Bylaws

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American Council for Southern Asian Art

Rules and Bylaws

Part I

1. The name of the Association is the American Council for Southern Asian Art (formerly the American Committee for the History of South Asian Art; hereinafter referred to as ACSAA).
2. The object or purposes to be promoted or carried out are:
   To support the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the art and archaeology of Southern Asia by means which shall include, but shall not be limited to, the establishment of a learned association, the convening of periodic symposia, the encouragement and support of research and training, the communication and dissemination of the results of these endeavors, and co-operation with others in such undertaking.
3. It is provided that the ACSAA shall have the powers necessary or expedient for carrying on any and all activities and pursuing any and all of the objectives and purposes set forth in these rules and bylaws. It is further expressly provided that the ACSAA shall also have the power to act through its board, subcommittees, president and other officers subject to the powers and restrictions of these rules and bylaws, and to do all such acts as are necessary or convenient to the attainment of the objects and purposes herein set forth.
4. The ACSAA shall not be conducted for profit.
5. The property of the members, whether publicly or privately owned, shall not be subject to the payment of the debts of the ACSAA.

Part II

Members

1. Charter Members. The initial members of the ACSAA (formerly ACHSAA ) include the following persons:
   W. Norman Brown
   Pramod Chandra
   J. LeRoy Davidson
   Diran Dohanian
   Richard Ettinghausen
   Stella Kramrisch
   Sherman E. Lee
   Aschwin Lippe
   Prudence Myer
   John Rosenfield
   Benjamin Rowland Jr.
   Laurence Sickman
   Walter Spink
   J.A.B. van Buitenen
   Stuart C. Welch
2. Additional Members. Any scholar or person shall be eligible to become a member upon application to the ACSAA and the payment of annual dues.
3. Members Not to Represent ACSAA. No member shall attempt to represent the ACSAA, unless the ACSAA shall, by resolution, have specifically approved the action of such member.

Meetings of Members


4. Place of Meeting. Annual meetings of the members of the ACSAA shall be held at such place as the board may determine.
5. Annual Meetings. The board will hold an annual meeting. An annual meeting of the members of the ACSAA will be held for the transaction of business that may be brought before it. The meeting of the members of the ACSAA (formerly ACHSAA) held at Chicago on the 16th of July 1965 is to be considered the first Annual Meeting of the ACSAA. In the eventuality that it is not possible to hold the Annual Meeting because of absence of members, lack of finances, or for any other sufficient reason the board will be authorized to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting by circulating the necessary reports, resolutions, and such other business as may be brought before it to the ACSAA.
6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members of the ACSAA may be called at any time by the president or by a majority of the members of the ACSAA.
   The president and/or the board, shall have the authority to circulate written resolutions for action by the board and/or the ACSAA.
7. Notice of Meetings. Advance written notice of the annual meeting of the members of the ACSAA shall be given by the secretary to the membership.

Board and Other Committees


8. Board. There shall be a board consisting of the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer plus two or more members of the ACSAA. The board shall have and exercise the authority of the ACSAA in the management of the business of the ACSAA to the extent provided in a resolution or resolutions for adoption by ACSAA.
9. Other Committees. The ACSAA, may at any time and from time to time appoint such standing committees and/or special committees to perform such duties and make such investigations and reports as the ACSAA shall by resolution determine. Such committees shall determine their own organization and time and place of meeting unless otherwise directed by such resolution. The ACSAA may also name alternates to serve in the absence of any member of any committee including the board.
10. Expenses and Remuneration. Members of the ACSAA shall receive no remuneration as such, but may be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses incurred in carrying out their duties, including expenses incurred in traveling to and from the place of each meeting of the ACSAA or of any other subcommittee appointed by it. Any member of the ACSAA may receive remuneration for his/her services as an officer or agent of the ACSAA.

Officers and Agents


11. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the ACSAA shall include a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer and such other officers as the ACSAA may from time to time elect. Officers must be members of the ACSAA.
12. Election and term of office. The officers of the ACSAA shall be chosen by the membership through a ballot. Subject to earlier termination of office, each officer shall hold office for three years and until his/her successor shall been duly chosen and qualified.
13. The President. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the ACSAA and shall have general supervision over the business and operations of the ACSAA, subject, however to the control of the ACSAA. She/he may delegate authority vested in him/her to some other officers or agent of the ACSAA with its permission and shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the ACSAA or the board.
14. The Vice President. The vice president shall manage the annual election of board members and officers and work with the president to supervise business and operations of the ACSAA. At the close of his/her term, she/he may, if he/she consents, run unopposed for president.
15. The Secretary. The secretary shall record the minutes of the meetings of the ACSAA membership and the board; shall see that notices and records are properly maintained; and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the ACSAA or the president.
16. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall have charge of all receipts and disbursements of the ACSAA and shall have or provide for the custody of its funds. She/he shall have full authority to receive and give receipt for all money due and payable to the ACSAA and to endorse checks, drafts and warrants in its name and on its behalf and to give full discharge for the same; he/she shall deposit all funds of the ACSAA except such as may be required for current use in such banks or other places of deposit as the ACSAA may from time to time designate; and in general she/he shall perform all duties incident to the office of the treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the ACSAA or the president.
17. Additional Officers, Agents and Staff Members. The ACSAA may appoint such additional officers, agents and staff members as it shall consider necessary or desirable to carry out the purpose of the ACSAA. Such additional officers, agents and staff members shall have such authority and perform such duties as the ACSAA may from time to time determine.
18. Delegation of powers. The ACSAA may delegate to the board and to any subcommittee or to any officer the power to appoint, and to prescribe the duties of additional officers and agents.
19. Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the ACSAA or to the secretary.
20. Removal of officers. Any officer or agent of the ACSAA may be removed by the ACSAA whenever in its judgment the best interests of the ACSAA will be served thereby.

Financial


21. Borrowing etc. No officer, agent or employee of the ACSAA shall have any power or authority to borrow money on its behalf, to pledge its credit, or to mortgage or pledge its real and personal property, except within the scope and to the extent of the authority delegated by resolution adopted by a three-fourth majority of the ACSAA. Authority may be given by the ACSAA for any of the above purposes and may be general or limited to specific instances.
22. Deposits. All funds of the ACSAA shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the ACSAA in such banks or other depositaries as the ACSAA may approve or designate, and such funds may be withdrawn only upon checks or other instruments signed by such persons as may be authorized by the ACSAA.
23. Financial Reports. At each annual meeting of the ACSAA the treasurer shall submit a report with respect to the finances of the ACSAA, such report to include information with respect to membership dues, expenses, gifts received, and grants made by the ACSAA.

Amendments


24. Any and all of the provisions of the rules and bylaws of the ACSAA may be amended, altered or repealed by providing a summary of the proposed amendment to the membership, putting the proposed amendment to a vote of the membership and receiving a two-thirds majority of the members who cast ballots. Proposals for amendments may also be circulated for action to members of the ACSAA provided they have the previous approval of the board.