II. PURPOSE:
The purpose of this chapter is to further the study and improve the teaching of German in Massachusetts and to encourage a sense of joint effort an a spirit of mutual aid among its members.

III. MEMBERSHIP:

1. Any teacher of German, or anyone interested in the teaching of German, may become a member of this chapter and the National Association upon payment of the annual dues as specified by the By-Laws of the National Association. Membership will be retained by the continued payment of the annual dues.
2. The annual dues for AATG national, which are voluntary, include a subscription to one of the official publications of the National Association, cover the period from January 1 to December 31. Only members in good standing may exercise the privileges of membership.
3. Voluntary chapter dues are assessed annually and are to be paid directly to the Treasurer.
4. Full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are so certified by the chair of their departments may become Junior Members upon payment of the annual dues for Junior Membership (see National Constitution).
5. A teacher who at the time of retirement has been a member of the AATG may elect Emeritus Membership. The dues for this type of membership are defined in the By-Laws of the National Association.
6. Honorary membership in the AATG may be granted only in accordance with the stipulations in the National Constitution.

V. OFFICERS:
The elected officers of the chapter shall be a President, a Vice President, a Past President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Their terms of office shall begin on August 1st of the year of their election. Ideally, officers from the pre-collegiate and postsecondary level will serve alternately and should represent the interests of all levels and areas of German instruction.

1. The President: Each candidate for the office of President is to serve at least two years each as Vice President, as President, and as Past President. The President shall be responsible for the general administration of the chapter, for the calling and conducting of chapter meetings and the meetings of the Executive Board. The President shall appoint the committees necessary to carry out the aims and programs of the chapter, and shall be an ex-officio member of these committees. The appointments are subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
2. The Vice President: The Vice President shall substitute as needed and shall fulfill such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the President with the consent of the Executive Board.
3. The Secretary: The Secretary shall be in charge of all correspondence not handled by the President: he or she shall record all proceedings of the chapter and shall transmit a report of such proceedings to the editor of the National AATG Newsletter. The Secretary shall further be in charge of all communications from the officers of the chapter to the membership at large.
4. The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be in charge of all financial transactions of the chapter; (he/she will be asked to maintain an up-to-date listing of teachers of German within the chapter's geographic area. He/she will also collect the chapter's annual voluntary membership fee and send a Treasurer's Report annually to the national chapter.
5. Terms of Office: All officers shall be elected every two years; the President, Vice President and Past President shall commit themselves for at least a six-year period (at least two years each as Vice President, President, and Past President).
6. Unexpired Terms: If the office of the President becomes vacant for any reason, the Vice President shall become President. The new President's term shall be counted as beginning on August 1st of the same year. A new Vice President shall be elected as soon as feasible, either by email or at the chapter meeting following the change in the presidency. The Vice President shall assume office immediately after his or her election, and his or her term shall run concurrently with that of the new President. b. If the office of the Vice President becomes vacant for any other reason, a new Vice President shall be elected by email or at the next chapter meeting to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. c. Vacancies in the offices of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be filled by appointment by the President, in consultation with the Executive Board, for the remainder of the unexpired term.

VI. EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board is composed of the current chapter officers as well as the Newsletter Editor(s), the Testing Chair(s), Business Liaison, Webmaster, and several members-at-large. The Executive Board sets policies and goals, and deals with chapter business between meetings. During a chapter meeting, any member of the Massachusetts chapter of the AATG may recommend another member of the chapter or him/herself for membership on the Executive Board. This recommendation must be approved by the entire board before that person is invited to join the board.

VII. MEETINGS:
The Chapter shall hold meetings at least three times a year.  A short business meeting will take place at each of these meetings.

VIII. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION:
This constitution, and any amendments duly submitted before the time of its adoption, shall be adopted upon the proposal of the Executive Board or any fifteen members of the Chapter by the vote of a two-thirds majority of all regular members present at the Chapter meeting to which this constitution will be submitted for adoption. Amendments to the constitution shall be proposed in writing to the Executive Board.

IX. BY-LAWS:

1. Elections:
Ideally, elections shall be held every two years during the spring meeting or by ballot (published in the chapter newsletter) to fill offices for the subsequent academic year. In an election year the Executive Board shall function as the Nominating Committee. The President shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. In his/her function as Chair of the Nominating Committee, the President shall announce the names of the candidates in the invitation to and at the spring meeting of the Chapter or in a separate mailing during an election year.  At the same time, she/he shall indicate that candidates may also be nominated from the floor or by mail after their consent has been obtained in advance for such nomination. The candidates shall be elected by a simple majority.
2. Dues: The Chapter assessment may be dropped, instituted, or changed at any regular meeting of the Chapter by a simple majority vote of the members present.
3. Amendments: These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Chapter by a simple majority vote of the regular members present.