Constitution of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association
Article I. - Name and Purpose
Section A. Name This non-profit organization shall be known as the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, hereafter referred to as the "Association."
Section B. Purpose The purpose of the Association will be to promote study, critical inquiry, teaching, and research in the fields of languages, literatures, and the humanities by holding annual meetings for the presentation and discussion of papers about language, literature, and related humanities fields, by holding sessions for the discussion of issues in teaching as a profession, by collaborating with other academic and cultural societies in the organization of literary and cultural events, by regularly publishing a scholarly review, and by promoting other similar activities as convenient and desirable.
Section C. Statement of Non-discrimination The Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association does not discriminate on the basis of national, ethnic, or racial origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or marital status. The Association supports the academic and personal freedoms of each of its members. It believes that any form of discrimination, harassment, or abridgement of human rights is a threat not only to those individuals who are subjected to said discrimination, harassment, or abridgement of human rights, but constitutes an assault on the concept of freedom that is embodied in the Constitution of the United States.
Article II. - Membership and Governance
Section A. Membership 1. Teachers, students, and scholars of languages, literatures, and other humanities-related fields, as well as those with similar interests (i.e. both those with academic affiliations and independent scholars) who support the mission of the Association may become voting members of the Association by payment of the dues as established by the Executive Board and may be continued as members by payment of annual dues. 2. Membership in the Association is considered by calendar year (January through December). 3. Libraries, departments, and other institutional units may join the Association as non-voting subscribing or sustaining members by payment of the dues as established by the Executive Board and may be continued as members by annual payment of such dues. 4. Other associations whose interests parallel those of the Association may petition to become non-voting conjoint or affiliated members of the Association. Members of these conjoint or affiliated organizations must become members of the Association and pay convention registration fees in order to participate in the Association's annual meeting.
Section B. Officers 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Past President. Each officer serves for a term of one year in each of the three positions, with a pattern of succession as follows: as elected Vice President in the first year, as President in the second year, and as Past President in the third year. The election of the Vice President takes place by mail or electronic ballot after the annual meeting. In alternate years, the newly elected officer shall be an individual whose primary professional activities are in English/Technical Writing or Foreign Language/General Studies. 2. The Executive Director/Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Board for a three-year term, renewable at the discretion of the Executive Board. 3. The term of each officer begins on the day after election results are finalized, usually on January 1. The term of any appointed officers begins on a date determined by the Executive Board.
Section C. Executive Board 1. There shall be an Executive Board consisting of eight voting members: the President, the Past President, the Vice President, three Delegates-at-Large, and two Graduate Student Delegates, all of whom are elected by members of the Association by mail or electronic ballot after the annual meeting. All current members of RMMLA are eligible to run for election on the Executive Board, either as an officer or as a delegate. A Board member will be eligible for nomination and election to office for a new term after a hiatus of one year. 2. The three Delegates-at-Large shall serve for three years, with one member to be elected each year, so that terms are staggered, rather than concurrent. In alternate years, the newly elected delegate shall be an individual whose primary professional activities are in English/Technical Writing or Foreign Language/General Studies. 3. The two Graduate Student Delegates shall be elected one every year for a staggered rather than concurrent set of two-year terms. In alternate terms, the newly elected delegate shall be an individual from English/Technical Writing or Foreign Language/General Studies. 4. The Executive Board also consists of at least two or more ex officio, non-voting members who are appointed to the Board by the officers and the delegates: the Executive Director, who also acts as Treasurer, and the Editor(s) of the Rocky Mountain Review and the Rocky Mountain E-Review. The Executive Board may appoint other ex officio members as it sees fit.
Section D. Fiscal Year The fiscal year shall begin on January 1.
Section E. Annual Meetings The Association shall hold an annual business meeting and a scholarly convention at such place and time as the Executive Board shall determine. The business meeting and convention may be canceled for emergency reasons by vote of the Executive Board. If an annual business meeting or convention is canceled, the elected officers and the members of the Executive Board shall endeavor to meet via some means in order to conduct the necessary business of the Association. Election of new officers is held in late fall whether or not the annual meeting is held (see Section C. 1. above).
Section F. Dissolution 1. The Association shall be dissolved upon the affirmative vote, by mail or electronic ballot, of at least two-thirds of the membership in good standing at the time of the vote, but only after the matter has been moved, discussed and decided by the Executive Board, as well as at the Association's Business Meeting held at two consecutive annual conventions. 2. In the event of the dissolution of the Association (see Section F.1. above), all funds remaining after payment of accounts due shall be given to the Modern Language Association of America or to another such non-profit professional organization 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 Board shall designate. 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.
Section G. Miscellaneous Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the following shall apply: 1. 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. 2. The Association shall take no part in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. 3. 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 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 corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Section H. Amendments 1. Amendments to this constitution shall be made upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members responding to a mail or electronic ballot. 2. Before presentation to the Association, all amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing for the consideration of the Executive Board, which in turn has the responsibility of submitting the amendment to the membership at least two months before the next annual meeting (by a means approved by the Board), so that a vote on the amendment can take place at this meeting. If the Executive Board disagrees, however, with the proposed amendment, the member proposing the amendment may bring the amendment forward at the next annual meeting, provided that (a) that the membership receives the text of the amendment at least two months before the annual meeting, and (b) the Executive Board be allowed to accompany the text of the amendment with such comments as the Board deems appropriate or necessary. The Executive Director shall offer to post the text of the proposed amendment, together with comments of the Executive Board, on the Association's web site, but is not obliged to mail such text to the general membership.
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