CONSTITUTION OF THE WISCONSIN COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION
(Adopted 4/04)

Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the Wisconsin Communication Association.

Article II. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this Association shall be to unite those individuals in the state of Wisconsin with academic or professional interest in all areas of communication for the promotion of those mutual interests.
Section 2. This association is a non-profit organization which exists solely for the promotion of academic or professional interests. No part of this organization's net revenues, if any, may be used for private benefit of any individual or group.
Section 3. An annual convention to promote the purpose of the Association will be held at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Council.

Article III. Membership
There shall be eight forms of membership:
1. Regular Membership
2. Life Membership
3. Student Membership
4. Organizational Membership
5. Library Membership
6. School Membership
7. Emeritus Membership
8. One Year Complimentary Membership

Article IV. Officers
The officers of the Association shall be:
1. President
2. First-Vice President
3. Second-Vice President
4. Immediate Past President
5. Executive Secretary
6. Executive Secretary-Elect
7. Editor
8. NCA/CSCA Representative
9. Two members at large; one each from K-12 and college level

Article V. The Executive Council
There shall be an Executive Council who shall administer the affairs and execute the policies of the Association.

Article VI. Standing Committees
There shall be Standing Committees as indicated in the Bylaws.

Article VII. Interest Groups
The Association shall recognize such interest groups as shall seem appropriate to further the purpose of the Association.

Article VIII. Meetings
Normally the annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the Association's state convention. Other meetings may be called by the Executive Council with prior written notice. All business meetings of the Association require written notification to the membership at least 30 days before the meeting.

Article IX. Quorum
A quorum for the annual business meeting shall be 25 percent of the members registered at the convention.

Article X. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution and/or any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

Article X. Amendments
Amendments to this constitution may be made by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Association where previous written notice is given; or by a majority of the membership of the Association by mail ballot.

 

BYLAWS OF THE WISCONSIN COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION
(Adopted 4/04)

Article I. Membership

Section 1. Regular Membership. Regular membership shall be available to any person interested in the purpose of this Association upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association. Regular members shall have voting privileges, shall be eligible to hold office, shall receive an annual subscription to the official Journal of the Association, and shall exercise such privileges as shall accrue to regular membership.

Section 2. Life Membership. Life membership shall be available to any person interested in the purpose of this Association upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association. Life members shall have all the privileges of regular membership without the annual payment of dues.

Section 3. Student Membership. Student membership shall be available to any high school or undergraduate college or university student upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association.

Section 4. Organizational Membership. Organizational membership shall be available to any organization (professional, business, or governmental) having an interest in the purpose of the Association and upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association. Members shall receive copies of the Journal and shall have one vote in the business meeting of the Association where exercised by a registered convention delegate other than a member of the Association in another membership category. The names of all institutional members shall be published at least once a year in the Journal.

Section 5. Library Membership. Library membership shall be available to any library upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association. Library members shall receive copies of the publications of the Association. Library membership entitles the library to all the privileges of one regular membership.

Section 6. School Membership. School membership shall be available to any educational institution upon payment of dues as prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association. School membership entitles the school to all privileges of one regular membership.

Section 7. Emeritus Membership. Emeritus membership shall be available to Regular members who retire and who wish to continue their interest in the purpose of the Association upon payment of dues prescribed by the Executive Council and approved by the Association.

Section 8. One-Year Complimentary Membership. One Year Complimentary Membership shall be available to any person interested in the purpose of the Association upon nomination by a current member of the Association and approval of the Executive Council. One year complimentary members shall have al the privileges of regular membership.

Section 9. Term of Membership. Membership dues for all appropriate categories shall encompass membership for the period from the first day of the annual convention to the first day of the succeeding convention.

Article II. Officers

Section 1. Officers.
The officers of the Association shall be President, First-Vice President, Second Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Executive Secretary, Executive Secretary-elect, and Editor. The Second Vice-President is the President-elect of the Association and shall succeed to the Office of First-Vice-President for one year, and thence to the Office of President for one year. The Executive Secretary-elect shall serve in that capacity for two years and shall thence succeed to the Office of Executive Secretary for two years.

