A. MISSION
The principal objective of the American Apprentice Round Table (AART) is to aid members in meeting their requirements to develop a technically informed and skilled workforce through comprehensive, carefully planned, and efficiently managed industrial training programs.
B. METHODS
One annual meeting with an agenda to include:
1. A period devoted to review members’ Significant Development Reports (SDR)
a. Participating Members will submit a SDR outlining his/her organization’s training statistics, accomplishments, new processes, hiring plans and goals over the past year.
b. Organizational names are omitted from all reports, surveys, and other written material.
c. This report must be submitted to the Secretary, no later than (1) one week after the annual meeting for publication in the Conference Report.
d. A summary of the SDR for oral presentation at the meeting, limited to no less than five minutes, followed by group discussion;
2. A period devoted to the presentation of specific problems submitted by members for the purpose of group discussion and assistance.
a. Training subjects of interest to members in attendance
b. Exchange of training plans, aids, technology and other pertinent information.
c. Surveys, as may be deemed timely, of training policies, practices, pay rates, progress of graduates, etc.
3. A period devoted to industry or technical training tour.
4. A period devoted to Executive Sessions as determined by the President, with participation limited to:
a. Participating Members
b. Honorary Members
c. Invited guest as approved by Executive Committee
5. A period devoted to Federal, State, Local government officials as approved by the Program Committee
C. MEMBERSHIP
The AART is composed of representatives from companies, and organizations (herein will be referred to as Members) with established apprenticeship, craft or technical training programs.
1. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for membership, a Member must have an apprenticeship program, craft or technical training program in active operation for which certificates or diplomas are granted, subject to 3rd party quality assurance, or be planning to implement such a program within the year.
a. Prospective Members who sponsor registered apprenticeship programs are required to submit their applications on an AART Application Form (provided by the AART Secretary), along with copies of their:
i. Apprenticeship Standards
ii. Selection Procedures
iii. Related Class Schedule
b. Prospective Members with craft or technical training programs are required to submit their applications on an AART Application Form (provided by the AART Secretary), along with copies of their:
i. Program Plan
ii. Student Learning Outcomes
iii. Entry Requirements
c. Membership Committee will review all applications and make recommendations to the full membership at the next regular meeting.
d. New members must be approved by two-thirds of participating members.
e. Members who are part of organizations with multi-site operations which are separate business entities, shall be considered as separate entities for the purpose of membership. Each entity must meet all requirements of eligibility.
f. Vendors and Organized Labor Unions are not eligible for membership. Training Providers, Consulting Organizations and Registered Apprenticeship Programs that are not the Apprenticeship Program Sponsor are not eligible for membership.
2. PARTICIPATION. Each Member company or organization shall have one representative designated as the “Participating Member”.
a. Participating Members are “official” representatives, authorized to speak for their companies or organizations at all meetings and to supply the AART information and statistics on apprenticeship, craft or technical training.
b. Participating Members are entitled to vote in all executive sessions of the AART.
c. The Participating Members shall either be devoted full time to apprenticeship, craft or technical training programs where certificates are awarded or have, as a major responsibility, authority over such programs
3. RESPONSIBILITIES. Each Member agrees to the following:
a. Have a qualified representative attend each meeting by either
i. Attend the meeting in person
ii. Appoint a representative from the member organization to serve as proxy at the AART meeting.
iii. Attend the meeting via teleconference or web conference.
b. Be able to host an AART annual meeting periodically.
c. Have a representative willing to serve as an AART Officer and/or committee member for a two year term.
4. DUES.
a. The annual dues shall be $350.00 per Member or an equivalent in kind contribution approved by the executive committee.
b. The Treasurer will mail invoices to all Members in November. Payment must be received by the Treasurer no later than the start of the next annual meeting.
c. When appropriate, the Executive Committee may authorize the cancellation of such current year’s dues. In such case, the membership shall be so notified at the regular annual meeting.
d. Dues are collected to assist Host Members defray the cost of the AART conference.
e. Host Members requesting monetary assistance must submit a planned expense report to the Program Committee prior to the event and submit a post-event expenditures report.
f. Dues must not be used to cover the cost of alcohol.
g. Membership will be forfeited when a Participating Member fails to pay the annual dues.
5. NONCONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP
a. Any Participating member not in attendance for three consecutive years will forfeit membership.
b. A Warning Notice will be automatically sent when the Participating Member misses the second consecutive annual meeting, with forfeiture of membership after the third.
c. A Leave of Absence may be requested by participating members for up to three years.
i. Submit request for Leave of Absence to AART President.
ii. Submit SDR each year on Leave of Absence.
iii. One Leave of Absence granted per 10 years of membership
D. ADMINISTRATION
1. OFFICERS
a. There shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
b. Participating members who have been active for more than two years may serve as officers.
c. The election of officers will take place at the annual meeting based on the Nominating Committee Report.
d. Elected officers take office immediately following the close of the annual meeting at which the election occurs.
e. All officers shall be elected at the annual meeting for a term of two years.
f. No officer will be eligible for re-election to the same office for two consecutive terms unless approved by the Executive Committee.
2. COMMITTEES
a. There shall be four standing committees; Executive Committee, Membership Committee, Nominating Committee and Program Committee.
b. Participating members who have been active for more than two years may serve as committee chairpersons.
c. The President shall appoint committee chairpersons who shall serve for a two-year term.
d. The committee chairpersons shall then appoint up to three additional members to serve on their respective committees.
e. All committee appointments shall take effect immediately following the close of the annual meeting.
f. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers, chairperson of the standing committees, the outgoing President, and outgoing Vice-President.
g. The Executive Committee shall
i. Review overall accomplishments
ii. Prepare Reports
iii. Make recommendations to the membership
iv. Set the time and place of annual meetings
v. Transact business in the interest of the organization
h. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the planning of the regular annual meeting.
i. The Membership Committee shall review the qualifications of all applications for membership.
j. The Nominating Committee shall recommend a slate of new officers for the ensuing term.
3. MEETING REPORTS
a. A Conference Report will be created after each annual meeting to include SDRs, election results and information about the next annual meeting.
b. Each member will receive a copy of the conference report.
c. All information in Meeting reports are to be treated as confidential, and the content is not to be published or quoted outside the membership.
E. AWARDS
1. HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
a. Honorary lifetime memberships may be awarded to active or inactive Participating Members upon the recommendation of the Membership Committee.
b. Consideration requires ten years attendance to annual meeting.
c. Approved by a two-thirds vote of all Participating Members at annual meeting.
d. Active honorary members may attend all regular meetings as the representative of a Participating Member with all responsibilities and benefits.
e. Inactive honorary members may attend all regular meetings. However, they neither vote in executive sessions nor hold office.
2. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
a. Distinguished Service Awards may be given to active or inactive members upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
b. Such award may be given to an active Participating Member who has singularly contributed to the organization or to one who has given distinguished service to the organization.
c. Approved by a two-thirds vote of all Participating Members at annual meeting.
d. Inactive members with Distinguished Service Awards may attend all regular meetings, but are not eligible to vote in executive sessions or hold office.
F. GUESTS
1. GUESTS
a. Each Member is permitted to bring one guest to the annual meeting unless permitted to bring more by the Membership Committee and the Host Company.
b. Guests may participate in open meeting discussions at the discretion of the President
c. Guests may not participate in the Executive Session or Member Meeting.
G. AMENDMENTS
1. This constitution may be amended at any regular annual meeting of the AART.
a. To be adopted as an amendment, a proposal must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee prior to the annual meeting
b. Approval requires vote of not less than two-thirds of all participating members present at annual meeting
H. REVISIONS
Last Revised October 11, 2018
Added appendix outlining membership procedures. Section C.4.a & b
- Amended June 21, 1973
Provisions for Active members and define member. Section C.2, C.6.a
- Amended June 27, 1975
- Amended June 23, 1982
- Amended June 22, 1984
- Amended June 18, 1992
Clarify the membership status of companies with multiple separate operations. Section C.4.a.i
- Amended June 4, 2009
Increase Annual dues to $250 per participating member. Section C.4a
- Amended June 4, 2009
Increase Annual dues to $350 per participating member. Section C.4a
- Amended November 1, 2011
Changed time limit for submission of SDR and annual report. Section B.1c-d
- Amended October 11, 2018
Changed membership requirements. Section C.1a,b and f
- Amended October 11, 2018
Changed Guest invitation allowances. Section F.1a and c
- Amended October 11, 2018
Changed Revision Date. Section H
- Amended October 11, 2018