Article I - Name

The name of this organization is Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS).

 

Article II - Purpose

SWS is a non-profit scientific and educational organization of sociologists and others dedicated to:

• maximizing the effectiveness of and professional opportunities for women in sociology
• exploring the contributions which sociology can, does and should make to the investigation of and humanization of current gender arrangements
• improving women's lives and creating feminist social change.

To implement this purpose, SWS is committed to taking action to:

• urge the examination of assumptions underlying sociological work about the status, nature and roles of women and men
• collaborate with other social and biological scientists in reviewing research on sex differences and assumptions underlying such research
• promote research, experimentation and education on alternative gender arrangements and on improving women's lives
• educate and sensitize the sociological profession and the public to social, political and economic problems of women and other disadvantaged social groups
• press for equality of opportunity for women and men within the profession of sociology and in academia
• work with other professional associations and feminist organizations to seek social justice for all women and men.

 

Article III - Members

Section 1. Classes of Members

1. Regular Members
2. Student Members. Student members are those who self-identify as students and who are pursuing a degree from an institution of higher education in the calendar year for which membership dues are paid.

Section 2. Qualifications/eligibility for Membership. Any person, female or male, who accepts and supports the purpose of this organization is eligible for membership.

Section 3. Privileges of Membership. Members shall have the right to vote, to hold office and to chair committees, to receive all regular publications of SWS, to be included in electronic lists and forums run by the organization, to attend all membership and committee meetings, and to set dues and provide general direction to Council in General Meetings. Only student members shall be eligible to serve as and to vote for Student Representative.

Section 4. Fees and Dues. Annual dues shall be determined by two successive votes of the General Meeting. Other fees may be set by Council. Uniform procedures for notification of members shall be set by the Council.

Section 5. Resignation. Any member in good standing may resign by submitting that resignation in writing to the Executive Office.

Section 6. Non-Payment. If a member fails to pay dues, fees or assessments within three months from the date they become due, membership shall automatically terminate.

Section 7. Reinstatement. Any member having resigned from membership may be reinstated upon application to the Executive Office. Any member who has forfeited membership for non-payment may be reinstated upon application to the Executive Office and upon meeting such uniform terms as may be established by the Council.

Section 8. Suspension/Termination. Membership in this organization may be suspended or terminated by the Council for just cause. The decision for suspension or termination shall be by a unanimous vote of the Council.

Section 9. Voting. Mail ballots include those that are distributed to the members by email as well as regular surface mail. All members shall have the option of returning ballots by email or fax as well as regular mail. It is the responsibility of the Executive Office to maintain confidentiality of the ballots within the office.

 

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. General Officers. The general officers of SWS shall be the President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer-Elect, Treasurer, Past Treasurer⁷, Past President and Student Representative. All general officers together and the Executive Officer serving ex officio without vote shall constitute the Council.

Section 2. Operating Officers. The operating officers of SWS shall be the Newsletter Editor, Journal Editor, Electronic Communications Officers and Executive Officer.

Section 3. Eligibility. All officers shall be members in good standing.

Section 4. Nominations. Nominations for all elective offices will be made by a nominations committee, chaired by the Past President and composed of four elected members, two elected each year for two-year terms. It is the responsibility of the nominations committee to ensure that candidates presented for election represent the diversity of the organization, are cognizant of and able to carry out the responsibilities of their office, and have agreed to serve.

Section 5. Election. General Officers shall be elected each fall by mail ballot. Each member shall be eligible to vote. Operating Officers except the Journal and Newsletter Editors shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Council and shall serve at the discretion of the President. These editors are appointed by the Publications Committee.

Section 6. Terms of Office. The President Elect takes office at the beginning of the Winter Meeting following the election and serves for one year, automatically becoming President at the beginning of the Winter Meeting of the following year and serving a one- year term. Subsequently, this individual serves as Past President for an additional year. Vice President and Secretary serve two-year terms; the Vice President shall be elected in even years and the Secretary in odd years. The Student Representative will be elected every year and serve a one-year term.

The term of office for the Treasurer shall be three years, serving as Deputy Treasurer in the first year, Treasurer in the second year, and Past Treasurer in the third year.

The term of office for all officers and committee chairs except the presidents will begin at the Winter Meeting following the reports presented by the outgoing officers/chairs.

Section 7. Limitations on Service. No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. A member having served more than half a term in an office shall be deemed to have served a term.

Section 8. Vacancies. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice President shall become President automatically, to serve for the unexpired term. Should the office of President-elect become vacant, it shall be filled by the Vice President. Should the office of Treasurer become vacant, it shall be filled by the Deputy Treasurer. A vacancy in any other General Office shall be filled by the Council.

 

Article V - Duties of Officers

Section 1.Officers shall perform the duties as prescribed in these bylaws and such other duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the society. All officers shall deliver annual reports at the Winter Meeting and interim reports at the Summer Meeting. A general officer who fails to attend these Meetings without presentation of due cause to the Council shall be deemed to have resigned the office.

