Bylaws

February, 2004

Table of Contents

  1. Name
  2. Purpose
  3. Membership
  4. Executive Officers
  5. Meetings
  6. Committees
  7. Dues
  8. Amendments
  9. Duties of Past President

ARTICLE I - NAME

The organization name shall be Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

ATHEN shall be an international nonprofit organization based in theUnited States. ATHEN’s goals are to:

  • Collect and disseminate best practices in Access Technology (AT) in Higher Education including:
    • Develop and share AT training materials
    • Recommend Core-Curriculum
    • Promote development of AT Degree Programs
  • Establish a professional identity for those who practice AT in Higher Education
  • Develop Professional Standards of Practice for AT in Higher Education
  • Present a collective voice for the professional practice of AT in Higher Education
  • Work towards development of a credentialing process for AT in Higher Education

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING

Any person or organization serving the access technology needs in higher education or postsecondary environment shall be eligible to become a member of Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN) upon complying with the provisions hereafter contained.

3.1. Membership Classification - Membership categories shall be Professional, Institutional, Associate, Student and Honorary.
3.2. Professional - Professional members shall consist of individuals who implement, recommend, or purchase AT and/or train persons with disabilities in use of AT at an institution of Higher Education (post-K-12 or equivalent).
3.3. Institutional - Higher Education institutions wishing to maintain a presence within ATHEN.
3.3.A. Upon the payment of membership dues, hereafter established, an institutional member shall be eligible to elect 1 voting member as the designee of such an institution. 3.4. Associate - Individuals in the following capacities are eligible for Associate Membership:

3.4.a. Vendors, developers, and/or trainers of AT

3.5. Student - Undergraduate or graduate students with a strong interest in the AT field and are sponsored by an institution or professional member.

3.6. Honorary - Individuals of distinction who are elected unanimously by the Executive Officers and approved by a 2/3 vote of the membership because of outstanding and noteworthy service in the field of AT in Higher Education. Dues for this classification are waived.
3.7. Voting - Only Professional Members shall have voting rights.

3.7.a. Voting at meetings will follow Robert’s Rules of Order. Voting at other times of the year in an online format will be in accordance with procedures outlined by the Executive Officers.
3.8. Resignation and Expulsion

3.8.a. Resignation - Any member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Executive Officers. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time be specified, upon receipt. Resignation shall not entitle a member to a return of any dues paid.
3.8.b. Expulsion - At a meeting duly called in accordance with the By-laws, a member may be expelled for cause by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of all Professional Members. An expelled member may be reinstated by a vote of a majority of a quorum of Professional Members at a meeting duly called in accordance with the By-laws.

ARTICLE IV - EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

5.1. The officers of the network shall be an Executive Committee and be comprised of a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other temporary officer or officers as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine.
5.2. All officers shall be elected by the membership at its first meeting following each Annual Meeting of the network.
5.3. The term of office of each officer shall commence at the end of the meeting comprising his or her election. The term of office is one year. Officers may be re-elected.
5.4. Resignations shall not be effective until accepted by the Executive Committee.
5.5. The President shall normally preside at meetings and dinners of the network. He or she shall sign all written contracts and obligations of the network, nominate the chairmen of committees, and shall provide for the appointment of other committee members. He or she shall perform such other duties as not provided in other officer categories.
5.6. The Vice President shall have such powers and duties as prescribed by the President and will discharge such duties the absence of the President.
5.7. The Secretary shall be responsible for the following:

5.7.a. Keeping the minutes of the network and Executive Committee
5.7.b. Notifying members of the affairs of the network, as determined by the Executive Committee.
5.7.c. Coordinating the correspondence, keeping the records, preparing necessary reports, and keeping the logo and any electronic documents of the network.
5.7.d. Keeping a roster showing the names and contact information of all members of the network.
5.7.e. Turning over to the Treasurer as promptly as possible all funds collected, with a statement as to the individuals from whom collected and for what purpose.
5.7.f. Publishing the list of officers of the network, the Executive Officers, the By-laws, the roster of members, and other items.
5.7.g. Oversight/management of ATHEN web site.

5.8. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of ATHEN and shall be responsible for the following:

5.8.a. Collecting dues.
5.8.b. Disbursing the funds to defray expenses authorized by the network or the Executive Officers.
5.8.c. Reporting the status of the funds at each meeting of the Executive Committee and general membership.
5.8.d. Having network accounts audited under the direction of the Executive Committee at such times as the Committee may direct.

