MAP Constitution

Article I. Name, Purpose and Membership.

  1. This association shall be known as the Medieval Association of the Pacific.
  2. The Association is organized exclusively for educational purposes, specifically the encouragement of medieval studies, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organization that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
  3. Membership shall be open to anyone interested in the purpose of the Association.

Article II. Officers.

  1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice-President,  a Secretary-Editor, a Treasurer, and a Media Officer.
  2. The Vice-President shall normally succeed the President in office.
  3. The President and Vice-President shall hold office for two years.  The Secretary-Editor, Treasurer, and Media Officer shall hold office for five years, and they may be reelected.  Terms shall begin one week after the annual members' meeting.
  4. The President shall preside at the meetings of the members and coordinate or delegate any business connected with the Association. The Vice-President shall chair the committee, consisting of first-year Councilors, to evaluate applications to the Benton- Mahoney Award and the committee, consisting of third-year Councilors, to evaluate applications to the Founders' Award. The Secretary maintains the minutes and archives of the Association and manages communications. The Treasurer maintains the membership list, receives the dues, and handles all financial aspects of the Association. In addition, the Treasurer chairs the committee, consisting of second-year Councilors, to evaluate applications to the H. A. Kelly Prize. The Media Officer manages the MAP webpage, maintains a presence on relevant social media platforms, and assists when needed with the dedicated conference website. The officers of the Association shall be nominated to the annual members' meeting by the Council or a committee thereof selected by the President.

Article III. Council.

  1. The governing body of the Association shall be a council composed of no more than twelve members of the Association and the five officers.
  2. One member of the Council shall be a graduate student representative with full voting rights.
  3. Council members shall serve a term of three years.  One third of the Council shall be elected each year.
  4. Councilors shall be nominated to the annual members' meeting by the Council or a committee thereof selected by the President.

Article IV. Members' Meeting.

  1. A meeting of the members of the Association, virtually or in person, shall be held at the annual conference to receive reports from the Officers and Council, to hold elections, and to transact necessary business.
  2. Special meetings may be called by the President, by the Council, or by the instruction of thirty members of the Association to the President.
  3. Any measure of business may be submitted by mail ballot to the membership at large by a vote of two-thirds of those present at the members' meeting.

Article V. Dissolution.

  1. Upon dissolution of the Association, assets shall be distributed to the Medieval Academy of America, as long as it remains an exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3), incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1420 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, or shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article VI. Amendments to the Constitution.

  1. Amendments to the Constitution may be made by a vote of two-thirds of the membership at the annual members' meeting.  Written notice of the proposed amendments shall be mailed to the President at least thirty days prior to the annual members' meeting.

Amended March 2010.

Amended December 2016.

Amended November 2017.

Amended April 2022.