Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the chapter conforms to that of the national organization. It proposes to promote and improve the teaching of German in the area covered by this chapter, and to encourage a spirit of cooperation and good fellowship among its members. 

Article IV. Officers, Nominating Committee and Elections

Section 1. The officers and members of the executive council of the chapter are the president, vice‐president (who is the president‐elect), secretary, treasurer, chair of the testing and awards program, and immediate past president. Other officers may be: program chair, membership chair, fundraising chair, social media chair, and webmaster. Positions other than president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer may be combined as needed or may be occupied by two people as co-chairs.

Section 2. The president and vice‐president are not to be re-elected to the same office immediately. Other officers may be re-elected to their offices any number of times. All provisions of this section are subject to the limitations imposed in Article V., Section 3.

Section 3. The term of office for all officers shall be two years. Officers shall be elected by plurality vote at the spring meeting. In even‐numbered years, a secretary, a membership chair, a fundraising chair, a program chair, and a social media chair shall be elected. In odd‐numbered years, a vice‐president (who is president‐elect), a treasurer, a testing and awards chair, and a webmaster shall be elected.

Section 4. The immediate past president is responsible for soliciting and submitting a slate of candidates for chapter‐officers to the membership. Nominations from the floor may be added to the slate.

Section 5. With respect to these nominations and to all committee appointments and officers of the chapter, the aim shall be to secure as equitable a representation as possible of school and college interests within the chapter. It is suggested that at least two officers be college teachers and at least two officers be school teachers, and, whenever possible, terms of office should alternate between school and college members.

Section 6. Whenever elected officers are unable to complete their designated term of office, the executive council shall temporarily fill the vacancy by appointment, except in the case of the president, when the vice‐president shall become president; at the next regular meeting of

 the chapter, a member shall be elected to fill the balance of the term.

Section 7. Elections shall typically take place via paper ballot during regularly scheduled chapter meetings. In exceptional circumstances, elections may be held by soliciting votes from all members through email or electronic ballot.

Section 8. The president shall be the official representative of the chapter at national meetings of the AATG. The president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the executive council, and the president shall also call the meetings with the executive council members. The president shall, in coordination with the vice president, regularly monitor the chapter’s email account and respond to emails on behalf of the chapter.

Section 9. The vice‐president shall assist the president as requested and assume the duties of the president in the latter's absence. The vice‐president is president‐elect and shall become president at the end of the president’s term of office. The vice‐president shall edit and disseminate the chapter newsletter and shall, in consultation with the president, prepare and send notices of meetings and other pertinent information to chapter members. The vice-president shall, in coordination with the president, regularly monitor the chapter’s email account and respond to emails on behalf of the chapter.

Section 10. The secretary shall keep minutes of meetings of the executive council and of the chapter. The secretary shall also maintain the chapter’s Google Drive archives in consultation with other members of the executive council. 

Section 11. The American Association of Teachers of German is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Northern Illinois AATG is, like all AATG chapters, an independent entity and has an employer identification number (EIN) issued by the IRS. The treasurer shall be in charge of all financial dealings and transactions involving the chapter and shall report at each chapter meeting on the financial status of the chapter. Per the national AATG handbook, the treasurer and president shall both be signatories on the chapter bank account. 

Section 12. The chair(s) of the chapter testing and awards program shall be the chief administrator(s) and area coordinator(s) of the National AATG Testing Program for high school students and shall direct the local AATG Awards Program. The chair(s) may, with the approval of the executive council, appoint a maximum of five (5) additional members to assist in duties that may include conducting regional interviews.

Section 13. The program chair(s) shall be responsible for preparing a program for each chapter meeting in consultation with other members of the executive committee, either by securing a speaker or providing for other activities. They shall also coordinate teacher immersion events and arrange CPDUs for professional development events as appropriate. 

Section 14. The membership chair(s) shall have the responsibility of maintaining and developing membership and keeping accurate records.

Section 15. The fundraising chair(s) shall solicit financial and in‐kind donations from area businesses to help support chapter projects.

Section 16. The immediate past president shall be a member of the executive council with duties as stated in Article IV, Section 4.

Section 17: The webmaster(s) will provide regular updates on the Northern Illinois AATG website and maintain those files in the chapter’s Google Drive. 

Section 18: The social media chair(s) shall post chapter meeting and workshop announcements, chapter-relevant updates, and information pertaining to AATG and the teaching of German on chapter social media outlets.

Section 19: Any member of the executive council may be removed from the office for cause by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (⅔) of all remaining members of the executive council. 

Article VI. Meetings

Section 1. There shall be two regular meetings each calendar year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the executive council or by request of at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the chapter.

Section 3. The members present at a meeting shall constitute the quorum.

Article VIII. Amendments to the Constitution

The constitution of the chapter may be amended by a two‐thirds vote of members present at any regular meeting. Such amendments may be proposed by the executive council or by written notice to the executive council by at least four members of the chapter provided that

such proposal has been read at a previous meeting or submitted to the members no later than three weeks in advance of the meeting at which action is to be taken. The board shall submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the membership at least three weeks

prior to the time of final action.