Bylaws

Black Caucus of the American Association of Law Libraries (BCAALL)
BYLAWS

Article I - Name

This organization shall be known as the Black Caucus of the American Association of Law Libraries (BCAALL).

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of BCAALL is to further the professional development, recruitment and social interests of Black law librarians.

Article III – Membership

Section 1
Membership shall be open to any AALL member requesting affiliation with BCAALL as provided in the AALL Bylaws who has an interest in issues concerning Black law librarians.

Section 2
Membership in BCAALL, or participation in any activity of BCAALL, shall not be denied or abridged to any individual on account of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Article IV - Officers and Executive Board

Section 1
Officers - The officers shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect and Secretary.

Section 2
Executive Board - There shall be an Executive Board consisting of six (6) members including the officers named above, the Immediate Past-Chair and two Members-at-Large.

Section 3
BCAALL shall elect a Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, Secretary and two Members-at-Large.

Section 4
Terms of Office:
A. The Vice-Chair/Chair Elect shall serve three years. The first year he/she shall serve as Vice-Chair. The second year he/she shall serve as Chair. The third year he/she shall serve as Immediate Past Chair.
B. The Secretary shall serve a two-year term.
C. The Members-at-Large shall each serve a two-year term.

Section 5
Duties:

A. The Chair shall:
(i) provide leadership for the Caucus and serve as a liaison to AALL.
(ii) preside at the meetings.
(iii) prepare an agenda for the meetings.
(iv) reserve a date and time for the meeting to be held during the AALL Annual Meeting.
(v) provide a Chair’s report at the meeting.
(vi) provide a Caucus report to AALL.
(vii) transfer past records (print and electronic) to the succeeding Chair within 60 days after leaving office.
(viii) transfer a print and electronic copy of organization materials to the AALL archives at the end of his/her term. An accompanying cover letter shall indicate the organization’s name, Chair’s name and term of office, and a brief description of the documents submitted.
(ix) appoint any persons to perform duties for the Caucus as needed.

B. The Vice-Chair shall:
(i) perform duties of the Chair if she/he is unable.
(ii) assist the Chair in fulfilling his/her duties.
(iii) serve as chair of the Program Committee.
(iv) provide a Vice-Chair/Chair Elect's report at the business meeting.
(v) transfer past records (print and electronic) to the succeeding Vice-Chair/Chair Elect within 60 days after leaving office.

C. The Secretary shall:
(i) record and report the minutes of all Caucus meetings.
(ii) provide a Secretary’s report at the business meeting.
(iii) keep a current roster of members.
(iv) disseminate notices of meetings to members.
(v) keep an official, current copy of the Bylaws and other records of the Caucus.
(vi) assist the Chair and Vice-Chair/Chair Elect in the administration of their duties as requested.
(vii) transfer past records (print and electronic) to the succeeding Secretary within 60 days after leaving office.

D. The Immediate Past Chair shall:
(i) serve on the Executive Board.
(ii) serve as chair of the Bylaws Committee.

E. The Members-at-Large shall:
(i) co-chair the BCAALL Annual Dinner Committee.
(ii) provide a report on the Annual Dinner at the business meeting.
(iii) assist the Chair and Vice-Chair/Chair Elect in other duties as requested.

Article V – Nominations and Elections
Section 1
Nominations Committee
A. The Chair shall appoint a Nominations Committee to be responsible for developing a slate of candidates for the offices of Vice Chair/Chair Elect, Secretary and Members-at-Large.
B. All candidates must be members of BCAALL.
C. The Vice Chair/Chair Elect shall be elected every year.
D. The Secretary shall be elected once every two years in even numbered years.
E. The two Members-at-Large shall be elected in alternating years.
i. One Member-at-Large shall be elected in an odd numbered year.
ii. One Member-at-Large shall be elected in an even numbered year.
F. By March 15, the committee will notify the Chair of the names of the candidates and their acceptances.

Section 2
Ballot
A. Voting will be by secret ballot. The Secretary and Nominations Committee will prepare the official ballot. Ballots should include the candidates’ names, titles, institutions and statements explaining their interest in running for the office.
B. Ballots will be distributed electronically to the members no later than March 30. Ballots must be returned by April 21 for tabulation.

