AFRICAN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA CONSTITUTION

A. NAME

The name of the Association shall be the African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) hereafter referred to as the Association.

B. AIMS

The promotion and co-ordination of the research, study and teaching of African languages by means of:
(1) The publication of a journal and other appropriate literature;
(2) The organisation of regular conferences and seminars (the latter under the auspices of regional branches of the Association) to provide an opportunity for an exchange of ideas and for mutual stimulus to researchers in the fields of African languages and literature studies, especially in Southern African languages.

C. MEMBERSHIP

There shall be the following categories of membership:
(1) Ordinary Membership is open to persons with at least an Honours degree in African Languages. Membership may, however, be conferred on someone who does not satisfy this requirement, at the discretion of the Board of the Association or its Executive Committee.
(2) Honorary Membership may be conferred by the Board on persons who have made outstanding contributions to the field and the Association.
(3) Corporate Membership is open to all corporations. Membership fees shall be four times that of ordinary membership. Each corporate member is entitled to three additional copies of all ALASA publications on request. All correspondence should be directed to a specific person representing the corporate membership. Only one vote shall be allowed per corporate membership.
(4) Life Membership will be available to any ordinary member of ALASA, subject to the payment of sixteen times the annual membership fee at any given time.

The Board shall determine the membership fees. Due payment of fees shall automatically entitle a member to receipt of the Journal, and also receive other publications of the Association at a reduced cost where possible.

The Board may suspend the membership of any member for due cause, e.g. in the case of overdue fees.

Ordinary and Honorary as well as Corporate and Life Members may exercise their right to vote on any activities of the Association when personally present.

D. MEETINGS

(1) The Association will hold meetings as determined by the Executive Committee, but at least one general meeting shall be held every two years.
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(2) Audited accounts of the funds of the Association shall be put before the general meeting for the approval of the members present.
(3) The quorum shall consist of twenty members during general or special meetings of the Association.
(4) Special meetings may be called at any time at the request of at least twenty members giving a month's notice of the time, venue and purpose of the meeting.

E. THE BOARD

(1) Control of the Association shall be vested in a Board which consists of:
Chairperson
Eight other elected members
Co-opted members
and which shall represent the fields of African linguistics and literature and which shall be members of the Association.
(2) The Board shall get elected at a general meeting of the Association, and members shall hold office for two years.
(3) Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election, and at least half of the retiring members should be re-elected for the sake of continuity.
(4) The Chairperson is eligible for two successive terms of office, but can again become available for election after another two terms have elapsed.
(5) The quorum for a properly constituted Board meeting shall be 50% of the total number of Board members.
(6) The Board shall have the power to delegate its work to an Executive Committee appointed from among its members.
(7) The Board shall appoint a Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer , Coordinating editor and Editor, the Vice Chairperson and Coordinator from among its own members and the Secretary, Treasurer, Coordinating Editor and Editor either from among its own members or from outside the Board.
(8) The Board shall have powers of co-option.
(9) The responsibilities of the Board shall be:
(a) To see that the aims of the Association are carried out.
(b) To take care of the financial affairs of the Association, including the opening of such Building Society or Bank accounts as shall be considered necessary, the keeping of proper books of account, the presentation of audited accounts, etc.
(c) To determine the fees payable by the different categories of members.
(d) To supervise the publishing activities of the Association and for that purpose to appoint the Editorial Staff.
(e) To encourage the formation of branches of the Association.
(f) To arrange and assume responsibility for conferences and/or gatherings of any nature of the Association.
(g) To liaise and co-operate with other academic and professional bodies with language interests.
(h) To appoint any sub-committees which may be necessary for the carrying out of the work of the Association.
(i) To formulate any necessary regulations which will take immediate effect, within the framework of this Constitution. Such regulations shall be submitted to a general or special meeting of the Association (called specifically for this purpose) for ratification and/or modification.
(10) Any complaint made against a member of the Board shall be investigated by the other embers thereof; if as a result of such investigation, such other members deem it expedient so to do, they may formulate a recommendation for consideration by a general meeting of the Association or convene a special meeting for the purpose of placing such recommendation before it, and the meeting shall, having regard to such recommendation, take such resolution or resolutions with regard to the complaint as it may consider requisite.

F. CONFERENCES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Conferences of the Association shall be rotated, where possible, among different geographical regions. Any branch of the Association may propose to the Board that an Institution within its region whishes to host such a conference, but on the clear understanding that the Association will not be liable for any of the costs of running the conference. The hosting Institution will be entitled to charge an attendance fee to cover the costs.

G. FUNDS

(1) The Association shall establish a fund to meet the expenses of the Association and its branches. Such a fund may also be used for other worthy purposes, as the Board may decide.
(2) The Association is not permitted to distribute any of the profits or gains to any person and is required to utilize its funds solely for investment with the object or objects for which it has been established.

H. CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION

This constitution may be changed by a two-thirds majority of the members present at a general meeting of the Association or a special meeting summoned for this purpose. Full notice of proposed amendments shall be provided by the Secretary of the Association to all Members at least one month before the meeting where the proposed amendments will be dealt with.

I. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

(1) The Association may be dissolved by a three-quarters majority of the members present at a meeting of the Association especially called to consider dissolution.
(2) On winding up or liquidation of the Association, the nett assets will be given or transferred to another organisation with objects similar to those of the Association.