Proposed Bylaws Changes

CURRENT LANGUAGE

PROPOSED LANGUAGE

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

2.2.b Only Institutional members may use Association membership for advertisement or endorsement purposes; however, other members in good standing may identify themselves utilizing the following statement: (name) is a (membership category) of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

2.5 Only Institutional members may use Association membership for advertisement or endorsement purposes; however, other members in good standing may identify themselves utilizing the following statement: (name) is a (membership category) of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).

ARTICLE III MEETINGS

3.2 Delegates.  Each member educational institution that meets the qualifications for voting membership shall appoint one delegate to represent the institution for purposes of voting.  The member institution must notify the Board of Directors of the name of the delegate when dues are paid.  If the delegate is changed, the name of the new delegate must be submitted to the Board of Directors or its designee prior to the taking of the first vote at the next annual conference. Only these delegates may address the meeting and vote.

3.2 Delegates.  Each member educational institution that meets the qualifications for voting membership shall appoint one delegate to represent the institution for purposes of voting.  The member institution must notify the Board of Directors of the name of the delegate when dues are paid.  If the delegate is changed, the name of the new delegate must be submitted to the Board of Directors or its designee prior to the next regularly scheduled election taking of the first vote at the next annual conference. Only these delegates may address any membership the meeting and vote.

3.3 Quorum, Voting and Rules of Procedure.  No business may be transacted at any membership meeting unless a quorum is present.  A quorum consists of representatives of fifteen percent (15%) of the voting member schools in good standing as defined in Sections 2.1 and 2.4.b.  At any meeting of the membership, where a quorum is present, all questions properly before such meeting shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the votes cast, except as shall otherwise be contrary to any specific provision of these bylaws.  Votes cast shall not include blank ballots or abstentions.  Each school has one vote, to be cast by the school’s voting member duly selected under the provision of Section 3.2.  If there is no quorum at an annual meeting, the Board of Directors will continue to serve for another full year, and the decisions of the Board will be deemed to be the decisions of the membership.  If there is no quorum at two successive annual meetings, the Board of Directors may move to dissolve the organization, under Article IX.  

3.3 Quorum, Voting and Rules of Procedure.  No business may be transacted at any membership meeting unless a quorum is present.  A quorum consists of representatives of fifteen percent (15%) of the voting member schools in good standing as defined in Sections 2.1 and 2.4.b.  At any meeting of the membership, where a quorum is present, all questions properly before such meeting shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the votes cast, except as shall otherwise be contrary to any specific provision of these bylaws.  Votes cast shall not include blank ballots or abstentions.  Each school has one vote, to be cast by the school’s voting member duly selected under the provision of Section 3.2.  If there is no quorum in any regularly scheduled election at an annual meeting, the Board of Directors will continue to serve for another full year, and the decisions of the Board will be deemed to be the decisions of the membership.  If there is no quorum in at two successive regularly scheduled elections annual meetings, the Board of Directors may move to dissolve the organization, under Article IX.   

ARTICLE IV OFFICER AND DIRECTORS

4.1 Officers.  The officers of this Association shall be the immediate past president, president, president-elect, treasurer, and secretary.

4.1 Officers.  The officers of this Association shall be the immediate past president or president-elect (in alternate years), president, president-elect, and secretary/treasurer., treasurer, and secretary.

4.2 Program Category Directors.  There shall be one director elected from the institutions offering Associate Degrees, one from those offering Bachelor degrees, and one from those offering Certificates.  These directors shall be elected by the delegates at the annual meeting.

4.2 Program Category Directors.  There shall be one director elected from the institutions offering Associate Degrees, one from those offering Bachelor degrees, and one from those offering Certificates.  These directors shall be elected by the delegates at the annual meeting.

4.3 Regional Directors.  There shall be one director elected from each of four regions: Central, North, South, and West. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for defining the geographic boundaries of these regions. These Directors shall be elected by the delegates from the respective regions at the annual meeting.

4.2 4.3 Regional Directors.  There shall be one director elected from each of four regions: Central, North, South, and West. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for defining the geographic boundaries of these regions. These Directors shall be elected by the delegates from the respective regions at the annual meeting.

4.5.a-c (renumber)

4.4.a-c

4.5.b   The president-elect shall perform all duties of the president in the absence of the president for whatever cause, and otherwise assist the president in implementing the established policies of the Board and bylaws.  This officer shall also be the Membership Committee chair.  The president-elect shall automatically assume the presidency after the president’s term expires.

4.5.b 4.4.b The president-elect (or the immediate past president, in alternate years) shall perform all duties of the president in the absence of the president for whatever cause, and otherwise assist the president in implementing the established policies of the Board and bylaws.  This officer shall also be the Membership Committee chair.  The president-elect shall automatically assume the presidency after the president’s term expires.

4.5.c  The secretary shall be responsible for minutes of all meetings and keeping permanent minutes. This officer shall assist the president in any way, including giving notice of meetings.

4.5.c  4.4.c The secretary/treasurer shall be responsible for minutes of all meetings and keeping permanent minutes. This officer shall assist the president in any way, including giving notice of meetings. The secretary/treasurer shall approve deposit of all funds and approve all disbursements, subject to approval of the Board of Directors and as provided in the budget.  The secretary/treasurer shall prepare a budget for the ensuing fiscal year which shall be adopted by the Board of Directors.  All disbursements of the Association funds must be by Association check, approved by the secretary/treasurer or the president. The secretary/treasurer shall submit a written financial report at each regular meeting of the Association and of the Board of Directors.

