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NELA Bylawsas amended August 2004 Article I: NAMEThe name of this corporation shall be the New England Library Association. Article II: MISSION AND OBJECTIVESSection 1.The mission of the New England Library Association is to promote excellence in library services to the people of New England and to advance the leadership role of its members in developing and ensuring that excellence. Section 2.The objectives of the Association shall be to initiate, plan and support regional activities, to encourage the exchange of ideas, to cooperate with regional and national organizations having related interests, and to stimulate library-related research in the region. Article III: YEARThe fiscal year of the Association shall extend from January 1 through December 31. Article IV: MEMBERSHIPSection 1.Any person, library or other organization interested in the work of the Association may become a member of the Association. Section 2.Any institution may become an Institutional Member by payment of annual dues and shall be entitled to all publications and appropriate mailings of the Association. Section 3.Any institution or other organization may become an Institutional Member by payment of annual dues and shall be entitled to all publications and appropriate mailings of the Association. Section 4.The Executive Board may, or upon petition of twenty-five members shall, present to the membership by mail a proposed dues schedule to be voted into effect for the forthcoming year by a two-thirds vote. If the membership fails to act upon such schedule, the schedule in effect at that time shall continue in effect until changed by action of a subsequent vote. Section 5.Annual dues shall be due and payable on January 1 following the regular Annual Meeting of the Association. To be entitled to vote, personal members must have paid their dues by June 30. Article V: OFFICERSSection 1.The officers shall be a president, a vice-president who is president-elect, a secretary, an executive secretary, a treasurer, and two directors. The duties of the officers shall be those which pertain to their offices. Section 2.All officers except the Executive Secretary shall be elected by the Association and shall serve one year beginning with the adjournment of the annual meeting of the Association and ending with the adjournment of the next annual meeting or until their Successors are elected, except for the Secretary and Treasurer, who shall serve two-year staggered terms, and the Directors, who shall serve two-year staggered terms. Section 3.The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Board and finally be an Ex-officio member of the Board without voting privileges. If the Executive Secretary is a resident of Massachusetts s/he shall serve as Clerk of the Corporation; if not, the Massachusetts Library Association representative to the Executive Board shall serve as Clerk of the Corporation. Section 4.In the case of a vacancy of any office, except that of Executive Secretary, the Executive Board may appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term of that office. Article VI: EXECUTIVE BOARDSection 1.There shall be an executive board composed of the Officers, the immediate Past-President, and one representative selected by each of the Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont library associations and selected by each Section of the New England Library Association. Executive Board members must be personal members of the Association, except that the Executive Secretary may elect such membership at his/her pleasure. Section 2.The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the activities of the Association. Section 3.The Executive Board shall meet no fewer than four times annually other than at the annual meeting. Section 4.The officers of the Association, together with the immediate Past-President, shall constitute the Administrative Committee which shall act for the Association between meetings of the Executive Board. Section 5.The Executive Board shall cause an examination of all accounts of the Association to be made annually by a Certified Public Accountant. The level of this examination shall be determined by the Executive Board upon recommendation of the Finance Committee. Article VII: MEETINGSSection 1.An annual meeting shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board. Section 2.Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board or shall be called upon written request of 25 members of the Association. Section 3.The purpose of any meetings shall be included in the call; at least 30 days' notice shall be given. Section 4.Seventy-five members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. Article VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONSSection 1.Nominations.a. The Nominating Committee shall comprise the six state representatives to the Elective Board and the immediate former Past-President, who shall serve as chair. If the latter cannot serve, the President shall appoint a chair not later than January 1 of each year. b. Names of candidates, together with their written acceptance, shall be presented to the President in sufficient time to enable the membership to be informed of the nominations prior to May 31. c. Further nominations, except for the office of president, may be made by written petition of 25 personal members of the Association in good standing. Such petitions, accompanied by written acceptances of the nominees, must be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Association not later than June 30. d. The Executive Secretary shall prepare an official ballot, including nominations by petition. e. All candidates, whether nominated by committee or by petition, must be personal member of the Association. It shall be the responsibility of the nominator to verify such membership with the Executive Secretary, but in any case the Executive Secretary shall omit from the official ballot any names improperly submitted. Section 2.Electionsa. Not later than 60 days prior to the beginning of the Annual Conference, the Executive Secretary shall mail a copy of the ballot to each voting member. Ballots shall be marked and returned to the Executive Secretary at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the Annual Conference in covering envelopes bearing on the outside the name and address of the member voting and the words "Official Ballot." b. The chair of the Nominating Committee shall certify the results of the election, which shall be determined by the tally of the Executive Secretary, and shall notify each candidate and each member of the Committee of such results. Article IX: COMMITTEESSection 1.Standing CommitteesThe president-elect shall select for staggered two-year terms each, the chair, and in consultation with the chair, the members