BY-LAWS of ATEL

Membership | General Assembly | Executive Committee | Sub-Committees | Financial Matters | Elections | Dissolution | Amendments

1. Name and Status
The name of the association shall be “Association of Teachers of English in Lebanon.” It is legally recognized as a non-profit organization by the Ministry of Education in the Lebanese government under decree 111/AW.
2. Purpose
The Association, having no political or religious affiliations, shall have the following purposes:

To advance English language teaching in Lebanon

To stimulate the professional development of teachers of English in Lebanon by collecting and disseminating useful information about new developments in the field

To organize conferences, seminars, workshops, discussions and study groups pertinent to ELT

To promote the exchange of ideas in the field of ELT with educational and cultural organizations and associations, both nationally and internationally

To publish and distribute educational newsletters and other ELT materials

To organize and undertake any activities to further the above purposes.

3. Membership
3.1 Eligibility

3.1.1 Any adult (21 years old and over) of Lebanese nationality who is currently involved in the teaching of English at any educational level for at least five years is eligible for membership.

3.1.2 Any adult (21 years old and over) of non-Lebanese nationality who is currently involved in the teaching of English at any educational level for at least five years is eligible for membership, provided that the number does not exceed 25% of the total number of members.

3.2 Dues

3.2.1 The annual membership due shall be L.L. 25,000.

3.2.2 Membership lasts for one year (January 1 till December 31 of that year).

3.3 Rights and Responsibilities

3.3.1 A member shall receive a membership card, the ATEL Newsletter and up-dated information on activities and events.

3.3.2 A member who has fulfilled all the conditions of membership has the right to vote.

3.3.3 A member loses membership if ethical misconduct towards the Association has been proven, if financial obligations have been neglected and / or if membership conditions have been broached.

  
 
 
4. General Assembly  
4.1 The meeting in one place of the members of the Association, duly convened in accordance with the provision of the Association’s constitution, shall constitute a General Assembly.

4.2 The General Assembly shall convene once a year for an annual regular business meeting to be held no later than the first Sunday of January.

4.3 The General Assembly is called to convene for the following purposes:

To approve the Annual Report of the Executive Committee

To be presented with an audited statement of the accounts of the Association during the previous year ending December 31

To approve the budget of the current year

To elect the Executive Committee by secret ballot

To present all proposed and approved resolutions to the Executive Committee

To consider any motion to amend the Association Constitution

To consider any motion to dissolve the Association

To transact other business as may appear on the Agenda

4.4 All motions shall be deemed to be carried by a simple majority except those relating to amendments in the Constitution, which shall require the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the registered members.

4.5 Other meetings of the General Assembly shall be convened by the President, when necessary, in any of the following ways:

Upon the request of the Executive Committee

Upon a written request made by 10% of the members specifying the exact purpose of the meeting

  
5. Executive Committee
5.1 The Association shall be governed by an Executive Committee

5.2 The Committee shall have the power to govern and represent the Association and determine its policies in accordance with the Constitution and by-laws.

5.3 The Committee shall consist of nine (9) officers elected by secret ballot: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Deputy-Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy-Treasurer, Educational Officer, Deputy-Educational Officer and Government Liaison Officer.

5.4 The Committee shall perform the following:

Raise, manage and control all Association funds

Publish and distribute any worthy publication not in conflict with the Association’s charter

Maintain a directory of Association members

Undertake activities that would further the purpose of the Association

Call for the assistance of any expert in any technical, financial and or educational matter who shall be considered as a consultant

Appoint employees in exchange for a fixed salary decided on by a majority of the members of the Committee.

5.5 The elected Committee presided by the eldest member shall call for a secret ballot election to assign the offices.

5.6 A member of the Committee can be assigned no more than two (2) offices.

5.7 Officers and Functions

5.7.1 The President:

Shall have the power to convene the Associations’ General Assembly and Executive Committee according to the regulations of the By-Laws

Shall preside over meetings of the General Assembly and of the Executive Committee

Shall represent the Association in person or by a delegate before all official and private authorities

Shall, together with the Treasurer, sign all financial agreements on behalf of the Association

Shall oversee the execution of all decisions rendered by the General Assembly and the Executive Committee

5.7.2 The Vice-President:

Shall assume all the functions of the President during his/her absence or temporary disability (If the President and the Vice-President are absent, the eldest member shall preside over the meeting.)

Shall become the President for the remaining term of the Presidency in case of resignation, disability or death of the President

5.7.3 The Secretary:

Shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Association which shall be forwarded to the President

Shall be responsible for the administration of the Association’s office

Shall be responsible for keeping and filling the minutes of the meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee

5.7.4 The Deputy-Secretary:

Shall assume all the functions of the Secretary during his/her absence or temporary disability

Shall become the Secretary for the remaining term of office in case of resignation, disability or death of the Secretary

5.7.5 The Treasurer:

Shall be responsible for the funds in his possession and the accounts of the Association

Shall present an annual Financial Report incorporating and audited Balance Sheet and an Income and Expense Account and the Budget for the current year

Shall submit the said Report to the Executive Committee for approval and distribution to the members of the Association

Shall, together with the President, sign all financial agreements on behalf of the Association

Shall send copies of the Financial Reports to the Association’s office for filing

5.7.6 The Deputy-Treasurer:

Shall assume all the functions of the Treasurer during his/her absence or temporary disability

Shall become the Treasurer for the remaining term of office in case of resignation, disability or death of the Treasurer.

5.7.7 Educational Officer:

Shall make all necessary arrangements in connection with events and activities organized by the Association

Shall be responsible for all publications produced by the Association

5.7.8 Deputy-Educational Officer:

Shall assume all the functions of the Educational Officer during his/her absence or temporary disability

Shall become the Educational Officer for the remaining term of office in case of resignation, disability or death of the Educational Officer

5.7.9 Government Liaison Officer:

Shall carry out Association business related to the Lebanese Government

Shall hold copies of all official papers and transactions between the Association and the Government

Shall send all original copies of official papers and transactions between the Association and the Government for filing

5.8 Meetings

5.8.1 The Committee shall meet at least once a month at the day and time appointed by the President.

5.8.2 The Committee shall also meet at any time on a call by the President on his/her initiative.

5.8.3 A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

5.8.4 Prior to each meeting, the minutes of the former session shall be read and approved.

5.9 Term of Office

5.9.1 The term of office for the Committee shall be three (3) years.

5.9.2 If there are three (3) vacancies in the Executive Committee and more than six (6) months to its tenure, elections shall be held to fill those vacancies.
6 Sub-Committees  
6.1 Regional Committees

6.1.1 A number of Regional Committees composed of Coordinators will be appointed by the Executive Committee to cover the different geographical areas of the country.

6.1.2 Committee membership shall be open to all registered members of the Association.

6.1.3 The Executive Committee shall be entitled to appoint Committee members when this is deemed necessary.

6.1.4 The President of the Association shall call the members of the Committees or any Committee separately when this is deemed appropriate and desirable.

6.1.5 Each Committee shall elect a Chair and a Secretary.

6.1.6 The function of a Regional Committee is

To preserve constant contact between the members and the Association

To aid the Executive Committee in the distribution of the Newsletter, other publications and announcements

To forward to the Executive Committee recommendations of members in connection with the development and promotion of ELT

To organize activities in its region after acquiring the consent of the Executive Committee

To assist the Executive Committee in the gathering of the Membership Annual Fees

To promote the mission of the Association to recruit additional members

6.2 Disciplinary Committee

6.2.1 The Executive Committee shall be entitled to appoint three members from the General Assembly.

6.2.2 The President of the Executive Committee shall chair this Committee.

6.2.3 The Secretary of the Executive Committee shall record the proceedings of this Committee.

6.2.4 The Executive Committee shall refer charges of moral or material damage to the Association to the Disciplinary Committee.

6.2.5 The function of the Disciplinary Committee shall be to determine whether an offence has been committed and to submit a motion as to the offense and the penalty.

6.2.6 The resolution of the said motion and penalty shall require the vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee.

