Constitution and By-Laws of the NJCA
Ratified April 26, 1997
Amended March 31, 2001
Amended April 5, 2003
Amended March 24, 2007

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the New Jersey Communication Association.

The New Jersey Communication Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the study, criticism, research, and application of communication in educational, business, civic, and social contexts and the open exchange of ideas, information, and research among the Association's members.

Section 1: To promote, sustain and recognize excellence in communication scholarship, research and application.

Section 2: To provide a network for fellowship, contacts and professional opportunities.

Section 3: To serve as a clearinghouse for information related to regional academic programs in areas pertinent to the study of communication.

Section 4: To promote community and cooperation among academic, private and public entities mutually concerned with the understanding and management of communication.

Section 5: To provide opportunities for professional growth and development.

Section 6: To provide a forum for student participation in an academic and professional environment.

Section 7: To encourage interdisciplinary research and interaction.

Section 8: To encourage reciprocal cooperation and research among institutions.

Section 9: To advocate for the development and implementation of communication education at all levels of curricula.

Membership in the Association shall be open to individuals or institutions interested in promoting the Association's purposes and goals.

Section 1: The officers of the Association shall be the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary.

Section 2: The First Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President. The Second Vice- President shall succeed to the office of First Vice-President. The Second Vice-President shall be nominated and elected as specified in the Bylaws.

Section 3: The duties of the officers shall be as specified in the Bylaws.

Section 4: In the event of the incapacity of an officer, the Executive Board shall, at its discretion, elect a replacement or establish a nomination and election procedure for so doing.

Section 1: The Executive Board shall be the principal policy making body of the Association and shall be responsible for managing its resources and affairs.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice- President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Membership Director, Editor of the Official Journal of the Association, (The Atlantic Journal of Communication), Special Projects Director, Public Relations Director, Internet Relations Director, Historian, K- 12 Representative, Community College Representative, Student Representative, Corporate Representative, and three At-Large members.

Section 3: There shall be a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 18 members of the Executive Board. All members shall be non-salaried.

Section 4: A quorum of the Executive Board shall be at least 50 percent of the number of filled Board positions.

Section 5: The Executive Board shall meet at least twice a year at a place and time designated by the President. The President and/or First Vice-President may convene special meetings at any time upon reasonable notice.

It shall be the duty of the President, in consultation with the Executive Board, to appoint any committees as necessary. The committees shall report to the Executive Board.

Section 1: A majority of the Executive Board may initiate amendments to this Constitution.

Section 2: Any ten members of the Association may present a petition to the Executive Board which shall mandate it to consider a proposed amendment.

Section 3: Amendments initiated as specified in Section 1 or 2 shall be distributed to all members of the Association.

Section 4: This Constitution may be altered, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at a General Meeting of the Association's membership at the Annual Conference.

In the event that the association dissolves, all assets shall be transferred to the SCILS Alumni Association, Rutgers University, Winants Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

This association is organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), or (b) by corporate contributions which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Upon the dissolution of this association, assets shall be distributed for one or more tax 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 so disposed of shall be disposed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Section 1: There shall be five types of membership in the Association: Regular, Student, Institutional, Honorary and Emeritus.

Section 2: Regular Members shall be those individuals actively engaged in communication education, research, business or development.

Section 3: Student Members shall be those individuals currently enrolled as graduate, undergraduate or secondary school students.

Section 4: Institutional Members shall be educational, professional, business, or civic organizations.

Section 5: Honorary Members shall be individuals awarded a one-year membership in the Association by the Executive Board for distinguished contribution to the Association.

Section 6: Emeritus Members shall be those who are designated Emeritus by approval of the Board.

Section 1: Annual dues in the several membership categories shall be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 2: Registration fees for the Annual Conference and other meetings and activities of the Association shall be established by the Executive Board.

Section 3: Subscription fees for the Association's journal, The New Jersey Journal of Communication, shall be set by the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal.

Section 1: A meeting of the general membership of the Association will be held at the Annual Conference.

Section 2: The annual meeting of the Association shall be open to all members.

Section 1: The President shall appoint a nominating committee at least 60 days prior to the Annual Conference to be chaired by the Second Vice-President.

Section 2: The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for the office of Second Vice-President and each position vacant on the Executive Board. At least one nominee for each office and position shall be presented. The committee shall determine that each nominee will serve if elected.

Section 3: The slate offered by the Nominating Committee shall be distributed to all members of the Association prior to the General Meeting of the Association to be held at the Annual Conference. There shall be an opportunity for nominations by writing and from the floor for additional nominees prior to the election of officers.

Section 4: The Second Vice-President and the vacant positions of the Executive Board shall be elected, through secret ballot, by a majority of members present at the General Meeting of the Association held at the Annual Conference.

Section 4: Association officers and members of the Executive Board shall assume office on the day following the close of the General Meeting.

Section 1: The President shall serve a one year term and act as presiding officer of the Executive Board.

Section 2: The First Vice President shall serve a one-year term and shall succeed the President in the event of the disability or resignation of the President. The First Vice-President shall serve as the organizer of the Annual Conference and shall have final authority for the planning of the program.

Section 3: The Second Vice President shall serve a one year term and assist the First Vice- President in the organizing of the Annual Conference. The Second Vice-President shall also serve as chair of the Nominating Committee.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall serve a three year term and administrate accounts payable and accounts receivable in an accurate and timely manner as designated by the Executive Board.

Section 5: The Secretary shall serve a three year term and record minutes of all Executive Board and General Meetings of the Association membership. The Secretary also coordinates all official Association correspondence and documentation.

Section 6: The Membership Director shall serve a three year term, maintain an accurate record of members, coordinate the membership process and coordinate the registration process for the Annual Conference.

Section 7: The Editor of the Journal, The Atlantic Journal of Communication, shall serve a three year term and is elected by the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal.

Section 8: The Special Projects Director shall serve a one year term and take a proactive role in developing programs and projects of the Association.

Section 9: The Public Relations Director shall serve a one year term and take a proactive role in promoting all Association activities and enhancing the Association's profile.

Section 10: The Internet Relations Director shall serve a one year term and coordinate the Association's Internet site. The Internet Relations Director shall also develop other new media projects as appropriate.

Section 11: The Historian shall serve a three year term and collect, archive, and preserve all relevant materials of the Association.

Section 12: The K-12 Representative shall serve a one year term and be an advocate for the needs and contributions of primary and secondary students and educators.

Section 13: The Student Representative shall serve a one year term and be an advocate for the needs and contributions of graduate and undergraduate students.

Section 14: The Community College Representative shall serve a one year term and be an advocate for the needs and contributions of community college students, educators, and researchers.

Section 15: The Corporate Representative shall serve a one year term and be an advocate for the needs and contributions of the corporate and business sector.

Section 16: Three At-Large Positions shall serve one year terms and take on responsibilities as deemed necessary by the President and/or the Executive Board.

Section 1: A majority of the Executive Board may initiate amendments to these Bylaws.

Section 2: Any ten members of the Association may present a petition to the Executive Board which shall mandate it to consider a proposed amendment.

Section 3: Amendments initiated as specified in Section 1 or 2 shall be distributed to all members of the Association.

Section 4. These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at a General Meeting of the Association's membership at the Annual Conference.

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This Web site -- created by Anastacia Kurylo with the invaluable assistance in its original construction from Gary Radford -- is maintained by Sheila McAllister-Spooner. This site was last updated on 10/26/07.