CONSTITUTION
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Our Mission
The AATF-Philadelphia Chapter focuses on understanding and fulfilling the needs of our members. We strive to develop for them meaningful programs about the Francophone world and the most current pedagogical practices in order to facilitate their teaching and enrich their lives with all things French and Francophone. We encourage interactive communication and exchange among all of our members, as well as among AATF members throughout North America.
Our Constitution
The name of this organization shall be the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French.
Section 1: Eligibility
All teachers of French, including retired teachers, from the Philadelphia Chapter area are eligible.
Section 2: Student Membership
Students enrolled in a degree program in French/Francophone cultures shall be granted Chapter membership upon payment of Chapter membership dues. Student members shall pay one half of the Chapter membership dues.
Section 3: Admittance
Any person qualifying for membership under Article II, Sections 1 and 2, shall be admitted to membership upon application and payment of the prescribed National and Chapter dues. Membership runs for the calendar year, January 1 through December 31.
Section 4: Active Membership Status
Members are expected to maintain their active status by paying National and Chapter membership dues by the due date as stipulated by AATF-National.
Section 1: Officers
There shall be a President (or two Co-Presidents), a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
Section 2: Eligibility
One must be a member of the Executive Council for at least two consecutive calendar years to be eligible to run for office.
Section 3: Admittance
The term for all officers shall be for two years, all elected in the same year.
Section 4: Eligibility for Re-election
The President and Vice President shall be eligible for re-election, but not to exceed two consecutive terms. The Secretary and Treasurer may be elected for an indefinite number of consecutive terms.
Section 5: Selection of Nominees to Office
A nominating committee appointed by the President shall accept nominations from the Chapter membership for the respective offices during the winter preceding each election. All nominees shall have been AATF Executive Council members for the two consecutive years preceding the election; their National and Chapter memberships must be current. Past officers may offer themselves for re-election after being out of office for one term. The nominating committee shall verify the eligibility of the nominees and ascertain their willingness to serve. Candidates for office shall recuse themselves from the election process.
Section 6: Elections
Elections shall be by ballot sent to all individual members of the Chapter two weeks prior to the spring event. Votes must be submitted via a voting form sent to the Chapter membership. A simple majority of affirmative votes cast shall be required to be elected.
Section 7: Elections Results
Election results shall be announced to the Chapter membership and at the spring event. All officers shall begin their term of office after the spring event.
Section 8: Elections Results
In addition to the above-named officers, a deliberative council consisting of no fewer than 8 but no more than 10 active and willing Chapter members, selected by the officers, shall meet three or four times a year to discuss Chapter affairs, as well as execute the mission of the Philadelphia Chapter. The immediate past president shall be an ex officio member for one term. The Contest Administrator is invited to be an ex officio member.
Section 1: President
The President of the Chapter shall serve as the executive and ceremonial head of the Chapter and shall call and preside at all meetings of the membership. With the advice of the Executive Council, the President shall choose the date, time, location and program for the meetings. The President shall appoint chairs of any special committees as necessary and be the signatory for financial transactions in the event that the Treasurer is unavailable to sign. The President shall also send reports of Chapter activities to the regional representative for publication in the National Bulletin.
Section 2: Vice President
The Vice President of the Chapter shall immediately assume the office of the President and discharge the duties of that unexpired term of office, in the event that the President should be unable to complete that term. The Vice President shall preside over Executive Council meetings and otherwise serve as acting President in the absence of the President.
Section 3: Secretary
The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and promptly send copies to the officers and members of the Executive Council. Additionally, the Secretary shall notify the membership of all Chapter events, pertinent announcements and handle the official correspondence for the Chapter. The Secretary will proofread and/or edit any documents as requested by the President.
Section 4: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall maintain an accurate record of the finances of the Chapter, give a detailed report at each Executive Council meeting and be the primary and sole required signatory for all financial transactions.The Treasurer shall also send an annual report of the Chapter’s finances to national headquarters by January 31 each year.
Section 5: Filling of Vacancies
Should any of the above elected officers be unable to complete the term of office, the vacancy may be filled by a member of the Executive Council selected by the other officers without consulting the membership.
Three or four Executive Council meetings shall be held in every academic year.
Nothing in the AATF-Philadelphia Chapter Constitution is to be in contradiction of the AATF National Constitution.
Amendments or revisions to this constitution shall be submitted to the officers for initial consideration. Upon approval by the officers, they shall then be submitted to the Executive Council. A two-thirds affirmative vote of Executive Council members shall be required in order to bring the amendments or revisions to the Chapter membership for a vote. Notice of proposed amendments or revisions shall be made in writing, including a voting form, to Chapter members who are requested to submit their vote on the proposed amendments or revisions. The voting on the proposed amendments or revisions will close two weeks from the date sent to the Chapter membership. Announcement of the results shall be promptly sent to the Chapter membership. Once approved by the Chapter membership, the new amendments or revisions shall take immediate effect.
The Philadelphia Chapter may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council members present at a regular or special Executive Council meeting, or through the suspension of its charter by the national organization acting under the authority of National By-Law IV, 2 (c). In case of dissolution, all remaining funds in the Chapter treasury and all Chapter records shall be turned over to the AATF Executive Director under the terms of the aforementioned By-Law.