1. Name and Status
    • The name of the chapter is “Asia-Pacific[1] Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics”; it may also be known as “AACL”, and hereinafter will be referred to as “the Chapter”. The Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) is the parent Association of the Chapter.
    • The Chapter is chartered by the Executive Committee of the Association for Computational Linguistics (hereinafter referred to as "the Association") on [DATE] in accordance with Article V, Section 4, item (h) of the Association Constitution.
    • The Chapter is a constituent of the Association and is subject to its Constitution and to all its rules and regulations unless expressly exempted.
  2. Registered Office

The Chapter has no registered office at this time. If an office is required, a suitable proposal to amend these Articles will be accepted by the Board.

  1. Purpose
    • In addition to those of the Association as expressed in its Constitution, the purposes of the Chapter are:
    • To encourage and facilitate membership in the Association by persons in Asia-Pacific.
    • To provide a regional focus for members of the Association in Asia-Pacific and a source of information on activities in this region for the Association Executive Committee.
    • If necessary, to establish banking facilities in Asia-Pacific that simplify financial transactions with the Association by its members in this region.
    • To establish distribution facilities for the dissemination of Association and Chapter publications and information materials.
    • To promote cooperation and information exchange among related scientific and professional societies within Asia-Pacific.
    • The Chapter should do its best to create a win-win situation, in which the Chapter, AFNLP and other relevant local associations can promote collaborations, such as holding joint conferences and other events.
  2. Constituency
    • Within the rules of the constitution of the Association, the Chapter will serve all members of the Association who reside in Asia-Pacific. These persons will hereinafter be referred to as “the Chapter Members”.
    • Members of the Association who presently reside elsewhere but who believe that their interests are best represented by the Asia-Pacific chapter may petition for membership in the Asia-Pacific chapter instead of the chapter most pertinent to their current geographical residence. Such petitions will be reviewed by the Chapter Board; upon a majority vote of the Board in favor of approving the petition, the petitioner will be granted membership for five years.
  3. Board
    • The administration of the Chapter shall be conducted by the Chapter Board, which shall consist of a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chair-elect, and three (3) Board members. The person holding the Chair-elect position will become the next Chair. All these persons shall be Chapter Members, and shall be elected by the Chapter Members for a two-year term of office. No more than two members of the Chapter Board are permitted from one country/ territory, except under special circumstances, such as vacancies. If vacancies occur, the Chapter Board shall appoint replacements, subject to approval by the Association Executive Committee, to serve until the next election. Chair and Chair-elect are not allowed to be from the same country/territory. Except for the Treasurer, no Board member shall serve more than two (2) terms in any single elected office, and no more than three (3) terms in any elected office. The Treasurer may serve for a maximum of ten (10) years in that position, subject to the satisfaction of the Board, the Members, and the Association Executive Committee.
    • In the event that the Chapter be given funds by the ACL Executive to administer separately and independently from the ACL, the Chapter Treasurer is empowered to receive, deposit, and disburse such funds on behalf of the Association and the Chapter in Asia-Pacific and, together with the Chapter Secretary, to make arrangements for handling the affairs of the Association and the Chapter in this region.
    • The Chapter Board shall: a) determine the place and time of Chapter conferences and meetings; b) appoint members to be responsible for organizing the programs and local arrangements of such conferences and meetings; c) select the editors of any publications prepared for the Chapter; d) appoint members to various positions and form committees to assist in conducting the activities of the Chapter; e) fix registration fees for Chapter meetings; f) select a representative to attend the Association Executive Committee meetings.
    • All actions taken by the Chapter Board are subject to review at the annual meeting of the Association Executive Committee.
    • To oversee the elections, there shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of at least three members, who shall each serve a four year term. Retiring members of the Chapter Board who are not re-elected to positions as officers or board members are eligible to become new members of the Nominating Committee. Any member of the Nominating Committee who is elected to the Chapter Board shall stand down from the Committee. If the size of the Nominating Committee falls below three, the requisite number of new members shall be elected by the Members as part of the elections of new officers. Nominating Committee members must be Chapter Members in good standing. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall be determined by random draw from among the members of the Nominating Committee whose terms are about to expire.
    • Elections shall be conducted annually as follows: the Nominating Committee shall by the first of September preceding the end of a term of office nominate at least one person who is willing to serve for each position to be filled, including any necessary new Nominating Committee member. The Secretary shall send to the Chapter Members notice of the nominations by September 15, at the same time requesting additional nominations. Additional nominations, supported by at least three Chapter Members, may be submitted by the fifteenth of October. Evidence must be presented that the nominee will serve if elected. All nominees will be given at least two weeks to provide a statement of their vision for AACL. These vision statements will be posted on the web site for viewing by the membership. After the nomination and posting of vision statements, the Secretary will mail a ballot containing the final list of nominees for each position, along with information about the URL containing the vision statements, to the membership. Voting will be performed in a manner specified in the ballot, which manner will be open to all members of the Chapter, secret, verifiable, and overseen by an executive committee member (normally the Secretary) who is not running for office, and who is acceptable to all nominees. Any nominee receiving the most votes cast will be declared elected. Should no candidate receive a majority of the votes cast, subsequent ballots will be held until one candidate receives a majority. Those elected shall take office on the first of January following the vote and serve until succeeded.
  4. Financial Management
    • Should the Chapter have funds administered independently from the parent Association, its financial year shall coincide with the financial year of the Association. The Administration will be under the obligation to keep such account of the financial position of the Chapter in accordance with the requirements arising therefrom, and to keep the books, records and other data carriers belonging to the accounts in such way that the rights and obligations of the Chapter can be learned at all times.
    • Should the Chapter have funds administered independently from the parent Association, the Chapter Treasurer will supply a current balance sheet and a statement of assets and liabilities to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association quarterly. In addition, once a year, these financial statements will be approved and signed by all members of the Board, and will form part of a report on the activities and operations of the Chapter, which will be distributed to the Chapter Members.
    • The Board will be under the obligation to keep the books, records and other data carriers mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article for ten years. It will ensure that the data is available during that full period, and can be made readable within a reasonable time.
  5. Amendment of Articles

