Article I: Name

The name of the organization shall be the South Carolina AATF CHAPTER of the American Association of Teachers of French.

Article II: Object (Purpose, Aim)

The object of this organization shall be to serve the interests of teachers of French at all levels and to implement the aims of the American Association of Teachers of French in the South Carolina AATF Chapter.

Article III: Membership

Membership in the South Carolina AATF Chapter shall be open, upon payment of dues, to teachers of French at all levels, to former teachers of French, administrators, students of French, and friends of the French language and French-speaking cultures. Membership is on the calendar year and runs from January 1 to December 31. The dues are such as the National Association imposes. The dues for regular members are payable in the fall of the year preceding the membership year. Members who have not paid their dues by December 31 are considered inactive.

Article IV: Officers

The officers of the South Carolina Chapter shall be a President, Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer and a Representative to the SCFLTA Board. Only AATF members in good standing (dues paid up to date) may be nominated and serve as officers.

1. The duties of the President shall, in addition to the usual ones of calling and presiding over meetings of the chapter, approve all orders drawn against funds of the chapter, and shall appoint the Administrator of the National French Contest.

The President’s term shall be for a period of 1 year and the President may be reelected for a second year. S/He shall succeed to office automatically from the position of Vice-President.

2. The Vice-President shall preside over meetings and act in the place of the President in the absence of the latter. If the President becomes unable for any reason to complete his/her term, the Vice-President shall succeed to the presidency and complete the President’s term. Then s/he shall enter upon his/her own regular term as President. The

Vice-President shall serve as the Program Chair for the Fall Immersion Day.

3. The Secretary-Treasurer keeps detailed financial accounts of receipts and disbursements, makes a complete financial report at the spring meeting of the chapter and yearly to National Headquarters. He/she will keep an up-to-date list of active members of the chapter from the Chapter Reimbursement Reports received from National Headquarters, facilitate communication between the Executive Committee and the Chapter members, keep the minutes of the meetings, make the necessary mailings to members (electronic and postal), gather submissions and edit chapter newsletters, serve as custodian of the constitution and chapter records, and send a report of meetings to the National Bulletin as desired by the chapter.

The term of office of Secretary-Treasurer shall be one year and the Secretary-Treasurer may be reelected.

4. The SC AATF Representative to the SCFLTA Board (3 year term beginning 06-07) – will attend all SCFLTA Board meetings, assist with the Program Committee, promote SCFLTA membership to AATF members, sponsor sessions at the annual conference, request SCFLTA session proposals from membership and, if necessary, assist with writing proposals – August and assist the Program Chair as needed.

The term of the SC AATF Representative to the SCFLTA Board will be three years and the board member may be reelected.

5. The chapter shall hold regular elections. Each year in which there is to be an election, the President shall by January 15 appoint a nominating committee of three members chosen from the membership of the chapter. This committee shall present a slate of nominees either electronically (e-mail) or at the spring meeting of the chapter. Nominees may also be proposed. The new officers shall enter upon their functions as of the moment their election is announced, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall immediately certify the results of the elections to National Headquarters and to the Regional Representative. Election shall be by a majority of those present at the spring meeting or by e=mail.

If an office becomes vacant through death, resignation, or absence of the incumbent, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment of the Executive Board.

Article V: Meetings

The chapter shall have at least two meetings a year, one in the fall (usually an Immersion Day) and one in the spring in conjunction with the State Foreign Language Association meeting. The President in consultation with the Executive Board may call other special meetings.

Article VI: Executive Board

The Executive Board (Executive Council or Executive Committee) shall consist of the three elected officers and the immediate Past-President. It is authorized to conduct all important business between meetings and may be called into session or consulted by telephone, letter, e-mail at the initiative of the President. Its decisions must be submitted to the general membership of the chapter for ratification at the spring meeting.

Article VII: Amendments

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote (either face to face or by e-mail) of the members present at any regular or special meeting providing that notice announcing the exact nature and wording of the proposed amendment shall have been sent in writing to each member of the chapter at least one month in advance, along with the time and place of the meeting.

Article VIII: Applicability of National Constitution

All articles of the AATF National Constitution and By-Laws apply to the South Carolina Chapter, and nothing in this chapter Constitution is to be considered in contradiction of the National Constitution.

Article IX: Dissolution

This South Carolina Chapter may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular or specially called meeting (or by email), or through the suspension of its charter by the national organization acting under the authority of National By-Law IV, 2 (c). In case of dissolution, all remaining funds in the chapter treasury and all chapter records shall be turned over to the AATF Executive Director under the terms of the aforementioned By-Law.