"Hello from the 2011 PCHS TSA Officer Team! We want to welcome you to our website and encourage you to continue exploring. TSA is a great organization that we are very proud to be a part of. Enjoy the site."
TSA or Technology Student Association is a student organization that is devoted to the needs of students interested in technology. TSA is open to those students who have completed a technology course and has over 150,000 middle and high school students in 2,000 schools across 47 states. The Technology Student Association is supported by teachers, parents, and business leaders who believe in the need for technology. If you wish to learn more, please visit the National TSA website.
History of TSA at PCHS
The Polk County Chapter of TSA was started at Polk County High School in 2006 by lead advisor Ryan Goodman for his Engineering Design Classes because he wanted to give the students opportunities to learn leadership and competitive skills. He was later joined by co-advisor Dewey Esquinance with the Web Design classes. The first year was very successful with many wins at regional and state competitions. The club started out its first year with 17 members and has continued to grow since.
2007-08 saw an increase of 122% membership and many more students competing and winning at the Regional, State, and National levels.
In 2008-09, another phenomenal year of membership growth was achieved with membership nearly doubling. This year also showed the largest increase of state winners in the school's history.
In 2009-10, has possibly been the best year yet for our chapter's competitors as we went on to have more state winners again, but this time a national championship as our state winners traveled to Baltimore, MD and brought home the gold.
2010-11 had us with 149 members and 3 advisors. We have since taken on a Service Learning Project to promote safe driving amongst teenagers and have created a Facebook connection.
2011-12 has already been another wonderful year for us. Membership has increased once again, to 160 members. We have placed well at our regional and state competitions, and are now looking forward to competing on a national level.
TSA Bylaws
If you are new to TSA or you would just like to read up on our bylaws of rules and regulations, then this page is for you. Below are all the PCHS articles of bylaws based on the Official bylaws of National TSA:
The official name of this organization shall be the Polk County High School Technology Student Association and may be referred to as "PCHS TSA."
Section 1
The general purposes of this organization are to: 1. Assist PCHS TSA members in the growth and development of TSA. 2. Assist PCHS TSA members in the development and leadership in social, economic, educational and community activities. 3. Increase the knowledge and understanding of our technological world. 4. Assist technology education students in the making of informed and meaningful career goals.
Section 2
The specific purposes of this organization are to: Develop, through individual and team work, the ability of members to plan, organize, and use a variety of resources to solve problems. Explore technology and develop an understanding of technological literacy. Promote high standards of learning through curricular resource activities. Encourage students in expressing creativity. Develop consumer awareness. Provide career opportunity information pertaining to a broad range of occupations, including training requisites, working conditions, salaries or wages, and other relevant information. Provide exploratory experiences in classrooms and laboratories, and develop partnerships in business or industry to acquaint students with career opportunities. Assist in providing guidance and counseling for students enrolled in the technology education programs at PCHS in making informed and meaningful career choices. Expose students to the responsibility of representing a large membership. Instill desirable work habits and attitudes toward the positive way of life in students and foster a deep respect for the dignity of work. Prepare individuals for enrollment in advanced or highly skilled vocational and technical education programs.
Section 1
The Polk County High School Technology Student Association is a local chapter operating in accordance with a charter granted by TSA, Inc.
Section 2
Polk County High School TSA will be responsible for all TSA operational activities within the school under the direction of the technology education teacher or an appointed representative meeting the advisor guidelines set by National TSA.
Section 3
Membership in TSA shall be through a chartered state delegation. PCHS TSA will consist of individual members meeting the following descriptions: Active. Active members shall be students who are presently enrolled in, or have been previously enrolled in technology education programs. An active member shall pay dues as established by the TSA, Inc., Board of Directors and Tennessee TSA Executive Council, and may be declared eligible to hold a state office, to participate in state competitive events or projects, to serve as a state voting delegate, or to otherwise represent PCHS TSA in Tennessee TSA affairs. Associate. Associate members shall be students who are enrolled in related fields of instruction with emphasis in technology education or who have been previously enrolled in technology education programs. An associate member shall pay dues as established by the Tennessee TSA Executive Council. Associate members shall not vote or hold office. Alumni. Alumni members shall consist of those individuals who have completed an industrial arts/technology education program (have been former active or associate TSA members) who have graduated from or left school. Alumni members shall pay dues as established by the Tennessee TSA Executive Council. Professional. Professional members are those individuals engaged in education, business, and industry who have interest in Tennessee TSA and in the welfare of technology education. Professional members shall pay dues as established by the Tennessee TSA Executive Council. Professional members shall not vote or hold office. Honorary/Honorary Life. Honorary/Honorary Life members may be individuals who have made or are making contributions to the advancement of technology education as may be approved by the Tennessee TSA Executive Council and shall be exempt from annual dues.
Section 4
Polk County High School TSA is local organization operating in accordance with a charter granted by TSA and Tennessee TSA.
