Constitution and Bylaws of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OFTHE ROCKY MOUNTAIN MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION ARTICLE I — NAME AND PURPOSE Section A. Name This non-profit organization shall be known as the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association. Section B. Purpose The purpose of the Association shallbeto stimulate consideration,evaluation, and cultivation of languages and literatures by holding annual meetings for the presentation of papers about language and literature, by holding sessions for the discussion of problems in teaching as a profession, by cooperation with other academic and cultural societies in order to enrich and strengthen the cultural life in the Rocky Mountain states, by regularpublication ofa bulletin, and by other similar activities as convenient and desirable. ARTICLE II — MEMBERSHIP AND GOVERNMENT Section A« Membership AU persons affiliated with the departments of languages and literatures in educational institutions of the Rocky Mountain region and others with similar interests may become members of this Association. Section B. Officers 1. The officers of the Association shall bea president, an honorary president, a vice-president, and an executive secretary who shall also serve as treasurer. 2.The president and vice-president shall be elected by mail ballot after the annual meeting in the fall forterms ofonecalendaryear. Thevice-president shall succeed to the presidency upon the completion of the term of the president. In addition the vice-president shall assume the presidency in the event of the resignation, leave ofabsence, serious illness, or death ofthe president . The outgoing president shall become honorary president for one year. The executive secretary shall be appointed by the executive board for a term of three years. Section C. Executive Board 1.There shall be an executive board consisting of the president, the honorary president, the vice-president, and three members at large elected by members ofthe Association by mail ballot after the annual meeting. Theexecutivesecretary whoalsoactsas treasurershall bean ex-officio, non-voting member of the board. 2.The threeelected membersat large shall serveforthree years, one memberto be elected each year. 3.A member of the board upon moving from the region shall automatically tender his resignation for board consideration. 4.If a member of the executive board except the president has a leave ofabsence, the board shall appoint a replacement for the duration of his leave. 5.There shall be an annual audit of the books of the Association to be made by the executive board and by two members of the Association not on the board, to be appointed annually by the executive board. 6.Officers shall be chosen with a view to representing a widedistribution ofcultural interests, residential locations, and types of educational institutions. The president shall bechosen in alternate years from the fields of foreign languages and English. The same principle will apply to the election of members at large. 7.The executive board shall be responsible forallactivities ofthe Association. It shall serveas ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVIEW141 a nominating committee to present the annual slate of new officers at the time of the annual meeting. It shall report at the regular annual meetings and make recommendations for the approval of Association at the annual meetings and shall be responsible for the transaction of business between annual meetings. To its wisdom shall be left immediate decisions dealing with the welfare of the Association such as routine expenditures of funds, the appointment ofad hoc committees as necessary, the setting up of the annual program including the division of existing sections, the cancellation of sections, and the creation of new sections. Major changes in general policy, including extraordinary expenditures of funds, levying of additional assessments, changes in dues or convention policy, must be approved by a simple majority ofthose members responding to a mail ballot. Any member who wishes to initiate similar major changes may petition the Executive Board for a mail ballot. The petition must be signed by a minimum of ten percent of the Association members. Section D. Dissolution In the event of the dissolution of the organization at any time on recommendation of the executive board and approval of the general membership, all funds remaining after payment of accounts due shall be given to the Modern Language Association of America or to such other non-profit professional organization as the executive board shall...