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Operations:
Proposed Bylaws 2-1-01 - Format sent to members for approval

Name and Area Served
Nature and Purposes
Membership, Dues, and Participation
Elected Officers
Appointed Officers
Board of Directors
Assembly
Nomination and Election of Officers
Committees and Advisory Boards
Standing Committees
Parliamentary Authority
Dissolution
Amendments




The bylaws changes proposed in this flyer have been recommended by the 2000-01 Bylaws Committee
(Dr. Kaye Anderson, Chair; Dr. Joan Glazer, Dr. Judith Mitchell, and Dr. Glenna Sloan).
The Board of Directors, who also provided valuable input, recommends approval of these bylaws.
All members are asked to vote by mail so that all members have an equal voice, whether or not they are able to attend the annual Assembly in New Orleans. Please vote on the accompanying ballot for election of officers and board members.

Note: Only active members are eligible to vote (current IRA members with current Dragon Lode subscription). If your subscription expires soon (note mailing label), please send in your renewal check ($15 for one year or $35 for three, made payable to IRA CL/R SIG). Thanks!




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Bylaws
of the
Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group
of the
International Reading Association (IRA CL/R SIG)
Rev. 1996
Rev. 2001

ARTICLE I - Name and Area Served

The group shall be called the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group serving the interested members of the International Reading Association (IRA).

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ARTICLE II - Nature and Purposes

Section 1 - Nature: The Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (IRA CL/R SIG) shall be a professional organization of individuals who are concerned with the improvement of reading literacy through literature.


Section 2 - Purpose: The purpose of this Special Interest Group shall be
1. To provide a branch of the International Reading Association that will be is concerned specifically with literature written for and read by children prekindergarten through grade 12 (preK-12).
2. To maintain an awareness of recent publications in the field of children’s literature.
3. To promote the utilization of children’s books in the school reading program.
4. To inform the membership regarding results and implications of research in children’s literature.
5. To provide an outlet to the membership for expressing varying viewpoints concerning children’s literature.
6. To provide a medium for the exchange of creative uses of children’s books.
7. To promote reading as a worthwhile recreational activity among children.
8. To publish a refereed journal, titled The Dragon Lode (ISSN: 1098-6448), three two times a year.

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ARTICLE III - Membership, and Dues, and Participation

Section 1 - Eligibility: Membership in the this special interest group shall be open to all members of IRA including classroom teachers, instructors, administrators, publishers, authors, parents, and others members of IRA interested in children’s literature and the integration of using children’s books into the reading program for literacy development.


Section 2 - Active Members: Membership in the this special interest group shall become effective upon payment of group dues for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. for both IRA and the IRA CL/R SIG.



Section 3 - Group Dues
: Dues for annual membership in the this special interest group (equal to the amount for a subscription to The Dragon Lode) shall be set by the Board of Directors with the approval of the Assembly. Dues are payable to the group for the fiscal year on or after the preceding May 1 and shall apply to the year beginning July 1 and ending June 30 applicable for 12 months. Membership census in IRA CL/R SIG is tallied and reported to IRA headquarters each May.


Section 4 - Arrears: Any member who has not paid dues by his/her renewal date becomes inactive.


Section 5 - International Dues: Membership in the International Reading Association is required. Dues to the International Reading Association which provides members with benefits and serVices dependent upon type of membership, may be paid to the group.


Section 6 - Subscriptions to The Dragon Lode: Members of the IRA CL/R SIG are entitled to a subscription to The Dragon Lode. Others may subscribe to The Dragon Lode by paying a subscription fee, but subscribers are not members unless they are also members of IRA.


Section 7 - Participation: All members in good standing are encouraged to participate actively in all aspects of the organization.


Section 8 - Eligibility for Leadership: All Elected Officers, Appointed Officers, members of the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, and members of Committees, Advisory Boards, and the IRA CL/R SIG Network must (1) be current members of both IRA and the IRA CL/R SIG and (2) be available for communication via email.

