creating a governing structure

[Dipika Mukherjee (Asst Prof)]

> ----------
> From: 	Mary Bucholtz[SMTP:bucholtz at TAMU.EDU]
> Reply To: 	List for the Gender and Language Association
> Sent: 	06 August 1999 00:27
> To: 	GALA-L at LINGUIST.LDC.UPENN.EDU
> Subject: 	creating a governing structure
>
> Dear all,
>
> We're approaching the September 1 deadline for the official establishment
> of our organization, and it's time to focus on creating a structure and
> electing people to carry out the organization's goals. We've developed the
> following proposal as one possible model, based in part on earlier
> discussion and ideas from list members (especially Ines Shaw). The entire
> proposal can of course be revised, modified, or replaced with an
> alternative structure, as members see fit. We invite everyone to join in
> the discussion of this and other proposals that may arise. After
> discussing
> and voting on the structure of the organization, we'll go on to call for
> nominations to fill positions and then to elections.
>
> Thanks for sticking with the process thus far--the end is in sight!
>
> KMMS
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> We propose a two-component structure:
>
> 1. Executive committee
>
> Duties: To develop procedures to carry out the work of the organization,
> as
> determined by policies put forward by the advisory council. The EC would
> be
> assisted by standing committees, boards, and ad hoc committees as
> necessary.
>
> Structure:
>
> - President (3-year appointment)
> - Vice-President/President-Elect (3-year appointment)
> - Conference Chair (1-year appointment on Executive Committee, 2 years
> after that on the Conference Committee in advisory capacity)
> - Journal Editor (4 years)
> - Financial Officer (3 years, potentially renewable)
>
> Standing committees, ad hoc committees, and boards:
>
> These would carry out the procedures developed by the EC. The following
> are
> the ones that we can see an immediate need for:
>
> - Conference Committee (made up of incoming conference chair, outgoing
> conference chair, and an additional person): To coordinate the conference
> and advise and help the conference chair, organize abstract refereeing,
> develop call for papers and program, locate funding.
>
> - Editorial Board: The journal editor, two associate editors (3-year
> terms), and an advisory board (6-year terms).
>
> - The financial officer would need an assistant.
>
> Comments:
>
> The 3-year appointments are meant to be long enough to allow people to
> become comfortable with their position and short enough to periodically
> bring fresh perspectives into the organizational structure. For
> continuity,
> the vice president would become the president after three years, and the
> outgoing conference chair would advise the incoming conference chairs. The
> tenure for the position of editor would be 4 years because of the
> complexity of the editor's duties.
>
> 2. Advisory council
>
> Duties: To represent the interests of particular constituencies within the
> organization and to set policy for the organization, which would then be
> carried out by the executive committee and its subcommittees.
>
> Structure:
>
> Twelve elected members. Six slots would be reserved for the following
> constituencies, and would have to be filled by a member of the group being
> represented (e.g., a member from the US could not fill slot 6). Six other
> slots would be open to any member of the organization.
>
> The proposed constituencies are:
>
> 1. Graduate and undergraduate students
> 2. Scholars in nontraditional employment situations (e.g., working in
> industry; independent scholars; part-time and adjunct faculty)
> 3. Members of color
> 4. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual members
> 5. Men who are members of the organization
> 6. Members outside the US, Canada, and the UK
>
> Comments:
>
> Students (including those in slots 2-6 and in open slots) would serve
> 2-year terms, which would allow for students rotating off at a faster rate
> as their program requirements change or they graduate. Others would serve
> 3-year terms. An individual who fits into more than one constituency
> should
> choose which one s/he wishes to run for, including an open slot. One
> person
> could *not* be counted as filling two slots, even if s/he is a member of
> more than one represented constituency.
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>