New England Council of Latin American Studies, INC.

 

Constitution

 

Article I. Title 

1. The name of this organization is New England Council of Latin American Studies, Inc. herein called NECLAS. 

 

Article II. Purpose or Statement of Principles

2.1 NECLAS seeks to foster and develop interests in Latin American and Latinx studies by scholars, researchers, teachers, activists, students, and the general public. Focused on the New England region, NECLAS works to encourage more effective training, teaching, and research related to Latin American and Latinx issues, and to facilitate greater exchanges within the region through lectures, fora, seminars, conferences, prizes, and publications. 

2.2 NECLAS is associated with the broad purposes of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) and other regional groups but shall not be bound by their policies and activities.

 

Article III. Membership

3.1 Membership is open to persons and institutions interested in Latin American and Latinx studies.  There are three membership categories:

1. Memberships

1. Faculty members
2. Student members
3. Other members (Emeriti/Part Time/Partners/Other) 

1. Institutional members

 

3.2 Membership shall be attained by registration and payment of dues. Present membership will be constituted by a list prepared by the Secretary-Treasurer and made available upon request.

3.3 Members have equal privileges and working rights. 

3.4 Members will be kept apprised of NECLAS activities. 

 

Article IV. Officers

4.1 The offices of NECLAS shall be:

President

Vice President

Secretary-Treasurer

4.2 The President shall hold office for one year after serving for a year as Vice President. Outgoing Presidents normally will serve two years as Ex-Officio members of the Executive Committee. 

4.3 The Vice President shall hold office for one year and shall be elected by a majority vote of members conducted prior to the annual meeting of NECLAS.

4.4 The Secretary-Treasurer will be appointed by the Executive Committee and hold office for a renewable one-year term. 

4.5 Any vacancy in an office (see 4.1 for positions) of NECLAS shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. 

 

Article V. Executive Committee 

5.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, ex-officio members, and twelve additional members. A third of the latter will typically be elected by majority vote of NECLAS members prior to each annual meeting of NECLAS. 

5.2 Members elected to the Executive Committee shall serve for three years.

5.2 Unanticipated vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. 

 

Article VI. Annual Meetings

6.1 NECLAS will meet at such time and place as the Executive Committee may determine.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify each member of forthcoming meetings at least two weeks in advance.

6.2 The Executive Committee shall meet regularly. 

 

Article VII. Amendments

(Adopted at annual meeting, November 1, 1970)

7.1 An amendment to this Constitution may be proposed in writing by any five members of NECLAS. The proposed amendment shall be communicated to members by the Secretary-Treasurer at least 60 days before the due date. The proposed amendment shall be adopted upon a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members casting ballots. 

7.2 An amendment to the NECLAS By-laws may be proposed by any NECLAS member at any meeting. The proposed amendment shall be communicated to NECLAS members at least thirty days before the next meeting. The proposed amendment shall be adopted upon a majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee.  

7.3 The original Constitution and By-laws became operative by two-thirds (2/3rds) approval by members of NECLAS at the first meeting called for that purpose on November 1, 1970.

 

Article VIII. Non-Profit Status

(Adopted as an amendment by unanimous vote of members responding by mail, January 10, 1973)

8.1 No substantial part of the activities of NECLAS shall be legislative in nature, or involve participation to any extent in a political campaign for or against any candidate for public office. NECLAS shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried out by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

8.2 In the event of the dissolution of NECLAS, the Executive Committee, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of NECLAS, shall turn over all assets of NECLAS to an organization which qualifies as an exempt organization under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to a governmental agency. 

8.3 No part of the net earnings or income of NECLAS shall benefit or be distributed to its members, officers, private persons, or any other entities in violation of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

 

 

By-laws of the NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, INC.

Dues

The annual dues of NECLAS shall be payable at or before the annual meeting, or upon notice from the Treasurer. The dues shall be:

Faculty Members           $50.00

Students Members           $10.00

Other Members           $35.00

Institutional Members           $50.00

 

Committees

The President of NECLAS shall appoint the chairs of all committees and the chairs shall in turn appoint the members of the subcommittees.

The standing committees of NECLAS are:

• Conference Committee 

• Prize Committee 

• Policy Committee (bylaws, taxes, insurance etc.) 

The Executive Committee shall submit to members a preliminary slate of candidates for election at least 60 days before the election date. The final slate shall also include write-in nominations submitted by at least five members with the approval of the candidate and submitted within 30 days. Candidates should have experience as NECLAS members and come from a variety of disciplines related to Latin American and Latinx studies in New England and adjacent regions. 

 

Meetings

The President or, if unavailable, the Vice President, shall preside over all meetings of NECLAS. Proceedings at meetings will be governed by the application of Robert’s Rules. The minutes of Executive Committee meetings shall be provided to Executive Committee members and made available by any NECLAS member, upon request.

 

Duties of Secretary-Treasurer

Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer include:

1. collecting of annual dues and maintenance of membership lists;
2. providing minutes of NECLAS Executive Committee meetings and such committee meetings as directed by the President of NECLAS;
3. maintaining financial records and reporting on income and expenses as directed by the President of NECLAS;
4. communicating with the membership and the general public on any pertinent resolutions and decisions made by NECLAS;
5. making arrangements for the meetings of NECLAS and its committees in conjunction with the President and Committee Chairs.