Section 3
Election
A. The Secretary is charged with counting and tabulation of all votes cast.
B. The candidate receiving the majority of votes shall be declared elected to the office. In the case of a tie vote, the winner shall be decided by a majority vote of members at the business meeting held at the AALL Annual meeting. The vote at the business meeting will be by secret paper ballot. The Secretary will count the paper ballots at the business meeting and declare the winner. In the case of a tie vote at the business meeting, the winner shall be determined by lot conducted by the tellers. The Chair shall appoint at least one teller who with the Secretary shall be charged with counting and tabulating all votes cast.
C. The Secretary shall notify all candidates of the results of the election. The results of the election will be made known to the members after all candidates have been informed of the results.

Section 4
Terms of Office
A. Terms of office shall begin at the end of the annual Caucus meeting.
B. If a position becomes vacant, the Chair shall appoint for the:
  • Immediate Past-Chair vacant position, the current Immediate Past-Chair. If the current Immediate Past-Chair is unwilling or unable to continue to serve, the Chair should ask a previous BCAALL Board member;
  • Secretary or Member-at-Large a previous BCAALL Board member to serve in the position until the next annual Caucus meeting held during the AALL annual meeting.
C. In the case of the death or resignation of the Chair of the Caucus, the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall become Chair and shall serve until the end of the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect’s own elected term. 

Article VI- Meetings

Section 1
A business meeting shall be held during the Annual Meeting of AALL.

Section 2
At the discretion of the Executive Board, other BCAALL meetings may be held during the Annual Meeting of AALL.

Section 3
The Secretary shall notify the members of the date and time of all meetings. He/she shall post to the BCAALL Communities announcing the date and time of the BCAALL meeting(s).

Section 4
Quorum
A quorum for the transaction of business shall be ten (10) members in good standing. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, it is the duty of the presiding officer to adjourn the meeting without further notice.

Article VII - Committees

Section 1

The charge for each committee shall be approved by the Executive Board and posted on the BCAALL website. 

Section 2

The Program Committee shall be in charge of developing programs to be submitted to the AALL Annual Meeting Program Committee. In addition, the Program Committee shall keep in contact with the AALL Diversity Committee and offer assistance as needed for the Diversity Symposium, with approval of the BCAALL Chair. The Program Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chair, who serves as committee chair, and any other members appointed by the BCAALL Chair.

Section 3

The Bylaws Committee shall be in charge of reviewing and updating the Bylaws. The Bylaws Committee will consist of the Immediate Past-Chair, who will serve as the committee chair, and members to be appointed by the BCAALL Chair. 

Section 4

The Community Service Committee identifies and promotes opportunities for BCAALL members to donate or volunteer services to the law, library or greater community, with a particular focus on organizations serving minority needs. The Community Service Committee shall consist of a chair and members appointed by the BCAALL Chair.

Section 5

Ad hoc and task force committees may be created to carry out functions or activities of short duration. Such committees shall cease upon completion of their specific assignments. The members of these committees will be appointed by the BCAALL Chair.

Section 6

The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for developing a slate of candidates for the positions of Vice-Chair, Secretary and Members-at-Large. The committee shall consist of a chair and at least two members.

Section 7

The Marketing/Publicity Committee shall explore opportunities to publicize and promote the activities and goals of BCAALL. The Marketing/Publicity Committee shall consist of a chair and members appointed by the BCAALL Chair. 

Section 8

The BCAALL Annual Dinner Committee shall coordinate and announce the annual dinner to the BCAALL membership after BCAALL Executive Board approval. The BCAALL Annual Dinner Committee shall consist of the Members-at-Large as co-chairs and members appointed by the BCAALL Chair.

Section 9

Each committee shall give an annual report at the business meeting. Copies of the reports shall be given to the Officers. All reports and other documents of value shall be submitted to the AALL Archives by the BCAALL Chair.


Article VIII – Amendments

Section 1
Members shall submit proposed Bylaws amendments to the Bylaws Committee before the annual business meeting. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted to the AALL Bylaws Committee by the Secretary for approval before the membership votes on them at the business meeting. After receiving approval of proposed Bylaws amendments from the AALL Bylaws Committee, if time permits, the Bylaws Committee shall notify the membership of proposed amendments prior to the business meeting. Amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of BCAALL members attending the business meeting.

Article IX - Procedural Matters

Procedural matters not covered by these Bylaws shall be governed by the rules of parliamentary procedure currently in use by AALL.

Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, San Antonio, TX July, 2005.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, St. Louis, MO, July 8, 2006.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, Portland, OR, July 13, 2008.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, Seattle, WA, July 15, 2013.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, San Antonio, TX, July 14, 2014.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, Austin, TX, July 17, 2017.
Revised and adopted at the annual meeting of BCAALL, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2019.