Bylaws of Chinese
Language Teachers’ Association of Greater
Section 1. The organization shall be known as the Chinese
Language Teachers’ Association of Greater New York in English and 大纽约地区中文教师学会 in
Chinese. It is abbreviated in English as CLTA-GNY. It is located at
Article II. Purposes and
Section 1. CLTA-GNY is a nonpolitical, nonprofit academic and
educational organization. It will be registered as a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Section 2. The purpose of the CLTA-GNY is to
formalize an organization through which Chinese language teachers at all
educational levels can share experiences and exchange views. It also serves as
a resource network for Chinese language teachers.
Section 3. It is the mission of the CLTA-GNY to
promote quality Chinese language teaching at all education levels in the
greater
Section 4. It is the mission of the CLTA-GNY to
conduct professional development for Chinese teachers in both language teaching
and cultural awareness.
Section 5. The CLTA-GNY
shall observe the laws and regulations of the
Article III. Organizational Structure
Section 1. The organizational structure of the CLTA-GNY consists
of a Board of Directors, a Board of Advisors, and the members.
Article IV. Board of Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors of the CLTA-GNY shall include
five officers: a President, a Vice President, an Executive Director, an
Immediate-past President, a treasurer and six Board members.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, the
Executive Director and the Immediate-past President are standing members of the
Board. Within such limits, the number of Directors may be fixed or changed from
time to time at any meeting of the Board of Directors or at any meeting of the
CLTA-GNY members, provided that the notice of either of such meetings sets
forth the proposed change.
Section 3. The Board shall hold a regular
meeting at least once every two months for the purpose of organization and
transaction of business at such a time and place as may be decided by the
Directors.
Section 4. Special meetings of the Board shall
be called by the President or must be called by at least one third of the
Members of the Board.
Section 5. One third of the Directors of the
Board at the time in office present in person shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, discussions may be held
and recommendations made, but votes on CLTA-GNY business shall be conducted
among the entire membership of the Board by mail or-email ballot.
Section 6. The terms for all the officers:
Terms for all the officers, including the President, VP,
Immediate-past President, Executive director, and Treasurer are all three years.
Terms for members of Board of Directors are six years.
When the term of the new President begins, the previous president becomes the Immediate Past President. The previous Immediate Past President will step down from the Board of Directors. The previous Vice President can remain on the Board of Directors if he or she is a board member and his or her term is not served. Otherwise he or she should also step down from the Board of Directors.
The executive director is appointed by the Board of
Directors. After he/she serves his or her term, he/she can be re-appointed by
the Board of Directors. But he/she can serve no more than 3 terms.
The treasurer is appointed by the Board of Directors. After he/she serves his
or her term, he/she can be re-appointed by the Board of Directors. But he/she
can serve no more than 3 terms.
Board Members: In the election year, those Board members who
have served their terms will leave the board. But an out-going Board member can
be re-elected to the Board of Directors.
Section 7. The Board of Directors shall manage the property and affairs of the CLTA-GNY. Directors shall serve without compensation. For those Directors who need to leave home to carry on the CLTA-GNY projects, the association will pay a standard per diem per day.
Section 8. Any Director of the Board may resign
at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors through the
Executive Director.
Article V. Board of Advisors
Section 1. The Board of Advisors shall advise the academic projects of
the CLTA-GNY, help open new channels for educational exchanges and activities,
and provide other forms of assistance that shall advance the expansion and
development of the CLTA-GNY.
Section 2. Nomination of an Advisor may be made
in writing by any five Association members and ratified by the Board of
Directors. Then the President of the CLTA-GNY shall extend the invitation and
make the appointment of the Advisor.
Article VI. Membership Eligibility and Member’s
Responsibilities
Section 1. The CLTA-GNY membership is open to any applicant who—
is engaged in teaching Chinese or interested in teaching Chinese; subscribes to
the purposes and mission as set out in Article II; and pays the appropriate
membership dues.
