NORTH CAROLINA

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

BYLAWS

(revised April 2009)

MISSION STATEMENT

Promoting professionalism and quality of American Sign Language instruction is highly valued and crucial to the preservation of American Sign Language (ASL) and the Culture of Deaf People.

ARTICLE I  NAME

The Association shall be known as North Carolina American Sign Language Teachers Association (formerly known as NC Tarheel ASLTA) hereafter, referred to as NC ASLTA.

ARTICLE II  OBJECTIVES

Section 1:  Objectives of NC ASLTA

1.To promote:

              1.1   The official recognition of American Sign Language as a language.

1.2   Professional quality in American Sign Language instruction, statewide and nationwide in connection                         with the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA).

              1.3  The certification of American Sign Language instructors by ASLTA.

2.To provide an effective avenue for the exchange of information regarding methods and materials in the                     instruction of American Sign Language.

3.To provide input to ASLTA in standards and procedures for teaching American Sign Language.

4.To develop and maintain a local directory of certified instructors and NC ASLTA members.

ARTICLE III  AFFILIATION

The Association shall be a cooperating member of ASLTA.

ARTICLE IV  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:  NC ASLTA membership shall include American Sign Language instructors and any individuals interested                   in preservation of American Sign Language instruction and Deaf culture.

Section 2:  Dues for individual membership in NC ASLTA shall be determined during general assembly meeting at                      its biennial conference.

Section 3:  Annual full membership dues shall be in the month of April.

ARTICLE V  MEETINGS

Section 1:  General Assembly shall be held biennially to occur during even years at a time and place to be                                  determined by the General Assembly of the NC ASLTA.

Section 2:  Board meetings shall be held quarterly and shall be open to the public.

Section 3:  Special meetings may be called at any time by the Executive Board or the President.

Section 4:  Prior to any meeting, the President shall prepare a written agenda which is to be attached to the                               meeting notice. In any meeting, any member may submit an item for the agenda as time permits.

Section 5:  Notice of each meeting shall be given in writing. Notice of any meeting shall be given at least fourteen                     (14) calendar days in advance.

Section 6:  At all board meeting, at least 4 officers shall be present to meet and conduct meetings.

ARTICLE VI  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1:  Robert Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority of the Association of all board and general                        assembly meetings. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VII  EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1:  The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,

                 Member-at-Large, and Professional Development Chair. The Board shall oversee NC ASLTA affairs

         between board meetings.

Section 2:  All incoming and outgoing monies of NC ASLTA, notices of elections and meetings, and dissemination of                   materials shall be handled through the Executive Board.

Section 3:  The Executive Board shall appoint a current NC ASLTA member to fill any vacancy on the Board, subject                   to the approval of the board members at their next NC ASLTA meeting. One exception will be the                                 President which shall be filled by the Vice President.

Section 4:  The Executive Board must approve any financial expenditure which are not budgeted.

ARTICLE VIII   OFFICERS

Section 1:  The Officers of the Association shall be comprised of the following: President, Vice President, Secretary,                    Treasurer, Member-at-Large and Professional Development Chair.

Section 2:  The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member-at-Large, and Professional Development                        Chair shall be elected by ballot at the biennial convention. The President and Vice President shall be                        not eligible to hold office who has not been the NC ASLTA member for one year immediately preceding                    the election.

Section 3:  The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Member-at-Large and Professional Development                         Chair shall be eligible to serve no more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms.

Section 4:  The elected Officers shall assume their respective duties immediately after adjournment of the biennial                     conference.

Section 5:  The elected Officers shall meet at least quarterly each year, or upon the request of the President or the                      elected Officers.

Section 6:  Resignations shall be submitted in writing to the President or the Secretary.

ARTICLE IX  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1:  The President shall preside at all meetings of NC ASLTA and the Executive Board, shall have working                        knowledge of NC ASLTA affairs, and serve as a liaison between NC ASLTA and external business.

Section 2:  The Vice President shall serve in the absence of the President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of                     President occurs, the Vice President shall succeed to that office. The Vice President shall be the liaison                     between the Executive Board and the committees of NC ASLTA, and  shall oversee committee activities.

Section 3:  The Secretary shall record the minutes of all NC ASLTA and Executive Board proceedings, and shall                          handle NC ASLTA correspondence and inquiries as designated by the President.

Section 4:  The Treasurer shall monitor the financial affairs of the Association and submit a report to each board                         meeting and general assembly meeting.    

                 The Treasurer surrenders to the successor all records belonging to NC ASLTA within thirty (30) days after                    the election.

Section 5:  The Member-at-Large shall serve as a liaison between the Executive Board and NC ASLTA members to                      do assigned tasks at the discretion of the President.

Section 6:  The Professional Development Chair is responsible for providing at least 12 hours professional

                 development per year for chapter members and interested persons. The PDC is responsible for

                 maintaining records of the workshop program, submitting information for the ASLTA website in a

                 timely manner, workshop outline, and attendance of members at the workshop. The PDC will chair the

                 Professional Development Committee.

ARTICLE X  COMMITTEES

Section 1:  Standing committees of the Association shall consist of Professional Development, Public Relations,                           Bylaws, Finance, and Biennial Conference. The President shall appoint the chair of each standing                            committee. Each committee shall consist of at least three (3) members.

Section 2:  Ad Hoc and Special committees shall also be formed by the President or the Board as needed, with                          chair of each to be appointed by the President.

Section 3:  Duties of the standing committees:

                 3.1   The Professional Development Committee shall organize and provide professional development                                 workshops and training that relate to learning and teaching ASL and Deaf Studies, shall maintain                              records of attendance to workshops and training by members and reports this to ASLTA, and shall                              encourage members to become involved in the ASLTA evaluation process to gain certification.

                 3.2   The Public Relations Committee shall recruit, distribute and inform the membership of NC ASLTA                               functions to encourage participation of members.

                 3.3   The Bylaws Committee shall be responsible for amendments of bylaws;  as referred to Article XII.                               The committee shall provide support and consultation to local chapters to ensure their compliance                             to NC ASLTA bylaws.

                 3.4   The Finance Committee shall make recommendations for NC ASLTA's biennial budget must be                                   approved by the general assembly during NC ASLTA Biennial Conference. Financial affairs are                                  referred to Article XI.

                 3.5   The Biennial Conference Committee shall work closely with its respective local people to                                            implement and coordinate the plans for its biennial conferences.

ARTICLE XI  FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Section 1:  No funds shall be raised or solicited on behalf of NC ASLTA without the consent of the Executive Board                      and/or by vote of the members.

Section 2:  No indebtedness shall be contracted on behalf of NC ASLTA unless voted upon by the membership.

Section 3:  The Executive Board may accept, on behalf of NC ASLTA, any contribution, gift, bequest or device for                         the general or special purposes of NC ASLTA, and shall notify the membership of such event.

Section 4:  In order to change bank accounts or procedures dealing with the financial activities of NC ASLTA it must                   be approved by the Executive Board.

Section 5:  An audit of all NC ASLTA financial activities shall be performed by an external auditor annually.

ARTICLE XII  AMENDMENTS

Section 1:  The Bylaws of NC ASLTA may be amended or revised by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at                         the amending meeting. Notification of the proposed amendment (s) shall be mailed to all members in                        good standing at least 45 calendar days prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.

Section 2:   The Executive Board shall have the authority to make changes to the Bylaws in order to comply with

                  the ASLTA's Bylaws. Changes which may affect the NC ASLTA Bylaws must be presented to the                                  membership according to Section 1.

ARTICLE XIII  LOCAL CHAPTERS

Section 1:  A group of ASL teachers in any region, county, city or town within the State of North Carolina may form                     its own NC ASLTA Local Chapter.

Section 2:  Purpose of the local chapter of NC ASLTA is to:

                 2.1Promote quality ASL instruction locally and statewide.

                 2.2Provide professional development for local ASL teachers.

                 2.3Maintain a directory of ASL teachers and programs within its jurisdiction.

                 2.4Provide consultation to ASL programs in local areas.

                 2.5Function as a clearinghouse and network for ASL teachers and programs in local areas.

Section 3:  To become a chapter of NC ASLTA, the local group (s) must meet the following governed requirements.

                 3.1The local chapter shall have a minimum of 8 members.

                 3.2The local chapter shall be governed by written bylaws which have been reviewed and approved                               by the NC ASLTA after review and approval by the NC ASLTA Bylaws Committee. Its bylaws                                       must show specific (geographical) areas it serves.

                 3.3The local chapter shall be governed by an Executive Board elected by local members and                                         consisting of at least the following five officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer                                   and Member-at-Large.

                 3.4The local chapter President shall be a member of the North Carolina Tar Heel ASLTA, and                                          participate in the NC ASLTA board meetings as its member and representative for the chapter.

                 3.5The local chapter shall pay a chapter fee to the NC ASLTA Treasurer in the amount determined                                  by the NC ASLTA members at any general assembly meeting.

                 3.6The local chapter shall work cooperatively with NC ASLTA to coordinate at least two (2) local                                     workshops per year for professional development. The local chapter shall seek consultation from                               Professional Development Committee to ensure proper records and documentation of training for                               respective members.

                 3.7The local chapter (s) shall encourage and support the Association by:

                             Encouraging local members to also become members of the Association,

                             Serving on the Association's committees,

                             Maintaining communication between local chapter (s)  and the Association,

                             Complying toward achievement of the Association's goals and objectives, and

                             Representing the local chapter at the Association's board and general assembly meetings.

ARTICLE XIV  DISSOLUTION

Section 1:  In the event of the dissolution of the Association, its assets shall be transferred to the ASLTA within six                       months.