On January 21, 2021, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), a non-stock corporation formed under the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 13.1 of the Code of Virginia with headquarters located at 15948 Derwood Road, Rockville, MD 20855, granted the New England School Public Relations Association (NESPRA), a section 501(c)(3) organization operated exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, an exclusive charter to be a chapter of NSPRA in the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as Northeast Canadian provinces.

NESPRA has been operating under draft bylaws since its inception in 2021. Following a thorough review and revisions, an updated set of bylaws was submitted to NSPRA's Board of Directors for review in January 2025, and were approved during its meeting on April 11-12, 2025. A vote of NESPRA's general members is required for the chapter bylaws to become official. An election via eBallot is scheduled for July 28-August 8, 2025. 

The name of this organization shall be the New England School Public Relations Association, or informally as NESPRA, hereafter referred to as the Chapter. NESPRA is a regional Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

The geographic jurisdiction of the Chapter shall encompass all areas within the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It may also include Northeast Canadian provinces including: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island.

The Chapter is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, as may qualify it as exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501 (c)

(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. More specifically, such purposes include, but are not limited to:

1. Providing a medium for communication and exchange of ideas;

2. Encouraging and developing effective communications for K-12 schools, districts, agencies and educational organizations;

3. Encouraging cooperation within the allied areas of business, labor, and industrial public relations and with other interested groups;

4. Fostering and promoting the professional growth of school communications professionals;

5. Offering outreach and advocacy for school public relations professionals

6. Making intentional efforts to elevate the diverse viewpoints of historically marginalized people in the field of school communications and in school communities;

7. Recognizing and rewarding outstanding school public relations programs, people and publications.

1. Membership is open to educational public relations professionals and other individuals who have PreK-12 school communication responsibilities in the geographic jurisdiction outlined in Article II.

2. An individual membership is granted to a single, named individual, but ownership of that membership belongs to the entity or person who paid for it. In the event that an individual who is granted membership does not pay for their own membership and later leaves the employment of the district/agency/organization who paid for it while the membership is still active, the district/agency/organization has the following options, and should notify NESPRA’s Membership Coordinator of their preference:

   • They may permit the individual who was granted membership to continue using the membership for the rest of the year if the member continues to meet NESPRA's membership guidelines.

   • They may transfer the remainder of the membership to a different single, named individual who meets NESPRA's membership guidelines.

   • They may request that NESPRA terminate the membership but the balance of the membership term and expense will be forfeited.

Elected Officers and their duties shall be:

1. President – Shall be the executive director of the Chapter and shall preside at meetings of the Chapter and Executive Board. They shall appoint the chairpersons of all standing and special committees, and shall approve the selection of committee members made by the chairperson. They shall approve disbursements. They will serve as the leader of the Executive Board members to guide their collective efforts. They will lead the work of providing year-round programming for general members and will lead the planning of the Chapter’s annual conference. They will work collaboratively with the Immediate Past President to ensure a smooth succession and to ensure stability of the Chapter. They will work with the Vice President by including them as a thought partner for support and to prepare the VP to take on the role of President for the next term. They must be a member of NSPRA and shall maintain a liaison with NSPRA through the NSPRA Northeast Vice President and the national office. At the conclusion of the term, the President shall automatically assume the role of Immediate Past President.

2. Vice President – Shall perform all duties of the President in the event of the inability of the President to act, and shall assume the office of President following completion of a term as Vice President. They will support the President in their leadership efforts, which includes serving as a lead on Chapter initiatives and co-planning the annual conference. They must be a member of the NSPRA. At the conclusion of the term, the Vice President shall automatically assume the role of President.

3. Immediate Past President – Shall serve as an advisor to the President and Vice President. Will work collaboratively with the President to ensure a smooth succession and to ensure stability of the Chapter. Will provide fundamental support for operations and programming for members including the Chapter’s annual conference. They must be a member of NSPRA.

4. Treasurer – Shall keep cash flow records using the fiscal year set by NSPRA, prepare/provide any financial statements required by NSPRA, prepare financial statements for the monthly Executive Board meeting (and upon request of the Executive Board or membership), receive and deposit revenues and disburse Chapter funds as approved by the President. They must work closely with the Membership Coordinator to maintain an organized system of membership payments. They must be a member of NSPRA.

