Constitution

Article I - Name and Affiliation
Article II - Purpose and Mission
Article III - Membership
Article IV - Board of Directors
Article V - Officers and Executive Committee
Article VI - Standing Committees
Article VII - Executive Secretary
Article VIII - Meetings
Article IX - Fiscal Year
Article X - Amendments to the Constitution
Article XI - Ratification
Article XII - Dissolution

ARTICLE I

Name and Affiliation

Section 1.
Name. The name of this organization is the Arkansas Distance Learning Association. (ARDLA)

Section 2.
Affiliation. The Arkansas Distance Learning Association (ARDLA) is an affiliate chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

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ARTICLE II

Purpose and Mission

Section 1.
Organizational Purposes. The Arkansas Distance Learning Association is a Non-profit association formed to promote the development and application of distance learning to education, training, research, business, and communications in Arkansas. Among the constituents we represent and serve are K-12 education, higher education, continuing education, adult education, self-directed learning, business and governmental training, training organizations, library services, business and governmental communications, and the communications industry.

Section 2.
Mission Statement The mission of the Arkansas Distance Learning Association is to provide leadership within the State of Arkansas for the field of distance learning. As part of that mission, the association will pursue the following objectives:

• Advocacy. To advocate and promote the use of distance learning.
  
• Primary Source of Information. To be the first and best source of information on distance learning within Arkansas.
  
• Policy. To represent distance learning policy and regulatory issues before government.
  
• Recognition. To provide recognition of the outstanding achievements in statewide distance learning through an annual awards program.
  
• Publicity. To publicize the activities and achievements of the association.
  
• Publications. To provide information and case studies of sucessful distance learning programs through its official newsletter and other publication.
  
• Partnerships. To serve as a catalyst for the formation of partnerships between education, business and government in regards to distance learning.
  
• Consulting. To provide advice, ideas, and recommendations regarding distance learning
  in Arkansas.

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ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1.
Membership. Open membership as established by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.
Membership year. The membership year of the association shall be from January 1st to December 30th.

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ARTICLE IV

Board of Directors

Section 1.
Function and Authority. The affairs of this association shall be managed by a Board of Directors which shall also be the governing body of the association with power to formulate policies of the association consistent with its purposes and subject to any specific directions of the membership as adopted at any duly held membership meeting. 

The Board of Directors shall have authority to conduct all business pertaining to the association between official meetings of the membership. The Board of Directors shall be the custodian of all property and shall assume all responsibility of its finances.

The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  The duties and stipend of such Executive Secretary shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.
Nomination, Election and Tenure. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, the immediate Past-President, and additional elected members as set forth, and such non-voting ex-officio members as may be set forth in the Bylaws. The Directors shall be nominated, elected, and shall serve for such terms in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws pertaining thereto.

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ARTICLE V

Officers and Executive Committee

Section 1.
Designation. The Officers of this association shall consist of a President, Past President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Nominations, elections, duties, and terms of office shall be set forth in the Bylaws. No later than the annual meeting each year a full slate of officers (i.e., President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) shall be nominated and elected in accordance with the procedures established by the Bylaws. Any interim officer of the Association- i.e., one who is appointed to fill the unexpired term of a vacated officer position- shall be nominated by an elected member of the Board of Directors and then appointed by the President, and shall serve until a successor is duly elected by the membership.

Section 2.
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for the execution of the policy decisions for overseeing the day to day operation of the Association. The Executive Committee is made up of: 1) President, 2) Vice President, 3) Past President, 4) Secretary, 5) Treasurer.

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ARTICLE VI

Standing Committees

Section 1.
Designation. When determined as necessary by the Board of Directors, there may be nine Standing Committees of this Association, to be designated as: Membership, Publicity, Nominations and Election, Awards, Publication, Legislation, Conference, Professional Development, and Finance committees.  The duties of such committees shall be set forth in the Bylaws.

Section 2. 
Other Committees. Other Standing and Special Ad Hoc Committees may be created by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Bylaws.

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ARTICLE VII

Executive Secretary

Section 1.
Employment. The Board of Directors may employ an Executive Secretary to serve at the pleasure of the Board, with duties and stipend to be as determined by the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE VIII

Meetings

Section 1.
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet at least four times annually in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws.

Section 2.
Membership Meetings. There shall be regular meetings of the Board of Directors once each month during the year.  Such regular meetings and special meetings shall all be held in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws.  There shall also be a special annual meeting of the association, at which (a) the annual election of officers will take place, (b) applicable awards will be presented during an awards dinner, and (c) various speakers, presentations, vendor displays, and other activities will take place.  The annual meeting may substitute for that month's monthly meeting of the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE IX

Fiscal Year

Section 1.
The fiscal year of the Arkansas Distance Learning Association shall be from January 1st to December 30th inclusive.

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ARTICLE X

Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1.
Initiation. Proposed amendments to the ARDLA Constitution may be initiated by the Board of Directors, Special or Ad Hoc Committees appointed by the Board of Directors for the purposes of recommending or proposing amendments to the Constitution, or by petition of five percent (5%) of the Association membership.

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ARTICLE XI

Ratification

Section 1.
Membership Vote. This Constitution shall become effective when ratified by a vote of a majority of the members present at the annual meeting of the Arkansas Distance Learning Association or by a majority vote from a special election either by mail or at a called meeting.

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ARTICLE XII

Dissolution

Section 1.
Dissolution. Should the Arkansas Distance Learning Association dissolve for whatever reason, all its assets shall be distributed to like organizations which qualify under Section 501 (c) (3).

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