PLAN Constitution

BYLAWS of Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN)

Founded 2010 | Incorporated 2015 | Granted non-profit exemption 2015

Article I

Name & Purpose

The name of the Association shall be the “PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION OF NEVADA.”  The Association is a Nevada non-profit corporation (pending).

The purpose of the Association shall be:

  1. To stimulate the interest of all peoples everywhere in the learning and preserving of skills in world languages;
  2. To foster discussion and interchange of ideas relative to the study and teaching of  languages;
  3. To recognize excellence in the study and teaching of world languages through participation in the activities of the Association;
  4. To support language instructors at all levels (primary, secondary, post-secondary) by providing resources and establishing relationships with other educators;
  5. To join with affiliate organizations at state, regional and national levels in advocating for the learning of world languages.

Article II

Membership

Any person interested in the learning or preserving of a world languages and cultures is eligible for regular membership in the Association provided the annual dues are paid.

Honorary memberships may be conferred upon any individual who has made an unusual or extraordinary contribution to or advocacy for the preservation of world languages and cultures, or a contribution to the Association. Honorary memberships are conferred only upon a unanimous vote of the Executive Board of the Association.

Article III

OFFICERS

The officers of the Association shall be President, President Elect, Past President, Treasurer and Executive Secretary. They shall be nominated and elected as herein provided at the Spring Annual Business Meeting of the Association. Tenure of office shall begin in August after they are elected or as soon as they have been duly elected and qualified.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board. At the Spring Annual Business Meeting of the Association, the President shall present a report of the activities of the Association during the preceding year. The President will create and modify committees as needed and/or voted upon by the membership.

The President Elect shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President and the Executive Board and shall perform the duties of the President at any time the President is unable to perform such duties.  The President Elect shall serve as a liaison with the Nevada Department of Education and local districts.

The Past President shall advise the Executive Board to ensure a smooth transition of new PLAN leadership after elections. 

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all Association funds and property. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board.  The Treasurer will maintain financial records, establish a budget, and see to the collection of dues and disbursement of funds at the direction of the President. In addition, the Treasurer shall see to the annual filing of any federal or state forms related to the Association and its non-profit status.

The Executive Secretary shall be the custodian of all programs, papers, and documents. The Executive Secretary shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President of the Executive Board.  The Executive Secretary shall keep the minutes of the general membership meetings and the minutes of the Executive Board meetings and shall be a registered agent of the corporation during the term of office. The Executive Secretary shall maintain an up-to-date database of members and potential members.

There will be 7 permanent Committees.  Each committee chairperson serves as an officer during his/her tenure as chairperson.  Additional committees can be added based on President and Executive Board approval.

Advocacy

Membership

Outreach and mentorship

Media (newsletter, website)

Professional Development

LILL

GEM Program

There will be a Representative of each county (17), as available Each representative will be a voting member of the Executive Board during his/her tenure as representative.  He/she is responsible for sharing information with his/her county about the Association as well as reporting to the Executive Board about that status of language education in his/her county. If there is a member of the Executive Board from a county, that Executive Board member will be that county’s representative. A second election will be held for county representatives after the Executive Board has been elected. County representatives will also serve a term of office of two (2) years.
The term of office for the President, President Elect, Treasurer, and Executive Secretary will be two (2) years. The term of office for Past President will be one (1) year.  Each Committee Chairperson will serve until such time that the representative or county requests another election.

Any officer of the Association may be removed from office with cause by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board at a regular meeting of said Board, provided the officer has had a fair hearing to determine the cause of removal. 

Article IV

Official Publications

The official publications of the Association shall be the PLAN website and the PLAN Newsletter. The Newsletter shall be published at least four times a year electronically.

Article V

Meeting of Members

Section 1

There shall be a business meeting of the general membership in the fall and spring of each year, with additional meetings, as needed. All meetings will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 2

Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President at any time.

Section 3

The date, place, and time scheduled for any meeting of the members shall be published in a general , email and posted to the website at least 30 days prior to the meeting date.

Article VI

Dues

Dues for the Association shall be based upon the projected estimated financial needs of the Association and may vary from year to year. The dues are to be fixed and announced by the Executive Board prior to the Fall Annual Meeting.

Article VII

Contracts, Checks, Deposits, and Funds

Section 1

Contracts
The Executive Board may authorize any officer or officers or agent or agents of the corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 2
Checks and Drafts
All checks, drafts, and other orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Association shall be signed by an officer or officers, agent or agents of the Association and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Executive Board. Unless otherwise directed, financial and other business endeavors shall be signed by the Executive Secretary and/or Treasurer and President.

Section 3
Deposits
All funds of the Association shall be deposited in timely manner to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Executive Board may select.

Section 4
Gifts
The Executive Board may accept on behalf of the Association any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the general purposes or for any specific purpose, such as scholarships, of the Association.

Article VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of this corporation shall begin on the first day of July and end on the last day of June each year.

Article IX

Stipends and Scholarships

Scholarships

As available, scholarships will be offered to Association members.  Specific criteria and application information will be made available at least 30 days before the due date for all scholarship opportunities.

The Executive Board or a specially-convened Scholarship Committee will evaluate applications and award scholarships.

All scholarships awardees will be announced in the newsletter and on the website.

Stipends

Stipends will be made available for conference attendance as available.  Specific criteria and availability will be determined by the Executive Board.  All information will be made available to PLAN members at least 30 days before the due date.

The Association will pay the expenses for two Executive Board members (normally the President and SWCOLT Representative) to attend the ACTFL Conference as Association representatives.  Association representatives who attend the ACTFL Conference must attend the Delegate Assembly.  The Executive Board will determine the amount of funds available on a yearly basis.

The Association will pay the expenses for two Executive Board members (normally the president and SWCOLT representative) to attend the annual SWCOLT conference. The Executive Board will determine the amount of funds available on a yearly basis.

Article IX

Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the regular members of the Association present and voting, provided notice of the substance of the proposed amendments has been disseminated to all regular members of the association at least ten days prior to the meeting, or they may be amended by a two-thirds majority of respondents to a mail-in or online ballot.

Bylaws adopted September 22, 2013