1. NAME
The name of the corporation is The Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts Inc.
[Updated name to Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts]
2. PURPOSE
The Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts Inc. is a multidisciplinary organization founded to encourage the study of the relationships among literature, science, technology, and the arts. The Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary studies in literature, science, and the arts through publishing a journal, a newsletter, an annual bibliography, and a website; sponsoring meetings and symposia, and encouraging publications in its areas of interest.
[Added indication of publishing journal Configurations and sponsoring websites]
3. MEMBERSHIP
Upon application to the Johns Hopkins University Press Journals Division and payment of current annual SLSA dues collected by the press, any person supporting the purpose stated above shall be a member of the society. The Johns Hopkins University Press reports membership monthly to the SLSA Executive Director. Only members in good standing have the right to vote, hold office, or serve on the committees of the Society.
[Updated to note mechanism of paying dues/applying for membership to the Johns Hopkins University Press Journals Division, which distributes monthly a share of dues collected to the society.]
4. DUES
Minimum annual dues (by calendar year) are forty dollars for regular faculty members, subject to change by majority vote at the annual meeting. Categories of membership may be established by the Executive Committee to encourage members strongly interested in the organization to make tax-deductible contributions beyond basic dues. However, no greater privileges or voting power in connection with the business of the Society shall be afforded by such categories of members so established.
[Updated amount of dues; indicate actual categories of membership.]
5. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
a) OFFICERS
Officers include a President, first and second Vice-Presidents, two elected members-at-large, a Bibliographer, and an Executive Director. Candidates for second Vice-Presidents are nominated by the Executive Committee in consultation with members and are elected by a majority vote on a mailed ballot. Each second Vice-President serves two years in that post before moving up to the office of first Vice-President and then President to serve successive two-year terms. Officers’ terms begin at the Executive Committee meeting at the annual meeting. The Bibliographer, the Electronic Resources Coordinator, and Executive Director serve at the appointment of the Executive Committee. The Executive Director receives a small stipend, as approved in 2004. Journal editors are nominated by the Publications Committee and approved by the Executive Committee.
[Updated references: Secretary-Treasurer as Executive Director, who was originally appointed every three years, then to a five-year term, and is now appointed without a specified end date. Also note that Executive Director serves as Newsletter Editor. Add mention of Journal Editor and Electronic Coordinator. Revise description of voting practices to reflect mail ballots.]
The President presides at meetings, conducts necessary business throughout the year, convenes a meeting of the Executive Committee preceding the annual meeting, and, generally oversees the functions of the Society. The two vice-Presidents assist the President, preside at meetings in the President’s absence, and help plan the programs of annual and special meetings. The First Vice-President is responsible for the annual conferences held during his/her tenure.
The Executive Director communicates with the Johns Hopkins University Press Journals Division regarding membership and the society’s website http://slsa.press.jhu.edu, handles normal correspondence, records and presents minutes of meetings, manages the treasury (including collecting and depositing dues, and paying bills), offers an annual financial report, and as Newsletter Editor prepares and distributes the Society’s newsletter Decodings, using the mailing addresses supplied by members to the Johns Hopkins University Press Journals Division for special print editions and on the SLSA listserv litsci-l@duke.edu. Beginning 2004, Decodings is published electronically. The Executive Director has been paid since winter 2004; the position is allotted $8000 per year plus $600 toward annual conference travel expenses.
The Bibliographer chairs a committee which assembles and publishes the annual bibliography on the society’s website http://www.litsci.org.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator works with the Bibliographer and the Executive Director to organize electronic communications regarding the conference and other society needs.
The Journal Editors manage Configurations, working with the Publications Committee.
