ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this Association shall be THE ATLANTA LAW LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION (the "Association"), a chapter of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES.

ARTICLE II. OBJECT

The Association is organized for the purpose of promoting the profession of law librarianship and, more particularly, to enhance the role of law librarians in the legal and library professions, to provide for the further professional education of law libraries, to establish a continuing relationship between law librarians and legal entities in the Sate of Georgia, and to foster a spirit of cooperation among the members of the profession.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Classification of Membership. The membership of the Association shall consist of the following members: individual, institutional, associate, student, and retired.

Section 2. Individual Members.

a. Requirements. Any person officially connected with a law library, a state library, or a general library having a separately maintained law section, or who has had such connection within the past seven years, or any person who holds a graduate degree from a library or information program from an accredited ALA library school, or an individual providing law library services, may become a individual member upon payment of annual dues. The Executive Board is empowered to determine whether or not the individual applying for membership qualifies. Such membership cannot be transferred or assigned.

b. Rights and Privileges. Individual members shall have the right to hold office, to vote, to serve on committees, and to receive the ALLA Newsletter.

Section 3. Institutional Members.

a. Requirements. Any law library, state library, or institution having a separately maintained law library may become a institutional member upon payment of annual dues. The Executive Board is empowered to determine whether or not the institution applying for membership qualifies. Such membership cannot be transferred or assigned.

b. Rights and Privileges. Institutional members shall have the right to:

(1) Pay for and own the membership of designated full­time professional staff members. Designated institutional members shall have all of the rights and privileges of individual members.

The librarian shall designate the staff members as designated institutional members. At any time, the librarian may transfer the designated institutional membership to other full­time professional staff members.

(2) Receive a subscription to the ALLA Newsletter if there is only one staff member designated or when a designated institutional membership is paid for and the staff member not designated.

Section 4. Student Members.

a. Requirements. Any student enrolled at least half­time in a degree program related to law librarianship and not employed more than half­time in a library position shall become a student member upon payment of annual dues, provided that membership in this category is limited to five consecutive years. The Executive Board is empowered to adopt procedures for verifying student status.

b. Rights and Privileges. Student members shall have the right to vote, serve on committees, and to receive the ALLA Newsletter.

Section 5. Associate Members.

a. Requirements. Any individual or institution not eligible under any other category shall become an associate member upon payment of annual dues. Such membership cannot be transferred or assigned.

b. Rights and Privileges. Associate members shall have the right to hold office, to vote, to serve on committees, and to receive the ALLA Newsletter.

Section 6. Retired Members.

a. Requirements. Any person who meets each of the following requirements: (1) retired from work and (2) was an individual or designed institutional member for a total of more than ten consecutive years i the Association, shall become a retired member upon payment of annual dues. Such membership cannot be transferred or assigned.

b. Rights and Privileges. Retired members shall have the right to hold office, to vote, to serve on committees, and to receive the ALLA Newsletter.

Section 7. Application for Membership. Requests for membership shall be made to the Membership Committee Chairperson of the Association, who will send the prospective member a copy of the membership information form. This form will be returned to the Membership Committee Chairperson. Provided that the application meets the requirements for membership, as set forth in Article III, Sections 2 ­ 6, of these Bylaws, (s)he will be admitted as a member of the Association. Denial of membership status may be appealed to the Executive Board.

Section 8. Dues. Dues for each class of membership shall be determined by the Executive Board, subject to approval by the majority of the members present and voting at any regular meeting; provided that a written notice and an explanation of the proposed dues change shall have been mailed to the members at least ten days in advance of the meeting. These dues shall be non­refundable. Student members and retired members shall pay dues at one­half the cost of the individual membership dues. New members shall be requested to pay their initial dues within ten days from the date of receipt of written notification of acceptance into the Association; those failing to pay dues within one month after notification of acceptance shall have their membership suspended automatically. Those new members joining the Association after December 1 shall pay one­half the membership dues.

Thereafter, annual dues will become due and payable on June 1 of each year and must be paid on or before August 15 of said year. Failure to pay annual dues by August 15 will result in automatic termination of membership.

Prior to the above­stated deadlines, members shall receive written notification from the Association of the consequences for failure to pay said dues.

Section 9. Anti­Discrimination.

Neither membership nor participation in any activity of the Association shall be denied to any individual on account of race, color, religion, sec, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Association are the President, the Vice President/President Elect, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. All officers of the Association must be members in good standing of the Association, and the President and the Vice President/President Elect must be members in good standing of the American Association of Law Libraries. No officer may hold more than one office at a time.

Section 2. Terms of Office. Each officer shall be elected to serve a term of office of one year or until he or she has been duly succeeded. Each officer's term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting immediately following his or her election, unless otherwise provided by these Bylaws.

Section 3. Duties of Officers. The officers shall perform those duties assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Executive Board, and the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.

Section 4. Removal/Replacement of Officers. Any officer may be removed at any time for cause. In the event of vacancy by the President, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President for the remainder of the term, plus one year. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice President/President Elect, a special election will be held to elect a new Vice President/President Elect to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, plus one year. The Vice President/President Elect thus elected shall duly succeed to the office of the President. In the event of vacancies of other officers or elected positions, the President shall appoint a replacement for that office for the duration of the term.

