RIEMA Constitution
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1.
The name of this association shall be the Rhode Island Educational Media Association.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Section 1.
The purpose of the association shall be to provide leadership in defining, interpreting, and promoting educational media and media programs (1) in the educational institutions of Rhode Island; (2) through the encouragement of professional development of media personnel; (3) by serving as facilitator between the State Department of Education, Office of Library and Information Services, professional organizations and the general public.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
All persons interested in the field of educational media are eligible for membership in the Rhode Island Educational Media Association.
ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1.
The Executive Board shall be the governing body of the Association whose function shall be to carry on business of the Association between membership meetings. All meetings of the Executive Board, except their executive sessions, shall be open to all members. Voting privileges at the Executive Board meetings shall be restricted to Board members. Dates and places of Executive Board meetings will be published annually in the Newsletter’s first issue of the academic year.
Section 2.
The Executive Board shall consist of the four elected officers together with the immediate Past-President and the chairperson of each Standing Committee. The President may select a maximum of five members at large to serve on the Executive Board.
Section 3.
In the event that an officer other than President or Vice-President must be replaced before the term of office expires, the President will direct the Nominating Committee to nominate a replacement for the unexpired term. If approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board, the replacement will be considered elected to fill the unexpired term.
If the President’s office becomes vacant, the Vice-President succeeds to the office and serves out the President’s term of office and then the following term as provided in the normal succession. The office of Vice-President then becomes and is left vacant until the next regular election. In the event the office of both President and Vice President becomes vacant, the Secretary will call a special meeting of the Executive Board for the purpose of selecting a new President from the existing members of the Executive Board.
Section 4.
The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order will be used to transact all business and the Executive Board will set its own working rules and procedures.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Section 1.
The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2.
The election of officers shall be announced at the annual conference.
Section 3.
The newly elected officers shall assume their official duties at the transitional meeting to be held before June 30th. The meeting shall be called by the outgoing President and at that meeting all official records of the Association shall be transmitted to the newly elected officers.
Section 4.
The term of office for the President and all other officers shall be for two years. All officers may stand for re-election. The President and Vice-President may stand for a second consecutive term. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be re-elected up to a maximum of five terms.
ARTICLE VI – STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1.
The standing committees shall be: Certification and Standards, Conference, Government Relations, Intellectual Freedom, Membership, Programs, Publications, and Technology.
Certification & Standards – The Certification & Standards Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Executive Board as needed concerning certification and standards.
Conference — The Conference Committee shall be responsible for organizing and executing the annual conference.
Government Relations — The Government Relations Committee shall act as a liaison between the Association and government bodies, especially RIDE and the Office of Library and Information Services.
Intellectual Freedom — The Intellectual Freedom Committee shall be responsible for monitoring censorship issues and for promoting the ideas as expressed in the Intellectual Freedom documents of ALA and AECT.
Membership – The Membership Committee shall promote new and continuing memberships, determine membership eligibility, analyze fluctuations in membership, and maintain membership records.
Programs – The Program Committee shall plan and carry out activities which promote the goals of the Association. Publications – The Publications Committee shall create and publish the RIEMA Newsletter and all other publications as directed by the Executive Board.
Technology — The Technology Committee shall maintain the RIEMA Web site and RIEMA-L Listserv. This Committee is responsible for providing opportunities for professional development in the area of technology.
Section 2.
The Standing Committee Chairpersons shall be appointed at the (June) transitional meeting by the incoming president.
Section 3
When a need arises a Task Force may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. A Task Force chairperson does not serve as regular members of the Executive Board, but may be invited to attend meetings and make reports. The President will announce the formation of each new Task Force to the membership and invite participation.
ARTICLE VII – NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1.
The function of the Nominating Committee will be to submit names to the general membership for the election of officers.
Section 2.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of four members appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. The most recent available Past-President shall serve as Chairperson of the committee. The Nominating Committee shall present (during March) via the RIEMA listserv a slate of officers for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer with opportunity for write-in candidates to be submitted to the nominating chair. No one shall be nominated who has not consented to stand for election and serve if elected.
Section 3.
The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers for President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer with a provision for write-in candidates for each position and shall report it at the March Executive Board Meeting. The name of a member of the nominating committee may not appear on any slate of nominations.
Section 4.
The Nominating Committee shall mail to each member an official election ballot. All ballots must be returned to the Chairperson no later than the third Friday in May.
Section 5.
The election results shall be certified by the Nominating Committee and announced to the membership in June.
ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING – There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Association held in October at a time and place determined by the Executive Board.
GENERAL MEETINGS – A general meeting shall be called by the President at the written request of 10% (ten percent) of the membership.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS – The Executive Board shall convene at the discretion of the President, but not less than 5 times annually. Special meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the President at the written request of 20% (twenty percent) of the members of the Board.
3/06