Bylaws of The Women's Classical Caucus
Revised December 1992, Amended January 2005
DESCRIPTION:
1. The Women's Classical Caucus, Inc. (hereinafter called the "WCC") is
a not-for-profit membership corporation formed exclusively for cultural,
literary, scientific, educational and charitable purposes and affiliated
with the American Philological Association.
GENERAL:
2. The purposes of the WCC are:
a) to promulgate a fuller understanding of the contributions of women to classical culture and to promote the study of women in antiquity and feminist scholarship in all areas of Classics;
b) to promote professional conditions that encourage women scholars to enter and to remain in the field of Classics;
c) to advance the goals of equality and diversity within the profession of Classics;
d) to foster supportive professional relationships among classicists concerned with questions of gender and to forge links with feminist scholars in other disciplines;
e) in support of the foregoing purposes, to engage in the activities of organizing, supporting and participating in public lectures, seminars, conferences and panels, including panels at the annual meetings of the American Philological Association, at meetings of regional classical conferences and at other similar scholarly conferences; to disseminate information through the publication of newsletters or journals containing articles, book reviews and current information relating to the above topics and acting as a clearinghouse for such information; to distribute prizes and awards for outstanding feminist scholarship relating to classical antiquity; to distribute Equity Fund grants to promote just and equitable treatment within the profession of Classics.
OFFICES:
3. The registered offices shall be at the residence of the Secretary-Treasurer of the WCC.
MEMBERSHIP:
4. Any person interested in the purposes stated in Article Second hereof may become a member of the WCC upon payment of the proper fees. All membership dues are payable at the beginning of each calendar year (January 1) in accordance with the schedule of dues determined by the WCC Steering Committee and ratified by a majority of members present and voting at the annual Business Meeting.
5. Membership in good standing is determined by timely payment of dues. Any member who has not paid dues for two consecutive years shall be dropped from the membership roster.
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS:
6. The annual Business Meeting of members shall be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Philological Association, at a time and place to be determined by that association. Notification of the meeting shall be sent to WCC members at least ten days in advance.
7. Fifty members (or one-tenth of the total membership) present in person shall be requisite at every meeting to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
8. Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy at the annual Business Meeting.
ELECTIONS:
9. The election of Directors of the WCC shall be by majority vote of members at the annual Business Meeting.
DIRECTORS:
10. The WCC Steering Committee shall serve as Directors of the Corporation
and shall manage the affairs of the WCC. The Steering Committee shall
be composed of ten members, as follows:
a) eight officers, who shall be nominated from the floor at the annual Business Meeting or subsequently by mail and elected by mail ballot of the membership for four-year terms, with eligibility for re-election after four years;
b) the Secretary-Treasurer, who shall be nominated by the Steering Committee and elected by a majority of members present and voting at the annual Business Meeting and who shall serve for a five-year renewable term;
c) the editor of the WCC Newsletter, who shall be nominated by the Steering Committee and elected by a majority of members present and voting at the annual Business Meeting and who shall serve for a three-year renewable term.
11. Each member of the Steering Committee shall have one vote.
OFFICERS:
12. Two Co-Chairs shall share the authority and responsibility of directing the Steering Committee. Members of the Steering Committee serve for four years with two new members elected each year. Normally the member who received the greatest number of votes in the election will serve as new Co-Chair in the third year of office. Co-Chairs serve for two years. The new Co-Chair will serve as second Co-Chair with the previous year's second Co-Chair, who, now in the fourth year of office, will become first Co-Chair. The terms "first" and "second" refer only to length of term in office as Co-Chair; the authority of the Co-Chairs is to be equal.
13. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of and shall receive all monies of the WCC and shall maintain an address list of all WCC members in good standing.
MEETINGS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE:
14. The Steering Committee shall meet in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Philological Association, at a time and place determined by that association. The Steering Committee may also meet at such other times and places as the Co-Chairs shall designate.
15. The business of the Steering Committee shall be conducted by consensus or by a majority vote. Five voting members present in person shall be requisite at every meeting of the Steering Committee to constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. The Steering Committee may take action without a meeting if all members consent thereto in writing.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
16. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Secretary-Treasurer and the two current Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee; the Executive Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the Steering Committee in matters requiring immediate attention and disposition before action by the full Steering Committee would be possible.
STEERING COMMITTEE ASSOCIATES:
17. The Steering Committee shall appoint Associates (e.g., Election Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Liaison with the APA Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities, Liaison with the AIA, etc.) to help manage the affairs of the WCC. All Associates shall attend and participate in Steering Committee meetings.
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS:
18. Any member in good standing may propose an amendment or amendments to these By-laws. All amendments must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at the annual Business Meeting.