BYLAWS OF
THE
AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOR IRISH STUDIES
(formerly the
American Committee for Irish Studies)
I. Purpose
A. The American
Conference for Irish Studies (A.C.I.S.) exists to encourage research
and writing in Irish Studies by establishing a means of communication
between scholars interested in Irish Studies in all disciplines, and
to promote Irish Studies as a legitimate and distinct course of studies
in American colleges, universities and secondary schools, and to further
the development and dissemination of research, teaching and scholarly
and critical inquiry in Irish Studies.
B. In order to maintain
the essential purpose of the organization, members involved in political
or social action are not permitted to use the name of the American Conference
for Irish Studies in support of their activities.
II. Membership
A. Anyone interested
in the objectives of the A.C.I.S. is invited to join the Conference.
The A.C.I.S. seeks as members those with an active and continuing interest
in Irish interdisciplinary studies, including aspects of Irish history,
literature, the arts, sociology, anthropology, political science,
the Irish language, folklore and architecture. We seek both those who
further scholarship through active research, as well as those who wish
to expand their knowledge and appreciation of Irish Studies through
participation in organizational activities.
B. Members must pay the annual dues recommended by the Executive Committee and ratified
by the membership.
C. Members failing
to pay dues for one year automatically forfeit the benefits and rights
of membership at the end of that year.
D. Membership in
the A.C.I.S. entitles a member to membership in all regional branches
of A.C.I.S. For the purpose of determining regional representation on
the Executive Committee under Section IV. A (c), members may identify
one primary regional membership when paying the annual dues.
III. Officers
The officers
of the A.C.I.S. are President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
B. Officers serve
two-year terms.
C. The Vice-President
automatically succeeds the President.
D. The Secretary
and Treasurer shall be appointed by the elected members of the Executive
Committee for terms of two years each.
IV. The Executive Committee
1. The Executive Committee is composed of
(a) The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer;
(b) six elected members representing disciplines within Irish Studies,
with one each from history, literature, the arts, social science, Celtic
studies and the Irish language;
(c) one representative each from regional branches with one hundred
or more primary members;
(d) the immediate past President.
(e) a graduate student representative
2. The Executive Committee is responsible for formulating A.C.I.S. policy.
Members are encouraged to suggest policies and programs to the Executive
Committee. All Executive Committee decisions concerning policy must be
approved by a majority of members attending the annual general meeting.
A.C.I.S. fiscal policies provide for the following:
(a)A standing Financial Committee chaired by the Treasurer and made up of
members of the Executive Committee proposed by the President and approved
by a majority of the Executive Committee that prepares and submits a budget
for each fiscal year.
(b)The Committee monitors actual revenues as well as planned and actual
expenditures, and reviews a mid-year fiscal report, prepared by the
Treasurer, containing an account of expenditures to date, revised projections
of revenue and recommendations to cover anticipated shortfalls or surpluses.
(c) Authority for spending in a given fiscal year is dependent on the
approval of an operating budget. The budget, submitted to the Executive
Committee before the annual conference, will include proposed expenditures
for each activity in the upcoming fiscal year. Anticipated revenue from
dues, sales of goods or services, and interest used as the basis for
the operating budget will be listed.
(d) The Executive Committee will consider, modify and approve the budget
by majority vote. Once approved, this budget becomes the operating budget.
(e) A.C.I.S. fiscal records will be maintained in fund-balance form,
with modified accrued accounting as the standard procedure. Authorization
for the Treasurer to make expenditures for any activity is based solely
on the approved operating budget.
3. The Executive Committee is responsible for arranging the dates and locations
for the annual national meetings of the A.C.I.S.
4. The Executive Committee has the authority to appoint committees
or persons to carry out tasks suitable to the objectives of the A.C.I.S.
It may appoint a liaison representative or representatives in Ireland.
5. The Executive Committee has the authority to appoint the editor
of the AC.I.S. Newsletterand other editors of publications sponsored
by the A.C.I.S.
6. The Executive Committee is responsible for supervising AC.I.S. elections.
7. The Executive Committee has the authority to recognize regional branches of the A.C.I.S.
V. Elections
A. Elections for
Vice-President and the six discipline representatives on the Executive
Committee are to be held every two years.
B. The President
will fill vacancies which may arise on the Executive Committee between
elections. Should a vacancy arise in the office of Vice-President, the
member appointed will not succeed automatically to the office of President
on completion of the term of office. An election for President will
be held at the time of the next election for membership on the Executive
Committee.
C. A committee chaired
by the Vice-President, nominated by the President, and appointed by
the Executive Committee will invite members to submit names from which
it will select candidates for office. The committee will then send ballots
to members, tabulate their votes, announce the results to the Executive
Committee and the membership, and deposit the ballots in the A.C.I.S.
archives.
VI. Meetings
A. The A.C.I.S. will
hold an annual national meeting.
B. The annual national
meeting provides scholars in Irish Studies with opportunities to present
research papers in their special fields of interest and to discuss interdisciplinary
approaches to and problems connected with Irish Studies.
C. The national
meeting is the occasion for the annual meeting of the Executive Committee.
D. The national
meeting is the legislative body of the A.C.I.S. At the business session
the Executive Committee reports its decisions and recommendations to
the membership and seeks approval of its policies. Members may use the
business session as a forum to discuss issues relating to Irish Studies
and to recommend policy to the Executive Committee and membership.
E. The A.C.I.S.
encourages scholarly sessions in conjunction with the national and regional
meetings of other scholarly organizations.
F. Regional branches
of the A.C.I.S. may hold regional meetings. The Executive Committee
may authorize meetings in regions without authorized branches.
VII. Amendments
A. The by-laws of
the A.C.I.S. may be amended with the approval of at least sixty percent
of those members voting in a mail ballot.
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