North American Association of Scholars on Cameroon Bylaws
Approved – April 23, 2016

I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the North American Association of Scholars on Cameroon, hereafter referred to as the NAASC.

II. Purpose
The NAASC is an independent professional society established in the United States that is open to all scholars with an interest in Cameroon, regardless of national origin or academic discipline.

III. Aims
The aims of the NAASC are the following:
III.A. To promote scholarly research on Cameroon in all areas and disciplines of the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities;
III.B. To encourage international cooperation and facilitate the exchange of ideas and meaningful dialog among persons engaged in research on Cameroon;
III.C. To encourage the publication and dissemination of scholarly and artistic works as well as primary sources on Cameroonian studies;
III.D. To organize panels, symposia, and conferences on Cameroonian studies at meetings of regional, national, and international organizations;
III.E. To educate the general public about Cameroon.

IV. Organization
IV.A. Composition of the Executive Council
IV.A.1. The business of the Association shall be managed by the Officers, comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary.
IV.A.2. The Executive Council shall consist of the Officers and two Advisory Members.
IV.A.3. Any Executive Council member may resign at any time, provided such a resignation is made in writing. Any Executive Council member may be removed by a vote of two-thirds majority of members of record.

IV.B. Term Lengths of Executive Council Officers
IV.B.1. The President shall serve for a term of two years, with the exception of the initial President who shall be elected for a two-year term at the founding of the organization.
IV.B.2. The Vice President shall serve for one two-year term, and then shall become President for an additional two-year term.
IV.B.3. The Secretary shall serve for a term of two years and shall be elected on alternative years from the Vice President, with the exception of the initial Secretary who shall be elected to a one-year term at the founding of the organization.
IV.B.4. The Treasurer shall serve for a term of two years and shall be elected on alternative years from the Vice President, with the exception of the initial Treasurer who shall be elected to a one-year term at the founding of the organization.
IV.B.5. The Financial Secretary shall serve for a term of two years and shall be elected at the same time as the Vice President.
IV.B.6. The two Advisory Members shall each serve a term of two years and shall be elected at the same time as the Vice President.

IV.C. Requirements for Office
IV.C.1. Officers and Advisory Members must be members in good standing.
IV.C.2. All Officers and Advisory Members may stand for re-election by the members if they so choose.
IV.C.3. The two-year term begins upon the election of the Officer or Advisory Member by the members at the annual meeting.
IV.C.4. Any Officer or Advisory Member who expects to be unable to fulfill his/her duties adequately for a year or more shall resign with the option of standing for re-election at another time.
IV.C.5. Any member who wishes to stand for election to any of these positions shall transmit a statement of candidacy to the membership at least one week before the elections via the Association’s listserv.

IV.D. Duties of Officers and Advisory Members
IV.D.1. President
IV.D.1.a. The President presides at all meetings of the members of the Executive Council and at all business meetings of the Association.
IV.D.1.b. The President supervises and manages all the business and affairs of the Association.
IV.D.1.c. The President has the authority and power, in the name of the Association, to sign checks, drafts, notes, and orders for the payment of money by the Association.
IV.D.1.d. The President shall designate committees as she/he deems necessary to carry out specific duties related to the activities of the organization. Such committees and their appointed heads shall dissolve immediately after their specific duties have been accomplished.

IV.D.2. Vice President
IV.D.2.a. The Vice President shall assist the President in performing his/her duties.
IV.D.2.b. The Vice President shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.

IV.D.3. Secretary
IV.D.3.a. The Secretary shall record the minutes of both Executive Council and regular business meetings and distribute the minutes to members.
IV.D.3.b. The Secretary shall keep current the official Membership List which names all members of record.
IV.D.3.c. The Secretary shall edit and distribute the newsletter to members.
IV.D.3.c. The Secretary shall manage the website, facebook page, and listserv.
IV.D.3.c. The Secretary shall perform any other duties which are delegated by members of the Executive Council.

IV.D.4. Treasurer
IV.D.4.a. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and other valuable documents of the Association.
IV.D.4.b. The Treasurer shall have authority and power to endorse, on behalf of the Association, checks, notes, and other obligations, and deposit same to the credit of the Association in such bank or banks as the Executive Council may designate.
IV.D.4.c. The Treasurer shall perform any other duties which are delegated by members of the Executive Council.

IV.D.5 Financial Secretary
IV.D.5.a. The Financial Secretary shall record the income and expenditures of the Association and give a full written report of all monies received and paid out at the annual business meeting of the membership.
IV.D.5.b. The Financial Secretary shall perform any other duties which are delegated by members of the Executive Council.

IV.D.6 Advisory Members
IV.D.6.a. The two Advisory Members shall serve on the Executive Council of the Association and assist in the decision-making process of that body.

IV.E. Vacancies Among Officers
IV.E.1. If a position on the Executive Council becomes vacant, the remaining Officers, may select any qualified person to fill such a vacancy. This interim appointee shall hold such office for the unexpired term and until a successor is elected or appointed.
IV.E.2. An interim appointee named by the Executive Council may stand for office at the end of the unexpired term and will begin a regular term upon election at the annual meeting.

V. Meetings
V.A. A business meeting of the members shall be held annually at the meeting of the
African Studies Association.
V.A.1. At the annual business meeting, any vacant post on the Executive Committee will be filled. Candidates for office shall transmit a statement of candidacy to the membership at least one week before the elections via the Association’s listserv.
V.A.2. At the annual business meeting, the Treasurer shall give a full written report of all monies received and paid out.

V.B. Special meetings of the members, for any purpose, may be called by the President of the Association. The notice for such special meetings shall state the purpose thereof.

VI. Voting
VI.A. Each member of record shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of members.
VI.B. For the transaction of normal business, a simple majority vote by members of record present shall suffice.
VI.C. Officers and Advisory Members shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the members of record. Voting shall take place by secret ballot. Members not in attendance may vote in such elections by written proxy directed to the NAASC President.
VI.D. Changes to the Bylaws or removal of a member of the Executive Council require a two-thirds majority of members of record.

VII. Dues
VII.A. Regular and institutional dues for membership in the society shall be $20.
VII.B. Student dues shall be $10.
VII.C. Scholars at institutions in Cameroon shall not be required to pay membership dues, although contributions are welcome.
VII.D. Dues shall be collected annually.
VII.E. Dues shall not be collected until the organization is filed as a 501 © nonprofit organization.

VIII. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall run from November 1 to October 31.

IX. Amendment and Repeal of Bylaws
VII.A. Proposed changes to the Bylaws must be transmitted to the membership at least one week before the annual business meeting via the Associations listserv.
VII.B. Changes to the Bylaws require a two-thirds majority of members of record.
VII.C. Members of record not present may vote by written proxy directed to the NAASC President.