Constitution and By-Laws of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion
Articles of Constitution
I: Name
This organization shall be called the Colloquium on Violence and Religion at Stanford. The acronym of the Colloquium shall be COV&R.
II: Object
To explore, criticize, and develop the mimetic model of the relationship between violence and religion in the genesis and maintenance of culture. The Colloquium will be concerned with questions of both research and application. Scholars from various fields and diverse theoretical orientations will be encouraged to participate both in the conferences and the publications sponsored by the Colloquium, but the focus of activity will be the relevance of the mimetic model for the study of religion.
III: Officers
1. The officers of the Colloquium shall be a President, an Executive Secretary, Editor of the newsletter, and a Treasurer.
2. The President shall be elected for a two-year term and may succeed himself or herself only once during any period of continuous tenure. The Executive Secretary shall be elected for one three-year term and may succeed himself or herself only once in any period of continuous tenure. The Editor of the newsletter shall be elected for one three-year term and may succeed himself or herself only once during any period of continuous tenure. The Treasurer shall be elected for one three-year term and may succeed himself or herself only once during any period of continuous tenure.
3. The Colloquium may add to the number of officers as situations require and change the terms of offices as reflection on experience leads the officers and members to deem appropriate. See Article VIII: Amendment.
IV: Advisory Board
1. The members of the Advisory Board shall be the President, the Executive Secretary, any Editors of Colloquium publications, a Treasurer, and eleven other members.
2. The additional eleven members shall be elected for a term of three years. These members may succeed themselves only once in any period of continuous tenure.
3. A limited number of other lifetime honorary members may be elected.
V: Standing Committees
Standing committees may be formed and distinguished from the Advisory Board as deemed necessary by the Board.
VI: Membership
1. Any person approved by the Advisory Board shall become an active member of the Colloquium, with full voting privileges. Students at recognized institutions of learning may apply for membership at a reduced rate.
2. Membership dues shall be fixed by the Colloquium, upon recommendation of the Advisory Board.
VII: Meeting
The Colloquium shall meet at least once a year for the communication of research and the transaction of business, at such time and place as the Advisory Board may determine.
VIII: Amendment
This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the Colloquium present and voting at its annual meeting, on recommendation of the Advisory Board.
IX: By-Laws
The Colloquium shall establish such By-Laws as will, in its judgment, promote its effective operation. A change in the By-Laws may be made at any annual meeting, upon recommendation of the Advisory Board, by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.
By-Laws
I. President
The President shall be the presiding officer of the Colloquium. It shall be his duty to make an annual report to the Colloquium and to propose to the Advisory Board any other committees for the administrative of the work of the Colloquium.
II. Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary shall be the principal executive officer of the Colloquium. It shall be his duty to conduct the activities of the Colloquium in consultation with the President and Advisory Board; to conduct the correspondence of the Colloquium; to notify the members of each annual meeting and other meetings; to transmit to them the program of the meetings at least two weeks in advance; to preserve an accurate roll of the members; to present nominations for membership in the Colloquium to the Advisory Board; to make an annual report on the condition of the Colloquium; and to perform such other duties as the Board may direct.
III. Advisory Board
1. It shall be the duty of the Advisory Board to approve active members; to receive nominations for lifetime honorary members; to recommend to the Colloquium the Editors; to establish editorial policy for publications of the Colloquium; to fix the times and places for meeting; and generally to supervise the activities of the Colloquium. All policy touching the conduct of the activities of the Colloquium shall be subject to the review and approval of the Advisory Board.
2. The Advisory Board shall meet in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Colloquium, and at other times as the President and Executive Secretary deem necessary.
IV. Editors
The Editors shall receive manuscripts and consult concerning their publication with members of the Board as the Editors consider appropriate or necessary. The Editors shall edit and prepare for printing all manuscripts selected for publication. If it seems useful or necessary, editorial boards may eventually be established upon recommendation of the Editors and with the approval of the Advisory Board.
V. Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive membership dues and other monies paid into the Colloquium, to work with the Executive Secretary in preserving an accurate membership roll, and to report on the Colloquium’s financial state at the annual meeting.
VI. Membership Dues
1. Each active member shall pay annual dues of $30.00. It is understood that the dues may be raised by recommendation of the Advisory Board and approval of the Colloquium. There shall be special rates for those from soft currency areas. (2017 dues are $55.00)
2. A rate of $15.00 for students at recognized institutions of learning shall be in effect. (2017 student dues are $XX.00)
3. The annual dues for member institutions shall be $ 100.00.
4. No payment shall be required of honorary lifetime members.
5. Members one year in arrears shall be dropped from the roster of the Colloquium.
VII. Publications
1. A copy of each issue of the newsletter shall be sent to each member of the Colloquium.
2. A copy of each issue of a periodical or any other publication shall be sent to each member of the Colloquium if these other publications are covered by the membership dues, as recommended by the Advisory Board and approved by members of the Colloquium.
As amended and approved April 24, 1993
published in: COV&R-Bulletin No. 6 (March 1994)