Bylaws

BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF KOREAN

Article I: Name and Nature

The name of the organization is the American Association of Teachers of Korean (hereafter AATK). The AATK shall be a nonpolitical professional organization, formed exclusively for educational and scientific purposes.

 Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the AATK is to promote teaching, learning, study and research in Korean language, language pedagogy, applied linguistics, and literature in North America and beyond. For this overall purpose, activities of the AATK shall include, but not be limited to the following:

a. Arrange or host meetings, workshops or seminars for teacher training and for the exchange of ideas, information, and experience and research results;
b. Encourage the development and dissemination of high quality instructional materials, teaching methods, and curricula;
c. Publish a journal, a newsletter, and other items;
d. Voice the AATK’s concerns related to Korean language education in North America; and
e. Raise funds to carry out the annual activities.

Article III: Membership

There shall be the following categories of membership in the AATK:

Regular members are professional teachers of the Korean language, Korean literature, Korean linguistics, language pedagogy, and others who have an interest in Korean language education, provided that they pay dues for the full current year.

Associate members are those persons who are full-time students in a college or university, who are interested in becoming professional teachers of Korean, and who pay dues for the full current year.

Institutional members are those institutions, libraries, and organizations that pay dues for the full current year.
(Amended in June 2023. The proposed change, shifting from ‘Subscription Member’ to ‘Institutional Member’ category, was presented by the Board and endorsed by the general membership through a vote.)

Any person may be admitted to membership in one of the classes of membership set forth above by action of the Executive Board or in such manner as they may direct.

By resolution of the Executive Board, membership may be suspended or terminated for nonpayment of dues of fees, or for any activity or behavior which the Executive Board may deem contrary to the best interests of the AATK.

Article IV: Executive Board

Section 1. General Duties

The management and supervision of the activities, affairs, and assets of the Association shall be vested in the Executive Board. The Executive Board members shall serve without compensation. The primary responsibility of each member of the Board is recruitment and fund-raising. The Executive Board shall endeavor to maintain liaison with:

The Korea Foundation
The Korea Research Foundation
Association for Asian Studies (AAS)
The National Foreign Language Center
International Circle of Korean Linguistics (ICKL)
International Association for Korean Language Education (IAKLE)
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language Languages (ACTFL)
National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL)

Section 2. Number, Term of Office, Eligibility, and Election of Members
(Amended in February 2012 as proposed by the Board and approved by general membership through online voting on the nominees on the short list recommended by the Board. In case of a tie, there shall be a runoff election. No Board Member may be re-elected for another term before the lapse of one year off the Board. Should a member resign before his or her term expires, the Executive Board may nominate a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term at its discretion.) 

The Executive Board members are elected for a term of three years, and the terms of the board members shall be staggered so that a third of the board are replaced annually. There shall be at least six board members at a given time, and this number may be increased or altered if desired. A change may be enacted at any meeting of the Executive Board or at any annual meeting of the general membership, provided that the planned agenda notice of such meetings sets forth the proposed change.

Only a member who has taught Korean or a related subject full time for a minimum of five academic years and has attended the AATK’s annual conference and professional workshops for at least five (not necessarily consecutive) years is eligible for nomination. The Board will seek nominations for new members to fill vacancies of outgoing board members. Members can nominate themselves or others for the positions, and should submit required information for nomination to the Board. The Board will review the nominees to make a short-list having twice as many as candidates as the number of vacant positions.
(Amended in June 2024. The proposed change to update the Executive Board member eligibility from “having attended the AATK’s annual conference and professional workshops for at least three (not necessarily consecutive) years” to “five (not necessarily consecutive) years” was presented by the Board  and ratified by a vote from the general membership.)

The election shall be conducted by a majority vote of those present at the annual business meeting or through electronic voting. The general membership will vote by secret ballots on the nominees on the short list recommended by the Board. In case of a tie there shall be a runoff election. No Board member may be re-elected for another term before the lapse of one year off the Board. Should a member resign before his or her term expires, the Executive Board may nominate a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term at its discretion.

Section 3. Annual Board Meetings

The Executive Board shall meet annually at the same place as the AATK’s annual conference and professional development workshop, either prior to or during either the professional development workshop or the annual conference, for the purposes of discussing, planning, and coordinating AATK’s activities. The Officers shall report at the annual meeting on the proceedings of the previous year and shall present a statement of the financial condition of the organization. The members shall elect new officers as terms expire, or appoint committees as they consider appropriate.