5. Secretary – Shall take minutes, keep records of meetings, and assist in handling Chapter correspondence. They shall serve on additional Executive Board initiatives and support the President and Vice President as requested. They must be a member of NSPRA.

6. Membership Coordinator – Shall maintain the Chapter’s membership records, maintain a documented process for the annual enrollment period, and promote membership to appropriate individuals. They shall maintain the membership platform in coordination with the Communications Coordinator. They shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President, and may appoint a committee that they will chair to assist with membership functions. It is encouraged, but not required, to be a member of NSPRA.

7. Communications Coordinator – Shall be responsible for the Chapter’s website, social media accounts, and Google Drive. They shall maintain the membership platform in coordination with the Membership Coordinator. It is encouraged, but not required, to be a member of NSPRA.

8. State Representative Chairs – Shall be elected by each geographic jurisdiction outlined in Article II to represent the interests of their state or region. State Representatives shall facilitate membership recruitment and networking efforts from their respective states, whether in-person or virtual. They shall assist in additional efforts as requested by the Executive Board. It is encouraged, but not required, to be a member of NSPRA.

The Chapter Executive Board shall function as the governing body of the Chapter, assume general responsibility for policy decisions between membership meetings, and carry out directives as voted by the membership. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers, chairpersons of standing and special committees, and the immediate past president.

Officers of the Chapter in positions that do not otherwise automatically assume a new officer role at the conclusion of a term shall be elected in the spring and reported to NSPRA by May 1.

Newly elected officers shall take office at the Annual NESPRA Spring Conference or May 30, whichever comes first. The term of office shall be two years.

In the event an officer position is uncontested following a minimum ten (10) business days and a public invitation has been sent to the entire membership for candidate applications, the Executive Board has the authority to appoint the sole interested candidate without conducting a formal election.

In the event of a tie vote for an officer position, a re-vote for that position shall take place as soon as reasonable after informing the candidates and entire membership, but no later than five (5) business days after the first vote. The person who receives the majority in the balloting for the contested office shall be declared elected by the Executive Board. The Executive Board has the authority to modify an election deadline if necessary and appropriate to facilitate a swift resolution of the tie vote.

A vacancy in the office of President will be filled by the Vice President, who will serve the unexpired term and for the full term to which they were elected.

A vacancy in the office of the Vice President caused by either succession to the presidency (due to the President leaving the role before their term ends) or because the Vice President resigns or is otherwise unable to continue in office will be filled by a special election conducted in the same manner as other elections of officers.

If an elected Officer position other than President or Vice President is unfilled, resigns, or is otherwise unable to continue in office, the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the two-year term will be filled by a special election conducted in the same manner as other elections of officers.

In the event an officer position is uncontested following a public invitation sent to the entire membership for candidate applications and a minimum ten (10) business days, the Executive Board has the authority to appoint the sole interested candidate without conducting a formal election.

Standing Committees are those engaged in activities that are permanent in nature in the program of the Chapter. Standing committees may be created or dissolved by the President, with the approval of the Executive Board. Standing Committees may also be known as Professional Learning Communities or Working Groups.

Special committees may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. Such committees shall have a specific task and a specific time period after which they shall be automatically dissolved.

The dues of the chapter shall be established by the Executive Board. Any changes in dues shall include an effective date.

There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter, held prior to the annual meeting of NSPRA. A majority of members of the Chapter, or ten members, whichever is smaller, shall constitute a quorum. The annual conference may serve the purpose of the annual meeting. Business may be transacted by two-thirds of voting chapter members present, either virtually or in-person, providing a quorum is present. The number, time, place, and program of meetings shall be determined by the Executive Board.

No part of the earnings of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the chapter 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 these Bylaws. Except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, no substantial part of the activities of the chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of campaign statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law, as the Executive Board shall determine.

These bylaws shall be approved by the Executive Board of the National School Public Relations Association before adoption by the Chapter. Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds of voting chapter members present, either virtually or in-person, at any Chapter meeting, or by a majority vote, provided at least 30 days notice has been given of any proposal.

The fiscal year shall be designated from September 1st to August 31st.

In terms of parliamentary authority, when a question arises concerning procedure, the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used as a guide.