of all standing committees except the Finance Committee and the Conference Planning Committee. Committee members must be personal members of the Association. Any Standing Committee chair that misses three consecutive Executive board Meetings may be replaced by presidential appointment with the approval of the Executive board. There shall be the following standing committees with the purposes and objectives indicated: a. Membership - To enlist a large and active membership in the New England Library Association. b. Public Relations - To promote the purpose and objectives of the Association. c. Bylaws Committee - To formulate and recommend to the membership such changes in the Bylaws as may be desirable. d. Educational Assistance Committee - To administer the programs of the educational assistance endeavors of the Association, with the approval of the Executive Board. Educational assistance funds, held by the Treasurer, shall be managed by this Committee with the approval of the Finance Committee. e. Finance Committee - There shall be a finance committee composed of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Executive Secretary, and a member elected from the Executive Board. The committee's duties shall be to make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding the budget, applications for expenditures of funds, and other financial matters. f. Conference Planning Committee - The Vice-President, as chair, shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, three members at large, together with an Exhibits Manager. The President, Executive Secretary, and Directors shall also be members of the committee. The committee shall host the Association's Annual Conference. Its functions, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, shall include planning the program and managing the exhibits for the Association's Annual Conference. g. Publications Committee - To provide information and advice to the Executive Board in the issuance of all Association publications. h. Intellectual Freedom Committee - To promote awareness of intellectual freedom issues and to provide support to the New England library community in upholding the principles of intellectual freedom. Section 2.Special CommitteesSpecial committees may be created at the discretion of the President, subject to approval by the Executive Board. Section 3.Committee ReportsIt shall be the duty of all committee chairs to submit annual written reports to the President prior to the Annual Conference. Article X: SECTIONSSection 1.Personal members of the Association engaged in the same general field of activity or having special interests in common may organize sections of the Association upon approval of petitions to the Executive Board. Section 2.A petition for a Section shall state the purpose of and need for the proposed Section and be signed by not fewer than ten members who thereby signify their intention of becoming charter members of the section. Section 3.Personal membership in the Association is a prerequisite to sectional membership. Section 4.A section shall file with the Executive Secretary of the Association the names of all officers and the name and address of the member named to serve on the NELA Executive Board immediately following the filling of these positions. Section 5.A section may adopt bylaws not in conflict with those of the Association and shall file a copy of its bylaws and amendments thereto with the Executive Secretary. Section 6.A section may seek funding for its activities from the Executive Board. Section 7.A section may be dissolved by vote of its membership or by vote of the Executive Board at any two consecutive annual meetings. Article XI: SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPSSection 1.Personal members of the Association, engaged in the same general field of activity or having special interests in common, and there being no existing section representing those special interests may organize as a special interest group of the Association upon approval of a petition to the Executive Board. Section 2.A petition for a special interest group shall state the purpose of and need for the proposed special interest group and be signed by not fewer than five members who thereby signify their intention of becoming charter members of the special interest group. Section 3.Personal membership in the Association is a prerequisite to special interest group membership. Section 4.A special interest group shall file with the Executive Secretary of the Association the names of all officers or contact person. The special interest group may designate a member to serve on the Executive Board and shall file with the Executive Secretary of the Association the name and address of the member named immediately following the filing of these positions. Section 5.A special interest group may adopt bylaws not in conflict with those of the Association and shall file a copy of its bylaws and amendments thereto with the Executive Secretary. Section 6.A special interest group may seek funding for its activities from the Executive Board by submitting an annual budget. Section 7.A special interest group may petition the Executive Board to organize as a section prior to the third year of its organization after approval of the petition to organize as a special interest group. Section 8.A special interest group may be dissolved by vote of its membership, by petition to organize as a section, or by vote of the Executive Board at any two consecutive Annual meetings after the third year of its organization. Article XII: AFFILIATION WITH ASSOCIATIONSThe Association may affiliate with other associations by a vote of the majority of the members present at any Annual Meeting of the Association. Article XIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITYThe rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt. Article XIV: AMENDMENTSThese bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote. The amendment must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board not later than 60 days and to the membership not later than 30 days before the meeting. These bylaws may also be amended by mail ballot with a two thirds vote. Mail ballots must be sent to the membership not later than 30 days prior to the deadline for return. Article XV: DISSOLUTIONIn the event that the Association ceases existence, all moneys and other asset which remain after liabilities have been satisfied will be divided among the existing New England state library associations, for their unrestricted use. The percentage received by the Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont Library Association will be based on the percentage of Association members from the respective state. For questions or concerns regarding NELA's bylaws, please contact the Bylaws Committee chair: Joanne Palko |