PLAN Constitution

BYLAWS of Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN)

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

ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE 

The name of the Association shall be the “PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION OF NEVADA.” The Association is a Nevada nonprofit corporation.

The purpose of the Association shall be:

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

MEMBERSHIP

Any person interested in the learning or preserving of 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 by the Governing Body Members of the Association.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Elected Executive Board

The voting officers of the Association shall be President, Vice  President, Treasurer, SWCOLT Representative, Committee Coordinator and Secretary. These positions constitute the Executive Board of the association. Officers of the Executive Board shall be elected at regular intervals as determined by the organization, and may serve successive terms without limitation, subject to re-election.To be eligible for election or appointment to a leadership position within the organization, an individual must have previously served the organization in a meaningful capacity. Such service may include, but is not limited to, participation as a committee member, executive officer, or other roles as determined by the Executive Board of Directors.

In the case that an emergency election is needed due to the vacating of a Board Member’s office prior to the end of the elected term, the newly elected officer will take office immediately and serve through their elected term. 

  • The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the board and lead PLAN in organizational decisions. The President shall act as the official representative and spokesperson of the organization at the local, state, and national levels, and shall be the public face of the organization in all official capacities. The President shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Board or these bylaws.
  • The Vice President shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President and the Board and shall perform the duties of the President at any time the President is unable to perform such duties. The Vice President shall serve as Chairperson of the Teacher of the Year Committee and will assist and guide the Treasurer as needed. In the event of the early resignation of the President, the Vice President will serve as interim president until elections can be held. If the Vice president takes over duties as the President before the completion of the Vice President's term, duties as the Teacher of the Year Committee Chairperson will be passed to the Treasurer.
  • 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 Board. The Treasurer will maintain financial records and bank statements, establish a budget, and see to the disbursement of funds at the direction of the President. Treasurer will assume responsibility for all financial and PayPal activities including but not limited to collection of membership dues, conference/workshop registration payments, or any other monies collected by PLAN. 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. In the event that the Vice President must take over duties as President before the end of their elected term, the Treasurer will assume the duty of Teacher of the Year Committee Chair in the case that there is no board-designated Chair or the board-designated Chair is unable to assume this duty. The Treasurer will assist with duties of the registered agent as designated.
  • The Secretary shall be the custodian of all programs, papers, and documents. The Secretary shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President of the Board. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the general membership meetings and the minutes of the Board meetings and will assist with duties of the registered agent as designated. The Secretary shall help maintain an up-to-date database of members and all language teachers and stakeholders in the state.
  • The Committee Coordinator shall serve as the primary liaison between the Executive Board and all standing or ad hoc committees. This individual is responsible for facilitating communication, ensuring that committee activities align with the organization's goals, and supporting committee chairs as needed. The Committee Coordinator shall also monitor and track deadlines, assist with the timely completion of committee deliverables, and report on committee progress to the Executive Board.

Appointed Executive Board

  • The SWCOLT Representative will attend all Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT) and PLAN board meetings and serve as the liaison between PLAN and SWCOLT. This is a three-year commitment and may involve travel to attend required conferences and meetings. The Association will subsidize expenses, as available for two Board members (normally the president and SWCOLT representative) to attend the annual SWCOLT conference. The Board will determine the amount of funds available on a yearly basis. The SWCOLT Representative will need to find alternative funding sources if costs exceed available stipends.
  • A State Representative may be appointed by the Executive Board. This State Representative is a non-voting member of the Executive Board. This role serves as a liaison between the association and state leadership.

Committees

There are three committees titled with C’s that support our mission and vision.

  • 1. Connection
    PLAN will connect world language educators throughout Nevada. PLAN will facilitate the sharing of information about current world language trends and educational techniques.
    PLAN will recognize excellence in teaching and provide appropriate awards to the Nevada world language community.
  • 2. Collaboration
    PLAN will support world language educators in Nevada by providing educational opportunities and resources. PLAN will provide professional development and collaboration for Nevada world language educators.
  • 3. Commitment
    PLAN commits to cooperate with other world language organizations in Nevada and in the United States to advocate for world language education and preservation. PLAN will serve as Nevada's voice at the world language table and will work to amplify the collective impact of world language organizations through partnerships.

All nominations for committee chair positions must be presented to the Executive Board for formal approval. No individual shall assume the role of the committee chair without prior consent of the Board.

Each Committee Chair shall be responsible for leading and overseeing the work of their respective committee in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals. The Chair shall organize and facilitate committee meetings, coordinate the development and execution of committee initiatives, and ensure timely completion of tasks and reports. The Committee Chair shall maintain clear communication with the Committee Coordinator, provide updates on progress, and seek guidance as needed. The Chair may also delegate tasks within the committee but retains accountability for overall performance and outcomes. The Chair shall have the authority to appoint and remove committee members as best serves the needs of the committee and the organization.

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

Each board member will count as a part of the quorum. Unfilled or inactive positions will not count as part of the quorum.

OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS

The official publications of the Association shall be approved by the Board or Board-designated authority.

MEETING OF MEMBERS

Section 1

There shall be a business meeting of the general membership each year, with additional meetings, as needed. All meetings will be conducted according to the Board established norms. Each year, the Board established norms should be reviewed and modified, if needed, at the first board meeting of the newly elected officers.

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.

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 from July first (1st) to June thirtieth (30th) and announced by the Board prior to the annual meeting.  

CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND FUNDS

Section 1: Contracts 
The Board by majority vote 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 the Board. Unless otherwise directed, financial and other business endeavors shall be signed by the Secretary and/or Treasurer and President.

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

Section 4: Gifts
The 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. 

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.

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

All scholarships awardees will be publicly announced. 

Stipends

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

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

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

AMENDMENTS

These bylaws 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. 

DISSOLUTION CLAUSE

A special meeting may be called by the President at the request of a quorum of Board members to discuss the possible dissolution of PLAN. Based on that meeting’s results and decision to dissolve as voted on by ⅔ of current Board members, a special vote for approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members (status determined by Membership Committee) will take place. Upon dissolution or other termination of  the PLAN, all remaining assets of  the PLAN, after payment in full of all its debts, obligations, and necessary final expenses, or after the making of adequate provision therefore, shall be distributed to such tax-exempt organizations (with purposes similar to those of the PLAN) as shall be chosen by the current Board of Directors of the PLAN. 

 

Amendments approved on 07/19/2025

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