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ARTICLE IV - Elected Officers

Section 1 - Elected Officers: The elected officers of the group shall be a Vice President, a President-Elect, a President, a Past President, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, and a Corresponding Secretary. The final three offices may be combined. Any member in good standing, who is also a member of the International Reading Association, is eligible to be an officer of the group. In addition, the editor of The Dragon Lode, the official publication of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group, shall be appointed by the Board and serve as member(s) of the board.


Section 2 - Term of Office: The term of office of the Vice President shall be one year. The Vice President shall then succeed progress in successive years to the offices of President-Elect for one year, and, at the expiration of this term as President-Elect, shall become President for a period of President for one year, and Past President for one year. The terms of Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary shall be one three years, however, these officers may serve a second term immediately following their first term in office. The term in office of the editor of The Dragon Lode shall be three years with the option of re-appointment for subsequent terms. be reelected for successive terms. A year prior to the end of the term the Editor shall notify the Board of his/her intentions. Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary shall notify the Executive Committee whether or not he/she seeks reelection.


Section 3 - Time of Assuming Office: Each officer shall assume the duties of office on July 1, following the spring election.


Section 4 - Duties of Vice President: The Vice President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors, and the coordinator of external programs. The Vice President serves ex-officio as member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and is Executive Committee liaison to the Advisory Board for The Dragon Lode, the Advisory Board for the IRA CL/R SIG Network, the Membership/Publicity Committee, and the Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books Partnership Committee. The Vice President also shall prepare a proposal for the program which he/she will coordinate for the following year when the Vice President becomes as President-Elect. Should the office of President-Elect become vacant, the Vice President shall serve the unexpired portion of the President-Elect’s term in addition to the year for which the Vice President was elected.


Section 5 - Duties of President-Elect: The President-Elect shall serve as the coordinator of internal programs and an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and as chairperson of the Program Committee, shall coordinate internal programs, and fulfill such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors. The President-Elect serves as a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, chairs

the Program Committee, and is Executive Committee liaison for the Committee selecting Notable Books for a Global Society, the Nominating / Elections Committee, and the Audit Committee.
The President-Elect shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the event of the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the President. Should the office of President become vacant, the President-Elect shall become President immediately and shall serve the unexpired portion of the President’s term in addition to the year for which the President-Elect was elected. In the event that, for any reason, the President-Elect is unable to assume the duties of President immediately, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President.


Section 6 - Duties of President: The President shall act as the executive officer of the group. The President shall preside at all meetings of the group, shall act ex-officio serve as Chairperson of both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and shall exercise general leadership and supervision over the affairs of the group, implementing its purposes.


Section 7 - Duties of the Past President: The Past President serves as a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors in order to advise, provide continuity of leadership, and fulfill such other duties as are assigned by the Board of Directors.


Section 7 8 - Duties of Treasurer: The Treasurer serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Membership/Publicity Committee. The Treasurer shall: (1) collect dues; (2) keep accurate records of total membership, including latest addresses, and telephone numbers; 3) maintain accurate and up-to-date records; (43) have custody of the funds of the group which shall be deposited in the name of Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association (IRA CL/R SIG); (54) sign checks on behalf of the group; (65) cooperate fully with an annual audit at the IRA Convention, (6) annually prepare a proposed budget to authorize expenses for the forthcoming year to be approved by the Board of Directors at the May meeting, and (7) annually prepare a financial report of all assets and liabilities. and Within thirty (30) days of retirement from office, the Treasurer shall turn over to the successor all funds, accounts, and books of the Treasurer.


Section 8 9- Duties of Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Membership/Publicity Committee. The Recording Secretary shall: (1) record the happenings of all group meetings and all meetings of the Board of Directors, circulating minutes of board meetings to members via email within two months of the meetings; (2) keep a permanent book of the approved minutes of all meetings and all Annual Activity Reports submitted to the Board of Directors; (3) maintain a data base of total membership, including latest addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and IRA membership numbers; and (4) cooperate fully with the successor by turning over up-to-date records within thirty (30) days of retirement from office; 4) circulate minutes of board meetings to members within two months of the meetings.


