laws Committee
# 47 – Change Membership Age to Eighteen (18)
Proposal: Change the current minimum age of membership from Nineteen (19) to Eighteen (18). No other changes to the wording of the By-Law. The revised By– Law section would read:
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications: Any person who has attained the age of nineteen eighteen and who subscribes to The TES Association Creed may apply for membership. Certain events may be limited to those persons age twenty–one or older depending on federal, state and/or local laws. The Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
Statement of Support by Submitter: 18 year olds are welcome at almost all of our events, and non–members have access to nearly all events. The only thing that these 18 year old non–members are being excluded from on a regular basis is participation in volunteering, voting, and decision making. When I was 18 I had 2 years of college experience and started my first fulltime job. 18 year olds can vote and volunteer in civic sphere.
Some Historical Background: The last time this By–Law section was changed, membership age was lowered from Twenty-One (21) to Nineteen (19). At the time, TES sent out a good deal of printed material: calendars, Prometheus, and the like. The idea of these finding their way into a high school, or parents/siblings hands was daunting. It’s almost quaint to think about that now, considering the internet and all.
Please direct all questions to: elections@tes.org Or bylaws@tes.org