MIDWEST POPULAR CULTURE ASSOCIATION/
MIDWEST AMERICAN CULTURE ASSOCIATION

Bylaws

            ARTICLE I.  The name of the association shall be the Midwest Popular Culture Association and Midwest American Culture Association.

            ARTICLE II.  The purpose of the Midwest Popular Culture Association and Midwest American Culture Association shall be to encourage and to assist in the study of popular culture and the cultures of the Americas: by bringing together the various intellectual disciplines, academic and nonacademic areas included, which may deal with the subject; by fostering interdisciplinary research endeavors; and by encouraging interested persons to study popular culture and to belong to the Association.

            ARTICLE III.  The activities of the Association shall be directed by an Executive Council, which shall be composed of the following officers: President; Vice President; Executive Secretary; Program Chairperson or Committee; Immediate Past President; Student/New Professional Representative; three members-at-large; Webmaster; and Conference Coordinator.  The Executive Council shall direct the activities of the MPCA/MACA between the annual meetings.

            ARTICLE IV.  The selection of officers and terms of office shall be as follows.  The President shall serve a term of three years, at the end of which time he or she will become Immediate Past President.  The Vice President/President-Elect shall be elected by the membership and shall serve a term of three years, at the end of which time he or she will become President.  The Executive Secretary shall be elected by the Executive Council for a three-year term, which is renewable.  The Program Chairperson or Committee shall be elected by the Executive Council for a three-year term, which is renewable.  The Immediate Past-President shall serve a term of three years.  Terms for members-at-large  shall be two-year renewable terms, staggered in one-year increments.  The Student/ New Professional Representative and At-large members shall be elected by the membership.  The Webmaster shall be elected by the Executive Council for a three-year term, which is renewable.  The Conference Coordinator shall be elected by the Executive Council for a three-year term, which is renewable.
The three most recent eligible Past Presidents shall comprise the Nominating Committee (except that the first Nominating Committee following adoption of these Bylaws shall consist of the President, Vice President/President-Elect, and Executive Secretary; the second Nominating Committee following adoption of these Bylaws shall consist of the Immediate Past President, the President, and the Vice President/President-Elect; and the third Nominating Committee following adoption of these Bylaws shall consist of the two most recent Past Presidents and the President).  The Immediate Past President shall chair the Nominating Committee (except that the first Nominating Committee following adoption of these Bylaws shall be chaired by the President).  The Executive Secretary of the Association shall be an ex officio member of the Committee, without vote (except in the case of the first Nominating Committee following adoption of these Bylaws, as noted above).  All members may suggest names to the Committee.  Nominations shall be solicited in the three months following the annual meeting.  A slate of nominees shall be assembled and presented to the Executive Secretary by March 15.
Election of officers by the Executive Council shall occur during spring or summer by electronic mail or snail mail.  Election of officers by the membership shall occur at the annual conference by secret paper ballot.  Provision shall be made for members to vote in advance by absentee ballot.
The President will be expected to serve as chairperson of all Executive Council meetings and general membership meetings.  If the President is not able to attend a meeting, the Vice President/President-Elect will chair the meeting.  The Executive Secretary will be responsible for: ensuring that minutes are recorded for Executive Council meetings and general membership meetings; and coordinating all financial transactions and reports.

ARTICLE V.  The voting members of the Association shall consist of all persons who have paid their annual dues.  The amount of the dues and the registration fee for the annual meeting shall be determined by the Executive Council.

            ARTICLE VI.  Various committees shall be elected or appointed for specific assignments as the Executive Council deems appropriate.

            ARTICLE VII.  The Association shall hold an annual regional convention at a time and place to be designated by the Executive Council.  By the time of the annual business meeting the Executive Council shall have considered all applications for hosting the next convention and shall present its recommendations at said business meeting.

            ARTICLE VIII.  The Association shall publish a newsletter or post news on its website at such times as the Executive Council shall deem appropriate.

            ARTICLE IX.  A financial statement shall be issued annually by the Association in the Newsletter or on the website, and it shall be the responsibility of the Executive Secretary to provide the editor of the newsletter or website with this report.

            ARTICLE X.  The Bylaws of the Association may be amended by a majority vote (of those voting) of Executive Council members at the annual meeting or by e-mail or by snail mail or by conference telephone call.  Changes to the Bylaws will be reported in the minutes of the Executive Council, which will be posted on the MPCA/MACA website as soon as possible after the annual Executive Council meeting.  Changes will also be reported in person at the next annual MPCA/MACA business meeting following the changes.  The membership at large may amend by a two-thirds majority of those voting by ballot.

            ARTICLE XI.  The Executive Council shall create, and on an annual basis review and revise as appropriate, the job descriptions of each of the association’s offices.  The Executive Secretary shall provide each officer with the respective job description when the officers assume their duties.

(Original Bylaws adopted October 18, 2003)
(Revisions approved October 9, 2004 [change of titles to Technology Coordinator and Student/New Professional Representative])
(Revisions approved July 20, 2005 [clarify terms and method of election of officers and remove inconsistencies; eliminate state coordinators; allow posting of news and financial report on website])
(Revisions approved October 13, 2007 [remove designations "MPCA/MACA Representative" and "Technology Coordinator" from description of at-large members of Executive Council; add one more at-large member to Executive Council; add Webmaster and Conference Coordinator positions to Executive Council; change term of office of Program Chairperson to three years (from one year); specify election procedure for Webmaster and Conference Coordinator; revise election procedures])
(Revisions approved October 5, 2008 [changed Bylaws amendment procedure to eliminate the one-month wait period to change bylaws.  Program Chairperson language changed to allow for a Program Committee instead.])