Section 2. President. The President shall serve as official spokesperson of the organization and represent SWS before the public, present policy resolutions on behalf of SWS to ASA and other organizations or associations, chair the Winter and Summer meetings of the members and all meetings of the Council, prepare reports on progress toward meeting organizational goals for all Council and membership meetings, with the advice and consent of Council establish Ad Hoc Task Forces to accomplish particular organizational tasks, serve as a member of the Executive Office and Budget and the Awards Committees and provide leadership and general supervision of the organization on behalf of the Council.

Section 3. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall organize the Winter and Summer Meetings to be held in the following year, appoint any Winter or Summer Meeting Committees needed, on behalf of the organization sign any contracts that fall within the approved budget for these Meetings, and provide appropriate advance information to the members and others about the nature and location of these meetings. The President-Elect will also prepare to assume the Presidency at the conclusion of the term of office and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 4. Past President. The Past President will chair the Nominations Committee and the Committee on Scholarship and Human Rights, and will serve on the Executive Office and Budget Committee. The Past President may also chair Ad Hoc Task Forces and perform such other duties as may be determined by Council.

Section 5. Vice President. The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President, fill any vacancy in the office of President or President Elect, chair the Membership Committee and serve on the Social Action Committee, poll candidates for ASA office on memberships in women's organizations and feminist commitments, and perform other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 6. Secretary. The Secretary shall record, report and distribute minutes of the Council and general membership meetings, providing these in a timely fashion to the Newsletter Editor; be responsible for collecting, safekeeping and distribution of SWS documents, reports and correspondence; collaborate with the other officers in drawing up agendas for Council and membership meetings; serve on the Nominations and Membership Committees, and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer prepares the budget, oversees long and short-term investments, and provides general oversight to the operations of the Executive Office. The Treasurer shall serve as Chair of the Executive Office and Budget Committee and member of the Publications Committee; cooperate with the Executive Officer in overseeing SWS budget, income and expenses; appoint, with the approval of the Council, an independent auditor to conduct a financial audit of SWS; report in writing annually to the Winter and Summer Meetings on the financial status of the organization; meet on-site annually at the Executive Office with the Executive Officer and staff; report annually in executive session to Council on the performance of the Executive Office, and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 8. Treasurer-Elect. The Treasurer-Elect assist the Treasurer in all activities pertaining to that office, prepare to assume the responsibilities of that office in succession, serve on the Executive Office and Budget Committee and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 9.⁷ Past Treasurer. The Past Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in preparation of the budget, and in oversight of organizational investments, and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Council.

Section 10. Student Representative. The Student Representative shall represent the interests of undergraduate and graduate student members of SWS on the Council and shall chair the Student Concerns Committee.

Section 11. Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for editing the organization newsletter ("Network news") in a timely manner and shall serve as a member of the Publications Committee. The Newsletter Editor is appointed by the Publications Committee.

Section 12. Journal Editor. The Journal Editor shall be responsible for editing the SWS Journal, Gender & Society, for maintaining liaison with the Publisher of the Journal on an on-going basis, and for submitting a written budget and financial statement to the Treasurer each year. The Journal Editor is appointed by the Publications Committee. The Journal Editor will serve ex-officio on the Publications Committee and will report each year at the Winter and Summer Meetings on the financial and editorial status of the journal. In addition to the Journal Editor, the Publications Committee may appoint a separate Book Review Editor for the Journal. The Book Review Editor will also serve on the Publications Committee. At the discretion of the Publications Committee and with the approval of Council, any or all of the positions of Newsletter Editor, Journal Editor and Book Review Editor may be held by a team rather than a single individual. Each team of editors shares the single vote on the Publications Committee accorded to that position.

Section 13. Electronic Communications Officers. The list serve manager and web page manager constitute the electronic communications officers. They are responsible for maintaining active liaison with the Executive Office regarding current membership lists, managing communication with members and appropriate access to electronic material posted on behalf of the organization, and overseeing the organization"s use of electronic communications technology. Electronic Communications officers are appointed by Council and serve on the Membership Committee.

Section 14. Executive Officer. The Executive Officer will be appointed and annually reviewed by the Council in executive session. The Executive Officer shall sign contracts and disperse funds within the budget approved by Council and consistent with the policy of the organization, collect dues and maintain membership records and financial accounts, supervise and direct the ongoing work of the Executive Office within guidelines established by the Council, and report in writing on the status and functioning of the organization at each General Meeting. The Executive Officer serves ex officio without vote on Council and with vote on the Executive Office and Budget Committee

 

Article VI - Meetings

There are two General Meetings of the membership each year, the Winter Meeting and the Summer Meeting. At either of these general meetings, the membership is authorized to create Ad Hoc Task Forces at the request of the President or Council and to receive their reports, to approve budgets submitted by the Executive Office and Budget Committee, to make organizational policy recommendations to the President and Council, to approve materials for public dissemination other than the regular publications of the organization, and to approve policy statements to be made on behalf of the organization.

A simple majority of yea votes at each of two successive General Meetings is required to set or change dues levels.

 

Article VII - Council

Section 1. Composition. The Council shall be composed of the General Officers, with the Executive Officer serving ex officio and without vote.

