Guidelines for Standing Rules for State & Chapter Association of NALS

Preliminary Information: Standing rules do not relate to parliamentary procedure, but set forth more detailed information regarding practices of the association and can be changed from time to time as an ordinary act of the association when needs arise. They may be adopted, amended, or suspended according to your association’s current governance practices or Robert’s Rules of Order. (The usual practice is that the standing rules may be adopted or amended by a majority of the voting members present if notice has been given to the voting members, or by two-thirds vote of the voting members present if no notice has been provided.)

It is recommended that details of procedures and deadlines for the chapter or state associations be included in a procedures manual rather than in either the bylaws or standing rules; however, if a chapter or state association does not have a procedures manual, some additional information regarding duties and deadlines may need to be included in the standing rules (as mentioned below) regarding a specific officer, director, or committee. It is suggested that each chapter and state association prepare and adopt their own standing rules and procedures manual according to their specific needs. However, please refer to NALS Standing Rules for ideas on wording. Everything in NALS Standing Rules may not apply to chapters or state associations, but many articles should be similar.

As certain practices or traditions develop, more information may be included and adopted from time to time. The format of standing rules should be numbered in the same manner as bylaws, i.e. Article I, Section 1, etc., and should contain detailed information on the following matters.

I. Membership, Qualifications and Classifications.

This should contain more detailed information than is contained in the bylaws regarding this category.

II. Organizing Chapters.

This may contain reference to NALS procedures for chartering and organizing chapters, without setting out full details (this provision for state associations only).

III. Dues, Fees and Other Expenses.

This should include dues for each class of members, method of payment, how dues and other expenses are determined (by the Board or by all voting members).

IV. Member and Board Meetings.

This should include the types of meetings, i.e., regular, special, and annual; the number of days to give notice, the number of meetings to be held each year (monthly, quarterly, etc.), annual meeting voting procedures and voting procedures for other meetings. (Specific meetings procedures should be contained in a procedures manual.)

V. Board of Directors.

This will include sections on general duties, qualifications for election to office, handling of vacancies and removal, and voting by the board (in person and via mail, telephonic or electronic mail).

VI. Call for Nominations for Officers and Directors.

This should include the number of days notice the call for nominations should be given to members, and the procedures to be used for casting votes, i.e., in person at annual meeting, via mail or electronic vote. (Specific details should be contained in a procedures manual.)

VII. Committees and Task Forces.

This should include a list of standing committees, who has authority for creation of task forces (president and/or board of directors), and how committee and task force members are appointed (usually by the president with approval of the board).

VIII. Disciplinary Procedures.

Each chapter and/or state may determine its own methods for handling violationsmof the code of ethics or any other reason that disciplinary procedures should be used, and then refer to such procedures as provided in NALS Standing Rules.

IX. General Procedures.

This topic may or may not be necessary but can be used for any matter of a general nature.

X. Adoption, Amending and Suspension of These Standing Rules.

This should contain some of the information set forth in the preliminary information above, which would include number of days notice required for adopting amendments and the information regarding suspending standing rules.