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INTERDIVISIONAL CAUCUS
The Council for Exceptional Children

REVISED OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
July 17, 1994

During the June 1974 meeting of Division Presidents and Presidents Elect, held at CEC Headquarters in Reston, Virginia, the representatives of the Divisions agreed to form the Interdivisional Caucus. It was agreed by all present that such a Caucus would help the Divisions better serve their members by facilitating interdisciplinary communication as well as inter-division discussion and action, and by facilitating the parent organization's utilization of the expertise represented in the various Divisions. It was recognized that the IDC would hold no formal representation in the Governance of CEC.

In the years following the formation of the IDC, several revisions in the structure of the IDC were considered and acted upon. A revised statement of purpose and functioning was developed and approved by the IDC in March of 1987. A second revised statement of purposes and functioning of the Interdivisional Caucus was brought before the IDC and acted upon in July 1992. Another revision of the guidelines was begun in July of 1993 through the formation of a committee to evaluate the operating structure of the IDC. In January 1994, Division Governors called for further consideration of revisions to the 1992 IDC Statement of Purpose and Functioning. Both efforts were presented at the IDC meeting in April 1994 in Denver. At that time the IDC authorized a special session of the IDC to be held in Reston in July of 1994 during the Division Officers' Leadership Seminar. The proposal was presented and accepted through this special session of the IDC at CEC Headquarters in July of 1994. Further amendments were presented and approved at the IDC meetings in April 1998 in Minneapolis, April 8, 2003 in Seattle, and April 5, 2005 in Baltimore.

1. To create an organizational structure to address the common issues and concerns of all Divisions.



2. To create a forum to facilitate communication between Divisions.



3. To unify and enhance the influence of Divisions in CEC and the field of Special Education.



4. To increase interaction and visibility of Divisions within CEC.

Each Division President shall appoint a total of two division officials to the Caucus. These two (2) appointed officials shall attend the meetings of the IDC and be the official voting representatives of the division. Designees may be appointed to represent the official designees of the Caucus at the discretion of the Division President.

The officers of the IDC will be the Chair and Vice Chair. Officers will serve a two-year term. The Vice Chair will ascend to the office of Chair. Elections for a new Vice Chair occur during the spring semi-annual IDC Business meeting held in conjunction with the CEC Annual Convention. The Chair will call for nominations from the floor. Election is to be by a majority vote of those Divisions in attendance.

In case of a vacancy occurring in the position of Vice-Chair of IDC, or in the event he/she succeeds the Chair of IDC for any reason, the position of Vice-Chair will be filled by a temporary replacement (to complete the unexpired term) who will serve until the next opportunity for election of a replacement occurs. The replacement will be recommended by the Chair and approved by a majority vote of the IDC representatives.

1. Consult and coordinate-activities with the CEC Associate Executive Director of Membership Services.



2. Develop the agenda for the Interdivisional Caucus meetings and conference calls.



3. Distribute the agenda to IDC members prior to meetings/conference calls.



4. See that members are informed about the IDC meeting dates, time and location approximately one month prior to the meeting.



5. Coordinate the arrangements for the meeting room for the IDC.



6. Chair the IDC meetings.



7. Communicate with IDC members, the CEC President and the CEC Executive Director.

1. Chair meetings whenever the Chair is unable to attend.



2. Ascend to the office of Chair in the event the Chair should resign.



3. Take minutes of IDC meetings and, after review by the IDC Chair, forward them to the Associate Executive Director for Membership Services at CEC Headquarters for distribution to the IDC members.

1. The CEC Annual Convention



2. Bi-monthly conference calls.



3. Other meetings as called by the Chair or by a majority vote of the IDC representatives.

1. The meeting will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, latest edition.



2. At each meeting, an unofficial Parliamentarian for the meeting shall be elected by a majority vote of those Divisions in attendance.



3. All actions (motions, votes, etc.) of the IDC on Board of Directors' Agenda or the Representative Assembly Agenda items are indicative of the majority opinion of the IDC, and are not binding on individual Divisions.



4. All actions of the IDC concerning internal IDC business will be by majority vote and will be binding as IDC policy.



5. All actions of the IDC concerning such business as presenting resolutions to CEC governance will be by simple majority vote. Such actions or positions will be considered official stands of the IDC.



6. A quorum for an Interdivisional Caucus meeting will consist of at least one representative from each of the majority of the Divisions (representation from half plus one of the Divisions constitutes a quorum). For the purpose of voting, each Division will have one vote.



7. Although the IDC will consist officially of only the two specified representatives from each Division, other members of a Division's executive board or membership may attend and, at the discretion of the Chair, participate in discussions within the limitations that may be placed upon the group due to meeting room space and time.



8. The IDC Chair may appoint committees to prepare information on topics of specific concern to the IDC.

In order to provide financial resources for the IDC to function, each Division is requested to contribute $60 per year. This amount will be placed in an IDC account at CEC. Expenditures by elected IDC officers will be processed for payment through the CEC Associate Executive Director for Membership Services office at CEC Headquarters.

The IDC account will be for the purpose of meeting expenses, travel for the elected IDC officers, and special committee activities.