Standards for the Establishment, Affiliation, Operation and Dissolution of Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education, PAGE, Affiliates of the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, NCAGT

I. Purpose

A. The general purpose of a Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education, PAGE, affiliate of the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, Inc., NCAGT, shall be to support and encourage the development of gifted students through an understanding of their characteristics and needs, by fostering appropriate educational opportunities for them at home, in school and in the larger community, and through support for other PAGE chapters and for the NCAGT. See Appendix A for the history of NCAGT and PAGE.

B. As an affiliate of NCAGT, PAGE chapter shall act ethically and responsibly to:

1. Serve the best interests of gifted students, especially those related to their need for appropriate educational opportunities.
2. Function in a manner that is conducive to the well-being of PAGE in their community.
3. Act to develop the chapter so as to assure the probable future success of PAGE.
4. Maintain the good reputation of PAGE and of the NCAGT as organizations.
5. Keep informed regarding issues affecting gifted persons on the local, state and national levels.
6. Inform its members and others about the characteristics and needs of gifted students, their education and other issues that may affect their well-being.
7. Support a strong gifted education program, understanding that such a program supports a strong education for all children.
8. Promote advocacy.

C. PAGE chapters may have other philosophies, characteristics and processes (including purposes, principles, policies, etc.) in addition to those reflected in these Standards, provided that these additional philosophies, characteristics and processes are not inconsistent with those reflected in these Standards.

II. Establishment and Affiliation

A. A group interested in establishing a PAGE chapter must contact the State PAGE Coordinator for information about forming an affiliate of NCAGT. The coordinator will provide a copy of the PAGE Standards, sample charter and sample by-laws. Contact the coordinator at State PAGE Coordinator, c/o The North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, Incorporated, P.O. Box 899, Swansboro, NC 28584-0899. Telephone: 910-326-8483. Fax: 910-326-8465; or email to < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >.

B. The group shall form a steering committee that meets the following criteria, with a contact person designated to correspond with the PAGE coordinator:

1. Four or more in number.
2. Interested in the well-being of gifted students.
3. Sufficiently motivated to initiate and sustain the organization.
4. Supportive of the philosophies, characteristics and processes of PAGE chapters as reflected by these Standards for the Establishment, Affiliation, Operation and Dissolution of Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education, PAGE, Affiliates of the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, NCAGT (herein referred to as the "Standards").
5. Willing to abide by these Standards and by corresponding provisions of future Standards.
6. Representative of a large enough portion of a North Carolina community (usually an entire county) to assure the organization of the continued ability to function well.
7. In an area that is not currently served by an existing PAGE chapter.

C. The steering committee shall publicize and hold one or more general meetings open to the public to discuss and vote to form a PAGE affiliate.

D. The steering committee shall apply to NCAGT to form an affiliate.

E. The NCAGT Committee on PAGE Affiliates shall evaluate the application according to criteria established in these Standards and recommend approval or disapproval of formation of the affiliate to the NCAGT Board of Directors. The NCAGT President or the PAGE Coordinator shall notify the steering committee in writing the decision of the Board.

F. The affiliate shall organize by the following actions:

1. Accepting members.
2. Electing a Board of Directors that includes a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, and, preferably, other individuals as well.
3. Adopting by-laws that adequately reflect the philosophies, characteristics and processes of PAGE affiliates including the acceptance of these and future Standards, affiliation with the NCAGT, and provisions for the dissolution of the chapter should that become necessary.

G. The affiliate shall submit the list of officers, charter, by-laws and the affiliate dues to the Coordinator.

H. The PAGE coordinator shall confirm in writing that the charter and by-laws meet the criteria in these Standards.

I. The affiliate shall apply to the Secretary of State for incorporation as a nonprofit corporation.

J. The affiliate shall send a copy of the approved charter to the PAGE coordinator.

K. The affiliate shall complete the process of organizing as listed above and becoming a nonprofit corporation within one year from applying to become an NCAGT affiliate.

