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Amendment #51

Rationale: Aligns the ASLTA Objectives with what ASLTA currently offers.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE II – Objectives
1. To provide a closer relationship between teachers of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies and other organizations with interests consistent with the mission of the Association.

2. To provide development opportunities for ASL and Deaf Studies teachers.

3. To develop and maintain certification standards for ASL teachers and programs offering ASL and Deaf Studies courses.

4. To certify ASL teachers and programs offering ASL and Deaf Studies courses, and ASL lab tutors.

5. To develop standards and procedures for the accreditation of training programs, facilities, and personnel involved in the education of teachers of ASL and/or Deaf Studies.

6. To develop and maintain a national directory of members, and certified teachers, and certified ASL and/or Deaf Studies Programs.

7. To provide an effective avenue for the exchange of information regarding methods and materials in the instruction of ASL and Deaf Studies.

8. To encourage the development and maintenance of affiliated chapters.

Amendment #52

Rationale: The ASLTA Board needs the authority to establish committees between General Meetings. The current wording requires the National ASLTA (meaning the members) to establish committees. Board members are voted upon by the membership to focus on organizational business between the general meetings, which can include establishing committees.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE IX – Committees
Section 8, Ad Hoc/Special Committees. In conjunction with General Meetings, a Nominations Committee, Awards Committee, and Conference Committee must be established on odd numbers years. Additionally, the National ASLTA Board may choose to establish a variety of ad hoc committees as needed. Ad hoc committees shall meet at least once monthly until the purpose and goals of the committee are met, either in person or via video conferencing.

Amendment #53

Rationale: Sometimes the general assembly meetings do not start until the second day of the conference, but voting needs to be able to take place on the second day of the conference. Changing the language here allows for that while still allowing the flexibility of when general assembly meetings will occur during the conference.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE VII – Election and Appointment of Officers
Section 3, Election Procedures. There shall be alternating elections every two (2) years. Groups of officers to be elected in alternate elections are as follows: 

1. The President, Secretary, and Professional Development Director, and
2. The Vice President, Treasurer, Recruitment and Outreach Director, and Communications Director.

Elections will take place by electronic ballot through the ASLTA website to be opened at 12:00 am on the second day of the biennial meeting national conference in the time zone where the meeting conference is held and closed at 11:59 pm on the second day of the biennial meeting conference in the time zone where the meeting is held. All voting members in good standing 30 days before the biennial meeting shall be provided with one (1) electronic ballot. Election results will be announced at the end of the conference regular biennial meeting, in the ASLTA newsletter, and on the ASLTA website.

Amendment #54

Rationale: Establishes a conference committee. Also, matches language in Amendment 53.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE IV – Meetings
Section 1, General Meetings. General meetings of the membership shall be held biennially during the biennial national conference on odd numbered years at a location and date to be determined by the Board of Directors. The conference format and duration shall be determined by a conference committee with support from the Board of Directors. If no biennial national conference is held, a general meeting of the membership must still occur.

Amendment #55

Rationale: This allows for future changes of the titles and/or levels of certification without having to change the bylaws every time.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE VII – ELECTION and APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
Section 1, Officers to be Elected and/or Appointed. The officers to be elected, and who shall serve until their successors are duly elected, shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Director, and Communications Director. The additional Board of Directors positions, ASLHS National Director and Evaluation and Certification Director, are appointed by the Board of Directors. All nine (9) positions shall be members of the Board of Directors.

The President, Vice President, Evaluation and Certification Director, and Professional Development Director must hold ASLTA permanent Master the highest level of ASLTA certification, be members in good standing for at least two years prior to the election or appointment to the Board of Directors, and have a minimum of one year of service experience.

The Secretary, Treasurer, Recruitment and Outreach Director, and Communications Director must hold an entry-level ASLTA teacher certification, a minimum Certified certification, be members in good standing for at least two years prior to election or appointment to the Board of Directors, and have a minimum of one year of service experience. 

Section 3, Nominations Process. Nominations for elected members of the Board of Directors shall be made by a Nominations and Elections Committee composed of three (3) ASLTA certified, non-board members in good standing who are accepted by the Board of Directors. At least one of those members must hold the highest level of ASLTA certification master level to serve as the Committee Chair. Recommendations for nominations of officers may be submitted to the Nominations and Election Committee by any voting member of the organization, provided the nomination is accompanied by

1. biographical data detailing the nominee’s qualifications for the office and
2. signature of the nominee giving signed consent.

A call for Nominations and Elections Committee members from the membership, shall be announced through ASLTA communications in January and again 30 days before nominations start during the election year. Nominations from the membership can be submitted to the Nominations and Elections Committee between 90 days prior to the biennial conference until 30 days prior to the biennial conference. 

ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES Section 7, Duties of the Evaluation and Certification Revision Committee. The Evaluation and Certification Revision Committee will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and modifying the ASLTA certification process. All members of this committee must hold a current (valid) ASLTA Master certification, the highest level of ASLTA certification.

Amendment #56

Rationale: The Finance Committee and Evaluation and Certification committees do not need to meet every month.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE IX – Committees
Section 2, Standing Committees. The National ASLTA will have the following five (5) standing committees: Bylaws Committee, Steering Committee, Finance Committee, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and Evaluation and Certification Revision Committee. The Finance Committee shall meet at least twice yearly, between September 1 and August 31, either in person or via video conferencing. The Evaluation and Certification Revision Committee shall meet at least once quarterly between September 1 and August 31, either in-person or via video conferencing. The remaining standing committees shall meet at least once monthly for 10 months between September 1 and August 31, either in-person or via video conferencing.

