BYLAWS

GENEALOGY INTEREST GROUP
(now a Round Table of TLA)
TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I:  Name

The name of this organization shall be the Genealogy Interest Group of the Texas Library Association, (TLA).

ARTICLE II:  Purpose

The purpose of the Genealogy Interest Group shall be to promote and represent the activities of Texas librarians in the field of genealogy.

ARTICLE III:  Membership

Any member of the TLA may select membership in the Genealogy Interest Group.  Officers must be current members of the TLA.

ARTICLE IV:  Administration

Section 1:  Officers

a.       The officers of the Genealogy Interest Group shall be Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Councilor and Alternate Councilor, and Immediate Past-Chair.

b.       Officers shall assume office immediately following the TLA Annual Conference and shall serve a term of one year or until a successor is elected.  The Councilor and Alternate Councilor serve for three years or until a successor is elected.

c.       The officers of the Genealogy Interest Group shall perform those duties usually attached to their offices and all duties as prescribed in the TLA Bylaws and Standing Rules.

Section 2:  Elections

a.       A Nominating Committee, elected by the Executive Board of the Genealogy Interest Group, with the exclusion of the Chair, shall present a slate of candidates for all offices.  There shall be at least two candidates for the office of Councilor.  Nominations may be made from the floor.

b.       Officers shall be elected at a regular business meeting during Annual Conference by a plurality of the members present.  The Councilor candidate with the highest number of the votes shall be elected Councilor.  The candidate with the second highest number of votes shall become the Alternate Councilor.

Section 3:  Executive Committee

a.   The elected officers and the Immediate Past-Chair shall constitute the Executive Committee and shall administer the business of the unit when it is not in session.

b.       The Executive Committee shall meet at TLA Annual Assembly.  Other meetings may be held as deemed necessary by the Chair or a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section 4:  Vacancies

a.       If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chair, the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall become the Chair for the remainder of that term and also serve the term to which the Chair-Elect had been elected.

b.       If a vacancy occurs in the office of Councilor, the Alternate Councilor shall serve out the term of the Councilor.

c.       If a vacancy occurs in any of the other elected offices, the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall fill the vacancy by appointment until the next general election.

d.        If a vacancy occurs in both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions, the President of the Texas Library Association shall appoint a new Chair, who shall proceed as outlined above.

ARTICLE V:  Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held annually in conjunction with the TLA Annual Conference.

ARTICLE VI:  Committees

Committees may be created as needed by the Executive Committee or the Chair.  The Chair shall appoint the members and designate the chair of each committee.  The committees shall serve until their charges have been completed and reports have been accepted or until such time as the Executive Committee designates.

ARTICLE VII:  Parliamentary Authority

The rules of procedure as stated in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this unit in all cases in which they are applicable and which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws and Standing Rules of TLA.

ARTICLE VIII:  Amendments to the Bylaws

Bylaws may be adopted or amended at any general membership meeting of the unit by a majority vote of the members present, provided such changes are consistent with the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the Texas Library Association.