Association Bylaws

• Section 1. Name

  • The name of this nonprofit public benefit association is the LLDAA Network of San José State University.

• Section 2. Principle Location

  • The Department of Linguistics and Language Development, San José State University, San José, California

• Section 1. Objectives and Purposes

  • The primary objectives and purposes of this Network are:

    1. Promoting ongoing support for San José State University and the Department of Linguistics and Language Development;
    2. Developing sources of funds to be used for the benefit of alumni, student scholarships, and cultural, career, and pedagogical activity of the Linguistics and TESOL alumni;
    3. Sharing multilingual and multicultural awareness from personal and professional experiences;
    4. Supporting a communications network for graduates, former students and friends of the Department of Linguistics and Language Development through such programs as professional meetings, social events, newsletters, alumni records, and online contact.

• Section 1. Types of Membership

  • Active Network members shall be alumni or sponsored friends of San José State University, who shall be paid-up members of the Network and who subscribe to the activities of the Network by payment of an annual activity fee. The Active membership shall be comprised of persons who have graduated with a degree or minor in linguistics or in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), or who have received a TESOL certificate at San José State University, or who choose to support the activities of the Network.

    Honorary membership may be granted by a majority vote of the officers at any duly constituted meeting to friends and benefactors the Network wishes to recognize.

    Honorary members shall enjoy full voting rights and other benefits of active membership.

• Section 2. Fees, Rights, and Termination of Membership

  • Each member of the Network, except honorary members, shall pay an annual membership fee of $15.

    All members of the Network who are in good standing shall be eligible to hold office, to serve on committees, vote, and otherwise conduct the activities of the Network.

• Section 3. Admission of Members

  • Application for membership may be filed at any time and active status established upon payment of annual dues.

• Section 4. Membership List

  • The Secretary shall keep a membership list containing the name and address of each member. Termination of the membership of any member shall be recorded in the list, together with the date of termination of such membership.

• Section 1. Annual Meetings

  • The annual meeting of the members shall be at such time and place as fixed by the Officers. The President shall be the Presiding Officer at the annual meeting and all other meetings of the Network. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall be the Presiding Officer in order of rank.

• Section 2. Special Meetings

  • Other meetings of the members may be called by the President, a majority of the Officers, or by not less than one-fourth of the members entitled to vote.

• Section 3. Quorum for Meeting

  • A quorum shall consist of 25% of the voting membership.

• Section 1. Officers

  • The elected officers of the Network shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer. The appointed officers of the Network shall be Historian, Liaison to the Department of Linguistics and Language Development and to the College of Humanities and Arts at San José State University, and Webmaster.

• Section 2. Duties

  • President

    The President is the general manager and chief executive officer of the Network, and has direction and control of the business and officers of the Network. The President shall preside at all meetings. With the approval of the officers, the President shall appoint committees not otherwise provided for, shall appoint all committee chairpersons from the membership of the Network, and shall serve as an ex-officio nonvoting member of all committees with the exception of the nominating committee. The President shall appoint five members from the general membership to serve as a nominating committee for the officers for the following year. The President shall neither make any motion or amendment nor vote on any question or motion unless the members are equally divided.

    Vice President

    The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, and shall perform such duties as required to assist a President. In case of the vacancy of this office of President, the Vice President shall fill that post and a new Vice President shall be appointed by the membership. The Vice President shall be the President-elect and automatically assume the office of President when elections are held.

    Secretary

    The Secretary shall keep a book of minutes of all meetings, and shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Network. The Secretary shall notify members of all meetings, and shall perform any other duties as may be prescribed by the Officers.

    Treasurer

    The Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the Network, and shall maintain adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Network. The Treasurer shall submit, in writing, a biannual statement to the Officers and to the Network. Disbursements of the Network funds shall be authorized by the President. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget for the fiscal year in which he/she serves and a year-end statement of the Network's finances.

    Historian

    The Historian shall organize and maintain memorabilia of the activities of the Network.

    Liaison

    The Liaison shall represent the Network at the department and college levels at San José State University and in other public functions involving the Network.

    Webmaster

    The Webmaster shall revise and maintain the Alumni Network website so that it reflects the most current information.

• Section 3. Term of Office

  • The terms of office of all elected Officers shall be one (1) year, beginning on June 1, following their election.

• Section 4. Removal and Resignation

  • Any officer may be removed either with or without cause by a majority of the membership at any regular or special meeting of the Network. Officers, who, for whatever reason, can no longer perform their duties effectively, shall be removed from office or be invited to resign.

• Section 1. Nominating Committee

  • A five-member nominating committee shall be appointed by the President, and shall be comprised of five members from the general membership, including a Membership Chairman. The Network shall vote in April on the slate of officers presented by the Nominating Committee.

• Section 1. Amendments

  • The bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds majority of all members provided that the members have been given prior written notice of one month.

• Section 1. Parliamentary Authority

  • Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern all cases not provided by the by-laws.

    We, the undersigned are all of the persons named as the charter members in the Bylaws of the LLDAA Network of San José State University, and pursuant to the authority granted to the Officers by these Bylaws to take action by unanimous consent to, and hereby do adopt the foregoing Bylaws as the Bylaws for this Network.

Adopted: April 5, 2003

Effective Date: June 1, 2003