MAM: The Medieval Association of the Midwest

CONSTITUTION

MEDIEVAL ASSOCIATION OF THE MIDWEST

   I.         Name.  Medieval Association of the Midwest

 II.          Purpose.  The purpose of the Association is to promote study, criticism, research, and exchange of ideas related to all aspects of the medieval period.  Methods of achieving this purpose might include faculty exchanges, inter-institutional cooperation, annual meetings, the publication of a newsletter, and particular encouragement of young scholars.

III.         Membership.  Any person may become a member of the Association on the payment of dues as determined by a majority of the members present at an annual meeting of the Association, or by the majority responding to a mail ballot, in either case the number of respondents to be no fewer than a quorum.

 IV.        Officers.  The officers shall be (1) President, who shall serve for one year; (2) Vice President, who shall serve for one year and succeed to the office of President; and (3) Executive Secretary, who shall serve a term of three years.  The President and all other officers shall be elected by a majority of the members present and voting at the annual meeting of the Association, providing there is a quorum.  If there is not a quorum present, then a mail ballot shall be instituted, and the officers shall be elected by a majority of the respondents.  The current officers and the Executive Council shall serve as a nominating committee.  Nominations shall also be received from the floor.

  V.         Duties of Officers.  (1) The President shall preside at the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Council; (2) If he or she is absent, the Vice President shall preside in his or her place; (3) The Executive Secretary shall take care of the Association’s correspondence and shall be custodian of its funds, which involves collecting membership fees and paying bills.  This officer shall also have custody of the property of the Association and of the Executive Council; (4) In the event that an elected officer shall die, resign, or for any reason be unable or unwilling to carry out his or her responsibilities to the Association, his or her office shall be filled by a member of the Executive Council, with the exception that such appointments would require the approval of the Association for any responsibilities lasting more than one calendar year.

 VI.        Executive Council.  (1) The executive arm of the Association shall be an Executive Council, consisting of the three aforesaid officers ex officiis and twelve members in good standing of the Association, elected by the Association and serving at their pleasure for a period of three years.  One third of the Councilors shall be elected each year; (2) The Executive Council shall be responsible for the general operation of the Association with the right to employ whomever it sees fit.  A quorum shall consist of six members; (3) Periodically, the Executive Council shall be required to inform the membership of its activities.  

               Quorum.  A quorum of the members of the Association shall consist of one-third of the membership.

               Annual Meeting.  The Association shall meet every year.

               Amendments.  Amendments to this constitution may be presented to the membership of the Association upon receipt of ten percent of the members’ signatures and/or a vote of two-thirds of the Executive Council who vote.  Amendments will be approved by the majority of the members present at any meeting of the Association, or by the majority responding to a mail ballot, in either case the number of respondents to be no fewer than a quorum.

APPROVED MAY 1977

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AMENDMENTS

Amendment I:   Ex officiis Members of the Executive Council

               Article VI, Executive Council, Section 1 shall be amended by the addition of the sentence:  Other persons may be invited at the discretion of the Executive Council to meet with council as ex officiis members.

Amendment II:  Presiding Officers

               If a Quorum of the Executive Council is present and wishes to conduct official business, but both the President and Vice President are unavailable, the Executive Secretary may preside.  If the Executive Secretary is also unavailable, the Executive Council may elect a chairman pro tem to preside.

Amendment III:  Rules of Order

               Robert’s Rules of Order will be rules of order for the Association.

Amendment IV:  Dissolution of Assets

               Upon dissolution of the organization, the Executive Council shall, after paying or making provisions for payment of all the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes or shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United State Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Council shall determine.  Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

                                                                                                                            APPROVED 6 MAY 1978

Amendment V:  Activities of the Organization

               No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Second.  No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an Association exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an Association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United State Internal Revenue Law).

Amendment VI:  Appointment of Editor of Nuntia

               The Editor of Nuntia shall be appointed by the Executive Secretary subject to the oral or written consent of the Executive Council.

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