Section 5
Annual Tennessee TSA membership dues shall be determined by the Tennessee TSA Executive Council and the PCHS chapter. Members must be affiliated with State and National TSA prior to any TSA competition in which they want to compete.
Section 6
In order to attend conferences, participants must agree to follow the Tennessee TSA codes of conduct and dress.
Section 7
In order to be considered to be in good standing in PCHS TSA must have at least ten (10) affiliated active members.
Section 8
The membership year shall be August 1 to July 31.
Section 9
The fiscal year shall be July 1 to June 30.
Section 1: Local Offices
The PCHS TSA officers shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, and sergeant-at-arms. No individual may be elected to more than one full term as a PCHS TSA officer in the same office. These officers and the PCHS TSA advisor(s) will be known collectively as the Executive Committee of PCHS TSA.
Section 2: Officer Duties
President:
It shall be the duty of the president of PCHS TSA to preside at all meetings; to make necessary committee appointments including the designation of committee chair persons; to develop with the Executive Committee a program of work for the term of office; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Vice-president:
It shall be the duty of the vice-president to serve in any capacity as directed by the president; to accept the responsibility of the president as occasion may demand and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Secretary:
It shall be the duty of the secretary to serve in any capacity as directed by the president; to record proceedings of all meetings; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Treasurer:
It shall be the duty of the treasurer to serve in any capacity as directed by the president; to keep records and membership reports; and to be available, as necessary, promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Reporter:
It shall be the duty of the reporter to serve in any capacity as directed by the president; to accumulate and keep up-to-date information on the history of the PCHS TSA association; to prepare articles for local newspapers and other news media; to contact other association members concerning news items for publication; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Sergeant-at-Arms:
It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to serve in any capacity as directed by the president; to assist in the preparation and control of the meeting place; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of PCHS TSA.
Section 3: Qualifications for a PCHS TSA Office
Only an active member of PCHS TSA will be eligible to run for the PCHS TSA office. Students must have at least one (1) year of high school eligibility remaining to run for office. A student elected as an officer at the annual meeting may not hold a national or state TSA office concurrently with the term as PCHS TSA officer. A student must be a member of TSA for at least one year before seeking an office. A PCHS TSA member must have completed the seventh grade and at least one technology education class to be qualified for an office. He/she must have attended at least one regional, state, national, or leadership conference. PCHS TSA members must have submitted an officer candidate form and must have been approved by the nominations committee in order to run for office.
Section 4: Elections
PCHS TSA officers shall be elected by a majority vote of its members at the annual meeting. Election of officers shall be by ballot vote. if there are more than two candidates for an office and a majority is not reached on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped, and the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes on each succeeding ballot will be dropped until a majority is reached. If a candidate is unopposed, he/she must obtain a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members at the annual meeting.
Section 5: Terms of Service
A PCHS TSA officer term is defined as follows: Officers' terms will begin at the beginning of the school year calendar which they were elected, and they will serve until the close of the following school year.
Section 6: Officer Obligations
Officers must perform the duties of their office; attend required meetings; meet deadlines satisfactorily; follow PCHS TSA rules and responsibilities; and act in a professional manner.
Section 7: Removal of Officers
Failure to fulfill the obligations of an office without legitimate cause will result in the removal from office by the advisor. If an officer is removed from office for any reason, he/she will not be allowed to run for office again.
The PCHS TSA meetings will be held each month with the time, date, and place designated by the school Advisor.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern PCHS TSA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.
Section 1
The TSA emblem is a rectangular shape with three parts. The middle section and largest part of the emblem contains the letters TSA in a very large, bold print. The letters are white on a blue background. Below these letters and about one-third (1/3) the size, is the name of the association-Technology Student Association-in white letters on a red background. The top portion of the emblem is a blank, red, rectangular shape, the same size as the bottom area. This portion is intentionally left blank so that each state can put its own name on the emblem if desired.
Section 2
The colors of TSA shall be scarlet (red), white, and blue (navy). Scarlet (red) represents the strength and determination of the technology education students and teachers to obtain their goal. White represents high standards, morals, and religious beliefs. Blue (navy) represents the sincerity of the technology education students and teachers in obtaining a greater knowledge of our technological world.
Section 1: Motto
The motto of the PCHS Technology Student Association will be:
"Learning to live in a technical world."
Section 2: Creed
The creed of the PCHS Technology Student Association will be:
"I believe that Technology Education holds an important place in my life in the technical world. I believe there is a need for the development of good attitudes concerning work, tools, materials, experimentation, and processes of industry. Guided by my teachers, artisans from industry, and my own initiative, I will strive to do my best in making my school, community, state, and nation better places in which to live. I will accept the responsibilities that are mine. I will accept the theories that are supported by proper evidence. I will explore on my own for safer, more effective methods of working and living. I will strive to develop a cooperative attitude and will exercise tact and respect for other individuals. Through the work of my hands and mind, I will express my ideas to the best of my ability. I will make it my goal to do better each day the task before me and to be steadfast in my belief in my God and my fellow Americans."