Colonial

Members of the Section's Executive Council will serve five-year terms, with one new member elected yearly to replace the retiring member. Responsibilities will be distributed across the five years as follows:

Year 1: organize one of the section-sponsored panels for the next year's congress, coordinate (with year 2 member) the annual reception, assist with awards committee and other projects as needed

Year 2: serve as secretary-treasurer, organize one of the section-sponsored panels for the next year's congress, coordinate (with year 1 member) the annual reception, assist with awards committee and other projects as needed

Year 3: serve as section vice-president and chair of awards committee

Year 4: serve as section chair, with the following responsibilities: submit proposals for section-sponsored panels, submit online request for annual business meeting, chair annual business meeting, organize election for a new council member, report slate of officers to LASA secretariat, recruit newsletter editor, ensure updates are made to section website, convene at least one mid-year meeting of Executive Council (via Skype or other technology)

Year 5: assist and advise section chair and other council members, organize a section-sponsored panel for the next year's congress as needed (if we reach 126 members, we will be able to organize a third panel)

While the terms of service are involved here are long, the current leadership believes that the responsibilities in any given year are not unmanageable.

If an officer resigns before completing the five-year term, every member of the Council below that person will move up one level, and either a special election will be held or two new members will be elected during the following year's regular election. If the Executive Council in a given situation deems this not to be necessary or practicable, however, they may decide upon other measures, including a temporary reapportioning of responsibilities.

Because most section business can be conducted during the course of the year via electronic media, attendance by council members at the annual congress is encouraged but not required. In order to lead the section's business meeting, however, the incoming chair must attend or designate a substitute.

The editing of the section newsletter will remain independent of this model, with the chair (year 4) charged with recruiting a new editor in the eventuality that no individual from within the existing editorial team steps forward. Other ad hoc or standing committees may be created outside of this leadership structure as needed.

This document was ratified by the membership of the Colonial Section in March 2014.