Minutes of business meeting, University of Oregon, March 27, 2015

President Lee Bickmore welcomed the approximately 30 attendees and chaired the meeting. Secretary Mike Cahill gave a brief update on the ACAL website, noting plans to add more features such as access to the ACAL membership list and interests in the near future.

Amendments to the Bylaws, having been supported by more than 10 ACAL members, were voted on and approved. The force of the amendments was to 1) bring the nomination as well as election of ACAL officers into the annual business meeting and 2) adjust wording so that the first EC members had 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms. See old and new text in the Appendix below.

The Bylaws amendments having passed, Tucker Childs was thanked for his year of service, and nominations were entertained for a new member of the Executive Committee. Michael Marlo was the sole nominee, and was duly elected.

Treasurer Sharon Rose gave a report on finances and membership. This was the first year that ACAL presenters were required to be dues-paying ACAL association members. As of that day, ACAL had 172 members, 150 of whom had paid dues (including 7 lifetime members). This produced $5585 in income. $510 was paid to register the ACAL as an organization, and $1000 was given to the University of Oregon to help with the conference, leaving a balance of $4175. (More members have paid dues since then.) We anticipate using some money for the African Linguistics School (held every two years). There are other possibilities, and the EC welcomes suggestions.

Vice President Akin Akinlabi reported on talks he had with the new ACAL publisher, Language Sciences Press (LSP). The proceedings will be free and online, and not labeled “Proceedings.” They need a series editor; at this point Bickmore and Akinlabi will fill that role. Each proceedings volume will also have a volume editor, who will be connected to the host institution. LSP wants submissions to be in LaTeX, but will do the conversion from Word this year, and assist in subsequent years as our ability grows. LSP does have an online Word to LaTeX converter/template which reputedly is easy to use. For this year’s proceedings, the University of Oregon hosts under Doris Payne, will send out an invitation to submit papers. LSP desires to have the volume posted this calendar year, so a deadline of July for papers looks probable.

The Proceedings from Georgetown (2013) are the last in our Cascadilla Press series, and are close to publication. The Proceedings from the University of Kansas (2014) will be the first with LSP, and are being edited now.

Future ACALs will be held in 2016 at the University of California-Berkeley, in 2017 at Indiana University, and 2018 at Michigan State University.

Michael Cahill, Secretary

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APPENDIX: Changes to ACAL Bylaws

Former Bylaws

Article 3. Officers and Committees.

6. Each year, the Executive Committee shall nominate at least one person for the at-large position to be filled on the Executive Committee, and every third year, one person as Vice-President (President-elect). Members may suggest potential nominees to the Executive Committee.
7. A ballot shall be submitted to all members in good standing not less than two months in advance of the annual meeting. The ballot shall contain the nominees for the position to be filled on the Executive Committee, and in every third year for the position of Vice President. In order to be elected, a nominee for a given office must receive a majority of those replies received by the Secretary as of the announced date of the close of the election. If no nominee for a given office receives a majority of the votes cast, the office shall be filled by a special election at the next meeting of the Association.

Article 6. Ratification.

1. These Bylaws shall be considered in force and binding upon the Association after approval by a meeting of the Association called for that purpose.
2. Upon adoption of these Bylaws the aforesaid meeting of the Association shall elect a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. It shall also elect three members to the Executive Committee, one to serve the same term as the Officers previously elected, the second to serve one additional year, and the third to serve two additional years.

Revised Bylaws

Article 3. Officers and Committees.

6. Each year, at least one person shall be nominated for the at-large position to be filled on the Executive Committee, and every third year, one person as Vice-President (President-elect).
7. A ballot shall be submitted to all members in good standing at the annual meeting. The ballot shall contain the nominees for the position to be filled on the Executive Committee, and in every third year for the position of Vice President. In order to be elected, a nominee for a given office must receive a majority of votes cast at the annual meeting.

Article 6. Ratification.

1. These Bylaws shall be considered in force and binding upon the Association after approval by a meeting of the Association called for that purpose.
2. Upon adoption of these Bylaws the aforesaid meeting of the Association shall elect a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. It shall also elect three members to the Executive Committee, one to serve one year, the second to serve one additional year, and the third to serve two additional years.