Proposed amendments to the Constitution either must be approved by the Chapter Board or proposed by not less than ten chapter Members. The proposed amendments must then be circulated to all Members and ratified by a majority vote of those persons whose ballots are received within two months of circulation. Amendments go into effect upon approval of the ACL Executive. Proposed amendments may not be presented at a Board meeting unless notice to the effect that a proposed amendment will be discussed was included in the announcement convening the Board meeting.

  1. Dissolution
    • If the Board is of the opinion that the Purpose of the Chapter cannot or can no longer be sufficiently realized, the Board may resolve to dissolve the Chapter; such a resolution concerning dissolution shall be passed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article.
    • The parent Association has the right to disband the Chapter.
    • In case of dissolution, the liquidation shall be effected by the Board members then in office.
    • Should the Chapter have any independently managed funds, any balance of the capital of the dissolved Chapter remaining after settlement of all debts shall be paid to the Association.

 

  1. Unspecified Matters

All cases falling within the scope of these Articles but not provided for therein shall be handled by a resolution of the Chapter Board.

 

Appendix

Asia-Pacific includes the following countries/ territories (in alphabetical order):

American Samoa

Australia

Bangladesh

Bhutan

British Indian Ocean Territory

Brunei

Cambodia

China

Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cook Islands

East Timor

Easter Island

Fiji

French Polynesia

Guam

Hawaii

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Macau

Malaysia

Maldives

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nauru

Nepal

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Niue

Norfolk Island

North Korea

Northern Mariana Islands

Pakistan

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Pitcairn Islands

Samoa

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Thailand

Tokelau

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Wake Island

Wallis and Futuna

 

[1] See Appendix for definition of Asia Pacific.