Embedded Files
These are the bylaws that govern the operations of FASLTA. They are arranged in the following articles:
Article I: Name
Article II: Objectives
Article III: Affiliation
Article IV: Membership
Article V: Meetings
Article VI: The Sunshine Collective Crew
Article VII: Officers
Article VIII: Duties of Officers
Article IX: Committees
Article X: Duties of the Committees
Article XI: Official Publication
Article XII: Financial Activities
Article XIII: Amendments
Article XIV: Dissolution of Organization
Article I: Name
1.1 The organization shall be known as the Florida American Sign Language Teachers Association (FASLTA).
Article II: Objectives
2.1. Promote the use of American Sign Language as a heritage or world language (i.e., first and second language).
2.2. Encourage respect for Deaf people, their community, and their unique culture.
2.3. Encourage teachers of American Sign Language/Deaf Studies to pursue ASLTA certification and/or Florida ASL Endorsement.
2.4. Provide input on standards and procedures in the field of ASL/Deaf Studies instruction.
2.5. Provide an effective avenue for the exchange of information regarding theories, methods, and materials in the instruction of ASL.
2.6. Encourage educational institutions and community-based programs to include ASL/Deaf Studies in their curricula and hire teachers who are ASLTA-certified and/or have the Florida ASL Endorsement.
2.7. Encourage local / state / regional associations of the Deaf and language teaching organizations to promote ASLTA certification and/or the Florida ASL Endorsement for ASL/Deaf Studies teachers
2.8. Encourage the development of local support groups.
Article III: Affiliation
FASLTA is exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the makings of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall be inured to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purposes clause hereof.
No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by any organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
*In 2024, ASLTA no longer continued with chapter affiliations; therefore, FASLTA is an independent organization.
Article IV: Membership
4.1. Membership:
Membership in FASLTA shall be open to teachers, educators, paraprofessionals, mentors, experts, retirees, and individuals who are working towards becoming certified ASL / Deaf Studies instructors, and any individuals (including Educational Interpreters) supporting the objectives of FASLTA.
4.1.1. Voting Members:
Voting Members are members in good standing who are also teachers of ASL/Deaf Studies in either L1 (first language) and/or L2 (second language) settings.
Voting members have full privileges, including the right to vote (elections, bylaws, etc.), and serve in all positions of the Sunshine Collective Crew.
Membership on the Sunshine Collective Crew of FASLTA shall be limited to individuals who primarily communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) and are residents of the state of Florida
4.2. Membership Dues:
4.2.1. Recommendations for individual membership dues in FASLTA shall be determined by the Sunshine Collective Crew. Recommendations are subject to the approval of the majority of the membership at the annual business meeting.
4.2.2. Annual dues shall be paid annually at the beginning of the school year. The exact amount will be established by the Sunshine Collective Crew
4.3. Liability of Members:
No member of FASLTA shall be personally liable for any of FASLTA's debts, liabilities, or obligations.
4.4. Voting Procedures for the General Membership:
To ensure maximum input from our voting members, votes may be cast using the following measures unless otherwise specifically prohibited by these bylaws:
a.) Traditional (pencil & paper, show of hands, etc.),
b.) Non-traditional (electronic, i.e. SurveyMonkey), or by a
c.) Combination of traditional and non-traditional means.
d.) By Proxy
Article V: Meetings
5.1. General Meetings:
The general membership business meeting shall be held annually on-site during the FASLTA annual conference, but in extenuating circumstances, the business meeting can be done virtually.
5.2. The Sunshine Collective Crew meetings:
5.2.1. The Sunshine Collective Crew shall meet face-to-face on-site or electronically at least annually. The Sunshine Collective Crew decides the number of meetings required for the Crew to assemble.
5.2.2. In order to conduct the business of the organization, the Sunshine Collective Crew shall communicate, as needed, via an agreed-upon format (i.e., text messages, conference calls, emails, Marco Polo, etc.).
5.2.3.The Sunshine Collective Crew will check the agreed-upon agreed upon format (i.e., text messages, Marco Polo & emails) at least once a week and respond, as needed.
5.3. Reference for parliamentary authority:
All meetings should use an action-oriented approach. The agenda remains the same, with discussions centered on the topics and staying on track, avoiding going off-topic.
5.4. Special meetings:
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Sunshine Collective Crew, and/or 10% of the Voting Membership.
