Virginia Chapter
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
2000
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this association shall be The Virginia Chapter of the
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Chapter shall be:
a. To promote friendship and professional growth among teachers
of Spanish and Portuguese at all levels of instruction.
b. To provide opportunities for members to communicate with native
speakers.
c. To keep teachers informed of meetings and relevant cultural events.
d. to increase interest in the study of Spanish and Portuguese in
this state.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Officers of this Chapter shall be (1) President,
(2) Vice President, (3) Secretary, (4) Treasurer.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the immediate Past President of the chapter, the editor of the Chapter Newsletter, the Coordinator of the National Spanish Examinations, and the Coordinators and Chairs of all important activities and committees of the Chapter. These members, together with the Officers, shall comprise the Executive Board.
Section 3. The terms of Office shall be two years. Each Officer and Board members may be re-elected once, with the exception of the Treasurer, who may serve a total of four terms. In even numbered years, elections shall be held for the offices of President and of Secretary and in odd numbered years elections shall be held for the offices of Vice President and Treasurer shall be held.
Section 4. A Nominating Committee of at least three persons shall be named by the President from among the members of the Executive Board and include at least one other member of the Chapter. The elections will be held at the spring meeting by means of a secret ballot or may be sent in on a mail ballot; the new Officers will assume their duties on June 1 of that year.
Section 5. Whenever there is a vacancy in any Office of this Chapter, such vacancy will be made known to the members in the next issue of the Newsletter and the aforementioned process for an election will take place at the next regularly schedule meeting of the chapter. The newly-elected person will serve only until the next election for that Office and may stand for re-election at that time. This service in a partial term of office shall not preclude the person from serving two full terms of office.
Section 6. In the event of an emergency, the President may appoint a substitute until a Special Election is held at the next regularly scheduled meeting. If the vacancy is the Presidency, then the Vice President will act as President until such meeting.
Section 7. A majority vote of those present will determine election to an Office.
Section 8. All decisions of the Executive Board will be made by a majority vote of those present at Board meetings.
ARTICLE IV. DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 1. The President shall:
a. be the Chief Executive Officer of the Chapter
b. preside at all meetings of the Chapter
c. supervise the Executive Board
d. exercise such other powers as may from time to time be conferred
on him/her by the Executive Board.
Section 2. The Vice President shall:
a. exercise the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.
b. take charge of such Chapter activities as are assigned to him/her
by the President.
c. arrange for the programs at Chapter meetings.
Section 3. The Secretary shall:
a. preserve the minutes of Board meetings and send copies to all
members of the Executive board.
b. preserve the minutes of all Chapter meetings and send copies
to all members of the Chapter.
c. send a report of the regularly scheduled chapter meetings to
the national Coordinator of Chapter Activities immediately after each meeting.
d. write the names of the new Officers on the forms available from
the National Office of the AATSP and send one form to the national Chapter
Coordinator and one form to the National Office immediately after elections.
e. give copies of the chapter Constitution to Officers upon their
election.
f. preside over the meeting in the absence of the President and
Vice President.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall:
a. keep a roll of the members of the Chapter and, upon their appointment
by National Office, add the names of Emeritus members to said roll.
b. keep a detailed account of all monies received and disbursed
by him/her, which accounts s/he shall present to the Executive Board of
the Chapter at Board Meetings for their approval by a majority vote.
c. provide the Newsletter Editor with a Treasurer’s report at least
once a year.
d. preside over meetings in the absence of the President, Vice President,
and Secretary.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall:
a. have charge of all Chapter business arising between regularly
scheduled Chapter meetings.
b. provide a time and place for each meeting.
c. inspect and approve the accounts of the Treasurer and all disbursements
to be made by the Chapter and authorize the Treasurer to make such disbursements
by a majority vote.
d. hold at least one regularly scheduled meeting before each regularly
scheduled fall meeting of the Chapter.
e. decide on all issues discussed at Executive Board meetings by
a majority vote of those present.
Section 6. The Newsletter Editor shall prepare at least two issues per year, announcing particulars of the meetings and such notices and news as may be of interest to members. These issues shall be in the hands of the Membership at least three weeks prior to each meeting.
ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP
All members must belong to national AATSP before they can
be accepted as members of the Chapter. The territory of the Virginia
Chapter includes the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members of the national
AATSP and Potomac Chapter may be associate members of the Virginia Chapter.
ARTICLE VI. DUES
Any change in the dues of the Virginia Chapter shall be decided
upon by a majority vote at the spring meeting. The Treasurer shall
so inform the Membership by means of the next Newsletter, and will notify
the national office and the Coordinator of Chapter Activities so that the
change may be made in Hispania.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
The Chapter will normally hold at least two regularly scheduled
meetings of the Chapter Membership. All meetings shall be conducted
the procedures found in Roberts’ Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VIII. QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of those Chapter members present at any,
previously announced Chapter meeting.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION
This constitution is subject to amendment by a two-thirds vote of
the members present at any regularly scheduled meeting under the following
procedure: the proposed amendment shall be placed in the hands of
the Newsletter Editor in writing for publication in the following Newsletter,
and shall be presented by the Secretary to be voted upon by the members
of the Chapter at that scheduled meeting. All proposed amendments
to this Constitution shall be published in the Chapter Newsletter prior
to consideration at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE X. DISBANDMENT
If this Chapter should ever disband, all its assets, financial and
otherwise, shall be given to the national organization of the American
Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
ARTICLE XI. VALIDITY
This Constitution shall be presented to the Membership in the Newsletter
prior to the fall meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the AATSP and approved
at the spring meeting of the Chapter by a vote of two-thirds majority of
those members present and voting. This Constitution supersedes all previous
Constitutions of this Chapter.
Date: