Independent Community of Educators (ICE)
Rules and By-Laws

Article I – Membership

I A. The Independent Community of Educators (ICE) is a caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).

I B. All UFT members in good standing are eligible for membership in ICE.

I C. ICE membership is conferred when a person formally joins ICE, and pays annual dues.

ID. To maintain good-standing status and retain voting rights, an ICE member must attend at least two meetings a year. These may be either general membership
meetings or special weekend or vacation meetings.

I E. Benefits of ICE membership:

1. Only ICE members may determine official ICE policy. Non-members may participate freely in all discussions at general ICE meetings, but may not be considered for purposes of reaching consensus; nor may they be counted if a formal vote is required.

2. Only ICE members may nominate, vote for, or serve as members of the ICE Steering Committee.

3. Only ICE members may represent ICE on other committees, for example standing committees of the United Federation of Teachers.

4. ICE members may assume leadership of all ICE committees.

Article II – Dues

II A. All ICE members in good standing will pay dues annually.

II B. The dues structure for ICE membership is as follows:

1. Basic Rates – For active ICE members

a. Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists: $45.00
b. First-year Teachers, Lab Specialists, Paras, Secretaries,
Retirees: $25.00

2. Sustaining Membership – For ICE supporters who wish to play a less active role, and do not attend meetings: (This level of membership does not include full voting and membership rights.)
$20.00

Article III – ICE Leadership

III A. The leadership of ICE is a Steering Committee.

III B. The Steering Committee is composed of a small group of ICE Members. The size of the Steering Committee will be decided, and changed as needed, by the ICE membership.

III C. How the Steering Committee is chosen:

1. Steering Committee members must be members of ICE in good standing.

2. ICE members interested in serving on the Steering Committee may be nominated by other ICE members, or may nominate themselves.

3. Those nominated to serve on the ICE Steering Committee will be approved by consensus of ICE members whenever possible. If approval of a Steering Committee by consensus is not possible, a formal vote among ICE members will be taken.

III D. Steering Committee Term of Office:

1. The Steering Committee shall serve for one academic year.

2. At the end of each academic year, ICE will hold a general meeting at which the membership will determine which ICE members will serve on the Steering Committee for the following academic year.

III E. Duties and Responsibilities of the Steering Committee

1. To schedule ICE meetings, as needed.

2. To set agendas for ICE meetings, allowing for both continuity of work, and responsiveness to ICE members’ suggestions.

3. To form a liaison with ICE committees.

4. To plan the overall flow of ICE work, including projects, campaigns, forums, etc., in conjunction with the various ICE committees.

5. To oversee the use of ICE monies.

Article IV – ICE Meetings

IV A. General Membership Meetings

1. ICE General Membership meetings are held at least monthly, and more often if needed.

2. ICE General Membership meetings are open to interested members of the public who wish to share in discussion of union matters and other issues of critical concern to the educational community.

3. All ICE policy is shaped at General Membership meetings.

4. As noted under Item I D 1 above, only ICE members may determine official ICE policy. Non-members may participate freely in all discussions at general ICE meetings, but may not be considered for purposes of reaching consensus; nor may they be counted if a formal vote is required.

5. The Steering Committee will schedule ICE meetings as needed, and plan the agendas, including items suggested by interested ICE members.

6. Notice of meetings and agendas will be posted on the ICE Blog, and on ICE-mail, at least two weeks in advance of each meeting, except in cases of emergency.

IV B. Forums – The Forum Committee, in conjunction with Teachers Unite, and other ICE committees, have been presenting a regular series of forums, open to the general public, and dealing with a variety of current educational “hot” issues.

Article V – ICE Decision-Making Processes

V A. Ice policy-making decisions and other important decisions will be made by consensus whenever possible.

V B. When a decision cannot be reached by consensus, a formal vote of the ICE membership present at the meeting in question will be taken; and the vote of the majority will decide the issue

Article VI – ICE Endorsements

VI A. People or organizations seeking ICE endorsements for activities or events should contact the ICE Steering Committee.

VI B. Sufficient time should be allowed for the Steering Committee to discuss a possible endorsement, and bring the question before the membership for approval.

VI C. No endorsements will be made without prior ICE membership approval.

Article VII – ICE Committees

VII A. ICE committees include the following:

1. Standing committees:

a. The Steering Committee

b. The Literature Committee

c. The Communications Committee

d. The Finance Committee

e. The Forum Committee

2. Ad Hoc Committees:

a. Ad hoc committees are formed as needed, or as issues arise.

b. Current or past ICE ad hoc committees have included the following:

i. The School Governance Committee

ii. The Testing Committee

iii. The Peace and Justice Committee
iv. The Small Schools Committee

v. The Charter School Movement Committee

vi. The UFT Election Committee

vii. The Anti-Privatization Committee

viii. The Labor Education Committee

VII B. All ICE committees must ultimately report to the Steering Committee, which will bring the work of the committees before the general membership for approval.

Article VIII – ICE Online

VIII A. The ICE web site (http://www.ice-uft.org) contains a wide variety of important
information, including listings of ICE activities, discussions of matters of
concern to all UFT members, and links to other blogs and web sites useful
to people involved in education and union issues.

VIII B. The ICE Blog (http://iceuftblog.blogspot.com) provides in-depth analy-
sis of evolving educational and union issues, presented from varying perspectives and viewpoints by ICE members and others. Readers are invited to submit comments.

VIII C. ICE-Mail (www.ice-mail@yahoogroups.com) is an open forum for
discussion of critical educational and political issues, and union concerns, especially those affecting members of the educational community. People interested in joining the ICE-mail forum should contact the ICE Web-
Master at twoflightsup@hotmail.com or joanselin@yahoo.com.

VIII D. Because ICE is anxious to keep its on-line communications as open
as possible to a wide variety of thinking, the ideas and opinions ex-
pressed on the ICE Web Site, or posted on ICE-Mail or the ICE Blog,
do not necessarily reflect the views of ICE as an organization, or of
any individual member thereof..

VIII E. Members of ICE in good standing will be added to an internal e-mail list,
which will be used for between-meetings discussion, and for emergency decision-making purposes.

Article IX – Friends of ICE

Individuals who do not wish to commit to ICE membership, but who want to support ICE in its work, by distributing ICE literature in their schools or at the Delegate Assembly, or by helping in other ways, can become Friends of Ice. To become a Friend of ICE, contact us at:

ICE
Box 1143
Jamaica, NY 11421

or call:
(917)992-3734