Mission and By-Laws

Mission and Bylaws

The PA/NJ Chapter of the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) is dedicated to furthering the goals of the National Chapter of the CRLA. We are a network of higher education professionals who educate and disseminate information on reading, learning, and tutoring to its members in the Northeastern United States.

National Chapter Goals:

• to continue to provide mediums for dialogue among professionals

• to cooperate and coordinate with other professional organizations in these and related fields

• to increase the tools available to improve student learning

• to provide information and consultants to bodies enacting legislation directly related to college reading, learning assistance, developmental education and tutorial services

• to ensure an environment where effective learning can take place

Bylaws of the PA/NJ Chapter Of the College Reading and Learning Association

Article I: Name

The name of this organization will be the PA/NJ Chapter of the College Reading Learning Association, hereinafter referred to as "the Chapter."

Article II: Objective

In accordance with the policies and programs of the College Reading and Learning Association (hereinafter referred to as "CRLA"), the objective of this chapter is to advance the knowledge and interest of post-secondary educators working in reading, learning assistance, developmental education, and tutorial services.

Article III: Membership & Dues

Section 1. The Chapter will include a minimum of 25 members of CRLA.

Section 2. Payment of annual chapter dues of $12.00 per year is required to be a member in good standing. Members will be strongly encouraged to maintain membership in the national organization.

Section 3. Chapter dues become payable during the Spring Chapter Conference or Fall Cluster Meeting each year and become delinquent sixty days after the final day of the conference or meeting. Any member whose dues have not been paid within the time will be dropped from membership. The Membership Coordinator(s) will contact members prior to the expiration date of membership to encourage them to pay their dues. Reinstatement within the fiscal year may be granted upon payment of annual Chapter dues.

Article IV: Leadership

Section 1. The officers of the Chapter are the President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past-President. These Officers comprise the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Board of Directors consists of the Executive Committee and ex officio (non-voting) members: Membership Coordinator(s) and a Communications Coordinator.

Section 3. Only members in good standing with the Chapter and CRLA are eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 4. The duties of the Board of Directors are as follows:

A. The President

• • chairs the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors meetings, and all general membership meetings;

  • serves as Conference/Program Chair for the regional spring conference;

  • appoints Elections & Membership Coordinator and Communications Coordinator;

  • appoints Site Chair in consultation with the President-elect;

  • appoints ad hoc committees as needed;

  • serves as ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee;

  • serves as liaison between CRLA and the Chapter; represents (or appoints a representative for) the Chapter at the national CRLA conference and Leadership Workshop, with basic conference registration provided by the Chapter; and

  • breaks tie votes in Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings as needed.

  • Oversees email database

B. The President-Elect

• • in consultation with the President, provides conference information to the Communications Coordinator for the web.

  • serve as proposal chair for the conference.

  • chairs the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and general membership meetings in the absence of the President.

  • assists the President in administration of Chapter business

C. The Secretary/Newsletter Editor

• • records and reports minutes of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors meetings, and all general membership meetings;

  • keeps records of minutes and Chapter correspondence;

D. Treasurer

• • pays all bills substantiated by a receipt

  • collects membership dues

  • keeps accurate financial reports for Chapter funds

  • maintains a database of members in good standing

  • provides detailed financial reports at each general membership meeting;

E. The Past-President

• • serves as a chair of the Elections Committee; and

  • assists President in administration of Chapter business.

  • develops a slate of candidates; and

  • oversees the nomination & election process.

F. Membership Coordinator(s)

• • reports on membership to the Board of Directors;

  • Coordinate with colleges and universities in PA and NJ to increase membership in the chapter

  • conducts regular outreach to increase membership

G. The Communications Coordinator

• • develops/oversees the Chapter website; provides information on a regular basis to the regional membership, the Coordinator of States/Regions, and the national archive; and

  • reports on communications activities to the Board of Directors;

  • distributes information as requested by the Executive Committee.

Section 5. The President, President-elect, and Past-President serve terms of one administrative year, while the Secretary & Treasurer serve a term of two administrative years. The officers' terms of office begins on June 1st.

Section 6. No Officer is eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office but may return to a previously held office after two years.

Section 7. Vacancies

A. A Vacancy in the office of President will be filled by the president-elect.

B. If vacancies occur in the offices of the President and President-elect, the Past-President will call a meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of election or appointing an eligible successor to fill the unexpired term of President.

C. A vacancy in the office of President-elect, Secretary or Treasurer will be filled by appointment of the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. Such appointed officers will serve until their successors are elected. If the Past-President is unable to serve on the Board of Directors, the most recent Past-President who consents to serve will fill this vacancy. Other vacancies on the Board of Directors not previously provided for will be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. Such appointees will serve until their successors are elected or appointed.

Section 8. These officers will perform the duties as described by these bylaws, by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Chapter, and by the directives of CRLA.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1. Executive Committee Meetings

A. The Executive Committee can be convened at the request of any officer.

B. Conference calls or email may be utilized for Executive Committee meetings when time and distance necessitate such actions.

C. A majority of the Executive Committee constitutes a quorum.

Section 2. Board of Directors Meetings

A. The Board of Directors will hold meetings at the discretion of the President.

B. Conference calls or emails may be utilized for Board of Directors' meeting when time and distance necessitate such actions.

C. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors.

D. A majority of the Board of Directors constitutes a quorum.

Section 3. General Membership Meeting

A. The Chapter will hold at least two regular yearly meetings at a time and place fixed by the Board of Directors.

B. The spring meeting will be held in conjunction with the Chapter conference;

C. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors.

D. A quorum consists of 20% of the members of the Chapter.

E. The President, or the Board of Directors by a majority vote, may cancel or postpone any meeting when such an action is deemed necessary.

Section 4. In general, rational minds and common courtesy will govern the meetings and administration of the Chapter. When requested or deemed necessary by more than one member present, Robert's Rules of Order will serve as the parliamentary authority.

Article VI: Nominations & Elections

Section 1. The Past-President chairs the nominating Committee. The Past-President, two members in good standing, and appointed by President, make up the nominating committee.

Section 2. The committee chair reports the nominations for officers at the spring meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the time all nominees will be considered for office only with their consent.

Section 3. Election of officers will be by April 1st. The elected officers will assume office on June 1st.

Section 4. The officers will be elected by written electronic ballot. If there is only one candidate for each office, the President will declare the slate elected.

Article VII: Administration

Section 1. The administration of the affairs of the Chapter is vested in the Board of Directors, who are responsible for carrying out the directives of the membership of any duties prescribed in these bylaws.

Section 2. The administration of the chapter begins June 1st.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any general membership meeting of the Chapter by a two thirds vote of members present, provided those present constitute a quorum of the Chapter.

Section 2. All amendments adopted by this Chapter will be submitted to CRLA for approval before becoming effective.

Section 3. When amendments to CRLA bylaws affect this Chapter's bylaws, such amendments will become automatically effective for the Chapter. Notice in writing will be sent to the membership.

Article IX: Dissolution

Section 1. This Chapter will be dissolved if its active membership drops below 25 members. It can also be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a spring conference meeting and a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the same meeting. Notice of such a vote must be submitted to each Chapter members in writing at least thirty days in advance.

Section 2. Within thirty days from the date this Chapter is declared inactive by its members and Board of Directors, it will notify CRLA; the coordinator of States/Regions will appoint a person to the position of Regional Director.

Section 3. In the event of dissolution of this Chapter, the remaining Chapter funds will be surrendered to the appointed Regional Director. If no individual can be found to serve as the Regional Director, all remaining Chapter funds will revert to CRLA.