By-laws

I. Name.

The name of this organization shall be the Byzantine Studies Association of North America, Inc. It is authorized to do business as the Byzantine Studies Conference, Inc.

II. Goals.

The Byzantine Studies Association of North America, Inc. (BSANA) is a non-profit, apolitical, academic organization whose goals are to promote Byzantine studies and associated fields in all disciplines, provide an annual forum for scholars to present their work and exchange ideas as the Byzantine Studies Conference (BSC), publish an annual Abstracts of that forum, support the undergraduate and graduate study of Byzantium and associated fields in all disciplines, and represent the academic interests of United States Byzantinists in the quinquennial international Congresses.

II. Procedure.

Robert’s Rules of Order is generally recognized as the guide for the parliamentary functions of the organization.

III. Membership.

1. The membership of BSANA is open to all interested individuals. BSANA does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin, religion, sex, or academic status.

2. All members will pay annual dues of $40 for regular faculty and $20 for students, retired faculty, independent scholars, and other professionals. Changes to the dues shall be proposed by a vote of the Governing Board and approved by a simple majority of the membership in attendance at its annual meeting.

3. Payment of membership fees is mandatory for any person presenting a paper or presiding as a session chair at the annual BSC, unless the session chair is a faculty member at that year’s hosting institution. Only members who have paid dues will receive a copy of the abstracts.

IV. The Governing Board, Its Officers and Standing Committees.

1. The Governing Board consists of its elected members for a total of sixteen. Any member in good standing in BSANA is eligible to serve. The Board is elected at the annual Business Meeting, four members being elected each year to serve a term of four years. Any registered member at an annual conference may vote. A slate of at least four candidates is proposed by the Nominating Committee (as provided in Article IV Section 9 below). Other nominations may be made by a petition signed by four registered participants presented to the President no later than the start of the Business Meeting. If there are no nominations beyond the number needed to fill the positions, the election may be by acclamation; otherwise, the election is by secret ballot. In the event of a vacancy on the Board through death or resignation, there shall be an election in the same manner for a replacement to serve out the unexpired term. Results of the election must be announced no later than at the conclusion of the Conference. Members of the Board who have served a complete four-year term are not eligible for re-election until at least a year has elapsed. The Governing Board must meet formally at least once during the Byzantine Studies Conference to consider officer appointments and future plans. Otherwise, the Board may conduct its business by e-mail, mail, fax, and telephone.

2. The President is elected annually by the Governing Board from among its members, and may be re-elected as long as he or she remains a member of the Board. The President prepares the agenda for and chairs the annual Business Meeting of BSANA conducted at the Byzantine Studies Conference (BSC). The President also prepares the agenda for, and chairs any meeting of the BSANA Governing Board. The President of BSANA, in consultation with the Governing Board, may write letters on behalf of the membership of the organization in support of faculty positions in the field of Byzantine studies and to express concern over publications, the fate of historical artifacts that pertain to Byzantine civilization, or other relevant issues.

3. The Vice President is elected in the same manner as the President. The Vice President assumes the responsibilities of the President if for any reason the President is unable to perform them.

4. The Secretary is elected in the same manner as the President. The Secretary prepares the minutes of all Business Meetings and Governing Board meetings and is responsible for the maintenance of the membership files and updating an electronic membership roster.

5. The Treasurer is elected in the same manner. The Treasurer is accountable both to the Board and to the membership for the handling of funds belonging to BSANA, including keeping the accounts, preparing tax returns, dispensing funds, and maintaining the not-for-profit status of BSANA in conjunction with the organization’s pro bono lawyer.

6. The Program Committee (including a Chair) is selected annually by the Governing Board. It must include at least one specialist in Byzantine History and one in Byzantine Art. In selecting from among papers submitted and in organizing the program, the Committee may consult other recognized specialists as it deems appropriate, especially in fields not directly represented on the Committee. The Program Chair is responsible for the annual Call for Papers for the BSC, and the Committee for determining the annual Program from the submitted abstracts. A member of the Program Committee serves as the graduate-student prize coordinator.

7. The Local Arrangements Chair represents the venue of the annual BSC, is responsible for all BSC logistical details, and will work with the Program Chair to secure appropriate space for the Program and arranging the publishing of the BSC Abstracts.

8. The Board may elect other officers in the same manner if it finds such officers necessary. It may also appoint administrative officers for specified purposes who are not members of the Board and who serve at its pleasure. No officer receives any salary from the Board; officers may not be reimbursed for administrative and travel expenses except when the Governing Board so directs.

9. The Nominating Committee (including its Chair) is composed of the outgoing four members of the Governing Board who will select a Chair. It is responsible for providing a slate of Governing Board candidates at the next annual BSANA Business Meeting, and it will consult the membership in its effort to maintain a balanced representation on the Board of different scholarly specialties and of different North American regions.

10. The United States National Committee for Byzantine Studies (USNCBS) shall be considered a standing committee of BSANA. Its responsibility is to participate in the planning of the International Congress of Byzantine Studies, which occurs every five years, and to encourage the active participation of scholars from United States institutions in it. It consists of four members: a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary-Treasurer, and as an ex-officio member, a former member of the USNCBS. The members of the committee will serve five-year terms that coincide with the quinquennial cycle of the International Congress of Byzantine Studies. Any BSANA member in good standing who is a United States citizen or has a United States institutional affiliation is eligible to serve. The committee is elected every five years (beginning in 2006) at the annual BSANA Business Meeting. Any person of US citizenship or institutional affiliation who is registered for the annual conference may vote in this election. A slate of six candidates will be proposed by the Governing Board. In the event of a vacancy on the USNCBS through death or resignation, there will be an election in the same manner as a replacement to serve out the unexpired term of a Governing Board member. Members of the committee may not serve in consecutive terms except for the continuing ex-officio member from the previous committee. Once elected, the committee will self-designate its Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer. The present assets of the USNCBS will be dedicated solely to USNCBS activities and held separately from BSANA funds. The USNCBS will, like the Governing Board, submit a financial statement to the membership during its annual report at the BSANA Business Lunch. At such time as the USNCBS exhausts its assets, BSANA will assume all costs of the USNCBS, and its finances will be handled by the BSANA Treasurer with direct Governing Board oversight.

11. The Communications Officer is elected in the same manner as the President. The Communications Officer disseminates official BSANA communications and circulates relevant announcements from its members and related organizations via e-mail and social media.

V. The Byzantine Studies Conference.

1. The BSC takes place annually at venues approved by the Governing Board. Any current BSANA member in good standing may submit an abstract to present her/his work at the BSC.

2. The annual Business Meeting takes place at a convenient time during the annual BSC. The agenda must include a President’s Report, the Treasurer’s Report, other announcements of general interest, and the elections to the Board. Other business may be brought before the Business Meeting by vote of the Board, or by a petition signed by at least four registered members of the Conference and delivered to the President by the start of the Meeting.

VI. Ratification and Amendments to the Constitution.

1. These By-laws take effect immediately upon ratification both by the Governing Board and three-quarters of the registered participants attending the Business Meeting.

2. An amendment may be proposed either by a majority vote of the Governing Board or by the submission of the proposed amendment in writing signed by ten BSANA members, presented to the President no later than the start of the Business Meeting. It must then be ratified by three-quarters of the participants who attend the Business Meeting and vote.

VII. Dissolution and Tax Status

Upon liquidation of the Byzantine Studies Conference, after payment of all the liabilities of the Byzantine Studies Conference or due provision therefore, all of the assets of the BSC shall be disposed of to an organization designated at said time by the Governing Board and exempt from taxation under the provisions of Section 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.