Section 5. Indemnification. The Association will, by resolution of the membership, provide for indemnification by the Association of any and all of its officers or former officers against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding in which they or any of them are paries or a party by reason of having been officers or an officer of the Association, except in relation to matters as to which such officer or former officer shall be adjudged in such action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on the existence of such liability.

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. Members. The Executive Board shall be composed of the officers of the Association, the immediate past President, and two at­large members.

Section 2. Terms of Office.

a. Officers. Executive Board members who are Association officers shall serve a term on the Executive Board corresponding to their terms of office.

b. Immediate Past President. The immediate past President shall serve a term of one year on the Executive Board.

c. At­Large Members. At­large Executive Board members shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting immediately following their election and shall serve a term of two years at staggered intervals.

Section 3. Duties. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its business meetings, fix the time and place of business meetings, make recommendations to the Association, and perform other duties as specified by these Bylaws or the parliamentary authority. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Association, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Association.

Section 4. Powers. The Executive Board shall have sole power on behalf of the Association, or any of its committees or sub­units, to incur indebtedness, solicit funding, make public statements, issue public writings, and establish and maintain relations with other organizations.

Section 5. Depositories. All funds of the Association shall be deposited in the name of the Association in such bank, banks, or other financial institution as the officers may from time to time designate and shall be drawn out on checks, drafts, or other orders signed on behalf of the Association by such person or persons as the officers may from time to time designated.

Section 6. Quorum and Voting. Five members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. Resolutions of the Executive Board shall be supported by the vote of at least a majority of its members present.

Section 7. Meetings. Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called and the time and place for them set at the discretion of the President; however, there shall be at least two meetings of the Executive Board called and convened between the annual meetings of the Association.

Section 8. Publication of Resolutions. The text of these Bylaws and all major resolutions and policy decisions of the Association shall be provided to the membership through the Chapter's publications.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings. Regular meetings and an annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the officers of the Association. The annual meeting shall be held in May.

Section 2. Notice. Notice of any meeting of the members shall be given by the Secretary of the Association at least ten calendar days prior thereto by written notice delivered personally or sent by mail to each member at his address as shown by records of the Association. Notice shall advise members if business is to be transacted. Invitations to other interested parties may be issued for specific meetings and/or institutes as deemed appropriate by the Association.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called by or at the request of the President to twenty percent of the members in good standing. The person or persons issuing the call of a special meeting shall fix the time and place of such meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.

Section 4. Quorum and Vote Requirement. Seven percent of the number of members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for any business session at any meeting of the members, but, if less than quorum of members are present at any meeting, a majority of members present may adjourn the meeting to another time and place. Notice of any adjourned meeting shall be given to all members of the Association.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Committees. There shall be such committees and other organizations as the Executive Board shall create or shall be created by a majority vote of those present and voting at any business meeting of the Association.

Section 2. Classification of Committees. Committees shall be of two classes: standing committees and special committees.

a. Standing Committees. Standing committees shall be as follows: Bylaws Committee, Continuing Education Committee, Membership Committee, Newsletter Committee, Nominating Committee, and Scholarship Committee.

b. Special Committees. Special committees shall be appointed by the Executive Board for a stated period to accomplish a specific purpose. At the end of that period, continuation of each special committee shall be decided upon by the Executive Board.

c. Members. Members of standing committees shall be appointed by the President for a term of one year, except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws.

Section 3. Annual Reports. Each committee shall submit to the Executive Board a written annual report of its activities, which shall contain any recommendations considered necessary or advisable. Additional reports may be submitted at the option of a committee or as requested by the Executive Board or President. Summaries of the reports shall be published in the President's Annual Report to the American Association of Law Libraries and reproduced in the Chapter's newsletter.

Section 4. Expenses. No committee shall incur expenses on behalf of the Association, except as authorized by the Executive Board, nor shall any committee commit the Association by any declaration of policy.

Section 5. Ex­Officio Member. The President shall be ex­officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VIII. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.

a. The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of three (3) members of the Association who shall be elected by the membership at the annual election of officers.

b. Nominations by the Nominating Committee. At least two months prior to the March business meeting of the Association, the Nominating Committee shall present to the President at least one candidate, who shall be a member in good standing, for each of the following positions: Vice President/President Elect; Secretary; Treasurer; Member at Large of the Executive Board; Chairperson and two members of the Nominating Committee.

c. Presentation of Candidates to the Membership. The nominations will be read at the Association meeting prior to the March business meeting or mailed to the membership at least thirty days in advance of the March business meeting. Additional names may be placed in nomination at that time, provided acceptance by the nominee is assured. The final report of the Nominating Committee shall be included in the notice of the March business meeting and shall be presented for approval by the membership at that meeting.

d. Voting. If there is one candidate for each office, elections shall be by voice vote at the March business meeting. If the slate includes more than one candidate for any office, election shall be by ballot mailed to each Chapter member twenty­one days before the March business meeting. Write­in votes may be submitted for any office. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes for any office, a run­off between the two leading candidates shall be held by voice vote at the March business meeting of the Association.

Section 2. Special Elections. Special elections shall be held within sixty days of a vacancy occurring and shall observe the procedures established for general elections.

Section 3. Voting. General and special elections shall be decided by the majority vote of the members voting.

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS

Section 1. Amendment. These Bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two­thirds vote of those present, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting or has been received at least ten days prior to the meeting at which the voting will take place.

Section 2. Submission. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted to the American Association of Law Libraries Committee on Constitution and Bylaws by the President upon adoption by the membership of the Association.