Section 4. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the Executive Secretary upon the request of the President or of three regular members. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if two-thirds of the members file written consent to a resolution authorizing the action with the minutes of the Board. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in any meeting by conference telephone or electronic mail. Participation by these means shall constitute actual presence at the meeting.

Section 5. Quorum and Voting

One-half of the members present either in person or through conference telephone or similar communication means at any meeting of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Each matter at any meeting shall be decided by the majority vote. The President presides over all Board meetings and has the right to break a tie vote. In the event that the President is unavailable or incapacitated, the Executive Secretary shall take over his or her duties.

Article V: Officers

Section 1. Officers and Their Responsibilities

The Officers of the Association shall be President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, and the Communications Officer (Amended in June 2023. The proposed change to update the officer title from ‘Newsletter Editor/Webmaster’ to “Communications Officer’ was presented by the Board and ratified by a vote from the general membership), and the Editor of the AATK’s official journal. All officers are ex-officio members without voting privileges.

As the executive head of the AATK, the President shall preside over all business meetings of the AATK and the Executive Board. He or she shall have general administrative responsibility for the affairs of the AATK, and shall represent the Association on public occasions and in contact with other organizations and persons.

The Executive Secretary shall function as recording secretary at the Executive Board meetings, shall be the custodian of all records and documents of the AATK, and shall act for the President upon his or her request, and when the President is absent or incapacitated.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds, securities, and assets of the Association and shall report to the Executive Board and the general membership at each annual meeting.

The Communications Officer shall handle member communications, direct the creation, editing, and distribution of the newsletter, and oversee the website’s management.

The Editor(s) shall have primary responsibility for the compilation, editing, printing, posting, and mailing of the official journal and newsletter.

Section 2. Election of the President

The President shall be nominated and elected at an annual meeting by the Executive Board for a term of three years. The President may be re-elected for one additional term. If the person elected president is serving on the Executive Board, he or she shall resign from the Board and function as an ex-officio member.

Former presidents will also serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Board without voting privileges. They are entitled to all privileges and benefits of the officers.

Section 3. Appointment of other Officers

The President shall recommend to the Executive Board the persons to serve as Executive Secretary, Treasurer and Editors either at the annual meeting of the Executive Board when he or she is elected, or within thirty days thereafter. The Board shall ratify these recommendations by the majority vote. The terms are for three years, and may be renewed as long as the President and the Executive Board deem appropriate. If a member of the Executive Board is appointed to an office, he or she shall resign from the Board upon appointment.

Article VI: Business Meetings of the AATK

Section 1. Annual Business Meeting

The AATK shall hold an annual business meeting of the membership at the same place as the AATK’s annual conference and professional development workshop.

Section 2: Notice of the Meeting

Notice of every meeting of the AATK shall be mailed or emailed to the membership at least four weeks prior to the meeting.

Section 3: Quorum and Voting

Only dues-paying members have the right to vote. A quorum for the transaction of business at any AATK’s meeting shall consist of one-tenth of the regular members present in person or represented by proxy. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of those present and entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting until such time and place as a quorum is obtained. Each matter at any meeting shall be decided by the majority vote of those present or voting by proxy. The members who are unable to attend a meeting may execute a written proxy in favor of any other member in advance of the meeting. The proxy may be either general or limited to specific matters. The Executive Board may also, at its own discretion, authorize decisions to be made by means of a mail ballot which shall be sent to each regular member of the AATK in good standing, and each such matter shall be decided by the majority vote of ballots received within a reasonable length of time.

Article VII: Dues

Membership dues shall be due and payable to the treasurer of the AATK annually in U.S. currency. The amount of annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Board.

Article VIII: Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Association shall be the period January 1 to December 31 inclusive.

Article IX: Committees

Section 1. Creation of Committees

The Executive Board shall from time to time create such standing committees or special committees as it deems necessary, and shall appoint such committees as directed by a majority vote of regular members at a meeting or by mail ballot.

Article X: Amendments

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by a majority vote of the regular members present in person or by proxy at any meeting of the membership or by a majority vote in a mail ballot. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Board or by one-tenth of the regular members of the Association.

Article XI: Ratification

The original Bylaws were adopted and ratified unanimously by the members of the Organizational Meeting that was held at the National Foreign Language Center in Washington, D.C. on the fourth day June of 1994.