Amendment #57

Rationale: This will save time and energy during elections.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE IV – Election and Appointment of Officers
Section 4, Election by Acclamation. If, upon the closing of the nomination period specified in Section 3, only one qualified candidate has been nominated for an elected office, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall declare that candidate elected by acclamation, and no electronic ballot for that specific office shall be required.

Amendment #58

Rationale: To better align information exchange between committees and the Board, as well as record maintenance.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE IV – Duty of Officers
Section 2, Duties of the Vice President. The Vice President shall serve in the absence of the President. They shall succeed to the office of President should that office become vacant prior to the expiration of the term of office of the President. The Vice President will oversee bylaws compliance, maintenance of Association policies and procedures, and the coordination and implementation of committee work. In addition, the Vice President shall perform all duties as assigned by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 3, Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall keep accurate and complete minutes of all meetings of the organization and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall keep on file all documents, disks, communications, and other papers related to the business of ASLTA. The Secretary shall also be responsible for the general oversight of all ASLTA committees (standing and ad hoc).

Amendment #59

Rationale: Institutional membership has greatly decreased over the years, and energy is better spent elsewhere.

Proposed Language:

ARTICLE III – Membership
Section 1, Membership Categories.

1. Certified Member: This category applies to those people who have ASLTA certification from this organization. Members shall have full voting privileges. 
2. Associate Member: This category applies to those people who are working as ASL teachers, tutors, paraprofessionals, lab assistants, linguists, Deaf Studies faculty, and ASL-related positions. Members shall have voting privileges in all matters of the Association except evaluation and certification.
3. Supporting Member: This category applies to those people who are current students or ASL teachers in training programs and other individuals who support ASLTA’s mission. Members shall have voting privileges in all matters of the Association except evaluation and certification.
4. Retired Member (Certified only): This category applies to those people who are no longer teaching ASL but have ASLTA certification from this organization. Certification will remain in good standing as long as dues are paid. Members are exempt from certification renewal procedures and fees. Members shall have full voting rights.
5. Retired Member (General): This category applies to those people who are no longer teaching ASL and have no ASLTA certification from this organization. Members shall not have voting privileges.
6. Institutional Member: Educational institutions, agencies, corporations, and other associations which support the mission of the Association may choose to join as an institutional member. Institutional members shall not have voting privileges. The institutional member shall be listed in the Association’s membership directory.
7. Honorary Member: This category applies to those people who have been honored by the Association for their contributions to the field of ASL instruction. Honorary members shall receive the Association’s communications. Since honorary membership is a lifetime designation, honorary members shall pay no annual dues.

Amendment #60

Rationale: ASLTA has found a greater need for a Conference Director than an Outreach and Recruitment Director.

Proposed Language:

Article V – Board of Directors
Section 1, Composition of Board of Directors. The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Evaluation and Certification Director, Recruitment and Outreach Director Conference Director, Professional Development Director, Communications Director, and ASLHS National Coordinator shall constitute the Board of Directors, and shall be responsible for business matters of the organization between regular meetings. All Board of Directors members, with the exception of the President, shall be voting members of the Board. In case of a tie vote, the President will cast a vote to break the tie.

Article VI – Duties of Officers 
Section 6, Duties of Professional Development Director. The Professional Development Director shall be responsible for coordinating all aspects of professional development activities, including but not limited to conference planning and coordinating professional development opportunities for ASLTA members. curate and oversee all educational programming, including webinars, symposiums, and ongoing learning opportunities. For biennial conferences, the Director is responsible for the selection and coordination of educational content, including workshops, keynotes, and plenary presenters. 

Section 9, Duties of Recruitment and Outreach Director. The Recruitment and Outreach Director shall be responsible for coordinating effort to expand membership. In addition, the Recruitment and Outreach Director will be responsible for coordination of the biennial General Meetings. 

Section 9, Duties of Conference Director. The Conference Director shall develop and oversee the conference framework, lead logistical and operational planning, manage venue and service contracts, and serve as the central point of contact for the biennial General Meetings. 

ARTICLE VII – ELECTION and APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
Section 1, Officers to be Elected and/or Appointed. The officers to be elected, and who shall serve until their successors are duly elected, shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Director, and Communications Director. The additional Board of Directors positions, Conference Director, Evaluation and Certification Director, and ASLHS National Director, are appointed by the Board of Directors. All nine (9) positions shall be members of the Board of Directors.

The President, Vice President, Evaluation and Certification Director, and Professional Development Director must hold ASLTA permanent Master certification, be members in good standing for at least two years prior to the election or appointment to the Board of Directors, and have a minimum of one year of service experience.

The Secretary, Treasurer, Recruitment and Outreach Conference Director, and Communications Director must hold a minimum Certified certification, be members in good standing for at least two years prior to election or appointment to the Board of Directors, and have a minimum of one year of service experience. 

Section 3, Election Procedures. There shall be alternating elections every two (2) years. Groups of officers to be elected in alternate elections are as follows: 1. The President, Secretary, and Professional Development Director, and 2. The Vice President, Treasurer, Recruitment and Outreach Director, and Communications Director. Elections will take place by electronic ballot through the ASLTA website to be opened at 12:00 am on the second day of the biennial meeting in the time zone where the meeting is held and closed at 11:59 pm on the second day of the biennial meeting in the time zone where the meeting is held. All voting members in good standing 30 days before the biennial meeting shall be provided with one (1) electronic ballot. Election results will be announced at the regular biennial meeting, in the ASLTA newsletter, and on the ASLTA website.