PREAMBLE
The College English Association (CEA)-Middle Atlantic Group includes Maryland, Delaware, and the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia. The organization is a regional affiliate of the College English Association, Inc. The Middle Atlantic group is, however, governed independently and plans its activities independently while fostering the goals of the national group.
I. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Membership in CEA-Middle Atlantic Group is of two kinds: individual and institutional.
Individual membership shall be open to all individuals who teach, are in training to teach or have taught English at accredited institutions of higher education. Graduate students in English who are eligible for student membership which includes all the rights of individual membership with the exception of holding office in the organization. Such membership will be offered at a reduced rate. Yearly rates for individual membership will be set by the Executive and announced for the coming year at the annual business meeting.
Institutional memberships are supporting memberships which assure that the member institutions will be listed in all publicity showing support for the organization. The department joining for its instituion will receive all mailings from CEA-Middle Atlantic Group and will further be given five individual memberships for its faculty. One member of the Executive Committee will be appointed by the President of CEA-Middle Atlantic Group from each member school each year. Yearly rates for institutional membership will be set by the Executive Committee and announced for the coming year at the annual business meeting.
II. ANNUAL MEETING
While the organization may hold as many meetings, conferences and seminars as the Executive Committee determines during the year as long as they are each announced to the full membership at least sixty days in advance. The group must convene once during the year to conduct business and hold elections. Twenty-five percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum at any annual or special meeting and their transactions and decisions shall be binding upon the whole membership. Action taken at a meeting without a quorum must be referred to the whole membership by mail and will become binding only if a majority of those voting within thirty days of the mailing approve.
III. OFFICERS
Section 1: General Provisions
The officers of the Association shall be a president, a vice-presidnet, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary and a treasurer; the retiring president shall, for one year, be a member of the Executive Committee. Only persons who are members of the College English Association-Middle Atlantic Group shall be eligible to hold office in the organization. All officers shall hold office until their successors are elected.
Section 2: The President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and is expected to be a member of the national CEA. The President shall be the ex officio chairperson of the Executive Committee and ex-officio member of all standing committees. This executive officer shall be responsible for the general management and supervision of all the affairs and business of the Association and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Association are carried into effect. The President appoints the Program Committee chair and other ad hoc committee chairs as needed.
Section 3: The Vice-President
The Vice-President is expected to be a member of the national CEA. This officer shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, and shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the presidency in case of the resignation of incapacity of the President. Normally the Vice-President will succeed to the presidency.
Section 4: The Corresponding Secretary
The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Association. This officer shall also be responsible for the preparation and circulation of whatever communications to members and prospective members are authorized by the Executive Committe.
Section 5: The Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes and all the records of the Association.
Section 6: The Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills, and prepare the annual budget for approval of the Executive Committee.
IV. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee helps the President carry out the program of the organization by recommending action, conducting studies, providing liaison with schools or other professional organizations, and by helping plan the meetings of the group. It shall consist of person chosen at large from the Mid-Atlantic Group’s membership. The Committee must meet once in the sixty days following the annual meeting and may convene as often as necessary.
V. ELECTIONS
The President will appoint a nominating committee of three persons, each from a different school, no later than January 31 of each year. The nominating committee will propose a slate for election: one nominee for President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer and a number of nominees for the Executive Committee. The complete list of nominations shall be made available to the entire membership at the annual meeting. At that meeting, further nominations may be made from the floor for any office. Election in any race is dependent upon winnign a majority of the votes cast. In contested races voices is to be by ballot with the Executive Committee tabulating the results.
VI. AMMENDMENTS
The by-laws may be amended at any annual meeting with the approval of two-thirds of those members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been mailed to the full membership at least thirty days previously. Amendment by mail can occur with approval of the Executive Committee, with the mailing of the proposed amendment to the full membership allowing thirty days for a mail reply, and with the approval of two-thirds of those returning ballots within thirty days.
Adopted March 26, 1988