Constitution
I. Name of the Organization
The name of the organization shall be the Edith Wharton Society.
II. Purpose
The purpose of the Edith Wharton Society is to offer Wharton scholars and other interested persons an opportunity to share in the study and appreciation of the life and works of this author. Through annual meetings, special conferences, and its journal, the Edith Wharton Society provides a forum for Wharton studies.
III. Membership
A. Membership is open to anyone interested in the study and appreciation of Edith Wharton's life work. Individuals become members upon payment of dues to the Treasurer.
B. Membership dues shall be set by the Executive Board.
IV Meetings
A. An annual membership meeting shall be held for reporting to the membership and conducting business. The meeting shall take place concurrently with the annual meeting of the Modern Language Association of America.
B. Special meetings of the Society may be called by the Executive Board. Members shall be given at least sixty days notice of such meetings.
V. Officers and Their Responsibilities
A. The officers of the Wharton Society shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Editor of the Edith Wharton Review.
B. The President shall serve as the head of the Executive Board, preside at the annual meeting of the Society and at special Society meetings, insure that sessions on Wharton are organized for the Modern Language Association convention and the American Literature convention,and have general supervision of the Society, including the appointment of committee chairs and members as appropriate, and the assignment of tasks to other officers as needed. The President shall ordinarily propose a topic for and chair at least one annual Edith Wharton session at the Modern Language Association convention. In consultation with the Executive Board, the President shall prepare an agenda for the annual meeting and any special Society meetings. The President or his/her designee shall act as representative of the Society to other organizations. If the President is incapacitated, the Vice-President shall perform these duties.
C.
The Vice-President shall ordinarily propose a topic for and chair one
Edith Wharton session at the annual American Literature Association
convention. The
Vice President shall chair the Program Committee.
D. The Secretary shall take and distribute minutes of all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Board, shall keep minutes of previous meetings,and shall cause a written record of these meetings to pass on to the next Secretary. The Secretary shall communicate with others and chair the Nominations Committee.
E. The Treasurer shall collect membership dues and keep financial and membership records and shall maintain stewardship of the finances of the Society. The Treasurer shall report, in writing, at least once annually to the Executive Board on the financial status of the Society, including giving a written report on all income to and disbursements of the Society.
F. The Editor of the Edith
Wharton Review shall prepare, publish, and distribute the Review. The Editor may appoint an Associate Editor to
assist with these functions and to sit in on Executive Board meetings when the
Editor is not available.
G. Each officer and member at large shall serve for a term of two years, excepting the Treasurer, who serves for a two-year renewable term, and the Editor, who serves for a five-year renewable term. To achieve continuity, other officers shall ordinarily succeed one another, the Vice-President becoming President, and the Secretary, Vice-President.
H. Topics for second Edith Wharton sessions at the Modern Language Association and American Literature Association conferences may be selected from proposals made by any member at a Wharton session at the prior year's convention or by proposals solicited by the Society in advance.
I. Officers and Members at Large of the Executive Board are encouraged to propose sessions on Edith Wharton at regional conferences.
VI. Executive Board
A. The governing body of the Edith Wharton Society shall be the Executive Board. The Board shall be composed of the five officers and at least two at-large elected representatives who are also members of the Edith Wharton Society.
B. The Executive Board shall not exceed eleven members. A majority of the members of the Board shall be considered a quorum.
C. The Executive Board shall meet at least once a year.
D. The Executive Board shall review the financial status of the Society at each annual meeting and be empowered to appropriate funds from the Treasury for Society business. The Executive Board shall supervise the actions of the standing committees and exercise all powers not herein assigned to other parties.
E. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Executive Board and the Society in all parliamentary situations.
VII. Elections
A. Officers and members of the Executive Board shall be elected by mail-in ballot.
B. The Nominations Committee shall solicit nominations for office during the months of January through March and by April 15th submit a slate of officers to the President, who shall announce the slate at the American Literature Association convention and in writing to the membership.
C. The Elections Committee shall prepare ballots, mail them to members, establish deadlines for voting, tabulate results, and report results to the President by December 1st.
D. Results will be announced to the membership at the Annual meeting of the Society and, afterward, posted on the Edith Wharton Society website.
VIII. Committees
A. There shall be three standing committees formed from the Society membership.
1. Program: This committee, chaired by the Vice President, shall plan, publicize, and organize Society activities that do not fall within the responsibilities of the Society officers and the Executive Board. Among these might be conferences on Edith Wharton and activities such as the Spring Walking Tour in New York.
2. Nominations: This committee, chaired by the Secretary, shall prepare a slate of nominees for the annual election as provided for in section VII of this Constitution.
3. Election: This committee shall act according to
the election rules set forth in section VII of this Constitution. It's
chair, who may not be a member of the Executive Board, will be chosen by the
President in consultation with the Executive Board.
B. Members may nominate themselves or other members for committee appointments to be made by the President at least one month prior to the annual meeting.
C. The Executive Board, on behalf of the Society, may create or dissolve ad hoc committees in order to perform specific tasks or forward specific goals.
IX. Amendments
A. Amendments to the Society constitution may be proposed by the Executive Board or by any Society member presenting a petition signed by at least five other members. All proposed amendments must be presented to the President at least one month prior to the annual meeting.
B. The Edith Wharton Society constitution may be amended by two-thirds of the members voting at the annual meeting.
1983. Amended
December 1984
December 1988
December 1991
December 1992
December 1995
May 2001
December 2003. Voted on and approved at the MLA 2003
business meeting.