LTD Bylaws
LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (to be established)
OF THE AMERICAN TRANSLATORS ASSOCIATION
BYLAWS
Article I. Name
The name of this organization is the Language Technology Division (hereinafter called “the Division”) of the American Translators Association (hereinafter called “the Association”).
Article II. Purposes
The main purposes of the Division are to serve as a means of communication among its members, to provide information and services to its members in specific fields of interest related to language technologies (and language and technologies) in translation and interpretation, to organize meetings to further cooperation and information exchange among its members, to serve as a forum for discussion through Divisional meetings, publication(s) and other venues; to encourage and promote cooperation among allied organizations; to publicize professional development opportunities; and to promote the policies and objectives of the Division and the Association.
Article III. Members
Section 1. Members and Voting Members
Members of the Division must be members in good standing of the Association. All members of the Division shall be voting members of the Division.
Section 2. Rights of Membership
Members shall have the right to vote for Division officers and on Division business as required, and shall receive Division publications and announcements.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Names of Offices
The Officers of the Division shall be the Administrator, the Assistant Administrator, and the Secretary.
Section 2. Administrator
The Administrator shall preside at meetings of the Division. In addition, the Administrator shall authorize the disbursement of all funds spent by the Division, keep all Division records, and in particular shall be responsible for submitting an annual report to the Association in advance of its Annual Meeting. The Administrator shall be the principal representative of the Division in relations with other organizations and bodies and shall serve as the communication link between the Division and the Association. These duties may be delegated by the Administrator to other officers of the Division.
Section 2a. Assistant Administrator
The Assistant Administrator shall assist the Administrator as required, and shall take an active interest in the activities of the Division. The Assistant Administrator shall act as the Administrator in the absence of the Administrator, or in the event that the Administrator is incapacitated, until elections can be held, as necessary.
Section 2b. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep written records of Division meetings, expenditures, and all other official Division business, and shall assist the Administrator in the preparation of the Annual Report.
Section 3. Nominating Committee
The Administrator shall appoint a Nominating Committee no later than March 31 of any year in which elections for office are to be held. Members of the Nominating Committee shall be Association members in good standing. This Committee shall not include any current officer or any candidate for office.
The Nominating Committee shall present the names of the candidates and their written acceptances to the Association Board of Directors no later than 16 weeks before the Annual Meeting of the Division.
The Division Administrator shall cause the slate of candidates to be published to all members of the Division at least 14 weeks before the Annual Meeting of the Division. The list of candidates and their biographical statements shall be published by whatever method will reach all members of the division and may include e-mail, newsletter, or regular mail.
Additional candidates may be entered by a petition endorsed by the signatures of 15 members of the Division. Such petition and a written acceptance from the proposed candidate must be received by the Nominating Committee no later than 45 calendar days after the publication of the slate of candidates.
Section 4. Elections
In the case of an uncontested election, Division officers shall be declared by acclamation. In the case of a contested election, balloting shall be conducted only by mail ballot. There shall be no voting by proxy.
The Administrator shall cause ballots to be mailed to all Division members at least 6 weeks before the Annual Meeting of the Division.
Ballots must be received by the Inspector of Elections or his or her designated representative at least 7 calendar days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Division. Ballots without a current and legible Association membership number shall be declared invalid.
The Division officers shall be elected for a 2-year period or until a successor is elected, and the term of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting of the Division.
Section 5. Limitation of Consecutive Terms
No member shall be eligible to serve more than three consecutive terms in any one office, or four consecutive terms in any combination of offices.
Section 6. Replacement of Vacated Positions
If the office of Administrator is vacated between elections, the office shall be assumed by the Assistant Administrator. If the office of Assistant Administrator or Secretary is vacated between elections, the remaining officer(s) shall appoint a replacement from among the voting members of the Division to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting of the Division
The Division shall meet annually during the Annual Conference of the Association. This meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting of the Division and shall be held for the purpose of announcing election results, hearing reports of the Administrator, other officers and committees, and any other business that may arise.
Section 2. Quorum
Ten members of the Division, including officers, shall constitute a quorum. The Administrator shall only vote in case of a tie, but shall count for purposes of determining a quorum.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Division may be called by the Administrator with the concurrence of a majority of the officers. The Administrator shall also call a special meeting if so requested by petition of at least 15 voting members of the Division. Voting members who are unable to attend such a meeting shall be notified of the meeting and its agenda at least ten calendar days before the meeting, and shall have the right to vote by ballot on any business to be conducted at such a meeting. In the event that the Administrator is unable to attend the meeting, the Assistant Administrator shall act as Administrator with full powers. In the event that neither officer is able to attend the meeting, the Administrator may appoint a member of the Division to stand in his or her stead.
Section 4. Notification in Advance and Open Meetings
Members shall be notified of all meetings including the Annual Meeting and its agenda at least 14 calendar days in advance. Division meetings shall be open to members and non-members alike.
Article VI. Committees
Standing and special committees shall be appointed by the Administrator. Committees may include, but shall not be limited to, a Newsletter Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Chair of each Committee may recruit Committee members as needed. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee Chair to notify the Administrator and the membership of the Division of such appointments.
Article VII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Division in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or those of the Association and any special rules of order the Association or Division may adopt.
Article VIII. Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote cast by members of the Division voting by ballot at the Annual Conference of the Association, or at a regular meeting of the Division held at a designated location notified to all members, or at the Administrator’s address, provided that the complete text of the proposed change(s) is submitted to each member in writing in advance of the vote, that each member has the opportunity to vote either in person, by mail, or by proxy, and that the revision is ratified by the Board of Directors of the Association following such approved amendment.
Approved by the LTD membership, 11.04.06