Section 2. Term of office.
The term of office of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Immediate Past President shall be for one year beginning immediately following the business meeting at which the Second Vice President is elected and continuing through the business meeting at which the subsequent regular election takes place. The term of office for the Executive Secretary, Executive Secretary-elect, and Journal Editor, shall be for two years beginning immediately following the business meeting at which elected.

Section 3. Election.
Election of appropriate officers shall take place at a business meeting of the annual convention of the Association. Normally, the election will be for Second Vice President; for one Member-at-Large each year for a two year term; and Executive Secretary-Elect in odd numbered years.

Section 4. Duties.
a. The President shall preside at all business meetings of the Executive Council and of the Association, appoint such ad hoc committees as deemed appropriate, and perform such other duties as prescribed by the Executive Council.
b. The First Vice President shall be responsible for the annual convention of the Association, shall assume the duties of the President in the latter's absence or at the latter's request, and perform such other duties as prescribed by the Executive Council.
c. The Second Vice President shall perform such duties as prescribed by the Executive Council.
d. The Executive Secretary shall collect dues, assume all financial matters of the Association at the direction of the Executive Council, keep the minutes of the meetings, maintain the membership roster, prepare a directory, handle Association correspondence, and stimulate interest in expanding membership.
e. The Executive Secretary-Elect shall serve as the Newsletter Editor and be responsible for the production and distribution of the WCA Newsletter.
f. The Journal Editor shall assume all duties required to publish and distribute the Association Journal. A four member editorial board consisting of the Editor and three others selected by the Editor shall referee Journal articles.
g. The Immediate Past President shall preside over the Advocacy Committee and perform such duties as prescribed by the Executive Council. Section

5. Vacancies.
Should a vacancy occur in any office, the presiding chairman of the Executive Council shall appoint another member of the Association to fill that portion of the unexpired term until the subsequent annual convention at which time the office shall be filled by election. No replacement for Second Vice President or First Vice President shall succeed to higher office without election at an annual convention.

Article III. The Executive Council

Section 1. Membership.
The Executive Council shall consist of the officers as listed in Article IV of the Constitution and the President of the Wisconsin Debate Coaches Association, President of the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association, President of the Alliance of Wisconsin Theatre Educators, and President of the Wisconsin High School Forensics Association. A Speech Consultant to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will be a consulting member of the Executive Council. The representatives from WCDA, WFCA, AWTE, WHSFA, and DPI are non-voting ex-officio members of the Executive Council.

Section 2. Duties.
The Executive Council shall administer the affairs and execute the policies of the Association. It shall act for the Association between conventions in carrying out all business necessary to promote the purpose of the Association.

Section 3. Dues
The Executive Council sets the annual dues subject to approval of the membership at the annual business meeting.

 

Article IV. Standing Committees

Section 1. The Awards Committee
a. The Awards Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President as the Chairperson and at least three additional members, one member from the committee of the preceding year, to be chosen by the chairperson of the committee and approved by the Executive Council.
b. The Awards Committee shall be responsible for determining the most deserving recipients of the Andrew T. Weaver Award, the Outstanding Communicator Award, and other such awards as shall be instituted by the Association. The report of the committee's selection shall be made at the annual convention of the Association.
c. Aware nominees not selected shall remain in consideration for two additional years. If not selected in that time, the nominees will not be considered unless renominated.
d. A deadline of February 1 shall be established for application.
e. Any member of the Awards Committee who is nominated for the Andrew T. Weaver Award will avoid any conflict of interest by either:
1. withdrawing from the Awards Committee.
2. deferring the nomination from consideration until committee membership duties have been completed.

Section 2. The Convention Committee.
a. The Convention Committee shall consist of the First Vice President of the Association as Chairperson, the Interest Group Chairpersons, and such additional members as shall be required by the committee chairpersons for the completion of the duties of the committee.
b. The Convention Committee shall be responsible for planning, publicizing and operating the annual convention of the Association.

