Section 1.01 The name of this organization is "Eastern Community College Social Science Association" (ECCSSA). It exists by virtue of incorporation, approved on February 17, 1978 in the State of New Jersey. The Association was reincorporated in the State of Virginia in 2010.

To promote interest in the study and teaching of Social Science - which includes anthropology, criminal justice, economics, education, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and all modifications or combinations of subjects whose content as well as aim is predominantly social;

To promote the study of problems of teaching the social sciences to the best advantages of students in the classroom;

To hold public discussions and programs, sponsor the publication of desirable articles, reports, and surveys; and, to integrate the efforts and activities of its members and their cooperative activities with others interested in the advancement of education in the social sciences;

To conduct these activities and to achieve these objectives without primary profit and in accordance with Section 501©3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) thereby allowing the Corporation to qualify as a tax exempt organization.

Section 3.01. The association shall be managed by the Board of Trustees which shall consist of not less than three (3) or more than eleven (11) members who shall serve three year terms.

Section 3.02. The number of elected Trustees shall be determined by the Board. Any increase or decrease in the number of Trustees shall follow the procedures set forth in these By-Laws.

Section 3.03. The Chair~~person~~ shall be an ex-officio member of the Board during the term of office and for two years following.

Section 3.04. A majority of trustees shall be in the field of Social Sciences at a Community College. The election of members to the Board of Trustees will be on a rotating basis with 1/3 of the membership elected each year.

Section 3.05. A majority of the members of the Board of Trustees shall be considered a quorum. A simple majority of those voting shall decide any question.

Section 3.06. In the event of the resignation or death of a Trustee, the remaining Trustees may appoint a replacement to serve until the next annual meeting when a Trustee shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The appointment of said Trustee shall be made at a meeting of the Board.

Section 3.07. Any Board of Trustees member who misses two consecutive meetings, including teleconferences, may be dropped from the Board at the discretion of a majority of Board members. Non-payment of dues is also grounds for dismissal. A Board member will be notified in writing of such a decision.

Section 3.08. The Board shall elect a chairperson from its membership at the annual meeting to serve for a three-year term. Nothing however, shall prevent an elected chairperson from serving more than ~~one~~ a three-year term. The chairperson shall be ex-officio member of the Board for two years following the term of service.

Section 3.09. In the event of a resignation or death of the chairperson, the officers of the Board of ~~three~~ Trustees, acting as a group, ~~may~~ shall call a special meeting of the Board for the purpose of electing a new Chairperson.

Section 3.10. The Board shall have the power to appropriate funds from the treasury, to review the actions of officers and committees, to select the place for the annual meeting, and to exercise all powers not herein assigned to other officers.

Section 4.01. The Board may hold its meetings at the office of the Corporation or at such other places either within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia, as it may from time to time determine.

Section 4.02. There shall be at least two (2) Board meetings each year, including teleconferences one to be held at the annual meeting, the second to be called by the Chairperson of the Board.

Section 5.01. The officers of this Association shall be: a) Chair; b) Vice-Chair; c) Secretary, and d) Treasurer.

Section 5.02. Any member of the Association shall be eligible for nomination to any office. All members elected to office must consent thereto and must be members in good standing.

Section 5.03. The Officers shall be elected at the open Board meeting during the annual meeting of the Association by a majority of the membership voting at the meeting.

Section 5.04. The Board of Trustees shall submit a proposed slate of candidates to the membership prior to the annual meeting.

Section 5.05. The Chair shall be a general advisor to the Board of Trustees. It shall be the Chair's obligation to promote in all suitable ways the best interest of the Association. The Chair shall assist in planning the programs during the term of office, appoints chairs of committees carry on the work of the Association.

Section 5.06. The Chair is an ex-officio, non-voting member of all committees, with the exception of the Nominating Committee.

Section 5.07. In the temporary absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair will transact the duties of the Chair and such other duties as the Board shall determine.

Section 5.08. The Vice-Chair participates closely with the Chair to develop and implement officer transition plan. The Vice-Chair shall also assume such duties as the Chair or Board of Trustees shall specify. The Vice-Chair shall function as Chair until a new Chair is elected.

Section 5.09. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible for carrying out policies formulated by the Board of Trustees.

Section 5.10. The Secretary shall maintain the records including archiving e-mails and postal communication, advertisements about ECCSSA and an active list of ECCSSA membership.

