Bylaws of the
Midwest Association for Language Learning Technology (MWALLT)

I.   THE ASSOCIATION

A.  The Midwest Association for Language Learning Technology (hereafter MWALLT or the Association) is a professional non-profit membership organization working to improve language instruction through the use of technology.

B.  MWALLT is a regional affiliate of the International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT) and serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

C.  All earnings of MWALLT are to be used solely to achieve the purposes of the Association and are not to be used for the personal benefit of any member or private person.

II.  MEMBERSHIP

A.  Membership is open to anyone sharing the objectives of MWALLT and is conditional upon payment of annual dues established by the MWALLT Executive Board.

B.  Annual memberships shall run for a calendar year, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31.

C.  The Executive Board may at any time adjust the amount of membership dues that will be required for new members and for membership renewals. 

D.  Dues must be paid in a timely manner for a member to remain in good standing and to enjoy the benefits of membership.  The failure of a member to pay dues in a timely manner shall result in the member being dropped automatically from membership.

E.  A member may be expelled from membership for good cause, as determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

F.  Membership shall terminate upon the death of the member.

G. A member may not transfer membership or any right arising from membership.

H.  Each member in good standing shall have one vote upon any matter brought before the membership as a whole.  Members in good standing shall also enjoy other membership benefits, including the right to participate in various activities and to access resources as may be designated from time to time by the Executive Board.

III.   GOVERNANCE

A.  The policies and the direction of the affairs of MWALLT are the responsibility of the MWALLT Executive Board, each of whom must be a member in good standing in both the regional organization (MWALLT) and the national organization (IALLT).

B.  The Executive Board is made up of a President, a President-Elect, a Past President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all of whom will have a single vote on matters before the Executive Board.

C.  The President presides at all MWALLT meetings, conducts the business of the Association, coordinates conference preparations, and represents the regional chapter on the IALLT Council.

D. The President-Elect presides in the absence of the President, chairs the conference program committee, and assists with business of the Association as requested by the President.

E.  The Past President conducts elections as outlined in Section IV and assists with the business of the Association as requested by the President.

F.  The Secretary is responsible for maintaining the Association’s meeting records and correspondence as well as maintaining the Association’s website and coordinating membership.

G.  The Treasurer is responsible for conducting the financial affairs of the Association, to include the processing of membership dues, the payment of all bills, and the preparation of financial reports.

H.  The Executive Board may create committees and make assignments to individuals as needed to conduct the business of the Association, but those appointments will not carry any voting rights on the Executive Board.

I.   The Executive Board shall hold at least one meeting for the membership as a whole each calendar year at such a time and place as the Executive Board decides appropriate. Information on that meeting must be shared with the membership no less than one week prior to the meeting and should include the opportunity for remote participation through telephony, teleconference, or other technological measures.

IV.   TERMS OF OFFICE

A.  The election of officers on the Executive Board is the responsibility of the Past President, who solicits names for the ballot and presents the slate of candidates to the membership.  In the case that the Past President is unable to fulfill those duties, the President may name another member of the Association to serve in that capacity with the consent of the Executive Board.

B.  The term of office for all officers on the MWALLT Executive Board is two calendar years.  Elections are held in the fall of even-numbered years, with new officers starting their terms on January 1 of the following odd-numbered year.

C.  The President-Elect will serve a two-year term in that position before automatically assuming the office of President for two years and then Past President for two years.

D. In the case that the President is unable to fulfill the duties of that office, the President-Elect shall assume the office of the Presidency.

E.  Any other vacancy on the Executive Board may be filled by a temporary appointment by the President until a special election can be held to fill the position permanently.  No temporary appointment can exceed three months in time without the consent of the majority of the Executive Board.  An appointed President-Elect may not succeed to the Presidency.

F.  In the event of a vacancy in the position of Past President, any member deemed to have the requisite qualifications may be appointed and put forward for election.

G.  Any officer may be removed from their position by a majority vote of the Executive Board or by a petition signed by two-thirds of the members of the Association in good standing.

V.  AMENDMENTS

A.  Proposals for amendments to the Bylaws may be submitted to the Executive Board in a petition signed by at least five members in good standing.  If approved by a majority of the Executive Board, any such proposal must be submitted to a vote of the membership in a timely manner.

B.  An amendment to the Bylaws becomes effective when it has been approved by no less than two thirds of the ballots as counted by the Past President or by a person named to serve in that capacity by the President with the consent of the Executive Board.

VI.  DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

A.  The Association may be dissolved by a vote of 4 of the members of the Executive Board and the assent of ⅔ of the membership.

B.  Upon dissolution of the Association, the Executive Board shall make provision for the payment of all the lawful debts and liabilities of the Association, and distribute the assets of the Association among non-profit organizations having similar aims and objectives as shall qualify as an exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. The Executive Board shall determine the priorities of distribution.

History of changes:

Ratified Feb 8, 2020