[Updated reference to Secretary-Treasure as Executive Director. Noted Hopkins mechanisms of collecting dues and keeping membership records. Added references to electronic Decodings]
b) THE EXECUTIVE COMMTTTEE
The Executive Committee consists of current officers, past Presidents, two members elected for two year terms by the membership at large, and the following who serve ex officio: the Executive Director, Bibliographer, Journal Editors, and the Electronic Resources Coordinator. The Executive Committee meets or consults at the call of the President to manage Society business. The Committee, coordinated by the Executive Director, plans the agenda for the annual business meeting. All current officers (President, First and Second Vice-Presidents, Members-at-Large) and the three immediate past presidents vote on Executive Committee motions as necessary. Ex officio members review motions and contribute to discussion, but they do not vote on motions.
[Updated to include specific mention of Newsletter and Journal Editors, Electronic Resources Coordinator; note agenda is joint work among Executive Committee and Executive Director]
c) PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE [note: text summarizing May 2005 PC report]
Three members of the society shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve on the Publication Committee. As of 2007, when current members begin to rotate out, the Executive Committee will annually appoint one member of the Publications Committee to serve a four-year term. Committee members might be appointed to successive terms.
Criteria for membership on the Publications Committee should include considering the editorial division of labor as well as a candidate’s expertise, experience, vision of science studies scholarship, and reviews of recent Configurations issues.
The Publications Committee will meet annually with the Configurations editors at the annual SLSA meeting in advance of the Executive meeting and then report to the Executive on matters of operating budget, publication schedule, submission/acceptance ratio, outreach, advertising, and any pending personnel changes.
The Publications Committee will advise the editors, but the committee will not have the power to direct editorial decisions, which remain the exclusive prerogative of the editors.
The Publications Committee will organize and renew appointments/re-appointments of the General and other editors of Configurations. Each editor shall serve a five-year term and can be considered for renewal.
The Publications Committee will also consult with the Executive Committee and the journal editors regarding institutional sponsorship if the sponsoring university withdraws. If a change of institutional sponsorship is considered, the Publications Committee and the Executive Committee will draw up together the rationale for the change and a description of qualifications for institutions to supply regarding the editor and editorial team.
d) OTHER POSITIONS
To benefit the Society, the Executive Committee may create other kinds of positions and appoint an incumbent. An example of such a position would be corresponding secretaries or conference coordinators who will help organize the work of the Society abroad. Such positions will not, however, make the incumbent automatically a member of the Executive Committee.
e) RESIGNATIONS FROM OFFICES
Members of the Executive Committee may resign by submitting written notice to both the President and the Executive Director. The President, in consultation with remaining members of the Executive Committee, will appoint an acting replacement until the time of the next annual meeting, when a successor shall be nominated and voted upon. (Should the President resign, the first Vice President will become President, and the second Vice-President will become President.)
[Updated references to officers]
6. MEETINGS
The Society meets once a year either in conjunction with other meetings or independently, to conduct an annual business meeting in the United States. In addition, the officers may schedule meetings or sessions at other times abroad and/or with related organizations.
7. NEWSLETTER
The Society publishes an electronic newsletter four times a year, with one issue containing the annual bibliography. The Executive Director is responsible for managing the Newsletter, working in conjunction with the Bibliographer, the Electronic Resources Coordinator, the Publications Committee and the Executive and Committee. The Newsletter is sponsored by dues from the Society and contributions from educational and other institutions. The newsletter shall be named Decodings.
[Updated with current practice. Updated newsletter title.]
8. ADOPTION OF BYLAWS
Adoption of these bylaws is by two-thirds majority of those present at the inaugural meeting of the Society at the International Congress of the History of Science, Berkeley, California, 7 August 1985.
9. AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
Amendments concerning the nature, purpose, and basic organization and structure of the Society will be submitted by mail to the entire membership and will require approval by two-thirds of the current members who return ballots. All amendments must be circulated among the entire membership at least 49 days before the annual meeting or before the special mail ballot deadline. Amendments of a minor nature in these bylaws may be effected at the annual meeting of two-thirds vote of members present.
10. DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
Should the Society be dissolved all assets belonging to the Society remaining after the discharge of any and all outstanding obligations shall be devoted to one or more non-profit institutions dedicated to similar purposes and complying to IRS 510 (c) (3), as determined jointly by the Executive Committee.
