PLATO Bylaws

Preliminary adoption: May 23, 2008
Final adoption:

ARTICLE I—NAME

The name of this organization shall be Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization, hereafter referred to as PLATO or “the organization.”

ARTICLE II—OFFICES

The offices of this organization shall be Madison, Wisconsin.

ARTICLE III—SPONSORSHIP

This organization is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Division of Continuing Studies, and is subject to the applicable rules and policies of the University.

ARTICLE IV—MISSION

PLATO is a participatory and member-directed learning-in-retirement organization committed to developing, offering, and promoting opportunities for intellectual and cultural enrichment.

ARTICLE V—GOVERNANCE

The organization shall be governed by these bylaws and by such policies and procedures as may be established and recorded by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI—MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Qualification. Members of PLATO shall be men and women who are retired or semi-retired, and who are willing to commit time and energy to themselves and others through exchange of knowledge in a continuing learning process.

Section 2. Term. The term of membership shall be for one year, from July 1 to June 30.

Section 3. Dues and Fees. Members of PLATO are also members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UW-Madison. The dues to become members of OLLI and PLATO shall be an amount determined annually by PLATO’s Board of Directors, in conjunction with the University Liaison. In addition to the membership dues, there may be fees required for participation in particular courses, tours, trips, lectures, or activities offered by PLATO, the UW-Madison, or OLLI.

Section 4. Privileges. Members shall be entitled to the following privileges:

  1. Participation in Discussion Groups
  2. Participation in courses, tours, trips, lectures, or activities and other educational activities sponsored by PLATO or OLLI.
  3. Participation in the annual meeting in May and in social events.
  4. Nominating and voting for PLATO officers and directors.
  5. Receiving a copy of these Bylaws.
  6. Receiving on a regular basis print and electronic communications from PLATO and OLLI

ARTICLE VII—MEETINGS

The annual all-member meeting will be held in May of each year. At least one month advance notice of this meeting will be published.

ARTICLE VIII—ADMINISTATIVE AND FISCAL YEAR

The administrative and fiscal years for this organization shall be July 1 to June 30.

ARTICLE IX—OFFICERS

Section 1. Number and Qualification. This organization shall have four elected officers: President, President-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers shall be members in good standing of PLATO.

Section 2. Election and Terms of Office. Officers shall be elected at each annual all-member meeting by members in good standing of PLATO. Elected officers shall be those receiving the greatest number of votes cast. If there is only one nominee for each office, election may be by voice vote. If there are multiple nominees, the election method shall be as determined by the President. Terms of office shall be for one administrative year, but officers may be elected for successive terms.

Section 3. Duties. The following citation of officer’s duties is not necessarily exhaustive or exclusive:

  1. The President, as Chief Executive, shall call Board of Director meetings, preside over meetings, and coordinate the activities of the organization in accord with such policies and procedures as may be developed.
  2. The President-elect shall fulfill the duties of the President in his or her absence.
  3. The Secretary shall prepare, distribute, and file minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the annual meeting, and other all-member meetings. The Secretary shall also file minutes of Standing Committees, as they may be presented for filing. The University representative on the Board of Directors shall keep the permanent, official file of these minutes.
  4. The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of the organization. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget with projections of revenues and expenses, in consultation with Board Members and Standing Committee Chairs. The Treasurer will report the organization’s current financial status at all regular Board of Director and University Relations Committee meetings, and prepare an annual report at the end of each fiscal year, which will be submitted to the Board of Directors and the University Relations Committee. The Treasurer will be a standing member of the University Relations Committee.

ARTICLE X—BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Directors. The Board of Directors shall include as members:

  1. The four officers of PLATO
  2. The immediate Past President
  3. A representative from each Standing Committee, as determined by the Committee Chair
  4. Three at-large Directors

Section 2. University Liaison. The Division of Continuing Studies will appoint a representative to be a non-voting member of the Board.

Section 3. Qualification. With the exception of a University representative, all Directors shall be members in good standing of PLATO.

Section 4. Ex Officio Directors. The officers of PLATO, the immediate Past President, and the representatives of the Standing Committees shall be ex officio Directors.

Section 5. At-large Directors. At-large directors shall be elected at each annual all-member meeting by members in good standing of PLATO. Elected Directors shall be those receiving the greatest number of votes cast. If there is only one nominee for each office, election may be by voice vote. If there are multiple nominees, the election method shall be as determined by the President.

Section 6. Terms of Office. The terms of office for ex-officio Directors shall be the same as their terms as officers of PLATO. The terms of office for at-large Directors shall be as follows: in the first year these bylaws take effect, three at-large Directors shall be elected, one for a one-year term, one for a two-year term, and one for a three-year term. Thereafter, one at-large Director shall be elected annually, for a three-year term.

Section 7. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet at such times and places as may be necessary or appropriate, but in no case shall there be fewer than six meetings annually. Meetings shall be open to all members in good standing of PLATO.

Section 8. Meeting Conduct and Voting. A majority of voting Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the transaction of business, each Director shall have one vote. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the action of a majority of Directors at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be considered an act of the Board. Roberts’ Rules of Order shall be the procedural authority at all meetings.

Section 9. Vacancies. Any vacancy on the Board of an elected Director shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by majority vote of the remaining Directors.

Section 10. Responsibilities and Powers. The Board shall be responsible for control and management of the affairs and interests of the organization.

Section 11. Resignation. Directors may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President or Secretary of the organization. The resignation of an officer must be from both the office and the Board. Resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice.

ARTICLE XI—COMMITTEES

Section 1. Types of Committees. To further the interests of the organization the Board of Directors may appoint or dissolve such Standing, Special, or Ad Hoc committees as may be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of PLATO affairs. However, there shall be at least these four Standing Committees: (1) Curriculum and Facilities Committee, (2) University Relations Committee, (3) Outreach Committee, and (4) Special Events and Activities Committee. The Nominating and Leadership Committee shall be a Special Committee.

Section 2. Standing Committee Standards. Each Standing Committee shall meet these standards:

  1. Consist of at least six members.
  2. Hold scheduled, periodic meetings, at least four times each Administrative year.
  3. Prepare and file minutes of each scheduled meeting.
  4. Have a representative present at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Standing Committee Chairs and Members. The Chair (and Co-chair, if appropriate) of Standing Committees shall be appointed annually by the PLATO President, with concurrence of the Board Directors. The Chair shall select an appropriate number of members to carry out the mission of the committee. The term for Committee Chairs and members shall be one administrative year, although there is no limit to the number of successive terms they may serve.

Section 4. Nominating and Leadership Committee. This Committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past President of PLATO and shall include as members three other Directors or past-Directors, as appointed annually by the President. This Committee is responsible for the following activities:

  1. Identifying members who are willing and able to serve as officers, directors, and committee chairs for the organization.
  2. Preparing and presenting to PLATO members a slate of candidate officers and directors, at least one month prior to the annual all-member meeting.
  3. Providing members reasonable opportunity for voting for the proposed slate of officers and directors, or for other nominations as may be put forward.
  4. Arranging training for members who desire instruction prior to assuming leadership duties.

Section 5. Other Standing Committees, Special and Ad Hoc Committees. Other committees that may be appointed by the Board of Directors shall be furnished with a clear written charge and, if appropriate, a specific time for completion of the charge. Committees may exercise such powers as the Board confers, and shall make reports to the Board on activities and progress as the Board may request.

Section 6. Committee Meetings and Minutes. Committees shall meet as often as necessary to plan and carry out the assigned responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner. Meeting minutes will be recorded, and a permanent copy will be retained by the Committee Secretary and the University representative.

ARTICLE XII—RESOLUTIONS

The Board of Directors may from time to time adopt Resolutions involving matters essential to the organization’s activities but not requiring codification and inclusions in the Bylaws. Such Resolutions may be adopted, revised, or rescinded by a majority vote of Directors as set forth in ARTICLE X, Section 8, and they will be attached to and archived with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XIII—AMENDMENT

These Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Directors eligible to vote.

 

PLATO Resolutions

Adopted:

1. Responsibilities of Standing Committees

Curriculum Committee. This Committee is responsible for the following activities:

  1. Planning, scheduling, and setting standards for a balanced program of discussion groups.
  2. Identifying and confirming discussion group coordinators.
  3. Locating and reserving suitable meeting rooms for discussion groups.
  4. Supporting group coordinators.
  5. Evaluating current curriculum offerings and developing new offerings.
  6. Planning and leading the Fall and Spring Previews.
  7. Identifying potential educational needs and opportunities other than discussion groups and bringing these ideas to the University Relations Committee for potential sponsorship by UW-OLLI.
  8. Other activities as may be assigned or as its members deem appropriate.

University Relations Committee. This committee is responsible for consulting with the Division of Continuing Studies in the following areas:

  1. Streamlining and strengthening the administrative support offered to PLATO by UW-Madison and integrating the administrative support structure of PLATO and other learning-in-retirement activities into a unified OLLI administrative support structure.
  2. Development of an on-going mechanism for coordinating PLATO’s curriculum programming with other learning-in-retirement activities affiliated with UW-Madison.

Outreach Committee. This committee is responsible for membership activities, and for internal and external communications, including the following:

  1. Retaining current PLATO members and recruiting new ones.
  2. Recruiting volunteers to staff the Expo booth and the membership table at Previews, the Annual Luncheon, and other locations as appropriate.
  3. Advising on publication and mailing of the Newsletter and other internal communications, in cooperation with the University liaison.
  4. Advising the Board on other essential or useful communications.
  5. Developing promotional material and distributing this material to community organizations.
  6. Recruiting members to speak about PLATO to community groups.

Special Events and Activities Committee. This committee is responsible for planning lectures, travel programs, and social events, including the following:

  1. Arranging for speakers at lectures, at such dates, times, and places as interest by PLATO members justifies.
  2. Developing, planning, and publicizing educational or social trips as interest by PLATO members justifies.
  3. Planning social events for PLATO members, including picnics, holiday events, and the Annual Luncheon.

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