GameRT Bylaws

Amended: March 2019

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Games and Gaming Round Table of the American Library Association, hereinafter referred to as GameRT.

Article II: Purpose

Sec. 1. Purpose. The purposes of the Games and Gaming Round Table are:

Sec. 1.1. To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and concerns surrounding games in libraries;

Sec. 1.2. To provide resources to the library community to support the building and maintaining of library game collections;

Sec. 1.3. To provide a force for initiating and supporting game programming in libraries;

Sec. 1.4. To create an awareness of, and need for, the support of the value of gaming and play in libraries, schools, and related learning communities.

Sec. 1.5. To create an awareness of the value of games and gaming in library outreach and community engagement plans.

Sec 1.6. To provide a professional and social forum for networking among librarians and non-librarians interested in games and gaming.

Article III: Membership

Sec. 1. Members. There shall be two classes of membership: personal and organizational.

Sec. 1.1. Personal members. Any member in good standing of the American Library Association who shall elect membership in GameRT according to the provisions of the Bylaws of the American Library Association thereupon shall become a member of GameRT.

Sec. 1. 2. Organizational members. Organizations may be granted membership in GameRT in accordance with ALA policy and procedure.

Sec. 2. Rights and Privileges. Only personal members of GameRT shall be eligible to vote and to hold elective office or committee appointments.

Sec.3. Dues. Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors with the approval of the membership. Annual dues for this Round Table paid to the American Library Association shall constitute the dues of members. The date of payment of dues to the American Library Association shall be considered the date of payment of dues to this Round Table.

Sec.4. Membership, Fiscal and Conference Years. The membership, fiscal and conference years shall be the same as those of the American Library Association.

Article IV: Officers

Sec. 1. Officers. The officers of this Round Table shall be a President, a Vice-President (who shall also be the President-Elect), an immediate Past President, a Secretary, Treasurer, and a GAMERT Councilor.

Sec. 2. Terms of Office. All officers of the Board shall serve terms of office as specified herein, and shall be eligible for election to a second consecutive term. All officers and Board members shall serve until the adjournment of the Annual Conference at which their successors are announced. Procedures for filling vacancies in the offices are specified in Article VI, Section 8.

Sec. 2. 1. President. After serving one year as Vice President, the President shall serve for one year as President and the second year as Past-President.

Sec. 2. 2. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall serve for the first year after election as Vice-President, the second year as President, and the third year as Past-President.

Sec. 2. 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall serve for two years.

Sec. 2. 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall serve for two years.

Sec. 2. 5. GAMERT Councilor. The Round Table councilor serves a three-year term and may be reelected to a second three-year term.

Sec. 3. Duties of the Officers. Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the duties of the officers shall be such as are specified in the parliamentary authority adopted by the Round Table. On case of continued failure of an officer to participate in the deliberations of the Board, the Board may, by vote of three-fourths of its members declare the office vacant. Two consecutive absences deemed unjustified by the Board would be cause for such action.

Sec. 3. 1. President. The President shall be Chief Officer of the Round Table, and, subject to the Board, have general supervision and control of the affairs of GameRT. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Round Table and the Board. The President shall identify actions in the interest of GameRT and shall recommend such actions to the Board. The President shall perform such other duties as the Board may assign to this office.

Sec. 3. 2. Vice-President. In addition to the regular duties of this office, the Vice-President shall chair the Long Range and Strategic Planning Committee and perform such other duties as the Board may assign to this office. In the event of the absence, disability or withdrawal of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.

Sec. 3. 3. Past President. The Past President shall chair the Nominations Committee.

Sec. 3. 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the Round Table and Board and shall submit minutes of these meetings to the President within six weeks following the meeting; shall arrange for the preservation of the archives and records of GameRT; and shall perform such other duties as the Board may assign to this office.

Sec. 3. 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall review all financial reports prepared by the American Library Association for Round Table; shall report on Round Table finances at each Board Meeting; shall assist the officers in budget development; and shall perform such other duties as the Board may assign to this office. The Treasurer shall attend (or designate a representative to attend) the following meetings: ALA Budget Analysis Review Committee Financial Planning Seminar (Midwinter) and the Budget and Planning Assembly (Midwinter and Annual).

Sec. 3. 6. GAMERT Councilor. The GAMERT councilor represents the interests of the Round Table on the ALA Council. The GAMERT councilor is a member of GAMERT’s Board of Directors. The Councilor reports to the Board of Directors and to the membership on ALA Council activities, and presents those ALA issues and Council documents upon which the Round Table may wish to act. The Councilor receives direction from the Round Table regarding ALA Council issues, and sponsors Council resolutions as requested by the Board of Directors.

Article V: ALA Staff Liaison

Sec. 1. The Executive Director of the American Library Association will assign a Liaison Officer from ALA to work with duly elected officers of GameRT.

Sec. 1. 1. Duties. The Liaison Officer shall advise the President and Board on matters of ALA policy and procedure; shall, in consultation with the President, pay bills incurred by GameRT; shall keep an account of GameRT funds received and expended and shall make a report of such funds at the business meetings of GameRT. Additional duties may be assigned by ALA Headquarters upon recommendation of the Board.

