a chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries

Bylaws of the Dallas Association of Law Librarians (As Amended January 26, 2000)

• Article I. Name.
• Article II. Object.
• Article III. Memberships.
• Article IV. Meetings.
• Article V. Nominations and Elections.
• Article VI. Officers.
• Article VII. Committees and Appointments.
• Article VIII. Ballot upon Amendments to the Constitution.
• Article IX. Parliamentary Authority.
• Article X. Anti-discrimination.

Article I. Name.

The name of this Chapter shall be Dallas Association of Law Librarians.

Article II. Object.

The Chapter is established for educational purposes. It shall be conducted as a nonprofit corporation to promote and enhance the value of law libraries to the public and to the legal community, to foster the profession of law librarianship, to provide leadership in the field of legal information, and to foster a spirit of cooperation among the members of the profession.

Article III. Memberships

Section 1

Any person or institution interested in law librarianship (or legislative reference work) may become a member of the Association by qualifying under the provisions of one of the classes of membership.

There shall be six (6) classes of membership.

1. Individual Members

Any person who currently provides, or has provided within the last seven years, a legal or professional library service. Individual memberships move with the member upon any move or change of employment. (Notification of any change of address must be provided to the Association's Treasurer.) Individual members have the right to vote, to hold office, to serve on and chair committees, to belong to a special interest section and to receive the Association's newsletter and membership directory.

2. Institutional Members

Any person who currently provides, or has provided with the last seven years, a legal or professional library service and whose dues are paid by their employers (university, firm, corporation, etc.). If institutional members leave their place of employment, the membership remains with the institutional position and successor employees. (Notification of personnel changes must be provided to the Association's Treasurer.) Institutional members have the right to vote, to hold office, to serve on and chair committees, to belong to special interest sections and to receive the Association's newsletter and membership directory.

3. Associate Members

A person not eligible under any other category shall become an associate member upon payment of annual dues. Associate memberships are nonvoting memberships. Associate members shall have the right to serve on committees, to belong to special interest sections and will receive the Association's newsletter and membership directory.

4. Student Members

Any person currently enrolled in a degree program in library and information science or law. A student member shall have the right to vote, to serve on committees, to belong to special interest sections and will receive the Association's newsletter and membership directory.

5. Life Members

Any member who has been a regular member of the Association for at least five years, but who has retired from law library or legislative reference work, may be elected to life membership at any election upon recommendation of the Nominating Committee. Life members shall have the right to vote, hold elected office, to serve on committees, to belong to special interest sections and to receive the Association's newsletter and membership directory.

6. Honorary Members

Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Association may at any time, elect appropriate non-members as honorary members.

Section 2

Dues for each class of membership shall be determined by the Executive Board. The year for dues shall begin on June 1 and the fiscal year of the Association shall begin on January 1.

Section 3

Members failing to pay dues by August 31st and after due notice by the Treasurer shall be suspended from membership by the Treasurer. Suspended members may be reinstated at any time upon payment of the full current year’s dues and a late fee as determined by the Executive Board.

Article IV. Meetings

Section 1

General meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Board shall designate.

Section 2

Executive Board meetings shall be held prior to the general meeting or as called by the President.

Section 3

Special meetings may be held at such times and places as the Executive Board of the Association may direct and may be called upon reasonable notice.

Section 4

For any general or special meeting, 25 percent of the active membership shall constitute a quorum.

Article V. Nominations and Elections.

Section 1 Nominations.

At the general meetings at least one month prior to the end of the officers' term of office, nominations shall be open for the offices of First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Nominations shall also be open for office of President if the incumbent First Vice President/President Elect will not be able to assume the office of the President.

Section 2 Elections

Prior to the general meeting before the end of the officers' term of office, the Secretary shall mail a copy of the ballot to each eligible member of the Association. Ballots shall be returned to the Secretary by the date specified on the ballot. The Secretary shall verify that all votes received are cast by eligible members. The candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected and shall be so reported at a business session of the general meeting prior to the end of the officers' term of office, but not before all candidates have been notified. In case of a tie, the person elected shall be determined by lot conducted within the Executive Board

Article VI.