Section 9 10- Duties of Corresponding Secretary: The Corresponding Secretary serves as a member of the Board of Directors, the Membership/Publicity Committee, and the Bylaws Committee. The Corresponding Secretary shall: (1) notify total membership of the date, time, and place of all general meetings at least two (2) weeks before the meeting; (2) circulate proposed amendments to each member at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the amendments are to be voted upon; (3) cooperate fully with directions from council Assembly meetings and/or meetings of the Board of Directors regarding needed correspondence and notices; (4) send articles and notices to IRA headquarters as required; and (5) cooperate fully with successor by turning over an up-to-date record of correspondence within thirty (30) days of retirement from office.


Section 10 - Duties of the Editor: The editor shall appoint the editorial board for The Dragon Lode, publish The Dragon Lode three times a year, and, in the year of his/her term, train the new incoming editor.


Section 11 - Interim Replacement: In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President-Elect, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, or Corresponding Secretary, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.

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ARTICLE V - Appointed Officers

Section 1 - Appointed Officers: Appointed officers include the Editor(s) of The Dragon Lode, the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress), and the Membership Director. These officers are

appointed by the Board of Directors and serve as voting members of the Board of Directors. In the final year of service each appointed officer shall train his/her successor.


Section 2 - Term of Office: The term of office of the Editor(s) of The Dragon Lode as well as of the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) and the Membership Director shall be three years with the option of re-appointment for subsequent terms. A year prior to the end of his/her term, each appointed officer shall notify the Executive Committee whether or not he/she seeks reappointment. If a person holding an appointed office is unable or unwilling to fulfill designated responsibilities, the President has the authority to appoint a replacement prior to the end of the term.


Section 3 - Time of Assuming Office: Each appointed officer assumes the duties of office on July 1.


Section 4 - Duties of the Editor(s): The Editor(s) shall appoint and chair both an Advisory Board for The Dragon Lode as well as an Editorial Review Board and shall publish and distribute The Dragon Lode three two times a year . The Editor(s) publish in The Dragon Lode the annual lists of the Notable Books for a Global Society and the Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books (Board minutes of 5-6-99), and he/she (they) maintain bound copies of all journal volumes for archival purposes.


Section 5 - Duties of the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress): The Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) serves as the Webmaster for the group and shall appoint and chair an Advisory Board for the IRA CL/R SIG Website, shall create and maintain a website on the internet, and shall encourage networking among members via the internet. The Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) also serves ex-officio as member of the Membership/Publicity Committee.


Section 6 - Duties of the Membership Director: The Membership Director is responsible for maintaining the vigor of the group through assertive recruitment of new and renewing members both at the annual IRA convention and throughout the year via multiple venues. The Membership Director chairs the Membership/Publicity Committee.

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ARTICLE V VI - Board of Directors

Section 1 - Function: The Board of Directors is the policy-making body acting as stewards on behalf of the membership. It shall exercise general supervision over the property and affairs of the group. It shall have the general power to administer the affairs of the group including between group meetings and shall report its action to the membership for approval. It is responsible for approving annual goals; finalizing the annual budget; appointing the Editor(s), the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress), and the Membership Director; approving committee chairs and members; acting on proposals; reviewing annual reports of various officers and committees; articulating the group’s vision; establishing policy; and facilitating the implementation of the purposes of the group.


Section 2 - Composition: Voting members of the Board of Directors shall consist of all current elected and appointed officers, and the nine (9) elected members-at-large, and the Chair of the Notable Books for a Global Society Committee. The outgoing President will have the option of returning as one of the members at large. Chairs of all standing committees not otherwise designated as voting members of the Board serve as non-voting members.


Section 3 - Board Members-at-Large: Annually three (3) new Board Members are elected, each serving a three-year term.


Section 3 4 - Meetings: The Board of Directors shall be empowered to hold such meetings as it shall deem necessary, on the call of the President, at such times and places as the President may determine, and to conduct necessary business via email. At least one annual meeting shall be held each year, at the annual IRA convention.


Section 4 5 - Quorum: A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors shall consist of six (6) 51% of voting members.

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ARTICLE VI VII - Assembly

Section 1 - Composition: The Assembly shall consist of the Board of Directors and all other members of the group.


Section 2 - Function: The Assembly shall be the legislative empowerment and accountability body of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group and shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the group, within the limits set by these bylaws. It elects officers and Board Members, authorizes bylaws, and it shall have authority to review decisions made by the Board of Directors and to accept or reject them.


