Bylaws
Name
This organization shall be called The African American Literature and Culture Society, hereinafter referred to as the “society.”
Purpose
The society has been established to initiate, sponsor, and encourage publications, conferences, programs and projects engaged with the study and promotion of African American Literature and Culture.
Membership
Membership in the Society is open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who have genuine interest in increasing public awareness and perpetuating the study and appreciation of African American Literature and Culture. (They may become members of the society upon payment of membership dues as set by the Executive Council and may remain so by the payment of membership dues each year.
Officers
The elected officers of the Society shall be a president, first vice- president, second vice-president, and treasurer.
Term length: 2 year
Duties of the Officers
The president shall preside at all official business meetings of the Society. The president coordinates with the American Literature Association (ALA) executive director on Society special events to take place at annual conference and serves as chairperson for awards selection, coordination, and presentation.
The first vice-president shall perform all the duties of the president in the absence of the latter, and shall also serve as chairperson of the program committee. The first vice-president shall become president of the Society for the term immediately following tenure of office and therefore designated president-elect.
The second vice-president serves as a member of the programming committee; shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Society and the Executive Committee and prepare minutes for appropriate distribution; amd coordinates with the treasurer to maintain a current membership list.
The treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the Society, and pay all bills properly incurred by the Society). The treasurer will give a treasurer’s resport consisting of account balance and total yearly expenditures and contributions. The treasurer shall coordinate with the second vice-president to maintain current list of membership.
Meetings
The Society shall hold an annual meeting at the ALA Conference.
Nomination and Election of Officers
Whenever an election is necessary, a nomination committee appointed by the president of the Society will bring a slate of nominees to the Society membership at the annual meeting. Officers will be elected by a majority vote of all members present and voting. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to fill temporarily any vacancy occurring among the officers of the Society until a successor can be regularly elected.
Amendments
Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by any member of the Executive committee or Advisory Board or by written petition of one-third of the members of the Society. However they originate, amendment proposals shall be received by the secretary- treasurer and forwarded to the membership at least ninety (90) days before the meeting at which they are to be voted on. To be adopted, proposed amendments must receive the approval of two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
African American Literature and Culture Society 