Section 2. Powers. The Council shall have full authority to conduct all business of the organization except that which is reserved to the members by these bylaws.

Section 3. Duties. The duties of the Council shall include: to provide for and maintain an office for the organization; to be responsible for all property, real and personal, owned or held by the organization and cause to be bonded all officers and employees entrusted with such property; to cause the accounts of the organization to be audited annually; to adopt an annual budget for the organization; to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the organization; to appoint such agents, attorneys and others it deems necessary; to perform such other duties as are prescribed or permitted by the State of Ohio for Boards of Directors or by these bylaws.

Section 4. Meetings. There shall be at least two meetings of the Council each year. Special meetings may be called by the President or President Elect or upon written request of three members of the Council. Fourteen days notice shall be given except for meetings held in conjunction with the General Meetings of the organization. Five members shall constitute a quorum.

 

Article VIII - Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees.

The standing committees of SWS shall be:

1. Executive Office and Budget
2. Nominations
3. Membership
4. Publications
5. Awards
6. Student Concerns
7. Scholarship and Human Rights
8. Social Action
9. Discrimination
10. Career Development
11. International
12. Sister to Sister⁵
13. Academic Justice⁶

 

Section 2. Committee Chairs. The chairs of the Social Action and Career Development committees shall be elected by the members by mail ballot in even years to serve two-year terms. The chairs of the Discrimination, Awards, and International committees shall be elected by the members by mail ballot in odd years to serve two-year terms. The Student Representative shall serve as chair of the Student Concerns committee during the two-year term of that office. The Treasurer shall serve as chair of the Executive Office and Budget committee during the two-year term of that office. The Past President will chair the Nominations and the Scholarship and Human Rights Committees during the one-year term of that office. The Vice-President chairs the Membership Committee during the two-year term of that office.

The co-chairs of the Publications Committee shall be elected by this committee from among its members for staggered two-year terms. Each year one of the members of the second year cohort of the Publications Committee will be elected co-chair to serve for two years.³

For the Sister to Sister Committee⁵ and the Committee on Academic Justice ⁶ , one co-chair shall be elected each year, to serve staggered two-year terms

Section 3. Committee Members. Chairs and members of committees shall be SWS members in good standing.

Members of the Executive Office and Budget Committee are the Treasurer (chair), Deputy Treasurer, Chairs⁴ of the Publications Committee, President and Past President, with the Journal Editor and Executive Officer serving ex officio with vote.

Two members of the Nominations Committee will be elected each year each to serve two-year terms. The Secretary and the Past President (chair) also serve on the Nominations Committee during their terms of office.

The chairs of each award-conferring subcommittee serve as members of the Award Committee, along with the elected chair and the President. Members of the Award Committee as a body appoint the members and chairs of separate award-conferring subcommittees to staggered terms covering two award cycles for each award. Two members⁸ will be elected to the Awards Committee in staggered years to serve 2-year terms. ¹

Two members of the Membership Committee will be elected each year to serve two-year terms. The Vice President (chair), Student Representative, Electronic Communications Officers and the Secretary also serve on the Membership Committee during their terms of office.

Two members of the Career Development Committee will be elected in staggered years to serve two-year terms.²

The Publications Committee consists of the Treasurer, the Journal, Newsletter and Book Review editors and six members elected by the membership to serve staggered three-year terms.

Members of all other committees are appointed to one-year terms by the committee chair. The President serves as ex officio liaison to them but with the consent of Council may delegate this responsibility to any other member of Council. The Vice-President serves ex officio with vote on the Social Action Committee.

Section 4. Ad HocTask Forces and Special Committees. The President-Elect may appoint chairs and members to program and/or local arrangements committees for help in organizing the Winter and Summer Meetings. The President with the advice and consent of Council may appoint chairs for Ad Hoc Task Forces to deal with specific organizational mandates. Task Force members may be self-nominated and appointed by the chair. These Task Forces shall be reviewed annually by the Council, and renewed or discharged.

Section 5. Additional Standing Committees. Additional standing committees may be created by majority vote of the Council.

 

Article IX - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

 

Article IX - Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1. Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by any two members in writing to the Executive Officer, submitted to Council for its advice and recommendation, and by decision of Council or by majority vote at a General Meeting, submitted to the membership for decision.

Section 2. Amendments shall be voted upon by the members by mail ballot or by successive votes at two General Meetings. A three-fifths vote of those returning ballots by a date clearly marked upon the ballot (in the case of mail ballots) or of those present and voting at each of the two General Meetings shall be necessary for adoption.

 

 

Bylaws approved by ballot October, 2002.

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^1. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Winter 2004 and Summer 2004.

^2. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Summer 2004 and Winter 2005.

^3. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Winter 2005 and Summer 2005.

^4. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Winter 2005 and Summer 2005.

^5. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Summer 2006 and Winter 2007.

^6. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Summer 2007 and Winter 2008.

^7. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Winter 2010 and Summer 2010.

^8. Amended by vote of members of general meeting in Winter 2011 and Summer 2011.