CONSTITUTION OF THE BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP
Article I –Name
The name of the specialty group is the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP
American Association of Geographers.
Article II – Mission Statement
The BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP strives to create a global platform for: (a) promoting study of the social, political, cultural, economic, and ecological aspects of the race in/and geography; (b) encouraging critical reflection on the issues, processes, intrinsic qualities, and interconnections that shape Black lives and geographies on local, national, continental, and international scales; (c) exchanging research and teaching ideas among scholars of race in/and geography; and (d) building greater ties between geographers and the Black and Africana Studies community.
Article III – Purpose
The purpose of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP is to:
a) To carry out the mission of the American Association of Geographers with specific emphasis on promoting geographic research and teaching about geographies of race.
b) To create opportunities where geographers can inform public and academic thought about race and geography.
b) To encourage effective participation, communication, and the free exchange of ideas among specialty group members by sponsoring special conference sessions and workshops, awarding student travel grants to the AAG meeting, facilitating publication opportunities, encouraging curriculum development, regularly maintaining a specialty group website, and networking on a regular basis.
c) To create a greater spirit of collaboration and cooperation with other specialty groups and related organizations with an interest in geographies of race.
e) To transmit to the AAG Council carefully considered recommendations on matters that promote interest in race and geography.
f) To foster greater interest and enrollment of Black geographers and geographers of color/difference (e.g. race, sexuality, gender, age and ability) interested in Black geographies into the field of Geography.
Article IV – Membership
1. Types. The membership within the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP consists of Regular Members, Student Members and Associate Members.
2. Regular and Student Membership. All members of the American Association of Geographers are welcome to join the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP. Dues for regular members will be set at $10 and $5 for student members. Dues can be changed by majority vote, a quorum being present. Members have full voting privileges and are eligible to hold office or serve on specialty group committees.
3. Dues Waivers. The executive committee will consider requests from any person wishing to join the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP but facing extenuating circumstances. Petitions for dues waivers must be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the specialty group and will be voted upon by the executive committee.
4. Business Meetings. Business meetings will be held annual at each national conference.
5. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be held by three or more members at regional meetings (e.g. SEDAAG) or other conferences or workshops related to the geographic study of race. The chairperson must be notified on the outcome of these meetings and organizers of such events shall notify members in advance.
6. Quorum Requirements. At business meetings, and for electronic ballots, a quorum will be ten (10) percent of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP membership. A quorum is not required for the election of officers.
Article V – Officers and Committees
Section 1. Officers
The BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP consists of eight officers: the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Directors (2), and Student Representatives (3). All elected officers are members of the executive committee and all may be either a student or professor/instructor/working professional except for the Student Representative, who must be a current student upon taking elected office.
Section 2. Committees
1. Executive Committee
The executive committee oversees the operation and general direction of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP. It also serves as an advisory board to the group. This committee consists of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Directors, and Student Representatives. The executive committee shall meet when necessary to facilitate the operations of the Association between specialty group meetings and prepare policy statements for consideration by the specialty group.
2. Awards Committee
The awards committee shall consist of five members of the specialty group appointed by the vice chairperson and including representation by one of the student representatives of the specialty group. The committee will be chaired by the vice chairperson and will be responsible for coordinating the student paper competition and the AAG student travel grant. The awards committee will also consider other opportunities that reward distinguished scholarship on the study of black geographies and geographies of race.
3. Standing Committees
The BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP shall, from time to time, designate
standing committees.
Article VI – Constitutional Changes
Changes to the constitution proposed either by the executive committee or by petition of a specialty group member may be may be made by a two-thirds majority vote and a quorum present at business meetings. A vote will be taken only after a printed notice of proposed changes has been submitted to all members of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP.
BY-LAWS OF THE BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP
Section 1. Dues
All members shall pay an annual fee as set by executive committee and the membership. Any increase in dues shall be made in accordance with the restrictions outlined in the Specialty Group By-Laws.
