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BYLAWS

DCA Bylaws PDF File (click here)

Revisions last approved 08/23/2014

Significant exerpts follow:

REGISTERED OFFICE

The registered office of the corporation required by the Montana Nonprofit Corporation Act to be maintained in the State of Montana may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office in the State of Montana, and the address of the registered office and registered agent may be changed from time to time by the board of directors. Principal office and mailing address shall be:

Design Communication Association
160 Cheever Hall
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana 59717-3760

MANAGEMENT BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its board of directors. When there is a chairman of the board of directors present, the chairman shall preside at all meetings of the directors.

NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF DIRECTORS

The number of directors of the corporation shall be ten(10), which number may be increased or decreased (but not to less than three (3)) by amendment to this bylaw, but no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. The Board of Directors shall consist of the corporation’s officers, namely: President, Conference Chair/President Elect, Treasurer, Executive Secretary, Journal Editor, Website Editor, Electronic Newsletter Editor, Exhibition Coordinator, Blog Editor, and Proceedings Editor. Each director shall hold office for a term of two (2) years and until a successor has been elected and qualified, unless the director sooner resigns or is removed as provided in these Bylaws. Directors need not be residents of the State of Montana.

REGULAR MEETINGS

A regular meeting of the board of directors shall be held no less than biennially at a time and place to be announced by the board of directors.

NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF OFFICERS

The officers of this corporation shall include a President, Conference Chair/President-Elect, Treasurer, Executive Secretary, Journal Editor, Website Editor, Electronic Newsletter Editor, Exhibition Coordinator, Blog Editor, and Proceedings Editor. In the discretion of the Board of Directors it shall be permissible to elect assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Such other officers and assistant officers and agents as may be deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the board of directors. The President shall serve as chairman of the board of directors. In the absence of the president, the conference chair/president-elect shall serve as chairman.

ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE

The officers of the corporation shall be elected biennially for two-year terms by the membership at the even year international conference. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as is convenient. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected or until the officer's death, resignation or removal. The officers shall have such duties, in addition to those expressed herein, as the board of directors shall specify from time to time. A designation of a specified term does not grant to the officer any contract rights, and the board can remove the officer at any time prior to the termination of the designated term.

PRESIDENT

The president shall be the principal executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the control of the board of directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the corporation. The president may sign any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors or by these bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed, and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president. The president shall coordinate the yearly calendar, respond to the needs of the membership, set the agenda for the biennium, represent the group to the public, to professions and to other organizations. The president shall keep records of the board’s activities, schedule and coordinate board meetings, and promote communication among officers, regional directors and the advisory board.

CONFERENCE CHAIR/PRESIDENT-ELECT

The conference chair shall organize and manage the biennial conference and all related correspondence. S/he shall plan conference activities, invite speakers, decide on conference theme, etc. In the absence of the president or in the event of the president's death, inability or refusal to act, the president-elect shall perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The president-elect shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the president. The president-elect shall maintain contact with other organizations, assist the president, plan for the future, and assume the presidency for the following biennium.

TREASURER

Design Communication Association Headquarters shall provide for the office of treasurer. The treasurer, at headquarters, shall: (a) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation; (b) receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the board of directors shall select; and (c) in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the treasurer. If required by the board of directors, the treasurer shall furnish a bond for the faithful discharge of duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the board of directors shall determine. The treasurer shall maintain the organization’s membership list, maintain accounts and bookkeeping records for the organization, and report all financial dealings.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The executive secretary shall maintain membership records, provide information and notices to members, recruit new members, outreach efforts, and promote organizational growth.

JOURNAL EDITOR

The journal editor shall manage journal content, arrange paper reviews, and coordinate the design and production of the biannual journal. The DCA Journal (Representation) will consist of 8-10 papers selected by the Journal Editorial Board from the latest DCA Proceedings. It will also publish selected and award-winning entries in the DCA Biannual Drawing Exhibition. It will be published and distributed in each off-conference year.

WEBSITE EDITOR

Design Communications Association headquarters shall operate and maintain the official DCA website. The website editor at headquarters shall coordinate content and maintain the DCA website. The website shall be updated semi-annually at a minimum, timing to be in conjunction with the publication of Opportunities (March, October). Each Regional Director is responsible for providing newsletter copy material from their region for publication once per year at a minimum.

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER EDITOR

The electronic newsletter editor shall maintain the newsletter mailing list, solicit, review content, produce and disseminate Opportunities, the DCA newsletter. The DCA newsletter (Opportunities) will be published semi-annually at a minimum (March, October) in downloadable electronic format (PDF). The newsletter editor also functions as recording secretary at board meetings and at the biennial business meeting.

EXHIBITION COORDINATOR

The Exhibition Coordinator will organize and coordinate the DCA Juried Design Communication Exhibition which is held in conjunction with the biennial conference. The Exhibition Coordinator will develop and disseminate the Call for Submissions, contact and organize external jurors to review submissions, and disseminate exhibition results. The Exhibition Coordinator will be assisted by the Exhibition Liaison appointed by the Conference Chair(s). The Exhibition Liaison shall be responsible for organizing and overseeing the Exhibition held at the conference venue during the Biennial Conference.

PROCEEDINGS EDITOR

The proceedings editor shall manage journal content, arrange paper reviews, and coordinate the design and production of the biannual proceedings. The DCA Proceedings will consist of all selected juried papers and will be published concurrent with the Biennial Conference.

BLOG EDITOR

The Blog Editor shall operate, maintain, and moderate the official DCA blog. The blog editor will manage the site and coordinate content on a continuing basis. All DCA officers, regional directors, and active DCA members are welcome and encouraged to post to the blog site. The blog editor shall censure inappropriate, poor taste, and completely non-DCA related commentary.

JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD

The Journal Editorial Board shall consist of the President, the Journal Editor, the Proceedings Editor, and 3-5 present or past DCA Officers or Regional Directors. These additional 3-5 Board members shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion the President.

ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Board operates as a source of seasoned and experienced leadership to provide counsel to the Board of Directors in all matters involving DCA interests. The Advisory Board shall consist of all past presidents of the Design Communication Association, who serve at will and whose terms are indefinite.

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Each DCA Region shall have a regional director whose duties are as follows:

• Report items of regional interest to the Newsletter and Website Editors. Each Regional Director is responsible for providing newsletter copy material from their region for publication in the newsletter once per year at a minimum.

• Maintain contact with members, institutions, and professionals in the region and provide an active, regional source of Association information and publicity.

• Work to encourage new and ongoing membership in their region, accomplish outreach within the region, and promote the visibility and growth of DCA.

• Sponsor regional DCA activities in off international conference years such as regional conferences, workshops, seminars, meetings, local exhibitions and events as seem appropriate and compatible to the goals of the Association.

NUMBER AND CONSTITUTION OF REGIONS

The Design Communication Association shall consist of eight geographical regions, namely: northeast, southeast, east central, south central, west central, northwest, southwest, and international (continental regions).

NORTHEAST REGION - The Northeast Region shall be composed of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Quebec.

SOUTHEAST REGION - The Southeast Region shall be composed of Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

EAST CENTRAL REGION - The East Central Region shall be composed of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and eastern Ontario.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION - The South Central Region shall be composed Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.

WEST CENTRAL REGION - The West Central Region shall be composed of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, western Ontario and Saskatchewan.

NORTHWEST REGION - The Northwest Region shall be composed of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, and British Columbia.

SOUTHWEST REGION - The Southwest Region shall be composed of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.

INTERNATIONAL - The International Region(s) shall be composed of National States not including the United States and Canada. Each continent may be represented by region and regional director.