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Revised April 2020
FLORIDA PHI BETA LAMBDA
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1. The name of this division of the Florida FBLA-PBL Association and Foundation, Inc. shall be the "Florida State Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda" and may be referred to as "PBL."
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Section 1. The purpose of PBL is to provide opportunities for postsecondary and college 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:
A. Develop competent, aggressive business leadership;
B. Strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work;
C. Create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise;
D. Encourage members in the development of individual projects which contribute to the improvement of home, business, and community;
E. Develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism;
F. Encourage and practice efficient money management;
G. Encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty;
H. Assist students in the establishment of occupational goals; and
I. Facilitate the transition from school to work.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. PBL membership shall consist of members of chartered local chapters. These members shall hold membership in their local, state, and national chapters.
Section 2. Florida PBL, as well as the local chapters, shall be open for membership to the three (3) following classes of members:
Active Members shall be students participating in the fields of business, office, or business teacher education that accept the purpose of PBL and subscribe to its creed. Active members shall pay dues as established by PBL and may participate in national and state events in accordance with the guidelines of the National Awards Program and the State Awards Program, serve as voting delegates to the National Leadership Conference and the State Leadership conference, hold national and/or state office, and otherwise represent their state and local chapters as approved by their respective state and 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, employers or supervisors of cooperative work-training students, advisory council members, business persons, and other persons contributing to the growth and development of PBL. Professional members shall pay dues as established by Florida FBLA-PBL Professional Division, but shall not participate in competitive events, serve as voting delegates, or hold office.
Honorary Life Members shall be persons who are assisting in the advancement of business and office education and/or who are rendering outstanding service to PBL. Honorary life members shall not vote or hold office and shall not be required to pay dues.
Section 3. By paying dues and becoming a member of Florida PBL, each student agrees to be bound by the association bylaws, guidelines, dress codes, and competitive events guidelines and requirements.
ARTICLE IV
DUES AND FINANCE
Section 1. Dues. State dues based on fiscal reports by the State chapter, and on recommendations by the State Executive Council, shall be determined by a majority vote of the local voting delegates at the State Leadership Conference. State dues of members shall be forwarded directly to the PBL State Office or as otherwise designated.
Section 2. Annual dues shall be $10.00, and are due by February 15 of each year.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall administer all PBL finances, approve or reject the annual budget submitted to it by the State Executive Council, and provide the State Executive Council and members with an annual audit.
Section 4. The fiscal year of PBL shall be July 1 through June 30.
ARTICLE V
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The Florida Chapter of PBL shall be an association of local chapters, each operating in accordance with a charter granted by the FBLA-PBL, Inc.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall serve as the policy making body of this organization. There shall be a State Executive Council, which shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors and perform other duties as prescribed by these bylaws.
Section 3. The administration of PBL shall be vested in the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The State Executive Council shallperform those duties as prescribed in these bylaws.
Section 5. There shall be five (5) administrative districts: District I, II, III, IV, V.
A. Each administrative district shall have a District Director who shall have been or is currently serving asan active local PBL chapter adviser and who shall serve as a voting member of the State Executive Council.
B. Each District Director shall be nominated by the respective District Executive Council and appointed by the State Adviser.
C. Each District Director shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Each term shall begin at the close of the National Leadership Conference. Each District Director shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms. If no other local chapter adviser accepts the position of District Director, then the outgoing District Director is permitted to accept the position and succeed himself/herself. Any District Director not able to complete his/her term shall be relieved of duties either by mutual consent of the State Adviser or a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Executive Council. Vacancies in the office shall be filled by recommendation of the State Executive Council and approval by the State Adviser.
D. District Directors shall present a district financial report to the State Adviser and at thedistrict meeting at the State Leadership Conference and shall be responsible and accountable for all district finances.
Section 6. Local chapter charters shall be issued from the national office upon approval of the State Adviser. Charter applications must be submitted to the State Adviser for approval upon which they will then be forwarded to the national office.
Section 7. Each local chapter shall have an adviser who shall be a faculty member from the business area or an individual approved by the administration of the post-secondary institution to represent the chapter. A local chapter may have as many special emphasis groups under the chapter charter as it deems necessary to meet the interests of all students. The local chapter of PBL shall assume full responsibility for coordinating the program for these interest groups.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS, ELECTIONS, AND REMOVAL OF STATE OFFICERS
Section 1. State Officers. Officers of the Florida chapter shall consist of a President, Vice President of Communication, Vice President of Financial Development, Vice President of Membership, and Parliamentarian.
