Constitution
Louisiana Foreign Language Teachers’ Association
Articles
I--Name and Affiliation
II--Purpose
III–Membership
IV--Executive Committee
I
V--Duties of Executive
Committee Members
VI--Tenure of Office
VII –Meetings
VIII –Committees
IX--Representations: Offices and Chairs
XI--By-Laws
Article I – Name and Affiliation
The name of this organization shall be the Louisiana Foreign Language
Teachers’ Association, hereafter referred to as LFLTA. This
organization shall be the state’s constituent of the American Council
on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). As the official state
foreign language association, LFLTA shall offer its cooperation to the
regional conference, Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT).
Article II – Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this not-for-profit organization shall be:
- to promote the teaching of modern and classical languages in the
state of Louisiana;
- to increase the effectiveness of modern and classical language
teaching in the state of Louisiana;
- to further the development of interest in foreign cultures;
- to promote the professional development of language teachers in the
state of Louisiana;
- to collect and disseminate useful information about the teaching of
foreign languages and about new developments in the state of Louisiana;
- to establish national contacts through affiliation with ACTFL;
- to provide opportunities for the sharing of information, group study,
and discussion of problems confronting foreign language teachers in the
state of Louisiana; and
- to cooperate in appropriate ways with groups having similar concerns.
Section 2. All monies of the organization shall only be disbursed
in support of the purposes of this organization and shall not be
disbursed to any member of the organization for his/her own private
gain. Monies may be disbursed only with the approval of the
Executive Board and/or the majority of members in good standing at a
business meeting.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. Active membership in the Association shall be granted
to any teacher, retired teacher, or administrator of foreign language
in Louisiana as well as to any person preparing for or otherwise
interested in such teaching upon payment of annual dues. Active
members are entitled to vote, hold offices, and receive the publication
of the Association, The Communicator.
Section 2. Any individual not engaged in teaching foreign
language or otherwise described in Section 1, but who is interested in
achieving the purposes of this Association, shall be entitled to
associate membership upon payment of the stipulated annual dues and
shall receive The Communicator. Such members, however, shall not
have the right to vote or hold office, but are entitled to participate
in all other activities of the Association.
Section 3. Sustaining membership (non-voting) shall be conferred
upon any individual, institution, firm, or other organization
interested in contributing financial assistance to this
Association. The annual contribution for sustaining membership
or for shall be fifty dollars ($50).
Section 4. Honorary membership
Any member of the LFLTA may present to the Executive
Committee the name of a person whose contribution to foreign language
education merits statewide recognition as worthy to become an honorary
member of LFLTA. The nominee shall be considered by the Executive
Committee and, if determined acceptable, the nominee shall be submitted
to the entire membership for approval. A simple majority of the
members voting shall confer honorary membership.
Article IV – Executive Committee
All Executive Committee Members shall be members of LFLTA.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of:
Voting Members
President
Vice President
Recording/Corresponding Secretary
Treasurer
Newsletter Editor
Sixteen representatives of elementary, secondary, or university levels
from eight regions.
(See Article 3 – Section 2)
Non-voting Members
Foreign Language representative of the Louisiana Department of Education
Representatives of the chapters of national language specific
organizations.
Representatives of Spanish, French, and Belgian communities (Foreign
Government Partners)
Article V – Duties of Executive Committee Members
A. The President shall preside at all meetings of the
organization. In case of absence, the Vice President shall
preside. The President shall perform such duties as set forth in this
constitution: call meetings of the Executive Committee, call
annual meetings, exercise general supervision, make financial decisions
with the concurrence of the Treasurer, appoint all Committees concerned
with the Association as a whole, and represent the Association in all
matters which concern the general welfare of the Association.
The President shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee (only
in case of a tie vote) and voting ex-officio member of all other
Committees. The president shall appoint the members of
Committees. The President shall also represent LFLTA at SCOLT
and/or appoint (a) replacement or concomitant delegate(s).
B. The Vice President shall be the presiding officer in the
absence of the President. The Vice President shall also make
information and applications available for the annual LFLTA awards and
provide nomination forms for the nominating Committee for the next
year’s officers. The Vice President is also to supervise the
election and announcement of the annual LFLTA awards and will chair the
Committee on the annual convention. In the capacity of Vice
President, this person is also to be preparing to succeed to the
presidency of the organization.