5.5. Notice of meetings:
Notice of meetings shall be given in writing by traditional written communication (mail) and/or nontraditional written communication (i.e. email, vlogs, etc.), and shall state the location, date, and hour of the meeting at least fourteen (14) days/ two (2) weeks in advance.
5.6. Quorum:
At any meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of all Voting Members present. At least 1/2 (half) of the current members must be present.
Article VI: The Sunshine Collective Crew
6.1. Members of the Sunshine Collective Crew:
The Sunshine Collective Crew will consist of 5 elected members. The Sunshine Collective Crew will decide what each crew member’s contributions and responsibilities are.
The Sunshine Collective Crew consists of five positions:
Accountability Coordinator
Records Coordinator
Outreach Coordinator
Finance Coordinator
Program Coordinator
6.2. Quorum:
At each Crew meeting, a majority shall constitute a quorum for votes. Must have at least 4 (four) Crew members present.
6.3. Vacancies:
The Sunshine Collective Crew shall have the authority to fill any vacancy of the crew which may occur between annual business meetings of FASLTA.
Article VII: Officers
7.1. Officers:
The Sunshine Collaborative Crew shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom share equal responsibility and authority in coordinating the annual conference and carrying out the mission of the organization.
The SUNSHINE COLLECTIVE CREW consists of five positions:
Accountability Coordinator
Records Coordinator
Outreach Coordinator
Finance Coordinator
Program Coordinator
7.2. Election Cycle (Staggered Terms):
7.2.1 Elections shall be held annually, with terms beginning immediately after the annual conference.
7.2.2. To ensure continuity in leadership and planning:
Three (3) Crew members shall be elected during even-numbered years (e.g., 2026, 2028).
Two (2) Crew members shall be elected during odd-numbered years (e.g., 2025, 2027).
7.2.3. To be eligible for nomination to the Sunshine Collective Crew, one must have been a Voting Member in good standing for at least one year and have attended at least one conference.
7.3. Term of Sunshine Collective Crew:
No Sunshine Collective Crew member shall remain in the crew, even if serving different positions, for more than three (3) consecutive terms, totaling 6 years.
7.4. Nominations:
Individuals seeking a position within the Sunshine Collective Crew must submit a self-nomination no later than two (2) weeks prior to the annual conference. A campaigning period of two (2) weeks shall follow, during which nominees may promote their candidacy. Voting shall occur during the annual business meeting, at which time voting members will cast their ballots.
Article VIII: Duties of Officers
8.1. Accountability Coordinator Duties:
The Accountability Coordinator shall:
Lead the overall planning and execution of the organization’s activities and events.
Monitor organizational goals, timelines, and budget adherence.
Maintain a general overview of the affairs of the organization.
Provide oversight and support to all other team members.
Ensure events remain on schedule and within scope.
Serve as the primary point of contact during the conference.
Develop and implement contingency plans in the event of no-shows.
Facilitate meetings as necessary.
Provide support and fill in for other roles as needed.
8.2. Program Coordinator Duties:
The Program Coordinator shall:
Oversee all aspects of conference programming, including presenters, workshops, and overall content flow.
Serve as the primary point of contact for presenters before and during the conference.
Collect and manage presenter information, including biographies, equipment needs, dietary requirements, registration status, and handouts.
Provide assistance to presenters with setup, teardown, and in-session support.
Prepare and manage the presenter hospitality budget, including thank-you gifts, snacks, and other related items.
Coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure adequate support is available for all sessions and presenters.
8.3. Records Coordinator Duties:
The Records Coordinator shall:
Record and distribute accurate minutes for all Sunshine Collective Crew meetings in a timely manner.
Maintain an organized and accessible archive of all past meeting minutes.
Design and prepare conference attendance certificates and ensure proper distribution to attendees.
Compile and distribute the conference program content to all members.
Collaborate with the Finance Coordinator to ensure accurate records of registrations, vendors, and sponsors.
Prepare and distribute registration name tags for attendees, presenters, and vendors.
Coordinate with Continuing Education Unit (CEU) providers to document participant hours and ensure completion, signature, and submission of CEU forms.
Maintain organized records of all conference-related documentation for future reference.
Maintain historical records of past conferences, including programs, sponsorship lists, budgets, photos, and records of significant decisions.
Preserve and update official organizational documents, including bylaws and policies.
Ensure all documents are securely stored and accessible to The Sunshine Collective Crew members as needed.
