1.Membership
Membership in the William Carlos Williams Society is voluntary and has no restrictions.
2. Society Officers
Officers will consist of a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer or a secretary and a treasurer, and immediate past president. The term for each position is three calendar years, except for the immediate past president, who will serve for two years. New Officers will assume office in January. Candidates for these offices will be nominated by officers or current members with approval from the nominees.
3. Duties of the Officers
a) The president will be responsible for convening bi-annual officer meetings, organizing elections for new officers, and planning the Biennial Conference of the Society. In addition, with the assistance of the vice president, and other officers, the president will be responsible for publication of notices of meetings for the annual MLA and ALA conventions, including the announcement of topic(s) and calls for papers; organizing meetings, including determination and announcement of topic(s); and submission of all necessary paperwork for these sessions. At the president’s discretion, this process may be carried out by inviting another qualified individual to take charge of the meeting arrangements.
The president will schedule a general business meeting annually: at the ALA or MLA Convention or the Biennial Conference. A quorum of 1 officer plus at least 2 members must be present for a meeting to be officially representative of the Society. It is assumed that the president will work closely in conjunction with the other Officers, and the Advisory Council, when appropriate, to reflect the interests of the general membership.
b) The vice president will assist the president in the above-mentioned duties and, in case of illness or other necessity, act on the president’s behalf in carrying out these responsibilities.
c) The secretary is responsible for supporting the board in society programming, often including the writing of conference CFPs and the judging of society prizes, like the Peterson Essay Prize. The secretary also keeps notes at general membership meetings.
d) The secretary/treasurer or treasurer will make a brief report regarding the status of the treasury at the Society’s annual business meeting. The secretary also keeps records of each planning session, which will be transferred to his/her successor.
4. Projects and Initiatives
The Society will maintain a web page and maintain digital resources, including the digital concordance. In the interests of the Society membership, the officers or members of the Advisory Council, may initiate projects associated with the mission and purpose of the Society. Notices will be distributed through the society webpage or through the email list of Society members.
5. Advisory Council
The Advisory Council will include past officers, or others, with an interest in contributing to the Society, or to sharing particular interests and/or expertise, such as coordination of social media accounts and maintaining the web site of the Society.
6. William Carlos Williams Review
Officers and members of the Society will, when appropriate, advise the editor and/or editorial board of the William Carlos Williams Review.
7. By-Law Changes
Any change in these By-Laws will be approved by a vote of the Officers and the members of the Advisory Council. The changes must be shared with the members of the Society in the fall before the year in which the change will take effect.
8. Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the Society any remaining assets will be used exclusively for exempt purposes, such as charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes.
By-law signatories
Dr. Elin Käck, Linköping University, President
Dr. Kate Schnur, CUNY Queens College, Vice President
Dr. Stephen Hahn, William Paterson University emeritus, Treasurer
Dr. Mark C. Long, Immediate Past President
The By-Laws have been reviewed and updated in 1996, 2008, 2021, and 2026.
