ATA Slavic Languages Division

SLD Bylaws

Article 1. Name

The name of this organization is the Slavic Languages Division (hereinafter called "the Division") of the American Translators Association (hereinafter called "the Association").

Article 2. Purpose

The purpose of the Division is to serve as a means of communication among its members, provide information and service to its members in specific fields of interest related to translation and/or interpretation into or from Russian and/or other Slavic languages, as well as languages of former Soviet republics, organize meetings to further cooperation and information exchanges among members, and promote the policies and objectives of the Association.

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Article 3. Members

Para 1. Members and Voting Members

Voting members of the Division must be members in good standing of the Association.

Para 2. Annual Membership Dues

Annual membership dues shall be set by majority vote at the Annual Meeting of the Division. Membership dues shall be payable for the current calendar year and will be renewable as of December 31 of each year, regardless of the date of admission to the Division.

Para 3. Rights of Membership

Members of the Division shall receive Division publications and announcements. They shall have the right to vote for Division officers and on Division business as required. Division meetings shall be open to members and non-members alike.

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Article 4. Officers

Para 1. Officers

An Administrator and a Deputy or Assistant Administrator shall be officers of the Division. All officers must be active members of the Association.

Para 2. a) Administrator

The Administrator shall perform the duties of the presiding officer of the Division. In addition, the Administrator shall keep all Division records, and be responsible for financial matters and submitting an annual report and financial statement to its members and the Board of Directors of the Association. The Administrator shall be the principal representative of the Division in relations with other organizations and bodies, and shall serve as the communications link between the Division and the Association. These duties may be delegated by the Administrator to other members of the Division.

b) Assistant Administrator

The Assistant Administrator shall assist the Administrator as required and take an active interest in the activities of the Division. The Assistant Administrator shall replace the Administrator in his/her absence, or in the event the Administrator is incapacitated, until elections can be held, as necessary.

Para 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 ATA members in good standing who have paid annual Division dues. This Committee shall not include any current officer nor any candidate for office.

The Nominating Committee shall present the names of the candidates and their written acceptances to the ATA 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. Publication of the list of candidates and their biographical statements shall be 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.

Para 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 by mail ballot only. 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/her designated representative at least 7 days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Division. Ballots without a current and legible ATA 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.

Para 5. Limitation on Consecutive Terms

No member shall be eligible to serve as Administrator or Deputy or Assistant Administrator for more than three consecutive terms.

Para 6. Replacement of Vacated Positions

If the office of Administrator is vacated between elections, the Board of Directors of the Association shall appoint an Administrator from among the active ATA members of the Division to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

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Article 5. Meetings

Para 1. Annual Meeting of the Division

The Division shall meet during the Annual Conference of the Association. This meeting shall be known as the Annual meeting of the Division for the purpose of holding elections, hearing reports of the Administrator and committees, if any, and discuss other business that may arise.

Para 2. Quorum

Ten percent of the members of the Division shall constitute a quorum. The Administrator shall vote only in case of a tie, but shall count for the purpose of determining a quorum.

Para 3. Special Meetings

The Administrator may call special meetings if the need arises, or if one is requested by petition of at least 15 members of the Division. Members shall be notified of the meeting and the agenda thereat at least ten days in advance. Those unable to attend 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, he/she may appoint an active member of the Association and of the Division to stand in their stead, unless the Division has an Assistant Administrator, in which case the Assistant Administrator shall act as Administrator with full powers.

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Article 6. Committees

The Committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Administrator. Committees may include, but not be limited to, a Newsletter Committee and a Membership/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 appointment.

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Article 7. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised 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 the Division may adopt.

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Article 8. 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, 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 Voting Member has the opportunity to vote either in person or by Proxy, and that the revision is approved by the Board of Directors of the Association.

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