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| I. Name
The name of the Association shall be the South Atlantic Modern Language Association.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this Association shall be the advancement of scholarship and teaching in the modern languages and literatures, with particular reference to the southeastern United States.
III. Membership
Any person interested in the purposes of the Association may be admitted to membership by payment of the dues as established by the Executive Committee and may be continued as a member by such payment.
IV. Officers
- The elected officers of the Association shall be the President, the First Vice President, the Second Vice President, and the Past President. The elected officers serve for a term of four years: as Second Vice President in the first year, as First Vice President in the second year, as President in the third year, and as Past President in the fourth year. In alternate years, the newly elected officer shall be an individual whose primary professional activities are in a language other than English.
- The other officers shall be the Executive Director and the Editor of the South Atlantic Review , appointed by the Executive Committee for a renewable term, normally of three years, and under such conditions as the Executive Committee shall determine.
- The term of the newly elected officer begins on the day after election. The term of the appointed officers begins on a date determined by the Executive Committee.
V. Executive Committee
- There shall be an Executive Committee, composed of the four elected officers and six elected members. At least two but not more than three of the elected members shall be individuals whose primary professional activities are in a language other than English.
- Two members of the Executive Committee shall be elected each year for a term of three years.
- The Executive Director and the Editor of the South Atlantic Review shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may appoint other ex officio members.
VI. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin on 1 October.
VII. Annual Meeting
The Association shall hold an annual meeting at such place and time as the Executive Committee shall determine. This meeting may be canceled for emergency reasons by vote of the Executive Committee. If an annual meeting is canceled, the elected officers and the members of the Executive Committee shall continue to serve until such time as an election by mail ballot can be held.
VIII. Dissolution
- The Association shall be dissolved by a mail vote of two-thirds of the membership in good standing after the matter has been moved and discussed at the Business Meeting of two consecutive annual meetings.
- Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine. Any assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the proper Court of the state where the principal office of the Association is then located, as said Court shall determine.
IX. Miscellaneous
Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the following shall apply:
- No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to any member or officer of the Association, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for service rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth exclusively in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as further limited by this Constitution.
- No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be devoted to attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall take no part in any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office.
- The activities of the Association shall be restricted to those permissible (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the cor- Constitution and Bylaws.qxd 5/1/2006 2:11 PM Page 95 responding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
X. Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee and ratified by a majority vote of members in good standing responding to a mail ballot.
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