III. The Affiliation Agreement

A. Benefits of Affiliation

1. Through affiliation with the NCAGT a PAGE chapter has the right to use the name "Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education" and "PAGE" in association with the existence and the activities of that chapter and its corporate name. The terms "PAGE affiliate," "PAGE chapter," and "NCAGT affiliate" are interchangeable.
2. The chapter shall have one vote in the business affairs of the NCAGT.
3. The chapter President, or a designee, shall have the "Total Conference Package" registration fee waived for the annual NCAGT/PAGE Conference and is expected to attend the conference and any meeting of PAGE chapters held during the conference. The Total Conference Package covers the Pre-Conference workshop(s), and the two-day conference (or whatever is considered the full conference in future years), including selected meals such as the Awards Banquet. Hotel accommodations and meals not included in the Total Conference Package are the responsibility of the person attending the conference.
4. The chapter shall receive one copy of each issue of the NCAGT newsletter, the Summer Opportunities publication, and other materials or correspondence sent to NCAGT members.
5. Through affiliation with the NCAGT, a PAGE chapter becomes part of a larger advocacy base and has more input on policy concerning gifted education in North Carolina.

B. PAGE chapters shall act in a manner that is in compliance with tax-exempt status under United States Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). A PAGE chapter may want to confirm this status by filing a Form 1024 with the United States Internal Revenue Service, although such action is not required.

C. With regard to support for all PAGE chapters and support for the NCAGT, each PAGE chapter shall:

1. Participate in all matters related to these Standards.
2. Pay an affiliation fee to the NCAGT by January 1 of each year (see affiliation benefits in III A above).
3. Participate in and support PAGE activities and projects that involve all PAGE chapters, those that involve all PAGE chapters within a region, and joint PAGE-NCAGT activities and projects.
4. Participate in the nomination of candidates for the State PAGE Coordinator position.
5. Continue to support and foster the well-being of the NCAGT.
6. Encourage as many of its members as possible to also be members of the NCAGT.
7. Provide the standard information requested including the names, addresses and phone numbers of all officers, directors, and, if requested, members, to the State PAGE Coordinator on or before the date designated for this purpose (see III.D.).
8. Provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of all members, when requested, to the NCAGT for organizational purposes (see III.D.).
9. Include on its stationery (if any) a reference to the chapter's affiliation status, e.g., "Affiliated with the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, Incorporated, NCAGT."

D. With regard to support for all PAGE chapters and support for the NCAGT, the NCAGT has agreed to:

1. Continue to support and foster the well-being of PAGE chapters affiliated with the NCAGT.
2. Maintain the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the NCAGT to include PAGE as the local affiliates of the NCAGT.
3. Include representatives of PAGE, elected by PAGE chapters, when a proposal to amend the NCAGT Bylaws that will directly affect PAGE is written.
4. Continue the representation of PAGE members on the NCAGT Board of Directors by maintaining the categories of election for the NCAGT Board to one whereby, in each election cycle, the "teacher," "other educator," "parent," and "PAGE Board Member" with the highest number of votes per category, plus two other nominees with the highest number of votes regardless of category, are elected.
5. Maintain a Committee on PAGE Affiliates which shall consist of the State PAGE Coordinator, who shall Chair the Committee, and at least two additional members of the NCAGT Board of Directors, at least one of whom shall be a Member of the Board of Directors of a PAGE chapter.
6. Set and maintain the affiliation fee at a reasonable rate. Funds will go into the NCAGT general fund.
7. Solicit candidates for the position of State PAGE Coordinator by a notice to all PAGE chapters and NCAGT members, through the NCAGT newsletter, website or letter. Each candidate shall submit standard information, including a résumé. This information shall include a brief description of how each candidate meets the qualifications enumerated in the Position Description for the State PAGE Coordinator (see Appendix B) and a brief statement by each candidate concerning why the individual would like to be the State PAGE Coordinator.
8. Appoint the State PAGE Coordinator, who will serve as an Ex Officio member of the NCAGT Board of Directors, with annual review by the Board. The review shall include comments from the PAGE chapters.
9. Provide funding to support the position of State PAGE Coordinator, including an honorarium and some expenses.
10. Provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of all NCAGT members residing in a given area, if requested, to the State PAGE Coordinator for organizational purposes (See III.D. below.).
11. Include on its stationery a reference to PAGE chapters as affiliates of the NCAGT.

E. Personal information about PAGE and NCAGT members (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) shall be safeguarded and regarded as confidential. This information shall only be used by officers and designated other individuals as necessary to further the purposes of PAGE and the NCAGT. Under no circumstances shall this information be made available to an organization, group or individual outside of the NCAGT, PAGE or the National Association for Gifted Children, NAGC, of which NCAGT is an affiliate, for any purpose.

