ARTICLE I: Organization
Section 1: The name of the organization shall be American Sociological Association Retirement Network (ASARN).
ARTICLE II: Purposes
Section 1: The Retirement Network exists to:
- Promote retention of ASA members as they transition from full-time work to retirement.
- Promote interaction and a sense of community among retired members.
- Promote interaction between retired members and other members at all career stages.
- Lessen the sense of isolation felt by some retired members.
- Provide the means for sharing information about opportunities in teaching, research, and other activities that would benefit from the expertise of retired sociologists.
- Provide the means for sharing information about other issues of concern to retirees, such as financial security, health care, and relocation possibilities.
- Serve as a resource for the regional retirement networks that already exist or are being established at the Eastern, Midwest, Pacific, and other sociological societies.
- Promote the development of standards for good institutional practices for retirees.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Secion 1: All current ASA members in the Retired category are automatically included in the Retirement Network and may vote in Retirement Network elections. Any other ASA member interested in retirement and retirement-related issues is welcome to participate in meetings and activities of the Retirement Network but is not eligible to vote in Retirement Network elections.
ARTICLE IV: Elected Advisory Board
Section 1: All members of the Advisory Board must hold an ASA membership during their term of service. The Board shall consist of nine (9) members. To help ensure some continuity, as well as some new perspectives, and to accommodate the varied abilities of individuals to commit to multiple years of service, Board members shall serve staggered terms.
Section 2: All board members will serve three (3) year terms. Three (3) board members shall be elected each year. No one may serve more than two consecutive terms.
Section 3: If an Advisory Board member is unable, or unwilling, to complete an elected term for any reason, the remaining board members may appoint a replacement to complete the affected term of service.
Section 4: Officers of the Section. The officers shall be the Network shall be a Chair-Elect, a Chair (the immediately preceding Chair-Elect), a Past-Chair (the immediately preceding Chair), and a Secretary Treasurer. Each year the elected board shall select one member to be the Chair-Elect, and every other year select one to be the Secretary-Treasurer for the term of their office. The Chair-Elect will assume office at the end of the annual meeting following their election and will serve as Chair the next year and then as Past Chair for the follow year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years.
Section 5: The duties of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, and other Board members are as follows:
Chair
- Conduct the annual business meeting and advisory board meetings.
- Serve as the primary contact point for the Retirement Network.
- Ensure the timely planning and occurrence of Retirement Network activities and programs.
Chair-Elect
- Conduct the duties of the Chair whenever the Chair is unable to act in his or her appointed capacity.
- Collaborates with and assists the Chair as needed.
Past Chair
- The past chair shall lead the Nominations committee, compile a slate of candidates for all open Board positions, prepare a ballot, and submit it to the ASA for the spring election.
Secretary-Treasurer
- Develop, in consultation with the Chair and other Advisory Board members, and submit to the appropriate staff person at ASA, an annual operating budget.
- Take and distribute minutes at the annual business meeting.
All Board Members
Board members shall volunteer or be appointed by the Chair to address Retirement Network activities and programs as follows:
- Two members shall organize and conduct the professional development workshop at the annual ASA meeting.
- Two members shall organize and conduct the paper presentation session at the annual ASA meeting.
- After consultation with other members of the Advisory Board, two members plus the Chair shall propose to the Board a distinguished retired sociologist to be the invited speaker for the lecture at the annual business meeting. They shall also work with the appropriate staff person at ASA for the reception held in conjunction with the lecture.
- One member, in consultation with the Chair, shall take primary responsibility for editing and submitting each of the two electronic newsletters each year (one in early summer, before the annual meeting, and one in winter).
- One member, in consultation with the Chair, shall be responsible for recruiting an author or acting as the author of an article for Footnotes at least once a year.
- One member, in consultation with the Chair and with the ASA staff person responsible for publications, shall take responsibility for keeping the Retirement Network’s web page updated.
- All Board members will serve as the nominating committee to compile a slate of members to fill open positions on the Board. The Chair-Elect will chair this process.
ARTICLE V: Elections
Section 1: Online nominations (publicized in the newsletter and on the listserv) for open terms shall be completed by December 31 of the year preceding the election. The election shall be carried out by online balloting in accordance with the American Sociological Association’s procedures and schedule. Newly elected Advisory Board members shall assume office at the next Retirement Network annual business meeting.
The Chair-Elect shall compile a slate of candidates for all open Board positions and prepare a ballot, to be distributed by ASA, each year in which an election is needed.
ARTICLE VI: Meetings
Section 1: A general membership meeting will take place each year at the annual ASA meeting. Durring the annual meeting, the Advisory Board will meet prior to the business meeting. The presence of five (5) members shall constitute a quorum at Advisory Board meetings. Between meetings, business of the Advisory Board will be conducted via telephone or web conferencing platform.
ARTICLE VII: Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 1: These bylaws may be amended through a favorable majority vote of those voting at a Retirement Network Business Meeting, provided this action is subsequently confirmed through a favorable majority vote of those voting by a mail ballot of the Retirement Network membership. Upon approval, the amendments shall be submitted to ASA Council for its approval and then placed on the spring ballot that will go out to all ASA retired members for their approval.