Section 2. Officer Duties
Chairperson: The chairperson the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP serves a two-year term and should serve no more than two consecutive terms at a time. The chairperson is responsible for:
1. coordinating all activities of the specialty group. These include: organizing special sessions and workshops at the AAG meetings, presiding at business meetings, appointing committees, projects that enhance research and education opportunities, creating a closer spirit of cooperation with other specialty groups and organizations interested in communication, and furthering the missions and objectives of the specialty group;
2. preparing and submitting an annual report to the AAG Council within three months of the conclusion of the AAG annual meeting. The report should detail specialty group activities for the previous year and goals for the coming year;
3. assuming ad hoc responsibilities and initiatives identified by specialty group membership and leadership;
4. developing recommendations regarding the mission and goals of the specialty group that may take the form of a specific proposal to be voted on at the annual business meeting.
Vice Chairperson: The vice chairperson the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP serves a two-year term and is responsible for:
- assisting with organizing paper sessions, panel sessions and workshops at the AAG and other meetings related to geographies of race;
- granting special group sponsorship to special organized sessions at the AAG and other meetings related to geographies of race;
- assisting Chairperson in organizing a plenary session or special lecture at the AAG meeting on black geographies.
- coordinating the process for specialty group awards, including the student paper competition; and
- in the event the chairperson vacates the office before the end of the two-year term, the vice chairperson assumes responsibilities of the chairperson until the next business meeting, when an election will be held to fill the vacancy.
Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP serves a two-year term and is responsible for:
1. managing and maintaining all specialty group business and financial records;
2. presiding over minutes at business meetings; and
3. working with the communications directors to maintain specialty group membership list.
Communications Directors: The communications directors of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP serve a two-year term, with staggered terms, and are responsible for:
- developing and maintaining an email list or listserv for specialty group members;
- developing and maintaining specialty group website and occasionally notifying members of updates to the site;
- collecting and formatting notices for posting on the group website;
- improving the functionality and appeal of the website;
- exploring and publicizing opportunities for specialty group members to network and collaborate with non-geographers interested in geographies of race; and
- developing a social media presence for the specialty group.
Student Representatives: The BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP will elect up to three student representatives. When possible, at least one student representative will be enrolled at an institution of higher education outside of North America. The student representatives of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP shall each serve a two-year term, with staggered terms, and are responsible for:
1. assisting vice chairperson with the student paper competition;
2. organizing special sessions and workshops that are of particular interest and benefit to students;
3. assisting the Communications Directors with social media management responsibilities; and
4. encouraging student participation in specialty group activities and solicit peer group input.
Section 3. Methods of Nomination and Elections
1. Nominations will be conducted at the discretion of the executive committee and
will be collected via electronic sources (e.g. email, website, etc.).
2. Nominations will be made open to the entire membership and any member may submit nominations.
3. The nomination period will open and close per deadlines determined by the
executive committee. Among the deadlines, the following will be included:
a. Start Date for accepting nominations from the membership
b. End Date for accepting nominations from the membership
c. Start Date for nominees to accept/decline and inform the executive committee
d. End Date for nominees to accept/decline and inform the executive committee
4. After nominees are cleared and their decision to accept/decline is received, a
revised list of candidates and their positions should be announced publicly over
the Black Geographies listserv and the specialty group website.
5. The election of officers will take place during the business meeting at the AAG annual meeting. The executive committee is responsible for ensuring a paper or electronic ballot is made available to the membership.
6. Outgoing and incoming elected officers will participate in a 30 day transition period following the close of the AAG annual meeting.
Section 4. Petitions
Any member of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP is able to petition the membership regarding initiatives or other business deemed relevant to the mission and purpose of the specialty group. Petitions will be added to the order of business at the next specialty group meeting.
Section 5. Publications and Statements
The BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP shall issue such publications, press releases, and public statements as the executive committee may determine.
Section 6. Amendments
Amendments to the constitution and by-laws proposed either by the executive committee or members of the specialty group may be made by a two-thirds majority vote and a quorum present at business meetings. A vote will be taken only after a printed notice of proposed changes has been submitted to all members of the BLACK GEOGRAPHIES SPECIALTY GROUP.
Black Geographies Specialty Group 