6.2.7 The offender shall be allowed to object before the General Assembly once notification is received.

6.3 Nominating and Elections Committee

6.3.1 The Nominating and Elections Committee consists of the three (3) eldest members of the General Assembly.

6.3.2 The function of the Nominating and Elections Committee is

To prepare a slate of nominees for the following General Election

To present the said slate to the Executive Committee before elections to be made available to all members before the elections

To obtain the consent of each candidate before placing his/her name in the ballot

To prepare relevant biographical information about each candidate to accompany the ballots mailed to the members

6.4 The Executive Committee may appoint committees from among its members or the active members of the Association to assist in the carrying out of the business and programs of the Association.

 

  

 

 
7. Financial Matters
7.1 The finances of the Association shall consist of Annual Membership Fees (L.L. 20,000), public funding, donations, grants and wills.

7.2 All income to the Association shall be entrusted to the Treasurer and shall be recorded in accordance with numbered receipts.

7.3 All expenditures paid by the Association shall be made by vouchers signed by the Treasurer and the President or Vice-President.

7.4 The whole of the income and property of the Association shall be applied solely to the promotion of its objects as set out in the Constitution, and no part thereof shall be paid directly or indirectly to any member of the Association, provided that this rule shall not prevent the payment of reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or member in return for any services actually rendered to the Association.

7.5 No member of the Association shall be appointed to any salaried office of the Association. However, this rule shall not preclude the reimbursement of any expenses incurred in the service of the Association.
   
8. Elections  
8.1 Two (2) months before the end of tenure of the Executive Committee, the Committee shall issue an invitation to an elections meeting and shall request all members to send nominations for new officers on the Executive Committee. The invitation shall specify the place, date and hour of the elections meeting.

8.2 After issuing the invitation, the Executive Committee shall appoint the Nominating and Elections Committee, which is entrusted with receiving nominations for the elections and the management of the elections meeting.

8.3 The Committee shall not accept nominations unless submitted at least one (1) month before the elections day.

8.4 The Secretary shall present the report of the Nominating and Elections Committee to the members at least thirty (30) days before the elections day.

8.5 Objections to the Committee report are accepted no later than one (1) week before the elections day. Such objections shall be resolved within forty-eight (48) hours by the Executive Committee.

8.6 There shall be no nominations form the floor at the elections day.

8.7 The elections shall be supervised by the Nominating and Elections Committee in the presence of a Delegate from the Department of Political and Administrative Affairs, Ministry of Interior.

8.8 If on the appointed date a quorum is not constituted, the elections meeting shall be deferred to another date within two (2) weeks of the first meeting. Any number then present shall constitute a quorum.

8.9 Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by active members by secret ballot for a term of three years. The Executive Committee members shall hold office until their successors are elected.

8.10 Proxy votes shall not be considered valid.

8.11 The results of the elections shall be by plurality or by acclamation where only one candidate has been nominated.

8.12 In the event of equality of votes, the senior nominee first by term of membership and second by age shall be considered to have been elected.

8.13 The Nominating and Elections Committee shall prepare and sign minutes of the elections meeting under the supervision of the Delegate from the Department of Political and Administrative Affairs, Ministry of Interior.

8.14 All members of the Executive Committee are eligible for re-election at the end of the term of office.

8.15 The General Assembly shall call for the election of a new Executive Committee before the end of the tenure of the serving Committee if such a motion is submitted by one-third of the Association’s members and approved by two-thirds.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
9. Dissolution
9.1 In the event of the dissolution of the Association, its assets, property and cash shall revert to the Lebanese Red Cross after paying or making provision for the payment of all its debts and liabilities.

9.2 No dissolution of any kind shall take place if sixty (60) active members are willing to carry on the business of the Association.
10. Amendments
10.1 No amendment to the Constitution shall take effect until the same has been confirmed by a two-thirds majority of the members present at the General Assembly meeting or a special general meeting convened for that purpose.

10.2 Notice of each proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Secretary in writing at least six (6) weeks prior to the meeting.

10.3 Any such proposed amendment shall be distributed to all members thirty (30) days before the amendment is voted on.