The Maryland Community College

Philosophy and Religion Association

Constitution

&

Statement of Purpose

Purpose:  The Maryland Community College Philosophy and Religion Association (the "Association") supports, encourages, and promotes the philosophy and religious studies programs and courses, and the faculty who teach and/or administer philosophy and religious studies programs and courses, in the community colleges in the State of Maryland. 

The Association provides a forum for members to share their interests and concerns regarding the teaching and the academic pursuit of philosophy and religious studies in the community college setting. 

The Association supports academic freedom of all faculty teaching philosophy and religious studies courses in all community colleges in the State of Maryland.

The Association is a non-profit organization.

Title of the Association:  The title of the association is: "The Maryland Community College Philosophy and Religion Association."  In all texts, the Association should be named in full at its first reference, and thereafter may be referenced as the "Association" or "MCCPRA."

 Membership:  Membership in the Association is open to all persons who teach courses in the disciplines of philosophy and/or religious studies in any of the community colleges in the State of Maryland. 

Officers:  Officers are a president, a vice president, an executive secretary, and a treasurer.  All four officers must be members of the Association. 

The president and vice president are elected by the general membership at the Association meeting held nearest to the beginning of each calendar year. 

The executive secretary and treasurer shall be appointed by the president. 

The president presides over all meetings, and the vice president shall  preside over any meeting from which the president is absent.  In the absence of both the president and vice-president, the president shall designate which member shall preside. 

All other duties are to be distributed among the officers and members according to their mutual agreement.  One member of the association may hold more than one office simultaneously, but the president and vice president must be different members.

Meetings:  The Association meets twice a year, and may meet more or less often as interest dictates.  All members must be notified of all meetings at least four weeks in advance of the meeting.

Web Page:  The Association's web page will be updated in a timely fashion, and serves to update members on Association and related activities.    

Amendments:  The Constitution and Statement of Purpose may be amended only in the following way:

1 -- any member may propose an amendment to or the deletion of any part of the Constitution and Statement of Purpose (a "proposal") at any meeting of the membership.

2 -- following the proposal, discussion of the proposal must follow.

3 -- after discussion, any member may request the proposal be "tabled" i.e., not voted on at the meeting at which it is presented, so there is time for further consideration.

4 -- the membership shall vote on request number three.  A simple majority rules.

If the majority of members vote to table the proposal, discussion of that proposal ends, but may be resumed at the request of any member at the following meeting.

5 -- if the proposal is not tabled, the attending members shall vote on the proposal following the discussion, and a simple majority shall decide whether or not the proposal is incorporated into the Association's Constitution.