Section 3 - Quorum: A quorum shall consist of 20% of all those eligible to vote in the Assembly members present at the annual Assembly.


Section 4 - Meetings: The Assembly of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group shall meet one time each year at the IRA CL/R SIG program meeting at the IRA annual convention.


Section 5 - Amendments to the Bylaws: The Assembly of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group shall have the power to amend these bylaws as provided in Article XI XIII.


Section 6 - Statement of Objection: When members disapprove of action taken by the Board of Directors and wish to have that action rescinded or changed, they must present to the President by April 1 a written statement of objection, signed by ten members. The statement must be acknowledged at the Assembly and all members must have an opportunity to voice opinion on the matter (e.g., via the internet and email). The matter must be resolved by action of the Board by December 31 and, when needed, voted on by the members in the annual ballot. The final resolution must be announced at the next meeting of the Assembly.

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ARTICLE VII VIII - Nomination and Election of Officers


Section 1 - Election: Annually the members shall elect a Vice President, three new members-at-large of the Board of Directors, and other elected officers as needed. All officers and board members, except the President and President-Elect, shall be elected by ballot mailed to all members. (It is to be mailed by the Nominating / Elections Committee.) Postmarked deadline shall be determined by the Chairperson of the Nominating / Elections Committee but should shall be no later than April 15th March 15.


Section 2 - Nominating Committee: The nominating Committee shall be composed of two (2) or three (3) members appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors at the annual Board of Directors meeting held in May in conjunction with the yearly conference of the International Reading Association. The Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees annually. Each nominee must be a member of the International Reading Association. Advance consent from each nominee shall be secured by the Committee.


Section 3 - Mode of Election: A call for new officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be published in the winter Fall issue of The Dragon Lode and on the website. Following this announcement and on receipt of nominations, the Nominating / Elections Committee will prepare a slate of candidates for the vacant positions. This slate of candidates with their biographical statements and reflections on literature and literacy shall be included with their ballot. Voting shall be by ballot and there should shall be one (1) or more nominee(s) for each vacant elective office. Space shall be provided on the ballot form for the names of write-in candidates for each position. In case of a tie, a ballot for the two (2) highest nominees shall be distributed at the annual business meeting (Assembly) held in May. The results of the election shall then be announced.


The President shall be responsible for reporting the newly-elected officers to IRA Headquarters before May 15, using the official forms provided by IRA.


Section 4 3 - Term of Office: Each elected officer and Board Member shall assume the duties of office on July 1 following the spring election and shall continue to serve for the duration of the term ending on June 30 of the appropriate year. Should a Board Member be unable to serve, the candidate with the next largest number of votes in the annual election shall be invited to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. There being no such candidate, the Board of Directors shall appoint someone to complete the remainder of the term.

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ARTICLE VIII IX - Committees and Advisory Boards

Section 1 - Standing Committees: There shall be such standing Committees as specified in Sections 2 through 11 of this article Article X of these bylaws. Where possible there shall be a carry-over of one (1) or two (2)

members on each outgoing Standing Committee into the membership of the newly-formed Standing Committee.


Section 2 - Executive Meeting: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President (who shall serve as chairperson), the President-Elect, and the Vice President. The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson.


Section 3 - Membership Committee: the Committee on Membership shall plan ways to secure new members and retain present members.


Section 4 - Program Committee: The President-Elect shall be chairperson of the Program Committee. This Committee shall make plans for all meetings.


Section 5 - Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall function as defined in Article VII, Sections 2 and 3 of these bylaws.


Section 6 - Bylaws Committee: The Bylaws Committee shall continuously study the bylaws of this council to determine if they are meeting current, as well as foreseeable, needs.


Section 7 - Number of Standing Committees: The number of standing Committees may be increased or decreased upon the recommendation of action by the Board of Directors and approval shown by a majority of votes cast at the Assembly.


Section 8 3 - Number of Members on Standing Committees: The number of members on each Standing Committee shall be determined by the Board, provided that each Committee shall not have fewer than three (3) two (2) members.