C. The Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall maintain an
accurate record of all regular and/or called meetings and Executive
Committee meetings and present written minutes of the sessions to the
members. This person shall also be responsible for all
correspondence, at the President’s request.
D. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate financial account of the
business of the organization and shall provide an annual written report
of expenses and a proposed budget to the membership at the annual
conference. The Treasurer shall collect dues, hold funds
deposited in his/her care, and pay them out on order of the President
with the approval of the Executive Committee; deposit money received as
dues in an accredited bank, make all disbursements by checks, maintain
proper financial records, and have the books audited as specified by
the Executive Committee; and render an annual written account of the
financial operation of the Association. This person shall also
present an accurate membership list and current financial report at
each Executive Committee Meeting.
E. The Newsletter Editor shall be in charge of regular
publication
of the Communicator.
F. The Foreign Language Representative(s) of the Louisiana
Department of Education shall act as a liaison between the organization
and the State Department. This person shall inform the Executive
Committee of the newest directions in Foreign Language Education and
shall endeavor to foster the highest communication between the
Executive Committee and those Foreign Language teachers we
represent. This representative is a non-voting member of the
Executive Committee.
G. The representatives of the various language organizations and
foreign government partners shall advise and assist on matters
pertaining to their areas. They are non-voting members.
H. Sixteen representatives from eight state regions will serve on
the Executive Committee. Representatives will be chosen from
elementary, secondary, and university levels. The regional
representatives, working together by region, shall be responsible for
aiding to organize foreign language conferences and other activities,
enlisting presentations for state conferences, encouraging LFLTA
membership, and forwarding to the Editor of the Communicator and to
local new media all newsworthy information pertaining to foreign
language activities occurring in their districts. The regional
representatives shall also be responsible for encouraging and abetting
local and district festivals and other appropriate activities;
for calling and presiding at district meetings, naming district
committees where needed, and otherwise seeking to achieve the stated
purpose of the Association within their districts.
I. If an office becomes vacant, the Executive Committee may
appoint an interim replacement until the completion of the un-expired
term.
Article VI – Tenure of Office
A. The Executive Committee Members, as listed in Article IV,
shall hold office for a term of two years. No officer shall hold the
same office for more than two consecutive terms, or four years, with
the exception of the Treasurer who may serve additional consecutive
years at the discretion of the Executive Committee. After one
term out of office, however, each Executive Committee Member shall be
eligible for election to that same office, if so nominated.
B. Elections shall be held at the regular conference. Newly
elected officers shall begin their term at the conclusion of the annual
conference.
Article VII – Meetings
This organization shall hold an annual
conference according to appropriate scheduling in relation to other
foreign language meetings. Special called meetings may be held at
the discretion of the President and the Executive Committee, provided
that the full membership has been notified in writing at least ten days
in advance.
Article VIII – Committees
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected state
officers, representatives of language groups, and elected
representatives; they shall conduct the business of the association
between regular meetings of the members. The Foreign Language
Representative of the Louisiana Department of Education shall serve in
a nonvoting, advisory capacity to this Committee.
B. Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President,
subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The
Nominating Committee is such a committee. Other committees may be
appointed at the discretion of the President. The standing
committees shall hold office for the duration of the President’s term
unless released or dismissed by the President.
1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five
regular members and the Vice President representing, in so far as
possible, a cross-section of the membership in languages, teaching
levels, geographic locations, race, and gender. This committee
shall
meet at least once and shall report to the Executive Committee.
This Committee shall present for election the names of one or more
persons for each office (excluding language area), the slate shall
represent, in so far as possible, a cross-section of the membership in
languages, teaching levels, geographic locations, race, and
gender.
Any member may submit names to the Nominating Committee for
consideration as officers; such names should be submitted prior
to the election meeting. Nominations may also be made from the
floor at the time of election.
2. Committee on By-Laws and Constitution shall
review
and make recommendations as needed to amend the Constitution. The
President
shall appoint this committee each year. The Past President shall
serve as the chair.
