BYLAWS OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Article I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Southern California with the official abbreviation CLTA-SC. The Chinese name will be 南加州中文教師學會.
Article II. Non-Profit Organization
CLTA-SC is a nonprofit organization established exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article III. The membership
There shall be the following classes of membership within the association:
Regular members are those persons who have a professional interest in the teaching of the Chinese language, and who have paid dues and fees in full for the current year. Membership in the Association entitles a member to the following rights, and only members are entitled to such rights: (a) To vote; (b) To be elected for an office; (c) To attend and present papers in the annual conferences and meetings of the Association, subject to guidelines set up by the Executive Committee; (d) To receive newsletters published by the Association; (e) To receive members-only discounts offered through arrangements with the Association.
Associate membership is accorded to full-time students in a recognized college or university and spouses of Chinese language teaching professionals, who are interested in the profession of teaching Chinese and have paid dues and fees for the current year. They shall have all the rights and privileges of regular members except the right to vote and hold office.
Honorary members. The Executive Committee may from time to time grant honorary membership as it deems appropriate.
Article IV. Meetings
The Association shall hold an Annual Meeting at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors. At the meeting, the following business shall be conducted.
The president shall report on the state of the Association.
The officers shall present reports on the work of previous year.
Any items of business raised by voting members shall be discussed.
The Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting every 6 months for the transaction of business at such time and place as decided by the directors. The Executive Secretary shall prepare the agenda and distribute it to the Board of Directors. In the event that circumstances require haste, the Board of Directors may take whatever action it deems necessary on an interim basis, subject to the approval of the voting membership at the next Annual Meeting of the Association.Over one half of the Board of Directors shall constitute a Quorum for the purpose of the transaction of business.
Article V. Board of Directors and Officers
The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of 11 members, including the President, Vice President, and 9 other board members. The administration of the Association shall be in the hands of the Board of Directors. Board members shall represent various levels of education: universities and colleges, secondary schools and elementary schools.
Executive Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed by the President of the Association from the Board of Directors, while Webmaster and Newsletter Editor shall be appointed by the President from general members of the Association.
Article VI. Nomination and Election of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors will be elected at the annual meetings of the Association. The terms for the Board of Directors positions are two years each. The President shall be elected in even numbered years and the Vice-President shall be elected in odd numbered years. Elections for one half of the remaining board positions shall be held each year.
A slate of nominations for Board of Directors positions shall be prepared, when necessary, by a Nomination committee appointed by the President. The slate will be completed, when possible, prior to the Association annual meeting. The Nomination Committee will consist of the President and two other members from the current Board of Directors. The President shall be the chair of the Nomination Committee. Further nominations may be made from the Floor at the annual Business Meeting by any active member in good standing with the Association.
All persons nominated for office must be active members in good standing with the Association and must indicate their willingness to serve in the capacity for which they are nominated.
The election of Board of Directors shall take place at the Annual Business Meeting via a secret ballot unless it is unanimously agreed upon by the voting members present that the balloting be open. Those elected to office shall take over their positions at the close of the Annual Business Meeting at which they are elected.
Article VII. Duties of the Board of Directors and Officers
The President of the association shall perform the duties usually connected with such office. He/she shall be Chairperson of the Board of Directors; he/she shall act as the official representative and spokesperson of the Association; he/she shall act as statutory agent; and shall bear ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the affairs of the Association. The president shall bear the responsibility for the agenda of the Annual Business Meeting and is authorized by the Board of Directors to sign conference contracts. He/she will also see to it so that the Association’s website is maintained up to date.
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the event that the President is unable to fulfill his/her duties at any time. Together with the President, he/she shall be responsible for planning and conducting business meetings and workshops.
The Executive Secretary shall keep the membership records of the Association, keep an accurate list of the members and their standing, and perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors. He/she shall take the minutes of the Annual Business Meeting and of Board of Directors meetings, and shall submit a copy of the minutes to Board members within two weeks of the meeting, as well as writing a summary of each meeting for the ensuing Newsletter. He/she is also responsible for mailing out the Newsletter.
The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Association, and collect the dues. He/she shall also keep an accurate account of the Association’s funds and render an annual financial report during the Annual Business Meeting and shall make all necessary disbursements as the Board of Directors may direct.
The Webmaster shall oversee the design and maintenance of the CLTA-SC website, coordinate server maintenance and upgrade with the host institution, and serve as liaison between CLTA-SC and the host institution. The Webmaster shall work closely with the Board of Directors in coordinating the information presented on the CLTA-SC website.
The Newsletter Editor shall act as editor and bear responsibility for the Newsletter and such other publications as the Board of Directors may direct.
Members of the Board of Directors representing different levels of education shall share information about their level with other members at the same level of education.
Article VIII. Ad Hoc Sub-Committees
The President shall have the power to appoint the Chairperson, designate the scope of responsibilities, and disband sub-committees as he/she may deem necessary. Each committee may adopt such rules as necessary for the orderly conduct of its affairs, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Article IX. Conduct of Meetings
The latest of Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall be the authority in any question of parliamentary procedure at any meeting of the Association. The president may appoint a Parliamentarian for the Annual Meeting to advise on questions of procedure.
No action may be taken which binds the Association unless four fifth of the members of the Board of Directors participated, thus representing a Quorum.
Article X. Fiscal Year, Dues, and Resignation
The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31 of the following year.
Dues for all classes of membership shall be set annually by the Board of Directors.
If any member resigns in the midst of a fiscal year, their dues for the year in which they resigned shall be forfeited.
Article XI. Amendments
Any member of the Board of Directors, or any member in good standing, may petition that a Bylaw be amended. When approved by a two-third majority of the Board of Directors, Amendments shall be submitted to the voting membership via either a publication of the Association, or during the Annual Meeting, provided that such Amendments shall be distributed before the Annual Meeting, or by a special mailing, as the Board of Directors may direct. Approval of an Amendment shall require a two-third majority vote by those members present and voting.
An Amendment disapproved by the Board of Directors may be submitted to the Membership by a majority vote of the members in attendance at an Annual Meeting. It shall be enacted if approved by a two-third majority vote of the membership in attendance at the next Annual Meeting after submission to the members as provided above.