Section 1.

The term of office shall be June 1 - May 31.

Section 2.

Officers shall have the authority to manage the Association's activities and to regulate and govern its affairs.

1. The President shall act as presiding officer of the Association and as its Executive Officer. The President must be a member in good standing of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).

The President shall represent the Association on the AALL Council of Chapter Presidents and attend the annual meeting of the Council.

The President shall also attend the leadership training program offered at the AALL annual conference.

In order to support the President while performing official duties at the AALL annual conference, the Executive Board may approve the reimbursement of the following expenses:

(a) travel to and from the annual conference site; (b) two nights hotel expenses; (c) meal expenses connected with the Council and leadership training activities: and/or (d) the AALL conference registration fee.

The President will report to the Executive Board and to the membership on the results of the Council's business meeting. The President will submit receipts for the expenses to be reimbursed.

2. The First Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his or her absence.

3. The Second Vice President shall be responsible for the editing, publishing and distributing of the Association newsletter and other Association communications.

4. The Secretary shall provide an accurate record of all Association Meetings.

5. The Treasurer shall handle all financial matters of the Association.

ARTICLE VII. Committees and Appointments

Section 1

Committee chairmen shall be appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 2

The following standing committees shall exist for those purposes which require the continuous attention of the Association:

Grants/Scholarship Committee:

The committee shall review and recommend to the Executive Board the types of scholarships needed to recruit qualified individuals into the profession and shall develop, review and set guidelines for awarding scholarships in each category. The committee shall also review and recommend criteria for grant awards according to contemporary funding circumstances; coordinate the procurement, receipt and acknowledgment of grant funds; publicize the availability of grants and scholarships, solicit applications, and award grants and scholarships according to established criteria.

Internet Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for establishing and supervising the contents of the Association Website on the Internet and for coordinating Internet-based activities of the Association.

 

Membership/Placement Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for identifying and contacting prospective members, and providing copies of the membership directory upon request, and assisting in the placement of persons at local law libraries.

 

Nominating Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for presenting a slate of candidates for elected offices.

 

Professional Development Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for overall program priorities based on member needs assessment and the Association's cost-effective educational mission for members and non-members and direct all Association educational activities including those at the general meetings.

 

Publications/Public Relations Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for publicizing programs and activities of the Association, preparing and updating Association communications, and supervising Association archives.

 

Salary Survey Committee:

The committee shall be responsible for compiling a salary survey and distributing the results.

 

Union List Committee:

The committee shall oversee the Union List.

Section 3

Annual Report. Each committee shall submit to the Executive Board a written annual report of its activities which shall contain any recommendations considered necessary or advisable. Summaries of the reports shall be published in the Association newsletter.

Section 4.

Special Committees. Special committees may be created by the President subject to the approval of the Executive Board for specific purposes which require special attention.

Section 5.

Committee Members. Members of the Association shall indicate to the President on which committees they prefer to work.

Section 6

Special Interest Sections. Special Interest sections may be created by the Executive Board by approving in written petition of five (5) voting members of the Association. The petition shall state the aims of the proposed Section. The Sections may charge dues upon approval of the Executive Board. Funds for operation expenses of a Section shall be provided from such dues, which may be collected with the annual dues of the Association. An annual report shall be submitted by each Section and shall be published in the Association newsletter.

Article VIII.

Ballot upon Amendments to the Constitution

Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary, who voting members at least 30 days prior to the meeting of the Association at which they will be presented for discussion. Ballots shall be time mailed by the Secretary to the members immediately following the meeting at which amendments were discussed. The Executive Board the shall specify the time for closing the balloting, but in no case shall it be less than 30 days from when the ballots are mailed to the membership.

Article IX. Parliamentary Authority.

The business of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, except where they may be in conflict with the Constitution or Bylaws.

Article X. Anti-discrimination.

Membership in the Association or participation in any activity of the Association shall not be denied to any individual, or abridged, on account of race, color, age, sex, national origin , religion, sexual orientation or disability.

Page last updated: 9/26/2001