F. PAGE chapters already established and active at the time of the adoption of these Standards (i.e., existing PAGE Chapters) shall be granted active status as PAGE chapters. However, existing PAGE chapters shall be expected to adhere to certain essential philosophies, characteristics and processes, as agreed upon through the adoption of these Standards by the vote of all active PAGE chapters, and shall provide information to document this adherence. Existing PAGE chapters shall have one year from the date of the adoption of these Standards to change their name to "Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education."

IV. Continued Operation as a PAGE Chapter

A. The good, fair and harmonious operation of a PAGE chapter is highly desirable. When this quality of operation does not appear to be true of a PAGE chapter, especially when issues related to these Standards are involved, one or both of the following approaches may be taken in an attempt to address the situation. This process should be completed as quickly as is prudent and, regardless of which approach is taken, a good faith attempt shall be made to exemplify the principles that characterize PAGE and to be as objective as is practical in considering different viewpoints.

1. The PAGE chapter itself shall determine whether or not a problem exists, and, if so, attempt to address and to solve it. As a part of this process the chapter may request assistance from the State PAGE Coordinator, who in turn will consider the circumstances and recommend an "outside resource person," e.g. an individual with an appropriate level of experience, to help the chapter resolve the situation.
2. The PAGE chapter itself, or three or more individual members of the PAGE chapter in question, or another PAGE chapter, or the State PAGE Coordinator shall request that the Committee on PAGE Affiliates of the NCAGT determine whether or not action is necessary. This request shall be in writing, shall specify the nature of the concern along with supporting information, and shall be signed by the person or persons making the request. If the Committee on PAGE Affiliates determines that action is necessary, the section on Disciplinary Procedures included in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be its guide with the Committee deciding what modifications of the organizational structure and procedure outlined in that guide are necessary in order to adapt that guide to the characteristics of PAGE. Consistent with that guide the Committee on PAGE Affiliates shall appoint an investigating committee made up of one or more individuals of integrity and good judgment to determine whether or not further action, including disciplinary action, is warranted. Upon receiving the report and recommendations of the investigating committee, the Committee on PAGE chapters shall determine what additional course of action, if any, is appropriate, and shall pursue that course. The most extreme penalty possible for the PAGE chapter in question shall be loss of status as a PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT.

B. Inactive status as a PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT shall be assigned by the State PAGE Coordinator to a PAGE chapter if:

1. The PAGE chapter provides written notification that it is no longer active to the State PAGE Coordinator; or if
2. The PAGE chapter does not meet the general requirements of an active PAGE chapter; or if
3. The PAGE chapter has not held at least one general meeting during the last school year.

C. A PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT shall be considered to have ceased to exist (and shall begin dissolution, if that has not already taken place) if:

1. The PAGE chapter provides written notification of this fact to the State PAGE Coordinator; or if
2. A PAGE chapter does not complete the process of becoming an affiliate and an incorporated nonprofit organization as enumerated in sections II and III within one year; or if
3. A PAGE chapter assigned inactive status does not gain active status within one additional school year.

D. Immediately upon ceasing to exist, a PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT shall lose its right to use, and shall no longer use, the name "PAGE."

V. Dissolution

Dissolution of a PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT shall take place at or before the time that the PAGE chapter ceases to exist. Upon dissolution, after fulfilling applicable legal requirements, a PAGE chapter shall distribute its remaining assets to the NCAGT. The NCAGT shall hold these assets for a period of five years, transferring these assets to a new PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT in the geographic area of the original PAGE chapter if one should be established within that five-year period. All of these assets, principal plus interest, minus an amount equal to the cost of maintaining and accounting for these assets, will be transferred. If no new PAGE chapter affiliated with the NCAGT is formed within that five-year period, then these funds shall be used in a manner deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the NCAGT.

VI. Reviving a PAGE Chapter

A. A group that wants to start a PAGE chapter in a location that no longer has an active chapter should follow the procedures in Section II, Establishment and Affiliation, and meet all requirements for affiliation, including using the name "Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education."

B. If the previous chapter was incorporated under the laws of North Carolina, but not suspended with the Secretary of State, the new group may resume activity under that same incorporation.

