MSA Constitution

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the MSA shall be to (1) promote an exchange of ideas concerning, and (2) develop methods designed to promote, the following objectives: (a) to improve sociological thought within the academic environment, (b) to improve sociological thought and practice within the public and private sectors, (c) to encourage development and collaboration, (d) to encourage quality teaching and innovation, (e) to increase public awareness of the contribution of sociology, (f) to provide a vehicle whereby sociologists can network together for personal and professional growth, (g) to be a member of the National Council of State Sociological Associations.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Regular membership in this Association shall be open to the following persons:

(a) Those holding a bachelor's or graduate degree or its equivalent in sociology or a related field. (b) Those teaching sociology or a related topic at or above the high school level. (c) Those who are engaged in sociologically related research or practice. (d) Undergraduate or graduate students majoring in sociology or a related field.

ARTICLE IV - FEES

The annual membership fee and other special assessments to members shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V - ELECTED OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. The elected Officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and the Executive Officer.

SECTION 2. The elected officers and the Board of Directors shall be elected from and by the regular membership.

SECTION 3. The President and Vice-President shall be elected annually in the annual meeting. The Treasurer and Secretary are elected for two-year terms and the Executive Officer for a three-year term in the annual meeting by members present and voting.

SECTION 4. The President shall have the following major responsibilities: (a) Shape the annual conference, (b) call regular Board of Directors meetings, (c) be in charge of representing the MSA in all official capacities, (d) send requests each fall to departments of sociology for institutional membership dues, (e) guide the Board in developing appropriate policies for MSA.

SECTION 5. The Vice-President shall assume all the duties and responsibilities of the President whenever the latter is unable to do so, and may perform other functions that shall be assigned by the President and/or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 6. The Executive Officer assists liaison between the MSA and other organizations, associations and groups, the government, and individuals; helps maintain continuity of correspondence and records; oversees transitions when new officers are elected; and performs such other functions as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Executive Officer is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors in the event she or he is not also an elected Board member.

SECTION 7. The Treasurer shall handle all the finances of the Association, which shall include collection and disbursement of funds, subject to the approval of the President and/or the Board of Directors, choice of the appropriate depository of the Association's funds, and the submission of necessary forms and tax reports as required. Expenses encountered by the officers in pursuance of the interests of the Association shall be reimbursed by the Association, subject to the rules and regulations that shall be promulgated by the Membership and/or the Board of Directors, and subject further to the availability of funds. The Treasurer shall present an annual report to the business session of the annual business meeting accounting for all funds.

SECTION 8. The Secretary shall coordinate correspondence and mailings between the Board and MSA members and correspondence to other groups and persons as needed and record and disseminate minutes of all Board and membership meetings.

SECTION 9. Board of Directors. In addition to the elected officers and ex officio members, the Board shall consist of up to thirteen (13) members, constituting both applied and teaching sociologists, from all geographic areas of the state, and from all levels of academic settings. There will also be up to four (4) students represented as voting members of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 10. The Board of Directors shall consider all matters of policy and management of the MSA, and unless authorized to act by this constitution or by a vote of the membership of the MSA shall submit recommendations at the annual meeting for the consideration of the membership assembled.

ARTICLE VI - APPOINTED OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHAIR

The Annual Conference Chair shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall work with the Board in planning and coordinating the annual conference and shall oversee the conference on site. The Conference Chair arranges for services needed for the conference including all facilities required and food served. Working with the Secretary and the Board, the conference chair solicits participation in the conference and compiles and has published the conference preliminary and final programs coordinating all sessions. The Conference Chair shall exercise due care that the costs are within the limits approved by the Board. If not an elected member of the Board, the conference chair is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. EDITOR OF THE MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW

The Editor of the Michigan Sociological Review shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Editor shall be responsible for seeing that the journal is edited and published using appropriate professional standards within the budget approved by the Board. If not an elected member of the Board, the Editor of the MSR is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. MSA WEB PAGE MANAGER

The MSA Web Page Manager shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall have the responsibility for maintaining the MSA web pages on the Internet as directed by the Board. If not an elected member of the Board, the Web Page Manager is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Each spring, a Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President to nominate persons for the various offices and the Board of Directors. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be made in the business session of the annual meeting. Submission of nominees by the Nominating Committee shall not preclude nominations from the floor.

SECTION 5. AWARDS COMMITTEE

Each spring, an Awards Committee shall be appointed by the President to nominate persons for the Charles Horton Cooley Award for distinguished contributions to sociological scholarship, the Marvin Olsen Award for distinguished service to sociology, the Larry T. Reynolds Award for outstanding teaching of sociology and such other awards as the Board may designate. The report of the Awards Committee shall be made to the Board prior to the annual conference. The Board, by a simple majority, shall determine the award recipients based exclusively on merit. The award winners shall be announced at the annual conference.

SECTION 6. AD HOC COMMITTEES

The Board may appoint ad hoc committees to address specific issues as the need may arise. Such committees shall act under the supervision of the Board of Directors in accordance with the guidelines set by the Board and within the limits imposed by this constitution.

ARTICLE VII - MEMBER SERVICES

SECTION 1. The Association shall hold at least one meeting each year. The meeting is to be at such a time and place the MSA Board of Directors may decide.

SECTION 2. Communications and publications, as the Board may decide appropriate, will be made available to members.

SECTION 3. The journal, the Michigan Sociological Review, will be published and made available to all members. The frequency of publication shall be determined by the Board.

SECTION 4. The editorial policies of the Association's publication activities shall be determined by the regular members or the Board of Directors, as the latter may be authorized by the members.

ARTICLE VIII - FUNDING

The Association, through its members, the Board of Directors, officers and committees may secure additional funds for the Association in addition to its regular fees, including the investment of the Association's funds not used in the business of the Association. Any such funding activity shall be regulated by the Board of Directors, so as not to impair the Association's status as a non-profit organization.

ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION

SECTION 1. Should conditions warrant, the Association may be dissolved by approval of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting scheduled with at least two week's advance notice.

SECTION 2. In the event of the dissolution of the Association, any assets remaining after payment of obligations will be transferred to the American Sociological Association (a not-for-profit organization) for its use.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. This Constitution, or portions thereof, may be amended in any business meeting of the Association after two weeks notice has been given to the membership, by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

SECTION 2. Unless otherwise specified, all amendments shall take effect upon approval.

MSA CONSTITUTION