5.9. In the event of the temporary absence of the Secretary or Treasurer, their duties may be performed by another member of the network appointed by the President.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

6.1. The Annual Meeting of ATHEN for election to the Executive Committee, and other business as prescribed in the By-laws, shall be held annually at the Technology and Persons with Disabilities conference, often described as "CSUN," during the month of March, or on such date as determined by the Executive Committee.
6.2. Special meetings of the network may be called by the President or upon the written request of ten Professional Members. At least thirty days notice thereof shall be given to members by the Secretary.
6.3. Meetings are normally held twice yearly. Except for the Annual Meeting, meetings will usually be associated with an AT conference. They will be primarily functional in nature and may include prominent guest speakers. Insofar as possible, business will be confined to the Annual Meeting.
6.4. A quorum at any meeting of the network shall consist of 20 percent of the Regular Membership. If a meeting of the network does not reach a quorum, business requiring membership votes shall be defrayed to the next meeting.
6.5. Business may be transacted as follows:

6.5.a. At the Annual Business Meeting, or
6.5.b. At any special meeting, but such business shall be limited to that specified in the call for the meeting, or
6.5.c. At any other meeting by unanimous consent of the members present.

6.6. Online meetings may be instituted at the request of a majority of members when 2/3 of the Executive Officers can also be present.

6.7. The order of business at the Annual Meeting of the ATHEN shall be as follows:

6.7.a. Ascertainment of the presence of a quorum.
6.7.b. Financial Report.
6.7.c.Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.
6.7.d. Annual report of the preceding year's activities and suggestions by the retiring officers.
6.7.e. Unfinished business and committee reports.
6.7.f. Election of the Executive Committee.
6.7.g. New business.
6.7.h. Adjournment.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

7.1. At the organizational meeting of the Executive Officers, the President may appoint the following Committee Chairs:

7.1.a. Financial and Budget Committee.
7.1.b. Membership Committee.
7.1.c. Program Committee.
7.1.d. By-Laws Committee
7.1.e. Nominating Committee.
7.1.f. Information and Public Relations (Outreach and Partnerships) Committee.
7.1.g. Professional Development Committee.
7.1.h. Ejournal/Publications Committee.

7.2. Duties of the Committees shall include the following:

7.2.a. The Financial and Budget Committee shall prepare a financial program for the network at the beginning of each fiscal year and shall work with the Treasurer in obtaining the necessary funds for the network.
7.2.b. The Membership Committee shall promote membership in the network and shall stimulate attendance at all meetings. Each year, before the Annual Meeting, the Committee will prepare and distribute a directory of the members.
7.2.c. The Program Committee will prepare and recommend to the Executive Officers a program of activities for the coming year to include dates and places for these activities. It will serve as the Committee for the Annual Meeting.
7.2.d. The By-Laws Committee shall be responsible for periodic review and recommended revision of the By-laws and for the preparation or review of resolutions proposed for adoption by the network. Every fifth year the Committee will publish a booklet containing By-laws, past officers and Executive Officers, History, and other appropriate items. Current version of the By-Laws shall be available on the official ATHEN Web site.
7.2.e. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one candidate for each vacancy on the Executive Officers for the election held at the Annual Meeting.
7.2.f. The Information and Public Relations Committee shall promote a better understanding of ATHEN by the public in the area of the network.
7.2.g. The Career Advisory Committee shall advise and assist members or those eligible for membership regarding career opportunities.

ARTICLE VII - DUES

8.1. Under the direction of the Executive Committee, dues shall be assessed as stipulated in the By-laws and funds shall be used to defray the expenses made necessary in the proper conduct of the affairs of ATHEN.
8.2. Professional, Institutional, and Associate membership dues shall be determined annually by the Executive Committee and approved by a 2/3 vote of Professional members.

8.2.a. Current dues shall be posted on the ATHEN Web site.

8.3. The fiscal year begins April 1 and ends on March 31 of each year. Annual dues for the coming fiscal year are payable in advance.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to or changes in By-laws may be made at any meeting of the network by a two-thirds vote of a quorum or members represented by proxy. Such proposed amendments and changes shall, however, be considered only when the Secretary shall have distributed copies of the same to the members at least thirty days prior to the meeting. Proposed amendments and changes shall be posted to the ATHEN Web site.

ARTICLE IX - ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

Upon election of a successor, the immediate past President of the network shall become an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee with full voting rights for a term of one year unless such past President is already a duly elected officer. Ex-officio officers with voting rights shall be counted for the purposes of a quorum of the Executive Committee. In order to vote, the outgoing President must be a member in good standing of ATHEN, either as a dues-paying professional or honorary member.

‹ ATHEN Executive MembersupMembership ›