Section 9 4 - Mode of Appointment and Terms of Standing Committees: The members of the Standing Committees shall be appointed by the incoming President with the approval of the Board of Directors at the May Board Meeting and shall serve for the term of the President one year with the possibility of renewal for subsequent terms to provide continuity of membership unless otherwise specified in the charge to the Committee these bylaws. When necessary, the President may appoint additional members to a committee to assure its effective operation.


Section 10 5 - Chairpersons of Standing Committees: The Chairperson of each Standing Committee shall be appointed yearly by the incoming President with the approval of and approved by the Board of Directors at the May meeting, except as specified in article VIII, Section 2 and 6 these bylaws.


Section 11 6 - Advisory Boards: There shall be an Advisory Board for The Dragon Lode, an Editorial Review Board for The Dragon Lode, and an Advisory Board for the IRA CL/R SIG Website. These boards shall function as Standing Committees.


Section 7 - Special Ad Hoc Committees: Special Ad Hoc Committees may be authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors or members at a group meeting the Assembly and shall serve for a specified period. The status of the Committee shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.


Section 12 8 - Number of Members on Special Ad Hoc Committees: The number of members on each special Ad Hoc Committee may shall be determined by the Board of Directors or the members at a group meeting. The provided that the number of members shall not be less fewer than three (3) two (2).


Section 13 9 - Mode of Appointment of Special Ad Hoc Committees: The members and Chairpersons of special Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors and/or members at a group meeting.


Section 10 - Annual Activity Reports: Chairs of all Standing and Ad Hoc Committees must submit to the Board of Directors via the President an annual written Activity Report prior to the annual Board Meeting at the IRA Convention and, if requested, to orally report at that meeting.

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ARTICLE X - Standing Committees

Section 1 - Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President (who shall serve as Chair), the President-Elect, and the Vice President, and the Past President. The Executive Committee

shall meet at the call of the chairperson President and shall conduct much of its work via email. The Executive Committee proposes annual goals for the group which are approved by the Board of Directors at the May Board Meeting and initiates action, including delegating responsibility, to implement approved goals.


Section 2 - Membership / Publicity Committee: The Committee on Membership / Publicity, chaired by the Membership Director, shall plan ways to is responsible for secure securing new members and retaining present members. Annually it shall conduct a membership campaign to increase membership, including action at the annual IRA Convention as well as activity throughout the year. This group is also responsible for verifying that all leaders (see Article III - Section 9) are current members of the group. The Recording Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) serve as members of this committee; the Vice President is liaison to the Executive Committee. Ideally there is a member on this committee from every state, province, and nation served by the group.


Section 3 - Program Committee: The President-Elect shall be Chairperson of the Program Committee. This committee shall make and implement all plans for all meetings the annual program held at the IRA Convention.


Section 4 - Nominating / Elections Committee: The Nominating Committee shall function as defined in Article VII, Sections 2 and 3 of these bylaws. The Nominating / Elections Committee shall be composed of two (2) or three (3) members appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors at the annual Board of Directors’ meeting held in May in conjunction with the yearly Conference of the International Reading Association. annually the Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees annually and shall conduct an election of Officers and Board Members by mail. Each nominee must be a member of the International Reading Association and this SIG. Advance consent from each nominee shall be secured by the Committee. The Committee also assists the President-Elect in identifying Chairs and members for all Standing and Ad Hoc Committees for the succeeding year. The President-Elect serves as Executive Committee liaison.


Section 5 - The Committee to Select Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) Award: The Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, including the Chair and the co-Chair, who must attend all meetings of the Committee (at both IRA and NCTE annual conventions) and perform all duties as directed by the Chair. Additionally, the past Chair serves as an advisor and the President-Elect is the Executive Committee liaison. Three new members are appointed annually in January by the President and incoming NBGS Chair from among candidates who respond to the call for members for the Committee published in the fall issue of The Dragon Lode and on the website. The Co-Chair, selected in January by the incoming Chair and the President, becomes Chair in the succeeding year.


As far as possible, the Committee members shall be representative of the SIG’s membership through gender, regions of residence, and professional positions (classroom teachers, teacher educators, etc.). Preference is given to applicants who have not served previously on the committee.