Serve as the point of contact for sharing official documents with TSCC members.
Ensure timely delivery of relevant information and documentation to the appropriate coordinators.
8.4. Finance Coordinator Duties:
The Finance Coordinator shall:
Manage all aspects of conference budgeting, financial tracking, and payments.
Prepare and oversee budgets for key areas (e.g., hospitality, venue, materials).
Approve and process all conference-related expenses.
Support the registration process in coordination with the Record Coordinator.
Identify and secure vendors and sponsors.
Set vendor fees and benefits; manage sponsor agreements and contributions.
8.5. Outreach Coordinator Duties:
The Outreach Coordinator shall:
Identify local points of interest, restaurants, tours, and facilities to enhance the attendee experience.
Obtain and distribute brochures, discount cards, maps, directions, and local contact information for attendees.
Provide relevant materials to appropriate committees, including items for tote bags, sponsorship information, and program book content.
Develop and implement advertising and outreach strategies that include accessibility features, such as American Sign Language (ASL) access.
Design and prepare promotional materials, including flyers and digital announcements.
Submit advertisements and announcements for distribution via social media platforms (e.g., Facebook) and email lists.
Promote the event to the broader public and professional communities.
Build and maintain partnerships with local organizations, sponsors, and stakeholders to support the mission and visibility of the organization.
8.6. Liability of Officers & Directors
No member of the Sunshine Collective Crew of FASLTA shall be personally liable for any of its debts, liabilities, or obligations.
Article IX: Committees
9.1. Ad Hoc Committees:
Ad Hoc committees may be appointed by the members of the Sunshine Collective Crew in order to address a specific organizational need. Ad Hoc committees may include, but are not limited to:
Bylaws
Fundraising
Nominations
Legislative
Conference
Membership
Grievance
Scholarship
Florida Association database
Historian Resources
Article X: Duties of the Committees
10.1. Bylaws:
The purpose of the Bylaws Committee shall be to receive and recommend amendments to the bylaws of the organization. Suggestions for amendments to the bylaws may come from within the Bylaws Committee, from the membership of FASLTA, or from the members of the Sunshine Collective Crew. The Bylaws Committee will prepare amendments for a vote by the FASLTA membership.
Amendments are voted on during the annual business meeting. At least a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of the voting members present is necessary to effect each recommended amendment. A series of changes may be grouped for a single vote. Members not attending the annual business meeting may vote by absentee ballot. Proxy can submit ballot (2) two weeks prior to voting.
Article XI: Financial Affairs
11.1. No member of the Sunshine Collective Crew, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the FASLTA by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniary (financially) in any amount for any purpose, unless expressly authorized by the majority of the Sunshine Collective Crew.
11.2. All checks, drafts, and other orders for the payment of money out of the funds of FASLTA, and all notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the FASLTA, shall be signed on behalf of the Finance and Accountability Coordinators.
11.3. The Record and Program Coordinators shall serve as signatories for the organization's checking account and may, from time to time, be asked to sign checks in consultation with the Finance and Accountability Coordinators.
11.4. All expenditures, regardless of amount, shall require prior approval from all members of the Sunshine Collective Crew. Approval may be obtained through email, text message, meeting platforms, or other agreed-upon communication methods.
Article XII: Amendments
12.1. The bylaws of FASLTA may be amended or repealed by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (⅔) of the Voting Members present at the annual business meeting. Absentee ballots shall count towards the two-thirds (⅔) requirement. Proxy can submit ballot (2) two weeks prior to voting.
12.2. The Sunshine Collective Crew shall have the authority to make changes of no substance to the Bylaws in order to correct minor typographical errors.
Article XIII: Dissolution of Organization
13.1. Upon dissolution of this organization, its assets remaining after payment of, or provisions for payment of, all debts and liabilities of this organization shall be donated to any other Deaf Florida state organization that supports FASLTA's mission.
Revised and passed at the FASLTA annual business meeting 10/23/99.
Amended 4/1/2002
Amended 1/19/2005, as required by the IRS
Amended 2/26/2011
Updated 8/23/2014
Updated 9/17/2016
Updated 2/17/2018
Revised extensively and passed on 09 /14 /2025- Dissolution of chapter with ASLTA, dissolution of supporting members, change in number of participating boards, and changing the organization's workflow from Executibe Board to the Sunshine Collective Crew.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse