NEW YORK AFRICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION
BYLAWS
(Revised 2002)
PURPOSES AND AIMS
1. In Accordance with the recommendation of interested Africanists
meeting in Syracuse on November 2, 1973, the New York African Studies
Association (NYASA) is hereby established. The Purpose of this
organization shall be to promote Africana Studies within New York State
and surrounding areas. All those with an interest in Africa are invited
to join.
2.
NYASA will encourage African Studies by:
(1) sponsoring conferences, conversations, workshops, seminars, and
other forms of scholarly interchange;
(2) facilitating faculty and student interchanges among various college
and universities in New York State and surrounding areas;
(3) encouraging cooperative relationships in library acquisitions,
cataloging and exchanges, teaching aids, and materials;
(4) advising the appropriate bodies on the coordination of African
Studies programs throughout New York State in order to preclude
unnecessary duplication and waste of resources;
(5) strengthening African Studies within the State by:
(a) facilitating university, college, high school and elementary school
curriculum development;
(b) encouraging the expansion of languages relevant to the study of
Africa;
(c) promoting the establishment of certain minimum scholastic standards
to facilitate the general acceptance within New York State of African
Studies course credits granted by the various universities and colleges.
(6) fostering cooperation between universities, colleges, high schools,
and other public and private institutions:
(7) stimulating research in African Studies among individuals in the
different educational fields in New York State;
(8) exploring the desirability of encouraging programs in the field of
international development relating to African countries;
(9) considering and adopting appropriate courses of action that promote
greater attention to African Studies and a greater concern for African
affairs.
(10) informing NYASA members, individuals and institutions designated
by the Executive Committee of relevant news pertaining to NYASA
throughout the year by a newsletter or similar publication.
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
1. Membership of NYASA will be open to
all those having a scholarly or professional
interest in Africa and the African diaspora.
2. The types of membership are faculty, individual, representative of
institution or agency and student.
3. Annual dues will be charged as established by the Executive
Committee.
RULES OF PROCEDURE
1. Participation in meetings of NYASA shall be open to all NYASA
members.
2. Any and all organizations
with an interest in African Studies may send observers to meetings of
NYASA.
3. Voting at meetings of
NYASA shall be open only to NYASA members.
OFFICERS
1. President: The President will be elected at the annual meeting of
NYASA and shall serve for one year. No President may serve more than
two consecutive terms in that office. The President will serve as the
Executive Officer of NYASA and the Chairperson of the Executive
Committee of NYASA. With the approval of the Executive Committee, the
President shall call meetings, conferences, conversations, workshops,
etc. The President shall normally preside at such meetings but may
delegate this function to the Vice President, or if s/he is unable to
preside, to any other member of the Executive. The President will
coordinate the activities of the subcommittees of NYASA and will serve
as liaison between NYASA and other bodies interested in African
Studies. The President shall carry out the wishes and directives of
NYASA.
2.
Immediate Past President: The Immediate Past President will remain a
voting member of the Executive Committee for one year to help in
transition of duties.
3. Vice President: The Vice President will be elected at the annual
meeting of NYASA and shall serve for one year. The Vice President will
act as Chairperson whenever the President is unable to function. S/he
shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and shall assist the
President in the performance of duties.
4.
Secretary: The Secretary will be elected at the annual meeting of
NYASA and shall serve for one year. The Secretary shall serve as a
member of the Executive Committee and as its Secretary. S/he shall
prepare the minutes of the NYASA Executive Committee and Annual
Business Meetings, maintain membership cards, and perform such duties
as are requested by the Executive Committee or the President.
5. Treasurer: The
Treasurer will be elected at the annual meeting of NYASA and shall
serve for one year. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the
Executive Committee. S/he shall oversee the finances and the financial
records of NYASA. The Treasurer shall submit a financial report at
Executive Committee Meetings and at the annual business meeting.
6.
At-Large Members: Six at-large members (3 elected at the annual
meeting and 3 appointed by the Executive Committee) may be drawn from
among the NYASA membership. At-large members should be selected to
assure representation of public and private institutions, of
universities and colleges, high schools, and other public and private
institutions concerned with African Studies.
7.
Student Representative: In addition to the six at-large members
there will also be a student representative who will be a student
member of NYASA. S/he will be elected at the annual meeting and serve
for one year.
8. Secretariat Director: The Secretariat Director shall attend
Executive Committee meetings as a voting member. S/he will maintain
membership and financial records and perform such duties as requested
by the Executive Committee or the President.
9.
NYASA Newsletter: An editor or co-editors for the newsletter shall
be appointed by the Executive Committee to prepare at least two issues
a year, with the aid of Executive Committee members and the
Secretariat. S/he/they shall be voting members of the Executive
Committee.
10.
Local Arrangements Chair: The organizing committee at the site of
the next annual conference shall choose a chair who will become a
voting member of the NYASA Executive Committee. The Chair shall present
a conference date, a call for papers, and a budget for review by the
Executive Committee. Expenses should equal the amount raised locally,
and the NYASA advance along with dues collected will be returned to
NYASA along with a final report.
11.
Provision for filling vacancies: In case of resignation or
termination of service by an officer, the Executive Committee will be
empowered to appoint a member of NYASA to serve the remaining period of
service of that officer.
COMMITTEES:
1.
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee of NYASA shall comprise
the President (who will serve as its Chairperson), Immediate Past
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Secretariat Director,
Newsletter Editor/s, Local Arrangements Chair, and up to six at-large
members as defined above. The Executive Committee shall assist the
President in carrying out the responsibilities outlined in Article IV,
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall review the conference budget
before approving the advancing funds and receive a final accounting
after each conference.
2.
Elections Committee: At least one month before the annual meeting of
NYASA, the President shall appoint a three member Elections Committee
to prepare a slate of candidates for office and obtain their approval
to stand for election.
3.
Other Committees: NYASA may establish subcommittees to assist in the
performance of its functions. Also, ad hoc committees as judged
necessary by the Executive Committee may be appointed. Ad hoc committee
responsibilities shall not encroach upon those of any regular committee
or subcommittee.
MEETINGS, AGENDA, AND QUORUMS
1.
NYASA shall hold an annual meeting and such other meetings as it or
the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall
decide. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the
President or by any three members of that Committee.
2. The Planning and announcement of meetings and the preparations of
the agenda shall be the responsibilities of the President and the
Executive Committee. At any meeting an item may be added to the agenda
by the vote of one-fourth of the members present and voting. The
announcement of the annual meeting will be made at least one month in
advance.
3. A quorum for elections and transaction of business at any meeting of
NYASA shall consist of ten percent of its members. A quorum for
transaction of business at any of the Executive Committee shall consist
of a majority of its members.
SECRETARIAT:
NYASA will establish a Secretariat at an academic institution in New
York State for the purpose of maintaining membership records and a bank
account. After three years, the relationship will be reviewed and if
satisfactory to all involved, renewed for another term of three years.
The Secretariat Director will pay bills, send financial reports to the
treasurer, send membership renewal letters, provide mailing labels for
the NYASA Newsletter and conference mailings, and handle such other
responsibilities as are assigned by the Executive Committee.
ELECTION
Elections shall
be by secret ballot at the annual meeting of NYASA. Following the
presentation of a slate of candidates by the Elections Committee,
nominations will also be accepted from the floor. A majority of the
votes cast by members present shall constitute election.
AMENDMENTS:
Amendments
to these by-laws may be proposed by the Executive Committee
or by petition of ten members of NYASA. Amendments shall require the
approval
of two-thirds of the members attending the annual business meeting.
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