Section 2. The President, with the assistance of the State Adviser, shall appoint a Parliamentarian, who shall be the applicant making the highest score on the written test for the Parliamentary Procedure competition, and having at least one (1) full school year remaining before graduation.
Section 3. All newly elected or appointed state officers' dues must be received by the state office prior to the adjournment of the fall Executive Council Meeting or thirty (30) days from their appointment, whichever is later in time. Failure to pay said dues within the allotted time shall result in the automatic removal from office.
Section 4. Qualification for State Office.
A. Only active members are eligible to hold state office.
B. Only those applicants who are present at the State Leadership Conference and officially certified by the Officer Screening Committee, which shall consist of the State Executive Council, are eligible for nomination. No pre-campaigning of any kind shall be permitted. Candidates running for office and their campaign materials must be approved by the screening committee. No campaign activities will be permitted until after the close of the first general session. Any candidate who pre-campaigns shall be eliminated from the committee's list of nominees.
C. To be considered for an office in PBL, a candidate shall:
1. have at least one (1) full school year remaining;
2. hold or have held an elective office in his/her local PBL chapter or have previously served on the State Executive Council in FBLA or PBL;
3. be recommended by the chapter adviser(s) and endorsed by the local chapter;
4. file an official application with the State Adviser according to policy set by the Board of Directors; and
5. be approved by the Officer Screening Committee.
Section 5. Elections.
A. The President, Vice President o f Communications, Vice President of Financial Development, and Vice President of Membership shall be elected annually at a general session of the State Leadership Conference by the local chapter voting delegates.
B. The state officers shall be elected by a secret ballot vote of the voting delegates. A majority vote shall be required for election. If no candidate for an office receives a majority vote on the third ballot, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes for the ballot shall be dropped from each subsequent ballot until one (1) candidate receives a majority of the votes. The method of secret ballot shall be that method stated inRobert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, current edition.
C. No more than one (1) state officer shall be elected from the same local chapter. Unopposed candidates and appointed parliamentarians shall not be eliminated because of this restriction.
Section 6. Term of Office. State officers shall be elected for one (1) year or until their successors are elected or appointed, and their term of office shall begin at the close of the State Leadership Conference.
Section 7. Vacancy in Office. A vacancy in any office, other than that of President, shall be filled by appointment by the President with the approval of the State Adviser. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-President of Membership shall become acting President until the State Executive Council can appoint a new President.
Section 8. Removal from office. If any officer fails to carry out the duties as described in the bylaws or Policies and Procedures Handbook or exhibits conduct inappropriate of a state officer, the officer may be removed from office by any one of the following methods: a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Executive Council (by mail vote if the council is not in session); or an action by the Board of Directors; or if the Board of Directors is not currently meeting, the state adviser may remove an officer. This Section shall not affect the automatic removal of a state officer as set forth in Section 4 hereof.
ARTICLE VII
DUTIES OF PBL STATE OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall serve as chairman of the State Executive Council; preside over the council meetings and business meetings of PBL; appoint appropriate committees and committee chairpersons; serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of all committees; appoint a state Parliamentarian with the assistance of the State Adviser; serve as the PBL student representative member of the Board of Directors; oversee the preparation and presentation of the Fall Leadership and Officers' Training Conference; and perform other duties for the promotion and development of local, state and national PBL.
Section 2. The Vice President of Communications shall keep an accurate record of all state business meetings; supply promptly at least one (1) typewritten copy of the minutes and substantiating reports to the President and the State Adviser; and initiate communication with state officers to promote quality articles for state, southern region, and national publications. The Vice President of Financial Development shall work with the Florida FBLA-PBL Foundation to promote and foster sponsorships and partnerships and work with chapters in supporting the state and national project. The Vice President of Membership shall assist in the establishment, maintenance, and coordination of recruitment and retention of members and chapters, as well as serving as the liaison to the districts in assisting with planning activities.
Section 3. The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of all state meetings, according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, current edition, to ensure organized meetings presided over by the President; and assist all local chapters with parliamentary procedure.
Section 4. These officers shall serve on the State Executive Council and perform such duties as directed by the President, the State Adviser, and the Board of Directors, which duties must be consistent with these bylaws and other rules adopted by PBL.
ARTICLE VIII
OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS: NATIONAL OFFICERS
Section 1. Qualifications for National Office. Members wishing to run for a national office must meet all qualifications as set forth in the National Bylaws, must mail their written intent to run and a resume to the State Adviser postmarked no later than January 1, and be approved by the Board of Directors prior to the opening session of the State Leadership Conference.
Section 2. Elections.
A. Only those applicants who are present at the State Leadership Conference and officially certified by the Officer Screening Committee, which shall consist of the Executive Council, shall be eligible for nomination. Applicants who pass screening and are approved by the Board of Directors will then campaign at the State Leadership Conference to be Florida's candidate for national office at the National Leadership Conference.