C. The group must file a new registered agent and address with the Secretary of State and any other amendments necessary to meet requirements for affiliation with NCAGT and the laws of North Carolina.

D. If the previous chapter was incorporated but is suspended with the Secretary of State, the new new group shall form a new corporation.

VII. Amendments to These Standards

Proposals to amend these Standards shall be made in writing to the State PAGE Coordinator by any active PAGE affiliate, or by the State PAGE Coordinator with the approval of the Committee on PAGE Affiliates of the NCAGT. Following the initiation of a proposal, the State PAGE Coordinator shall communicate the proposal in writing to all active PAGE chapters and to the Board of Directors of the NCAGT. Whenever possible a proposal shall be considered at a meeting or meetings that individual members and/or representatives of all PAGE affiliates can attend, e.g. at a meeting held at the Annual State Conference, at regional meetings of PAGE affiliates, etc. Ballots on the proposal shall be due no earlier than 45 days following the date of the written notice of the proposal. The proposal shall be adopted after receiving a two-thirds vote of all active PAGE affiliates, each affiliate having one vote, and after acceptance by the Board of Directors of the NCAGT.

Appendix A: History of PAGE and NCAGT

Parents for the Advancement of Gifted Education of North Carolina, Incorporated, PAGE, was established in Raleigh, in 1974. It was made up of parents, teachers and others as an advocacy group for the well-being and educational development of gifted students. As groups of people in other parts of North Carolina came together they requested permission to form their own local "PAGE Chapters." If they agreed to accept the principles and general structure that characterized the original PAGE organization, they were granted this permission. Before long there were PAGE chapters all over North Carolina.

The North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, Incorporated, NCAGT, was also formed in 1974. It was made up of teachers, other educators, parents and others. It too was an advocacy group for the well-being and educational development of gifted students. As the years went on PAGE came to have more and more of a local focus, while the NCAGT was soon functioning almost entirely on a statewide level. From the beginning the two organizations worked well together, including joint sponsorship of one of the nation's most successful annual state conferences on the education of the gifted, and this has continued to be true.

In 1990 PAGE and the NCAGT decided to formalize their relationship with one another and bring the two organizations closer together. Among other things, PAGE needed a statewide organizational structure to support the continued success of existing PAGE chapters and to foster the development of new ones. Among other things, the NCAGT needed more members to provide the contacts and funding necessary to take more initiatives intended to benefit gifted students throughout North Carolina. After more than a year of study, numerous meetings and a two-stage vote by PAGE Chapters to determine the nature of this new relationship, PAGE chapters decided to "affiliate" with the NCAGT. Since one of the goals of this effort was to establish a statement of philosophies, characteristics and processes as part of the structure to support new and existing PAGE chapters, elected representatives of PAGE and the NCAGT met together in 1990, 1991 and 1992 to prepare this statement. The Standards, adopted by a two-thirds vote of all PAGE chapters in 1991 and accepted by the NCAGT in 1992, are the result of that effort.

As discussions of affiliation proceeded it became apparent that the use of the name "PAGE" should be restricted to chapters meeting these Standards. In 1992, Parents for the Advancement of Gifted Education of North Carolina, Incorporated, PAGE, which had previously authorized the use of the name "PAGE" by PAGE chapters, transferred its right to the name "PAGE" to the NCAGT for the purpose of licensing PAGE chapters and maintaining these Standards.

In 2000, NCAGT realized that it needed to strengthen its relationship with PAGE and the chapters needed strengthening within their own communities. The Committee on PAGE Affiliates surveyed the chapters, finding only 19 currently active. Comments from the chapters as well as teachers, school administrators and others across the state indicated a need for an emphasis on the collaboration necessary to advocate successfully for gifted students.

In 2001, the NCAGT Board of Directors and PAGE chapters voted to change the name from "Parents for the Advancement of Gifted Education" to "Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education." This change reflects and emphasizes the collaboration among parents, teachers, school administrators, university faculty, and others in the community that is necessary to advocate successfully for gifted children. Changes to the NCAGT by-laws to include the new name and an appointed State PAGE Coordinator were approved by its members in August 2002.

The PAGE affiliates met to discuss proposed revisions to the Standards in March 2002 and voted to revise the Standards in September 2002.