Bylaws

Article I – NAME

The name of this organization is the Florida College English Association. It may be commonly referred to as FCEA in this document and elsewhere.

Article II – PURPOSE

One purpose of this organization is to provide a forum for exploring the professional concerns of teachers of college English and related subjects. Another purpose is to provide an official voice for FCEA members to make their views known on issues of professional concern.

Article III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP.

  • Membership in the FCEA is open to all those with a professional interest in the purposes described above. Anyone eligible may become a member by applying to the Executive Secretary/Treasurer and paying the annual dues.

Section 2. DUES.

  • Annual dues of FCEA are by calendar year and are set by the Executive Board.

Article IV – OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. OFFICERS.

  • FCEA officers are a President, a Vice-President, an Executive Secretary and a Treasurer. The President and Vice-President each serve one year; the Vice-President becomes President after completing her or his term of office. The Executive Secretary and Treasurer serve three-year terms.

Section 2. EXECUTIVE BOARD.

  • Members elect three Executive Board members to serve for three years, but only one new member is elected annually. Officers are also members of the Executive Board. In addition, the immediate past President of FCEA serves as an Executive Board member for one year. Such staggering of terms and continuing service of an officer provides continuity within FCEA. The President, in consultation with the Executive Board, appoints a General Editor of The Proceedings, a Webmaster, and a CEA Liaison to one-year terms that may be renewed. Insofar as possible, Executive Board members should represent various areas of the state as well as the various types of institutions: public and private, two-year, four-year, and graduate.

Section 3. DUTIES.

  • The President presides at meetings, appoints committee members, acts as official spokesperson for FCEA in person and through correspondence, and performs all other tasks requiring executive action. The President also serves as Executive Editor of The Proceedings and coordinates The Proceedings activities with the annual meeting’s Program Chair (the Vice President), insures that an agreement with a publisher has been contracted for (perhaps simply by overseeing that the General Editor has arranged for it), and otherwise insuring that The Proceedings are on track and moving forward.
  • The Vice-President serves as program chair, consults with the Executive Board about the annual program theme, conducts business in the absence of the President, and performs other special tasks when requested by the President.
  • The Executive Secretary takes minutes at Executive Board and business meetings and distributes them to Executive Board members within 60 days of such meetings. The Executive Secretary also maintains a mailing list of all FCEA members’ addresses and e-mail addresses.
  • The Treasurer collects dues, maintains membership, financial and other organizational records, and assumes responsibility for the business affairs of FCEA.
  • The Executive Board serves as the governing and policymaking body of FCEA. It determines the date and location of each annual conference, at least one year in advance, based upon invitations of prospective host institutions. It may recommend that the membership take action on matters of concern.
  • The General Editor is responsible for producing The Proceedings in coordination with the President/Executive Editor. The General Editor appoints an Associate Editor.
  • The Webmaster maintains and updates the FCEA website. The CEA Liaison maintains relations with the national organization and communicates news and information between the FCEA and the CEA.

Section 4. VACANCIES.

  • A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President for the balance of the term. That individual will continue in office the following year for a full term.
  • A vacancy that occurs in the office of Vice-President prior to the mid-point of the term shall be filled by an election, with Executive Board serving as Nominating Committee and ballots e-mailed to members for return within ten days. The newly elected Vice-President succeeds to the presidency as described in Article IV, Section 1. If the vacancy occurs after the mid-point of the term, the President, in consultation with the Executive Board, shall appoint a Vice-President to complete the term. Both a President and Vice-President shall then be nominated and elected to take office after the next annual conference.
  • Vacancies in the office of Executive Secretary/Treasurer or on the Executive Board shall be filled through appointment by the President, in consultation with the Executive Board, until the next process of nomination and balloting for that position takes place. However, the rotating terms of Executive Board members should be maintained, if necessary by electing someone to less than a full term.
  • A vacancy in the office of Editor, Webmaster or CEA Liaison may be filled by a new appointment.

Article V – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. NOMINATIONS.

  • A nominating committee of three members shall be appointed annually by the President to nominate candidates for election as officers and Executive Board members from among current FCEA members. The Executive Secretary/Treasurer serves as a non-voting member of the nominating committee.Nominations shall also be open to the FCEA membership at the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 2. ELECTIONS.

  • If there is more than one candidate for an office, the Executive Secretary e-mails ballots to all members between 15 and 30 days after the Annual Business Meeting, tallies election results, and maintains the ballots until the conclusion of the next FCEA conference. Ballots must be returned to the Executive Secretary within 10 days of e-mailing.  Officers and Executive Board members are elected by a majority of those casting ballots. Those elected take office immediately after the election.

Article VI – MEETINGS

There shall be an annual conference, which includes a business meeting and an Executive Board meeting. Additional Executive Board meetings may be called by the President after consultation with other members of the Executive Board. The host institution for an annual conference is responsible for all arrangements, but consults with the Vice-President responsible for the program and with the Executive Secretary/Treasurer.

Article VII – COMMITTEES

The President, in consultation with the Executive Board, appoints committees necessary to carry on the work of FCEA or to complete special studies and projects. Only members serve on special or standing committees, unless there is justification for nonmembers to be appointed.

Article VIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS

The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members casting ballots, provided that written notice of the proposed change is given to the members at least one month before ballots are distributed and that adequate time is allowed for return of the ballots.

Article IX – DISSOLUTION

The FCEA may be dissolved if three-fourths of the members vote by mail to do so, provided written notice of such vote is sent to all members at least 30 days before distribution of the ballots and adequate time is allowed for their return. In the event of dissolution, all debts determine how to distribute any remaining funds.

Bylaws revised and approved February 2007.

 

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