Section 3. The Nominations Committee.
a. The Nominations Committee shall consist of five persons: two from higher education, two from K-12 education, and one member-at-large. The first four shall be elected during alternate years to serve a two-year term; the fifth shall be appointed by the Executive Council to serve a one-year term. One higher education representative and one K - 12 representative shall be elected at the business meeting of the annual convention of the Association. Nominations shall be from the floor and membership on the committee is open to all members of the Association. Election shall be made by written ballot at the same business meeting. At the first Executive Council meeting following the annual convention, the Executive Council shall also appoint the member-at-large (preferably from a communication field other than education). At that time, the Executive Council shall also designate one of the committee members as chairperson for the following year.
b. The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for canvassing the Association membership to determine the best qualified and responsible nominations for the elective offices of the Association and to report such nominations by nominating ballot at least six weeks prior to the annual convention of the Association.

Section 4. The Audit Committee.
a. The immediate past president shall review the financial records of the organization following the annual convention and report to the Executive Council.

Section 5. The Scholarship Committee.
a. The Scholarship Committee shall be composed of the Immediate Past President, or an individual appointed by the Immediate Past President of the Association, as chair, and the addition of three other members. One of the three shall be a holdover from the committee of the previous year. The total committee to be composed of two higher education representatives and two K - 12 representatives. The new members are to be appointed by the current President of the Association.
b. General Considerations:
1. That the Association offers two scholarships of at least $100 each.
2. That one scholarship be awarded to a high school graduate upon entering college and one scholarship be awarded to a college junior.
3. That the entering freshman may reapply during his or her junior year.
4. That both scholarships be awarded to full-time students intending to or pursing a major in communication.
5. That applicants must be residents of Wisconsin as determined by their permanent home address.
6. That scholarships may be used at any accredited college or university in the United States.
7. That the scholarships be awarded on the basis of merit without regard to financial status.
8. That the scholarships need not be awarded I no suitable candidate or candidates are available or if the financial resources of the Association do not permit.
9. That a deadline of February 1 be established for application.
10. That awards be announced at the annual convention. Moneys to be dispersed to the bursar or appropriate college official upon admission and registration of the applicant.
c. The Application Form. That the application form be designed so that the above requirements can be verified and in addition:
1. The requirement of two letters of recommendation. One of these should be from the individual in charge of the speech or communication program at the student's high school or college. One should be from a non-relative who can speak to the potential of the student in the area of speech and communication studies.
2. A short letter from the candidate describing his or her education goals, why qualified for this scholarship, and personal and career goals.
3. That space be allowed for detailing the student's background in speech activities, curricular and extra-curricular work experience, awards and achievements, grade point average, and class standing.

Section 6. The Advocacy Committee.
a. The Advocacy Committee shall be composed of the Immediate Past President or a designee of the Immediate Past President, as chair and four other members appointed by the President whose duty it shall be to develop and implement plans and engage the mission of the Association with prospective members and advocates.
b. One member of the Advocacy Committee will serve as National Communication Association-States Advisory Council Delegate. This member will assess the political climate of communication education in Wisconsin and systematically and periodically provide information to the national office.

Section 7. The Historical Committee.
The Historical Committee shall be composed of the historian, appointed by the Executive Committee for a five-year term, and any number of ad hoc committee members appointed by the historian as the need arises. The duties of the historian shall include:
1. receiving, sorting, and filing minutes, correspondence, Journals, Newsletters, and other items of historical value from the Council, and other committees, and depositing these records in an Area Research Center Library determined by the historian and the Council, 2. supplying historical information and data to the Association whenever requested.

Article V. Interest Groups
The Association shall recognize such interest groups as shall seem appropriate to further the purpose of the Association. Interest Groups Chairs shall serve on the Convention Committee and shall be responsible for the unique interest of their particular group.

Article VI. Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a majority vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Association where previous written notice is given or by a majority of the votes cast by mail ballot.