Article VI: Board of Directors

Sec. 1. There shall be a Board of Directors, herein referred to as the “Board”, which shall consist of the President; Vice-President; Past President; Secretary; Treasurer; GAMERT Councilor, and six directors, elected at large from the membership of GameRT; and the Editor(s) of the Round Table newsletter who shall serve as a nonvoting Ex Officio member(s).

Sec. 2. Powers and Duties. The Board shall have authority over the affairs of the Round Table. The annual and any other budget requests shall be subject to the approval of the Board. The Board shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws, and shall report upon its work to the membership of GameRT.

Sec. 3. Duties of Members. Each member of the Board shall perform the specific duties attached to the membership of the Board. In case of continued failure of a director to participate in the deliberations of the Board, the Board may” by vote of three-fourths of its members, declare the office of such director vacant. Two consecutive absences, deemed unjustified by the Board, would be cause for such action.

Sec. 4. Terms of Office. Directors elected at large shall serve for two years. They shall be elected for terms expiring in different years. Directors shall be eligible for election to a second consecutive term.

Sec. 5. Meetings. The Board shall meet in conjunction with each Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of a majority of members of the Board.

Sec. 6. Quorum. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.

Sec. 7. Votes by Mail. Votes may be taken by mail as provided in Article VII, Section 3.

Sec. 8. Vacancies. Vacancies in the elected membership of the Board shall be filled as follows:

Sec. 8. 1. President. If the Office of President becomes vacant, the Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President and shall serve in the capacity of President, subject to the provisions of Article IV, Section 2.

Sec. 8. 2. In case of a vacancy in other elected positions, the position will be filled by the individual receiving the Second highest number of votes in the previous election. In the event that the individual is unable to serve, Round Table officers will fill the position by appointment.

Article VII: Membership Meetings

Sec. 1. General Meetings. GameRT may hold a general meeting of the Round Table at the time and place of the Annual Conference of the American Library Association.

Sec. 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Board and shall be called by the President upon the written request of 25 members of GameRT. At least thirty days notice shall be given and only business specified in the call shall be transacted.

Sec. 3. Votes by mail. Votes by mail or email may be authorized by the Board between meetings. Ballots shall be conducted by the President in such manner as the Board shall determine.

Article VIII: Committees

Sec. 1. All committees shall be composed of members in good standing of GameRT.

Sec. 2. Appointment. Members of committees shall be appointed by the President of GameRT, who will designate one member as Chairperson. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, term of appointment to a committee shall be one year.

Sec. 3. Standing Committees. Standing Committees may be authorized by the Board for consideration of matters requiring continuous attention.

Sec. 4. Special Committees. The Board may create special committees when needed, and discontinue such committees when no longer required.

Article IX: Nominations and Elections

Sec. 1. Nominations. The Nominating Committee shall present candidates to the Board at the Midwinter meeting preceding an election for positions of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Directors. Other nominations for these offices may be submitted in writing by any ten members one month prior to the deadline set by the ALA Staff Liaison. Any such nominations shall be included on the official ballot. No candidate shall be nominated whose written consent has not been filed with the Nominations Committee. No candidate shall be nominated who is not a personal member in good standing of GameRT at the time of nominations.

Sec. 2. Nominating Committee. A special Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President for each election of members of the Board and chaired by the Past President.

Sec. 2. 2. Duties. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each office to be filled at the next election. The Committee shall obtain written consent and statement of purpose from each nominee, and other information in accordance with standard ALA election procedures.

Sec. 3.1. Elections Procedure: The names of the nominees shall be mailed to all members in good standing in accordance with the provisions and timetable of the ALA Nomination and Election Procedures, that is; no later than six weeks prior to the Annual Conference.

Sec. 3.2. Election Results. Candidates receiving a plurality of the votes cast are elected. In the event of a tie vote, the winning candidate shall be determined in such a manner as ALA staff may determine.

Article X: Amendments

Sec. 1. Proposals. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by the Board or by petition signed by 25 members.

Sec. 2. Notice. The notice of any proposed amendment shall be mailed to each member at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which it is to be acted upon.

Sec. 3. Voting and Adoption. The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of those members participating in the vote to amend. A proposed amendment or new Bylaw shall become effective when it has been approved.

Article XI: Publications

Sec. 1. Publications may be authorized by the Board as provided for in the Bylaws of American Library Association. The editor(s) for GameRT publications shall be appointed by the President, subject to Board approval.

Sec. 2. Official Publication. The Round Table newsletter shall be the official publication of GameRT. Its editor(s) shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the Board, for a three-year term. The editor(s) shall serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member(s) of the Board.

Article XII: Notice by Mail

Sec. 1. Notice. Publication of notices in the official publication of GameRT or the American Library Association shall be considered sufficient to fulfill the requirement of notice by mail.

Article XIII: Parliamentary Authority

Sec. 1. Rules. The rules in the latest edition of Sturgis Parliamentary Procedure shall govern GameRT in all cases to which they are applicable provided they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of GameRT or Bylaws of the American Library Association.