|
Constitution/Bylaws
MFLA CONSTITUTION
Adopted: March 16, 1950
Revised: March 13, 1979
Revised: November 9, 1985
Revised: November 8, 1996
Revised: November 7, 2003
I. NAME: This organization will be called the MISSISSIPPI
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION; hereinafter called MFLA.
II. PURPOSE: The purpose of MFLA will be the advancement
of the study and teaching of languages other than
English in schools, colleges, and universities in
Mississippi.
III. MEMBERS: The members of MFLA will be people and
organizations paying membership dues annually.
IV. OFFICERS: The officers of MFLA will be: president,
first vice-president and second vice-president, each
elected for a term of two years and not eligible to
succeed himself or herself; and executive director
with an indefinite term of office.
V. EXECUTIVE BOARD:
A.
The will be an executive board of fourteen members
consisting of the four elected officers named above,
the historian, the editor of the Mississippi Language
Crusader, the outgoing president, the presidents of
the college/university and the elementary/secondary
sections, the presidents of AATF, AATG, AATSP, a representative
from the Classics when available, and the current
foreign language consultant at the Mississippi State
Department of Education. The president of MFLA will
be chair of the executive board. Nine members will
constitute a quorum unless there is not a Classics
representative, whereby eight will constitute a quorum.
B. The executive board will govern MFLA and its actions
will be subject to review by members at the annual
meeting.
C. The executive board will constitute the nominating
committee. The president will designate one of the
members to be chair when the committee is called to
function.
VI. FISCAL
YEAR: The fiscal year will run from January 1 of any
given year to December 31 of the same year. The executive
director will provide funds from the treasury of MFLA
for supplies and necessary expenses of correspondence,
publication of the Mississippi Language Crusader and
management of the annual meeting.
VII. ANNUAL MEETING: MFLA will meet annually at the
time and place designated by the executive board.
The executive board will meet prior to the business
of the annual meeting, and if circumstances warrant,
other meetings may be called by the president. These
executive board meetings may be altered or canceled
for emergency reasons by a vote of the executive board.
VIII. AMENDMENTS: This constitution may be amended
on petition by any member of MFLA at the annual meeting
by a vote of the majority present. An amendment should
be submitted to the membership thirty (30) days prior
to the annual meeting either by mail (sent by the
executive director) or by publication in the Mississippi
Language Crusader.
MFLA BY-LAWS
1. MEMBERSHIP DUES: Members will pay dues yearly in
advance, as approved by the executive board and the
membership.
2. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS:
a.
The executive board will present names for the various
offices with at least two candidates for each office
unless a unanimous choice has been reached. The nominating
committee will strive to select candidates with due
regard to geographical distribution of members, proper
alternation among K - 16 teachers and among the various
language specializations.
b. In case of the death or incapacitation of the president,
the first vice-president will succeed to the office
of president until the next election.
c. Other vacancies occurring between elections will
be filled by the executive board in a called meeting,
as provided in Section VII of the constitution.
3. BALLOTS
AND ELECTIONS: Voting will be limited to members in
good standing. MFLA dues must be paid at the date
of balloting.
4. DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS AND APPOINTED MEMBERS
OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD:
The officers of MFLA will perform the duties usually
connected with the respective offices.
a.
The president will preside at all meetings both of
MFLA and of the executive board.
b. The executive director will manage the collection
of membership dues, send notice of meetings, and perform
other duties as directed by the executive board.
c. The first vice-president will serve as program
committee chair to arrange the program for the annual
meeting.
d. The second vice-president will serve as chair of
the membership committee.
e. The historian will be appointed by the executive
board and continue until replaced.
f. The editor of the Mississippi Language Crusader
will be appointed by the executive board and continue
until replaced.
5. FINANCES:
The executive director will keep account of MFLA funds,
render an annual report, and pay the expenses necessary
to the management of the annual meetings. As directed
by the executive board, the executive director will
make any other necessary disbursements.
6. ANNUAL MEETINGS: The president will indicate the
time at which the executive board is to convene prior
to the business session. If the president cannot attend
the annual meeting, the vice-president will preside.
7. ANNUAL BUSINESS SESSION -- VOTING: At the annual
meeting, a business session will be convened for the
review of legislation or acts of the executive board
for the transaction of any other business of the session
which may be properly presented. In case no meeting
is held, any business of the session may be handled
by a mail ballot of the membership in which case action
will be determined by a majority of the votes returned
one month after the ballots have been issued.
8. AMENDMENTS: These by-laws may be amended at any
time by the executive board subject to confirmation
by members at the next annual meeting.
9. TITLE CHANGE: The executive secretary-treasurer
will be known as the executive director.
|