The NBGS Committee solicits nominations for the award, prepares annotated lists of the winners for publication in The Dragon Lode and other related publications, orally presents the books at the annual Convention of IRA, notifies publishers when their books have won, and conducts other activities to promote this award.


Section 6 - Bylaws Committee: The Bylaws Executive Committee shall continuously study the bylaws of this council special interest group to determine if they are meeting current, as well as foreseeable, needs. When needed, a Bylaws Committee is constituted to recommend changes to the Bylaws. When constituted, the President and the Corresponding Secretary shall serve on the Bylaws Committee.


Section 7 - The Audit Committee: The Audit Committee is responsible for assuring that all fiscal matters are handled appropriately. They conduct an annual audit during the IRA Convention. The Treasurer provides all necessary records. The President-Elect is the Executive Committee liaison for this committee.


Section 8 - The Dragon Lode Advisory Board: The Advisory Board for The Dragon Lode advises the

Editor(s) in matters pertaining to publishing and distributing the journal. This group is chaired by the Editor(s). The Vice President is the Executive Committee liaison for this Advisory Board. Other members are appointed by the Editor(s) to serve on an annual basis and are approved by the Board of Directors at the May Board Meeting.


Section 8 - Editorial Review Board for The Dragon Lode: The Editorial Review Board for The Dragon Lode assists the Editor(s) in selecting articles, themes, etc., for The Dragon Lode. Members of this Review Board are appointed by the Editor(s) to serve on an annual basis and are approved by The Dragon Lode Advisory Board. The Editor(s) chair this group.


Section 9 - IRA CL/R SIG Website Advisory Board: The Advisory Board for the IRA CL/R SIG advises the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) in the publication of the group’s website on the internet and reviews/approves content on the site. This group is chaired by the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress). The Vice President is the Executive Committee liaison for this Advisory Board. Other members are appointed by the Network Coordinator / Webmaster(mistress) to serve on an annual basis and are approved by the Board of Directors at the May Board Meeting.


Section 10 - Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books Partnership Committee: The Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books Partnership Committee works with the supervisor of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Library Services Staff who identify 100 best books K-12 published in a given year as a balanced library acquisition program. This committee is responsible for editing material provided by the selectors for publication, providing a list of the books for attendees of the annual meeting, notifying publishers when their book has been selected, marketing reprints, and conducting other activities to publicize this award. The Vice President is the Executive Committee liaison for this committee.

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ARTICLE IX XI - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the proceedings of this group except in cases governed by the constitution, bylaws, and special rules adopted by this group.

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ARTICLE X XII - Dissolution

In the case of the dissolution of this group, any assets remaining after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the group will revert to the International Reading Association.


Rationale: It is necessary for this article to be included in the bylaws of all U.S. groups in order to fulfill the requirements of the IRA Group Income Tax Exemption. All IRA groups are included in the group exemption under the provisions of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code for nonprofit organizations –– this is why groups are also required to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. this clause in the bylaws is also important when a group applies for a nonprofit mailing permit.

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ARTICLE XI XIII - Amendments

Section 1 - Origin: Amendments to the bylaws shall be proposed by (1) a quorum of the Board of Directors; (2) the Bylaws Committee; or (3) by a majority of the voting members present at a meeting of the group the Assembly.


Section 2 - Procedures for Amending: Amendments may be adopted by the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members at a meeting of the council the Assembly provided a quorum has been declared (See Article VI, Section 3 VII) or by ballot published with amendments in the annual elections mailing. If the vote is taken by mail, a two-thirds majority of those responding will amend the bylaws. When vote is taken at a meeting, the amendments must have been presented first at the previous meeting, and/or the proposed amendments circulated to each voting member at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the voting on the amendments is to take place.


Section 3 - Incorporation: Amendments adopted as described in Section 2 shall be incorporated into these bylaws. Copies of all amendments shall immediately be sent to IRA Headquarters.

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©2002 IRA Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (IRA CL/R SIG).
All rights reserved. Website: http://www.csulb.edu/org/childrens-lit
Dr. Kaye West, Webmistress
Date modified: December 29, 2002. Feedback