4.5.d  The treasurer shall approve deposit all funds and approve all disbursements, subject to approval of the Board of Directors and as provided in the budget.  The treasurer shall be the chair of the Finance Committee, which committee shall prepare a budget for the ensuing fiscal year which shall be adopted by the Board of Directors.  All disbursements of the Association funds must be by Association check, approved by the treasurer or the president. The treasurer shall submit a written financial report at each regular meeting of the Association and of the Board of Directors.

4.5.d  The treasurer shall approve deposit all funds and approve all disbursements, subject to approval of the Board of Directors and as provided in the budget.  The treasurer shall be the chair of the Finance Committee, which committee shall prepare a budget for the ensuing fiscal year which shall be adopted by the Board of Directors.  All disbursements of the Association funds must be by Association check, approved by the treasurer or the president. The treasurer shall submit a written financial report at each regular meeting of the Association and of the Board of Directors.

4.6 Election of Officers and Directors.  The officers and directors shall be elected by the designated delegates at the annual meeting.

4.6 4.5 Election of Officers and Directors.  The officers and directors shall be elected by the designated delegates at the annual meeting.

4.6.a (renumber)

4.5.a

4.6.b Election for officers and program Directors shall be by majority vote of the votes cast among all voting members.  Election of Regional Directors shall be by majority vote of votes cast among all voting members from that region.

4.6.b  4.5.b Election for officers, and program Directors Director of Communication, Director of Educational Development, and Director of Educational Credentialing shall be by majority vote of the votes cast among all voting members.  Election of Regional Directors shall be by majority vote of votes cast among all voting members from that region.

4.6.c (renumber)

4.6.c 4.5.c

4.7 (renumber)

4.7 4.6

4.8  Vacancies.  If the office of president becomes vacant, the president-elect shall immediately assume the unexpired term, followed by that officer’s own full term as president.  If the office of president-elect becomes vacant, that office shall be filled by appointment by the president, subject to approval by a majority of the Board of Directors.  At the next annual meeting, the positions of president and president-elect will be placed on the ballot.  Other unexpired terms of office created by similar vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the president, subject to approval by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.  An officer or director who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator at a voting member institution may continue to serve as officer or director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.  A director, elected as a representative of a member institution offering a specific type of paralegal program, who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator of a voting member institution offering that type of paralegal program may continue to serve as director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term. A director, elected as a representative of a member institution from one of the four regions, who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator of a voting member institution from that region may continue to serve as director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.

4.8 4.7 Vacancies.  If the office of president becomes vacant, the president-elect shall immediately assume the unexpired term, followed by that officer’s own full term as president.  If the office of president-elect becomes vacant, that office shall be filled by appointment by the president, subject to approval by a majority of the Board of Directors.  At the next annual meeting, the positions of president and president-elect will be placed on the ballot.  Other unexpired terms of office created by similar vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the president, subject to approval by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.  An officer or director who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator at a voting member institution may continue to serve as officer or director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.  A director, elected as a representative of a member institution offering a specific type of paralegal program, who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator of a voting member institution offering that type of paralegal program may continue to serve as director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term. A director, elected as a representative of a member institution from one of the four regions, who ceases to meet the requirement of being an educator or administrator of a voting member institution from that region may continue to serve as director until the next annual meeting, at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the remainder of the term.

4.9 Terms of Office.  The term of office for president shall be for two years and without succession in the same office. The president-elect shall be elected in odd-numbered years serving a one-year term as president-elect, beginning in the sitting president's second year after which the president-elect succeeds to the office of president, beginning the two-year term of president at the national meeting in even-numbered years. The immediate past president shall serve a one-year term, beginning during the national meeting in the sitting president's first year (even-numbered years) and concluding at the national meeting in odd-numbered years. The term of office for treasurer and secretary shall be for three (3) years.  Directors are elected for three (3) year terms.  No elected officer or director may serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.  The time spent in filling a partial term created by removal or vacancy shall not count towards the two term limitation.  No officer or director shall hold more than one office.

4.9 4.8 Terms of Office.  The term of office for president shall be for two years and without succession in the same office. The president-elect shall be elected in odd-numbered years serving a one-year term as president-elect, beginning in the sitting president's second year after which the president-elect succeeds to the office of president, beginning the two-year term of president at the national meeting in even-numbered years. The immediate past president shall serve a one-year term, beginning during the national meeting in the sitting president's first year (even-numbered years) and concluding at the national meeting in odd-numbered years. The term of office for treasurer and /secretary shall be for three (3) years.  Directors are elected for three (3) year terms.  No elected officer or director may serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.  The time spent in filling a partial term created by removal or vacancy shall not count towards the two term limitation.  No officer or director shall hold more than one office.

ARTICLE V BOARD OF DIRECTORS

5.1 Voting Members of the Board of Directors.  The president, president-elect, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, and directors set forth in 4.2. and 4.3 are voting members of the Board.

5.1 Voting Members of the Board of Directors.  The president, president-elect, (or immediate past president, in alternate years), secretary/treasurer, and directors set forth in 4.2. and 4.3 are voting members of the Board. The president is a non-voting officer, except in the case of a tie when the president shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES

6.1 The standing committees shall include, but not be limited to the following:  Membership, Finance, and Nominations.

6.1 The standing committees shall include, but not be limited to the following:  Membership, Finance, Communication, Education, Outreach, and Nominations.