OCTM

History

General History

Charter History

History of Our Past Presidents

General History:

District Directors

The constitution given to the BOD under which they were to operate included just five Articles: I Name and Purpose; II Membership and Dues; III Board of Directors and Officers; IV Duties of Officers; V Meetings, Amendments, Programs. A very legible handwritten copy of that first Constitution was included in the Secretary's Journal for the April 5, 1952 Business Meeting. Mimeographed copies were later made available to members. The six districts named were the ones defined and used by OEA as Ohio educational districts. For a number of years thereafter, OCTM modified its number and definition of districts to match those of OEA.

The 1952 Constitution was revised seven times before it was replaced in 1976, by OCTM's second Constitution. In turn, the 1976 document was revised nine times before being replaced by the approval and adoption of a third Constitution in 1995. As of mid 2000, there have been no amendments to the 1995 Constitution.

Very few copies of OCTM historical governing documents are included in the archives. Consequently, it is difficult to compare them or to determine exactly when major changes were first introduced. Records do indicate that apparently in 1978, the Constitution Committee modernized the form of OCTM's governing document by designing a set of Bylaws to complement and supplement the Constitution. Procedures and information that would be most likely to change, and which needed only a simple majority vote for passage (rather than the two-thirds required for constitutional changes) made up the Bylaws.

Over the years, the size of the Board increased as changes in the number of officers and District Directors were made. Originally the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were separate, with the Secretary being an appointed, non-voting position. Shortly, though, the two were assigned to a single, non-voting member, appointed by the president. In 1960, the workload became large enough to require separation, and for a short time both were appointed, non-voting, members of the Board. Later this was changed to what is still the current status: an appointed, non-voting Secretary and an elected, bonded, voting Treasurer. In 1961, the Board suggested that the Constitution be changed to include as voting members of the Board, the president of each affiliate whose annual fee has been paid.

As OEA re-defined its districts and increased their number to nine, the OCTM Board also added a ninth director. In 1995, the Board decided to re-define its districts so they would be aligned with the eight districts of the Regional Professional Development Center. However, to help maintain diversity among the school levels represented on the Board, OCTM defined the ninth director to be a Director-at-Large.

Over the years the Annual Professional Conference, including its related Business Meeting for OCTM members, was moved from Spring to the Fall of each year. This move alleviated the problem of conflicts between OCTM and NCTM meeting dates. Newly elected officers continued to take office at the close of the required spring Board Meeting. The OCTM membership year also changed. Originally it extended from one Annual Business Meeting to the next. Now a membership year runs for one year from the date of receipt of dues.

When the Ohio Mathematics Education Leadership Council began meeting, it wished to be recognized by OCTM, and to be represented on the Board. However, it did not meet the requirement of being a local council, nor did it want or need the services for such a group. The 1995 Bylaws defined an "Associate Council" as one that serves statewide, pays an annual fee equal to that of a local council affiliate, and has a non-voting position on the OCTM Board.

The current OCTM Constitution defines a fourteen-plus member Board of Directors. It consists of the fourteen elected officers, the president elect (when applicable), the nine District Directors plus the president (or his/her legal representative) of each fee-paying affiliate. OCTM members who hold appointed positions often populate the Board meetings, although they have no vote. The non-voting appointees include, but are not limited to: the Secretary, Past President (when applicable), editors of OCTM publications, chairs of committees (both standing and others), the representative to NCTM, representative from the Ohio Department of Education, and the president of each Associate Council. Appropriate guests may also be invited to attend.

- from The First Fifty Years, History of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics,

1950-2000, pages 10-12

by Emalou Brumfield

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Charter History:

OCTM Charter Members

Honored at Banquet

A special part of the 50th anniversary celebration of OCTM was recognition of charter members of the organization. Of the original 172 charter members, thirteen are living. They are

• Howard Barcus, Canton, Ohio;

• Emalou Brumfield, Sagamore Hills, Ohio;

• Eleanor Graham, Cincinnati, Ohio;

• Sarah Greenholz, Cincinnati, Ohio;

• Robert Grewe, Cleveland, Ohio;

• Emile John, Shelby, Ohio;

• Mildred Keiffer, Cincinnati, Ohio;

• Joseph Kensicki, Bedford, Ohio;

• Harold Ramsey, Bellville, Ohio;

• Charles Sander, Mansfield, Ohio;

• Luther Shetler, Bluffton, Ohio;

• Eugene Smith, Dearborn, Michigan; and

• Esther Swift, East Palestine, Ohio.

Four of the living charter members were able to attend the gala event. Attending were

• Emalou Brumfield,

• Sarah Greenholz and husband Richard,

• Luther Shetler and wife Geneva, and

• Eugene Smith and wife Clara.

OCTM members were able to visit with them during the social hour before the banquet. During the banquet program these honored people were introduced. A short description of their contributions to mathematics was given. They all were recognized for many years of dedicated service to the teaching of mathematics

(from the December 2000 OCTM newsletter)

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OCTM's Charter Members Reply

At OCTM's annual meeting in Toledo, OCTM celebrated its 50th anniversary.  A major part of this celebration (and a major part of the work) fell on Don Gerke in attempting to contact the charter members of OCTM.  For those charter members that Don was able to contact but who could not attend the banquet, OCTM (a.k.a. Don Gerke and Margie Raub Hunt) sent mementos of the celebration to each of them.  Below are excerpts from their written thank you notes:

"The greatest satisfaction that I have is to see the enthusiasm and quality of programs and publications that OCTM membership have demonstrated."  - Bob Grewe

"What a nice surprise - to hear from the O.C.T.M. and to receive these nice gifts from the O.C.T.M. dinner party: the 50th annual conference and awards banquet.  You have no idea what memories all this brings back and how much I thank you for them."  - Esther F. Swift

"Please accept my thanks and appreciation for the materials you so graciously sent from the O.C.T.M.  You certainly went beyond the call of duty in recognizing one whom you have never met.  All these materials are very instrumental in restoring fond memories of an active period during my teaching career."  - Harold A. Ramsey

"Your priority packet came late Friday and opening it was just like Christmas.  It is kind and thoughtful of OCTM and you to remember early members in this generous fashion.  I am pleased and honored to have the 'Ohio' pin and the story of the growth and development of OCTM.  My crystal ball tells me that in the next 50 years, OCTM will continue to serve school mathematics instruction as successfully as it has since 1950."  - Mildred Keiffer

"The package containing the articles from OCTM arrived Saturday, Oct. 28.  I really enjoyed reading the History of OCTM.  The photo album with my name inscribed in gold was very impressive.  The pen and pin were a pleasant surprise.  I thank you for your thoughtfulness to me and I wish you many more successful years in the future."  - Howard J. Barcus

"Thanks for the gift package from OCTM.  It was quite a surprise and greatly appreciated.  I am very happy to see that the OCTM is still alive and continually working toward the task of educating our young people in the importance of mathematics.  I am proud to have been a part of this association."  - Emile John

(Editor's Note: We were quite touched by the sincerity and thoughtfulness of these founding members.  No wonder OCTM was destined to success with now some 5650 members.  Thank YOU!  - Margie & Bill)

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History of Our Past Presidents:

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