Guidelines to help you form your
INTEREST GROUP
in accordance with TLA bylaws and practice.

To Petition: Download a PDF format petition •  
  1. You must obtain 60 signatures of TLA members for a petition seeking creation of an Interest Group.
        HINT: Collect more than 60 signatures since some of your signers may not be     current TLA members.
  2. The TLA Executive Director must certify that the 60 signatures are for current members in good standing.
  3. The TLA Executive Director announces to Council the existence of the new Interest Group and assists the new Interest Group in completing the next organizational phases.

To Organize:

  1. The organizers of the Interest Group then appoint interim officers, including but not limited to chair, councilor, councilor-alternate, and Bylaws Committee chair. The TLA Office should be notified of the name and address of each interim officer.
  2. The Interest Group interim officers may meet at any time, but requests for formal meetings during TLA Annual Assembly and TLA Annual Conference must go through certain procedures:
    1. Upon request to the Conference Program Committee chair, the Interest Group chair may arrange for a meeting at the next Annual Conference. This request should be made between the months of July and September. Two types of meetings may be held: business meeting and program.
    2. Upon request to the TLA Executive Director or Executive Assistant, the Interest Group may request meeting accommodations at Annual Assembly. This meeting should be scheduled with the TLA Office during the months of May and June.
  3. The Interest Group's Bylaws Committee chair prepares a draft document. The draft should be reviewed by the chair of the TLA Bylaws Committee and the TLA Executive Director to ensure compliance with TLA Bylaws.
  4. The councilor serves as a non-voting member of Council. If the councilor cannot attend Council meetings at either the Annual Conference or Annual Assembly, the councilor-alternate should serve in his/her place. Councilors and councilor-alternates will receive all Council mailings.

  5. The interim chair estimates income (based on anticipated membership) and prepares a preliminary budget for the next July 1 - June 30 fiscal year. The interim chair submits the estimated budget to the TLA Executive Director and TLA President at the earliest opportunity to ensure that funds are set aside in the TLA Budget.

    Remember that in order for the Interest Group to receive its five percent of the members' dues (belonging to your Interest Group), the TLA Office must include the Interest Group on the next membership application/renewal form which is printed in August of each year.

    Interest Groups which have been certified before July 31 will be listed on the membership form.

  6. At the earliest possible date, the Interest Group finalizes budget and the bylaws, and holds the election of officers.

  7. Interest Group officers should attend the "New Officers Briefing" held at Annual Conference. Councilors and councilor-alternates should also attend a special orientation session for Council members at Annual Assembly.

  8. The chair files with the TLA Office copies of the approved bylaws, budget, and names and addresses of officers. The chair files "Instant minutes" with the TLA Office at the close of Annual Conference and Annual Assembly. The chair also files a copy of the approved bylaws with the TLA Bylaws Committee chair.
  9. The chair will receive a financial statement for the Interest Group at Annual Conference. The chair may request information on the units budgetary status at any time from the TLA Office. The TLA Office will charge expenses to the Interest Group's account only upon receipt of the pink reimbursement form bearing the chair's signature.
  10. At Annual Conference, the Interest Group chair will receive a list of the members in the Interest Group. Additional lists may be purchased for 1 1/2 cents per name. Mailing labels for Interest Group members or for any cross-section of the membership may be secured from the TLA Office at any time at a cost of 1 1/2 cents per label for cheshire labels and 2 1/2 cents per label for pressure sensitive labels.

To Continue:

1. The Interest Group must maintain a membership of at least 50 persons for a period of three years.

2. The Interest Group may become a Round Table by majority vote of Council at the end of the third year.

Last Modified:5/2/2000 • Copyright © 2000 by the Texas Library Association