Standing Rules

Rule 1. Membership

Members shall receive all general TLA GODORT mailings.

Rule 2. Officers

A. Chairman

  1. Shall be the official representative of the organization or name a designee.
  2. Shall preside at Executive Committee and Membership meetings.
  3. Shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
  4. Shall appoint committees and committee chairs, with the exception of the Nominating Committee, and shall ask for recommendations from the Executive Committee before making designations.
  5. Shall submit to the TLA Executive Director the minutes of all TLA GODORT meetings, results of elections, and reports of committees. "Instant minutes" must be submitted prior to leaving either the Annual Assembly or Annual Conference, and comprehensive minutes must be submitted within two weeks or as expeditiously as possible.
  6. Shall report to the TLA Executive Director all appointments, resignations, and/or changes of addresses for TLA GODORT officers.
  7. Shall approve any expenditure of TLA GODORT funds.
  8. Shall appoint at least three tellers to count ballots and votes during elections.
  9. Shall perform additional duties as specified in the TLA Standing Rules.

B. Vice-Chairman/Chairman-Elect

  1. Shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chairman.
  2. Shall assume the office of Chairman if that office should become vacant.
  3. Shall assume the office of Chairman after serving a term of one year as Vice-Chairman/Chairman-Elect, except under circumstances specified in Article IV, Section 4(a), of the TLA GODORT Bylaws.

C. Secretary-Treasurer

  1. Shall report on the financial status of the Round Table at meetings of the Executive Committee and at the Annual Membership meeting.
  2. Shall obtain approval of the Chairman prior to expenditure of any TLA GODORT funds.
  3. Shall prepare minutes of all TLA GODORT meetings and submit them to the Chairman. "Instant minutes" must be submitted prior to leaving either the Annual Assembly or the Annual Conference. Comprehensive minutes must reach the Chairman within ten days of the meeting or as expeditiously as possible.

D. Immediate Past Chairman

  1. Shall serve as Liaison to the Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association through an affiliate membership maintained by TLA GODORT with that organization. In the event the Immediate Past Chairman Conference cannot attend meetings of ALA GODORT Affiliates, the Chairman shall designate another TLA GODORT member to substitute as Liaison.
  2. Shall perform other duties as assigned by the Chairman and the Executive Committee.

E. Councilor and Councilor Alternate

As specified in the article and section of the TLA Bylaws regarding TLA units and their unit councilors, the Councilor or Councilor Alternate shall:

  1. Attend all meetings of TLA Council.
  2. Submit all resolutions from TLA GODORT that require Council action.
  3. Serve as liaison between TLA Council and TLA GODORT.

Rule 3. Nominations and Elections

A. Nominations

The Nominating Committee shall:

  1. Consent to serve prior to election to committee membership by the Executive Committee.
  2. Select the best-qualified candidates for each office.
  3. Submit a list of candidates for office to the Executive Committee by January 15 of the year in which the officers will be elected to serve.
  4. Prepare ballots for the election.

B. Elections

  1. At least three tellers appointed by the Chairman shall count ballots of votes.
  2. Tellers shall prepare a written report of election results for the Chairman and the Nominating Committee.

Rule 4. Meetings

A. In accordance with the TLA rule regarding meetings, all TLA GODORT meetings will be designated non-smoking areas.

B. In accordance with the TLA rule regarding meetings and religious holidays, official meetings should be scheduled to avoid conflict with major religious holidays if at all possible.

Rule 5. Standing Rules

A. Shall be adopted by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

B. May be amended or rescinded by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Rule 6. Bylaws

A. All bylaws changes mailed for membership consideration shall be accompanied by arguments for and against the proposed changes.

B. The Chairman shall appoint proponents and opponents to write the arguments.