Bylaws

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education.

Section 2. The use of the name of the Association for sponsorship of seminars, workshops, conferences or endorsement of similar meetings shall be restricted to those activities endorsed by the Executive Council of the Association.

Section 3. The use of the name of the Association by individual members shall be restricted to officers, committee chairpersons, or other individuals who have been authorized by the President to initiate an action or perform a responsibility in the name of the Association.

ARTICLE II - MISSION

The Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE) is a statewide association dedicated to providing professional support for women educators and staff through networking, mentoring, leadership training, services, advocacy, and publications. The association embraces collaborative relationships, professional career development, life-long learning and activities in the areas of administration, university-wide professional advancement, instruction, research and promoting women in higher education.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The Association shall be composed of those members in good standing as of the adoption of these Bylaws and those members hereafter enrolled or elected in accordance with this Article.

Section 2. There shall be three (3) classifications of membership in the Association:

Active Membership - Membership shall be open to any person who is employed in areas such as administration, research, instruction, counseling, and advising, in an educational institution or agency in higher education.

Associate Membership - Associate Membership shall be open to any graduate student while enrolled in school (who do not desire active membership).

Life Membership - Life Membership shall be bestowed upon any member of distinction upon recommendation by the Membership Committee, approval by the Executive Council and two-thirds vote of the membership voting at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV - DUES

Section 1. Changes in the annual dues for the Association shall be recommended by the Executive Council and approved by a majority of members present at the annual meeting. The Executive Council shall propose reduced annual dues for Associate Members and shall charge no annual dues to those accorded Life Membership. Changes in dues will be effective January 1 each Association fiscal year.

Section 2. All membership periods shall coincide with the Association's fiscal year and will begin on January 1 and end on December 31. Individuals may join the Association at any point during the year.

ARTICLE V - USE OF INCOME AND ASSETS

Section 1. This organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2. No part of the net earnings of this organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of purposed set forth in the purposes clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of this organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and this organization 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.

Section 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of the document, this organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by:

(a) an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or
(b) an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 4. Upon the dissolution of this organization, the assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

Section 5. However, if the named recipient is not then in existence or no longer a qualified distributee, or unwilling or unable to accept the distribution, then the assets of this organization shall be distributed to a fund, foundation, or organization which is organized and operated exclusively for the purposes specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 6. All expenditures shall be approved in advance by the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall designate any routine expenditures which the President and Treasurer may authorize.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice President for Program Development, Vice President for Membership and Outreach, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected during the annual meeting by members in good standing. Ballots will be distributed to the membership at the annual meeting. Newly elected officers shall assume the duties of their offices at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.

Section 3. The Officers shall serve for two years. The President, Vice President for Program Development, and Treasurer shall be elected in odd years; and, the Vice President for Membership and Outreach and the Secretary in even years.

Section 4. The Vice President for Program Development shall serve as the President-elect, and shall assume the Presidency at the end of the current President's term.

Section 5. Vacancies in office may be filled by the Executive Council until the next election, at which time the Association shall elect an officer for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Section 6. Duties of the Officers include:

President - The President shall:

1. preside over all Association and Executive Council meetings;
2. serve as an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees;
3. serve as the Associations liaison with related state, regional, and national associations;
4. assume all functions usually associated with the office of President; and
5. appoint members and chairpersons to standing and special committees as necessary.

Vice-President for Program Development - The Vice President for Program Development shall:

1. serve as a member of the Executive Council;
2. chair the Conference and Professional Development Committee;
3. provide oversight for the Bylaws and Strategic Planning Committee;
4. provide oversight for the Research and Publications committee; and
5. assume duties and responsibilities as assigned by the President.

Vice-President for Membership and Outreach - The Vice President shall:

1. serve as a member of the Executive Council;
2. chair the membership and outreach committee;
3. facilitate membership recruitment efforts;
4. maintain membership and dues records;
5. notify members of renewal dates;
6. oversee the collection of membership applications and dues and submit dues to the Treasurer, and
7. assume duties as assigned by the President.

Secretary - The Secretary shall:

1. serve as a member of the Executive Council;
2. produce and distribute minutes of the Association and Executive Council meeting minutes in a timely manner;
3. maintain the Association's archives, and
4. assume duties as assigned by the President.

Treasurer - The Treasurer shall:

1. serve as a member of the Executive Council;
2. prepare and submit an annual budget to the Executive Council;
3. oversee all financial activity and banking transactions of the Association;
4. prepare a financial report for presentation to the membership at the annual meeting;
5. provide oversight for the Louise McBee Scholarship Committee; and
6. assume duties as assigned by the President.

ARTICLE VII - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. At least two months prior to the spring meeting, wherein terms are expiring, the President shall appoint a Nominations and Elections Committee of three members, not more than one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Council.

Section 2. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall present a slate with at least one nominee and write-in options for each office to membership at least one month preceding the annual meeting. Each candidate shall give consent to serve before that person can be nominated and shall have dues paid in full at the time of the elections.

Section 3. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall prepare ballots in consultation with the Executive Council and oversee the elections process.

Section 4. Officers shall be elected during the annual meeting by members in good standing. Ballots will be distributed to the membership at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The officers of the Association, the chairperson of each standing committee, and the immediate past President shall compose the Executive Council. The duties of the Executive Council shall be:

1. to act for the Association in the interim between meetings,
2. to exercise budgetary responsibility for the Association,
3. to make a full report of its proceedings at the annual meeting, and
4. to serve as the Bylaws and Strategic Planning Committee.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS AND QUORUM

Section 1. There shall be two annual meetings of the membership of the Association, which will be scheduled by the Executive Council.

Section 2. Meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President or by any three members of this Council.

Section 3. A majority of the members in attendance at an Association meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. A majority of the members of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum for that body.

ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees consisting of at least three members each:

1. Membership and Outreach,
2. Research and Education,
3. Conferences and Professional Development, and
4. Louise McBee Scholarship.

Standing Committee members shall serve for a period of two years.

Section 2. There shall be special committees as deemed necessary by the President or the Executive Council. Special committees shall serve in an ad hoc capacity for a specific purpose and for a specific time period.

Section 3. At least two months prior to the spring meeting wherein terms are expiring, the President shall appoint members and chairpersons for all standing and special committees.

Section 4. There shall be a Past President Council consisting of outgoing presidents in good standing who will serve in an advisory capacity at the discretion of the current president.

ARTICLE XI- PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules in the most recent Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

Section 2. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian for annual meetings of the Association as deemed necessary by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended at an Association meeting by a two-thirds vote of the membership present. A copy of each proposed amendment must be sent to each member at least fifteen days before the meeting at which the amendment is presented for vote.

Section 2. As deemed necessary and appropriate by the Executive Council, action on a proposed amendment prior to the next annual meeting may be taken through an electronic ballot following presentation of the amendment in writing to all members of the Association at least one month prior to the deadline for return of the ballots. Amendments are adopted by a majority affirmative vote by members in good standing who return ballots by the deadline set by the Council.