The Secretary shall be sufficiently familiar with legal documents (articles, by-laws, etc.) to note applicability during meetings.

The Secretary shall distribute the minutes of all meetings no later than 72 hours after they are held to Trustees, Officers, and registered agent.

The Secretary shall keep an organized file of all minutes, notices and committee reports. It is incumbent upon an out-going Secretary to see that these records are transferred to the new Secretary in total.

In the event the Secretary is not present at a meeting, a selected member shall take the minutes and communicate them to the Secretary.

Section 5.11. In the event that the Secretary is unable to serve for any reason, the Chair of the Board shall appoint a substitute to serve until the next annual meeting, with the advice and consent of the Board.

Section 5.12. The Treasurer shall manage the finances of the Association. The treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all expenditures and sign all checks. The Chairperson shall countersign all checks over twenty-five dollars.

The treasurer shall publish an annual financial report for distribution during the annual meeting. Financial records shall be available for inspection by members.

The treasurer shall provide a list of active full-paying members to the officers of the Board of Trustees and to the Secretary of the Board after each annual conference.

Section 5.13. In the event that the Treasurer is unable to serve for any reason, the Chair of the Board shall appoint a substitute to serve until the next annual meeting, with the advice and consent of the Board.

Section 5.14. In the event that an officer is unable to serve or if the Board of Trustees determines that an officer has not performed his/her duties in accordance with these by-laws, the Board may, by a majority vote, remove the individual and appoint a substitute to serve until the next annual election.

Section 6.01. There will be four standing committees: the Nominating, Awards, Marketing, and Membership. The members shall be appointed by a vote of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Board may establish such ad hoc committees as it deems necessary and may appoint the members to those ad hoc committees.

Section 6.02. There shall be a standing committee on Nominations which shall recommend at least one candidate for each of the following officers to which elections is required at the annual meetings: vacancies on the Board of Trustees, Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 6.03. The Nominating Committee shall solicit nominations for officers and trustees with the association's newsletter prior to the annual convention. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted.

Section 6.04. Prior to the annual meeting, the Nominating Committee shall submit to the membership a listing, with a brief biography, of all candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee or by petition. Listings shall be by office and in alphabetic order of candidates for that office. The listing shall indicate the Nominating Committee's candidates. If an ad hoc group (having taken a name) submits a slate of candidates by petition, the ad hoc group's name shall be indicated next to candidates on the listing.

Section 6.05. There shall be a standing committee on Awards which shall recognize through appropriate means outstanding achievements in the social sciences in or for the community colleges.

Section 6.06. There shall be a standing committee on Marketing. The Marketing committee shall be charged with the responsibility of assessing the potential markets and membership for ECCSSA, including identifying needs, primary constituencies to be served (target markets), products and services to be offered and how services are provided. The marketing committee also is responsible for ongoing promotion of the Association, including analyzing market trends, advertising, public relations and membership. The marketing committee may choose to appoint a subcommittee on membership.

Section 6.07. The Committee chair shall ensure that members have the information needed to do their work. Committee chairs also organize committee operations and make appropriate assignments to committee members, sets the agenda and runs the meeting.

Section 7.01. The Board and committees have the right to adopt special rules to meet a current or special situation. The Board and committees shall adopt special rules by majority vote of all members present.

Section 8.01. Membership is open to anyone interested in the purposes of this Association. Individuals and institutions, meeting the criteria set forth in these By-laws, shall become members upon the Treasurer's receipt of dues.

Section 8.02. The annual dues for individual membership in ECCSSA shall be the responsibility of the Board of Trustees, and shall be established by the Board. The Board may also devise categories of membership. Any increase in the membership fee schedule shall be approved by the Board. The dues period normally runs from one annual meeting to the next. (However, renewals and new members are welcome at any time.)

Section 8.03. An annual meeting of the membership shall be held during the open Board meeting at each annual conference. A special meeting may be called by the Chair of the Board of this Association when deemed necessary.

Section 8.05. A membership listing for conduct of association business shall be available to any member within the association.

Section 9.01. The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Revised governs this Association in all parliamentary situations that are not provided for in the law or its certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or adopted rules.

Section 10.01. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership in person or by mail.

Section 10.02. Proposed amendments shall be formulated by the Board of Trustees or an appointed Committee by the Board and submitted to the membership.

Section 10.03. Proposed amendments may also be submitted by members of the Association to the Board for review and consideration.