Constitution of the GSCALA

Article I - Names, Objectives, and Governance

Section 1. Name:

The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Caucus of the African Literature Association (GSCALA). The Caucus exists as an affiliated but separately administered organization of graduate students who may or may not be members of the ALA.

Section 2. Objectives:

The objectives of this organization shall be:

1. To establish a network of graduate students doing work on the literary, cultural, sociological, historical, musical, and artistic production of African nations and of African Diaspora and African influenced cultures.

2. To promote scholarship at the graduate level of African and African Diaspora and African influenced cultural production, and to promote graduate student involvement in the ALA.

3. To explore avenues of development in the scholarship and teaching of African and African influenced cultures in general.

4. To promote a general interest in and awareness of African and African influenced cultures.

5. To provide support resources for the development and advancement of graduate scholarship in African and African Diaspora studies.

6. To share information about and facilitate the search for academic employment in African and African Diaspora studies.

7. To provide consultation to the African Literature Association, other related associations, media, universities, and publishers on the nature, direction and issues of Graduate studies in African and African Diaspora culture.

Section 3. Governance and Structure:

A. The Graduate Student Caucus of the African Literature Association (GSCALA) shall be governed by its constitution and by-laws, and other such actions as the GSCALA may make consistent therewith.

B. Structure:
Executive Council:
i. Chair
ii. Vice Chair
iii. Media Officer

Article II - Membership and Affiliation

Section 1. Members:

Membership in GSCALA is open to graduate students in African and African Diaspora cultures, history, sociology and cultural production and to other person interested in the development of graduate studies related to Africa and African Diaspora cultures and who subscribe to the goals of the organization and the Caucus.

Section 2. Financial Membership:

A voting member shall be considered financial with payment of dues annually to the Treasurer of the GSCALA.

Section 3. Affiliation:

The GSCALA shall be affiliated with the African Literature Association. Said affiliation will be characterized by the following:

A. Holding annual meetings at the African Literature Association's Annual Conference;

B. Sponsoring meetings in conjunction with the annual meetings of the ALA;

C. Sponsoring of panels at the ALA, ASA and related organizations;

D. Holding annual roundtables and plenaries at the ALA annual conference and other necessary events and meetings;

E. Titles of suggested panels and roundtables will be supplied by GSCALA through its executive chair;

F. Having a designated representative or speaker of GSCALA to represent the Caucus' issues on conference committees and at the ALA Executive Council meetings, as well as any other ALA meetings.

Section 4. Meetings:

A. The annual meetings of the GSCALA will be held at the African Literature Association and at other times as desire by the membership and the executive council. Notice of place of meeting shall be given in the program of the conference. Meetings will be conveniently located at the center of the conference so that they do not provide a hardship to graduate students who plan to attend. The GSCALA Executive chair will submit a preferred time to convene and will consult with members concerning possible time slots.

B. Other meetings of the GSCALA will be convened upon request of members.

Section 5. Voting:

At every membership meeting, each financial member shall be entitled to cast one ballot. In the event that a financial member is unable to attend such a meeting, a ballot may be cast fro that member by proxy, or in written form.

Section 6. Officers:

Officers of the GSCALA shall be elected for a one-year term. The Vice Chair of the GSCALA shall succeed to the office of Chair in the year following his or her term as Vice Chair. The Chair will be the organizations representative on the ALA Executive council. The Vice Chair will be the representative for all GSCALA programming and will be the Representative to the ALA Conference Planning Committee.

Section 7. Annual Report:

At each annual member's meeting, officers shall submit a written annual report, together with a recommended program of action for the year ahead.

Article III - Co-ordination and Management Duties

Section 1. Chair:

The Chair shall preside over meetings and facilities and otherwise manage the affairs of the Caucus. The Chair shall call and coordinate-ordinate meetings and shall work with the Secretary to make announcements public. The Chair shall also be the representative of the GSCALA to other organizations and the public.

Section 2. Vice Chair:

The Vice Chair shall perform all duties of the Chair in the event that the Chair is unable to do so. Additionally, the Vice Chair shall organize and direct any non-business meetings of the GSCALA, to include panels, special forums and social events during the African Literature Association annual conference.

Section 3. Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall keep and manage all financial accounting of the Caucus and communicate with the ALA Treasurer concerning the dues paid to the GSCALA. The Treasurer will provide a financial accounting to the Caucus annually at its business meeting.

Section 4. Media Officer

The Media Officer shall keep all minutes, correspondence and records of the GSCALA. The Media Officer shall correspond with members concerning and be responsible for announcing meetings, times, dates and location. The Media Officer shall work directly with the Chair and Vice Chair concerning membership. The Media Officer shall be responsible and active regarding an annual publication of the GSCALA. The Media Officer shall further propose additional means of enhancing graduate scholarship in African and African Diaspora studies.

Article IV - Amendments

Amendments to this constitution shall require prior notification of the proposed amendment in writing. Amendments will be adopted if approved by two-thirds majority vote of financial members present.

Article V - Elections

Elections will be held annually for the designated officers. The Chair will not, after the first year of the existence of the GSCALA, be directly elected. Rather, the Vice Chair will accede to the office of Chair in the year following his/her tenure as Vice Chair.

Amendment I

No dues shall be collected for membership in GSCALA. Financial obligation will be considered met with payment of membership dues to ALA.

Amendment II

Since there will be no financial commitment involved in GSCALA membership, the position of treasurer is duly abolished.

Amendment III

The positions of Secretary and Publications officer shall be merged into the single position of Media Officer.