B. Local chapter voting delegates will cast a secret ballot for an applicant at the same general session when the state officers are elected. A majority vote shall be required for election. If no applicant receives a majority vote on the third ballot, the applicant receiving the lowest number of votes for that ballot shall be dropped from each subsequent ballot until one applicant receives a majority of the votes cast. The method of secret ballot shall be that method stated in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, current edition.
C. Applicants running unopposed who do not receive a majority vote of the voting delegates will not have the endorsement of the State Chapter and will therefore be unable to run for national office that year.
ARTICLE IX
FALL LEADERSHIP AND OFFICERS' TRAINING CONFERENCE
Section 1. The Fall Leadership and Officers' Training Conference will be held each year for the benefit of local chapter officers and members.
ARTICLE X
STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Section 1. The State Leadership Conference shall be held each year. The date and location will be recommended by the State Adviser and approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Each local chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send two (2) to five (5) voting delegates and alternates from its active membership to the State Leadership Conference in accordance with the following:
Up to 25 members 2 voting delegates
26 - 50 members 3 voting delegates
51 - 75 members 4 voting delegates
Over 75 members 5 voting delegates
Section 3. All voting delegates of local chapters shall be officially certified by their respective advisers and their names submitted to the State Adviser no later than three (3) weeks prior to the State Leadership Conference.
Section 4. Voting. Voting delegates shall be entitled to vote on all matters, which come before the general sessions and district meetings. Proxy votes are not permitted.
Section 5. Quorum. The quorum for all business meetings of the State Leadership Conference shall be a majority of registered voting delegates.
ARTICLE XI
STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. The State Officers, District Directors of PBL, and State Adviser (or the chairperson of the Board of Directors if there is no State Adviser) shall, with the ex-officio non-voting members, constitute the State Executive Council.
Section 2. Duties. The State Executive Council shall:
A. Except as vested in the Board of Directors, adopt policies of operation as deemed necessary, the necessary vote being in accordance with the provisions ofRobert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, current edition;
B. review and approve all proposed amendments to the bylaws contained in Division III;
C. present to the voting delegates at the State Leadership Conference the approved proposed amendments; and
D. perform such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws contained in Division III.
The affairs of PBL shall be managed by the State Executive Council of PBL upon approval of the Board of Directors, and the property of PBL shall be managed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Meetings. Meetings shall be called by the President, or upon written request of three (3) voting members of the State Executive Council, upon approval of the State Adviser.
Section 4. Voting by Mail. Business of the State Executive Council may be conducted by mail at the discretion of the President. For adoption, action by mail shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members eligible to vote, and shall be recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting.
ARTICLE XII
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Local chapters may select advisory committees to assist in the growth and development of their respective chapters.
Section 2. The President shall establish committees, appoint their members and assist these committees in their activities.
Section 3. Committee business may be conducted by mail at the discretion of the committee chairman. For adoption, action by mail shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members eligible to vote and shall be reported to the committee members not later than the next regular meeting.
ARTICLE XIII
EMBLEMS AND COLORS
Section 1. The official emblem and insignia items designs are described and protected from infringement by registration in the U.S. Patent Office under the Trademark Act of 1946. The manufacture, reproduction, wearing or display of the emblem shall be governed by the Board of Directors of the National Association.
Section 2. Emblems and insignia shall be uniform in all local chapters and within special emphasis groups; they shall be those of PBL. Only members in good standing may use official emblems and insignia.
Section 3. The official colors of PBL shall be blue and gold.
ARTICLE XIV
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. The rules contained inRobert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, current edition, 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 which PBL may adopt.
ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted in writing no later than January 1 of the current school year to the President of the Board of Directors by local chapters, by a state officer, or by a member of the Board of Directors. Notice of proposed amendments must be received by local chapters at least thirty (30) days prior to the State Leadership Conference at which they are to be voted upon. Proposed amendments shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The State Executive Council shall present approved proposed amendments to the voting delegates at the State Leadership Conference. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting delegates present and voting is required for adoption.
ARTICLE XVI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. There shall be four (4) PBL representative members of the Board of Directors. They shall consist of the State President and three advisers.
Section 2. Other than the President, PBL representative members of the Board of Directors shall be nominated and elected by the local chapter advisers at the annual State Leadership Conference.
Section 3. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, a replacement will be nominated by local chapter advisers and approved by the Board of Directors before being submitted as a qualified replacement.
Section 4. The term of each representative, with the exception of the State President, shall be three (3) years.