By-Laws
Eastern Community College Social Science Association
Chapter 1 Membership
1.01 Membership is open to anyone interested in the purposes of this Association.
1.02 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.)
1.03 An annual meeting of the membership shall be held during each academic year
(September - August). A special meeting may be called by the Chairperson of the Board of
this association when deemed necessary.
1.04 The annual business meeting shall be held in connection with the major annual meeting.
Other business meetings may be called by the Chairperson or the Board after due notice
has been given through the mail or on the program of such meetings. In no event shall said notice
be less than two (2) calendar weeks.
Chapter 2 Trustees
2.01(a) 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.
2.01(b) 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.
2.01(c) The President shall be an ex-officio member of the Board during the term of office and for two years
following. A majority of trustees shall be in the field of Social Sciences at a Community College.
2.01(d) The election of members to the Board of Trustees will be on a rotating basis with 1/3 of the
membership elected each year.
2.01(e) 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.
2.01(f) 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.
2.01(g) 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.
2.02 (a) The Board may hold its meetings at the office of the Corporation or at such other places either
within or without the State of New Jersey, as it may from time to time determine.
2.02(b) 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.
2.02(c) The Board shall elect a chairperson from its membership at each annual meeting to serve for
one year. Nothing however, shall prevent an elected chairperson from serving more than one
term. The chairperson shall be ex-officio member of the Board for two years following the term of
service.
2.02(d) In the event of a resignation or death of the chairperson, three Trustees, acting as a group,
may call a special meeting of the Board for the purpose of electing a new Chairperson.
2.03 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.
Chapter 3 Officers and Duties of Officers
3.01(a) The officers of this Association shall be:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
3.01(b) Any member of the Association shall be eligible for nomination to any office.
3.02(a) The Officers shall be elected at the business session of the annual meeting of the Association by a
majority of the membership voting at the meeting.
3.02(b) The Board of Trustees shall submit a proposed slate of candidates to the membership two (2)
months prior to the annual meeting.
3.03 The President shall be a general advisor to the Board of Trustees. It shall be the President's
obligation to promote in all suitable ways the best interest of the Association. The President
shall assist in planning the programs during the term of office, and recommend appointment
to committees to carry on the work of the Association.
3.04 The President is an ex-officio, non-voting member of all committees, with the exception of the
Nominating Committee.
3.05 In the temporary absence of the President, the Vice President will transact the duties of the
President and such other duties as the Board shall determine.
3.06 The Vice President shall assume such duties as the President or Board of Trustees shall specify.
If a vacancy occurs in the Office of President, the Vice President shall become President.
3.07 The Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible for carrying out policies formulated by the Board
of Trustees.
3.08(a) The Secretary shall distribute the minutes of all meetings no later than four (4) weeks 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.
3.08(b) In the event that the Secretary is unable to serve for any reason, the Chairperson of the
Board shall appoint a substitute to serve until the next annual meeting, with the advice and
consent of the Board.
3.09(a) The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds. He or she 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.
3.09(b) In the event that the Treasurer is unable to serve for any reason, the Chairperson of the
Board shall appoint a substitute to serve until the next annual meeting, with the advice and
consent of the Board.
Chapter 4 Election of Trustees and Officers
4.01 All members elected to office must consent thereto and must be members in good standing.
4.02 (a) 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.
4.02 (b) 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.
4.03 A membership listing for conduct of association business shall be available to any member within
the association.
4.04 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.
Chapter 5 Committees
5.01 There will be two standing committees. The members shall be appointed by the 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.)
5.02 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, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
5.03 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.
Chapter 6 Adopted Rules
6.01 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.
Chapter 7 Membership
7.01 Individuals and institutions, meeting the criteria set forth in these By-laws, shall become
members upon the Treasurer's receipt of dues.
Chapter 8 Parliamentary Authority
8.01 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.
Chapter 9 Amendment of By-laws
9.01(a) These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership at the annual
business meeting.
9.01(b) Proposed amendments shall be formulated by the Board of Trustees and submitted to the
membership at the annual business meeting.
9.01(c) There shall be no proxy voting.
9.02(a) Proposed amendments may also be submitted to the Board by petition of twenty members of the
Association who shall represent at least two states and three institutions.
9.02(b) The petition must include an exact statement of any proposed amendment(s) and the petition
shall be submitted to the Board four months in advance of the annual business meeting.
9.02(c) Proposed amendments which have been initiated by the petition process require a two-thirds
majority vote of the membership at the annual business meeting.