Section
2. The CLTA-GNY accepts "group membership" in which a
qualifying group engaged in Chinese language teaching can subscribe
collectively for all of that group's members and receive a discounted rate on
the CLTA-GNY membership dues.
Groups holding a CLTA-GNY group membership will have one vote per group
in CLTA-GNY elections and other business; the group's individual members will
not have voting privileges, but enjoy other regular membership’s benefits. Qualification for group membership is
determined case-by-case by application to CLTA-GNY and approval by the Board of
Directors.
Article VII. Election
Section 1. Any member may
nominate any eligible person, including him- or herself, for a position in the Board
of Directors of the CLTA-GNY. CLTA-GNY will hold election every three years. In
every election, the board will nominate three candidates for new president and
vice president positions. The candidate who wins the most votes will become the
new President; second most will become the new vice president.
Section 2. Directors shall
be elected by the whole Membership through mail ballot or E-vote at least one
month prior to the Annual Meeting. The candidates on the Slate of Candidates
prepared by the Election Committee appointed by the Board of Directors
receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared Director.
Section 3. Terms of the Officers begin upon the
adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the CLTA-GNY in the year of the election
and end upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting in the year of the next
election.
Section 4. Terms of the
Directors begin upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the CLTA-GNY in
the year of the election and end upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting in
the year his or her term is served.
Article VIII. Powers of the Board of Directors
Section 1. The President shall direct and supervise operation of
all activities of the CLTA-GNY. He or she shall preside over all meetings of
the Membership and the Board of Directors and shall work closely with the
Executive Director in conducting the business of the CLTA-GNY. The President or
the President’s designee shall be CLTA-GNY’s chief
spokesperson and representative.
Section 2. The Vice President assists
the President in directing and supervising operation of all activities of the
CLTA-GNY. In case the president is not available, he or she will be the chief
spokesperson and representative of CLTA-GNY.
Section 3. The Immediate-past President can join
decision-making of CLTA-GNY, but conduct no operational activities. At the
request of the President, he or she can represent CLTA-GNY to join in public
relations activities.
Section 4. The Executive
Director shall assist the President in conducting routine administrative and
public relations activities of the CLTA-GNY. Definitively, his or her duties
include—
a. Be custodian of all records and documents of the CLTA-GNY;
b. Maintain a database of the CLTA-GNY members which includes their names and
contact information;
c. Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of Members of
the Association; and
d. Notify all persons elected to Membership in the CLTA-GNY of their election.
e. Supervise financial activities of the CLTA-GNY.
Section 5.
The treasurer conducts all financial activities of the CLTA-GNY
designated in the Financial Rules.
Section 6. The Board of Directors shall set up the
financial rules for CLTA-GNY business. The financial rules should be approved
by the Board with at least two-thirds of the Board of Directors. Revision of
the financial rules should also be approved by a two-thirds majority of the
Board.
Article IX. Amendment to the Bylaws
1. These bylaws shall take effect immediately after they are approved by
a two-thirds majority of the members present at the meeting at which the
CLTA-GNY is to be established.
2. The authority to interpret the bylaws shall be reserved to the Board of
Directors.
3. These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds majority
of the votes of the Members present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting
of the CLTA-GNY that a quorum is present. The same may be approved by mail or
E-vote, in which case the majority of the votes of a quorum of the membership
shall be required for any proposed amendment.
I hereby certify that this is a full and true copy of the bylaws of the Chinese
Language Teachers’ Association of Greater New York in the
(name of the president)
President of the CLTA-GNY
(month/day/year)
Amendment to 2007 version of Bylaw:
To ensure smooth transition of the new election approved by
the bylaw 2007 version, the Board of Directors decides:
1. There will be no election in
2007. As transition, the current officers including president, vice president,
immediate past president, executive director and treasurer will serve one more
year. In 2008, the election of president keeps current practice, the current
vice president will become the president, and only a vice president will be
elected.