3. Grants and awards Committee shall review grant
applications and conduct various competitions. The committee
shall be appointed each year.
4. Advocacy Committee shall promote articulated K-16
programs of diverse foreign languages in Louisiana schools and
universities. It will gather information regarding the teaching
of foreign languages and develop position papers for LFLTA. The
Committee will also serve as a communication liaison to interested
supporters who may be able to assist in maintaining a focus on
languages and in promoting the importance of language study for all
students of Louisiana and for the state as a whole.
Article IX - Representation: Offices and Chairs
Representation in Offices and Chairmanships,
the Executive Committee, and other standing Committees shall assure
fair and broad representation in positions of leadership in the
association as officers and chairs. Leaders shall be considered
on the bases of competencies, representative languages, representative
geographic locations, representative levels of teaching, representative
race and gender. Nominations and appointments will be made for the
benefit of the total membership.
Article X – Order of Business and Voting Procedure
Standing parliamentary procedure,
according to Roberts’ Rules of Order, shall apply to the business and
voting procedures of the organization. Ordinary business must be
conducted and passed by majority vote. Amendments to the
constitution shall require a two-thirds majority vote of members voting
after prior notification to the membership at least ten days in advance
of the annual conference.
Article XI – By-Laws
By-laws may be enacted by the members
as long as they are not in conflict with the constitution.
By-laws must be passed, amended, or rescinded by a simple majority vote
of members voting after notification to the membership at least ten
days in advance of the annual conference.
By-Laws
Paragraph 1. Dues: Annual dues for
regular members shall be set by the Executive Committee. The dues
of students, foreign associate teachers, and retirees shall be at a
reduced rate. Dues shall be for a twelve (12) month period from
conference to conference.
Paragraph 2. Elections: The election of
officers shall be by secret ballot submitted to the membership by the
Nominating Committee at the business meeting held at the annual
conference. Regional representatives shall be selected by members
in the district which they represent. A simple majority
vote shall be sufficient to elect. The results shall be tallied
prior to the conclusion of the business meeting by the Nominating
Committee and announced to the members present. The term of
office shall be for two years and shall begin at the close of the
annual meeting.
Paragraph 3. Regions
Section 1. The State shall
be divided into eight (8) districts with two (2) regional
representatives elected from each. It is expected that where
possible, two languages and two educational levels [elementary (K-8),
secondary (9-12), and university] will be presented from each
region.
Section 2. The regions are constituted by parishes as
follows:
Region I: St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines,
Orleans, St. Bernard
Region II: W. Feliciana, East Feliciana,
Pointe Coupe, East
Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Tangipahoa,
Washington, St. Tammany, City of Baker, City of Bogalusa, Zachary
Community School
District, City of Central, St. Helena
Region III: St. Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche,
Assumption, Ascension, St. James, St. John
Region IV: Vermilion, Iberia, St. Martin,
Lafayette, Acadia, Evangeline, St. Landry
Region V: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu,
Cameron, Jefferson Davis
Region VI: Vernon, Rapides, Avoyelles, Sabine,
Natchitoches, Grant, Winn, La Salle
Region VII : DeSoto, Red River, Caddo, Bossier,
Webster, Bienville, Claiborne
Region VIII : Concordia, Tensas, Catahoula,
Franklin, Caldwell, Madison, E. Carroll, W. Carroll, Richland,
Morehouse, Ouachita, Jackson, Lincoln, Union, Monroe City
Schools
Paragraph 4. Meeting Site
The LFLTA annual conference shall be held at a
location to be determined by the Executive Committee. Any called
meeting shall be located at the discretion of the President and the
Executive Committee.
Paragraph 5. Awards
LFLTA shall present annually its own set of
Awards. Criteria for each will be publicized and nominations will
be sought from the membership for each award. The Executive
Committee may vote to award any or all of these
awards as determined by
the nominations per the recommendations of the Awards Committee.
Paragraph 6. Termination
In the event LFLTA ceases to exist as an
association, any funds remaining after all obligations have been paid
will be forwarded to SCOLT.
Revised February 28, 2009