COMPT: Rules and Operating Procedures of the Standing Professional Committee
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Committee on Museum Professional Training is to serve as an organization and forum for the discussion, study, and dissemination of knowledge on professional training (academic and other) for those aspiring to or employed in museums and related institutions. Further, its purpose is to provide assistance and direction for the professional enrichment and advancement of all persons working in museums, and to promote the goals of the museum community according to the standards and ethics upheld by the American Association of Museums.
Chapter I -- Name
The name of this Committee is the Committee on Museum Professional Training of the American Association of Museums, hereafter referred to as the Committee.
Chapter II -- Objectives
Section 1. The Committee will seek to advance the professional welfare of those working in museums and related institutions, through the encouragement of quality training opportunities including a common core of knowledge, methods, practice, standards and ethics grounded in museums. The Committee aims to encourage performance excellence for musem professional through a program of recognition, opportunities for personal development and advancement, and research and publication; and through a shared common core of knowledge, sense of purpose, and heightened awareness as a result of sound preparation and practice, and the observance of high standards of ethics.
Section 2. The Committee will promote discussion and study of relevant issues in the field, and disseminate such discussion, results, and information as widely as possible; it will use all available means deemed suitable to the extent considered useful by the Committee, its officers, and members.
Section 3. The Committee will endeavor to represent the best interests of those concerned with preparation and training in the museum profession and all those who seek and use such training for the ultimate benefit of the public and the museum community.
Chapter III -- Membership
Section 1. Membership in the Committee is open to all persons engaged in the training of museum professionals in institutions of higher education, museums, other nonprofit organizations, and program sponsoring groups and who are individual members of the American Association of Museums in good standing, or who are authorized representatives of any institutional member in good standing, and who meet the requirements for membership described herein, and who meet the criteria and pay the dues set by the Executive Board of the Committee. A national member in good standing is automatically a member of a regional museum studies committee, if it exists.
Section 2. Each member in good standing is entitled to one vote in the election of regional (if any) and national officers of the Committee, and in votes brought to the general membership. Each member will also receive notice of all votes affecting elections and changes in the Rules and Operating Procedures of the Committee, as provided in Chapters VI and VII. Members will be entitled to have mailed to them, in a timely manner, notices of these votes, and of meetings, seminars, and other activities of the committee, enough in advance, to enable them to attend or to act. They will also be entitled to receive the regular publications of the Committee. Members may receive other occasional publications of the Committee, costs permitting. In the event the cost of a publication exceed available funds, members may purchase publications and will be able to review copies brought for perusal at the next annual meeting of the Committee or at AAM headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Section 3. Affiliate members of the Committee are those not qualified under Section 1. of this chapter, but who are interested in the purposes, objectives, and activities of the committee. They may assume affiliate membership upon payment of annual or other dues set forth by the Executive Board and approved by the membership. Affiliate members do not have voting privileges, but will be entitled to receive publications and notices of meetings and activities on the same basis as regular members.
Section 4. Membership may be withdrawn by the Executive Board from any member declared to be in arrears of dues or other assessments, and for due cause. Due cause means use of membership for purposes inconsistent with the objectives and purposes of the Committee as set forth in its Rules and Operating Procedures.
Chapter IV -- Executive Board
Section 1. The Committee's affairs shall be managed by an Executive Board, hereafter referred to as the Board, which will consist of: a) elected officers of the Committee; b) the Immediate Past Chairperson of the Committee; c) six Regional Representatives; and d) two Members-At-Large.
Section 2. A quorum of the Board will consist of 1/3 of its members. Those present at meetings are the only ones who may vote on business brought before the Board. Minutes of Meetings must be recorded, and shall be open to inspection by any member of the Committee.
Section 3. The Board shall hold at least one meetings a year, one of which must be at the time and place of the annual business meeting. Special meetings may be called upon thirty days' notice by mail or by publication in the newsletter or other regular publication of the Committee, and mailed to the Board. Only business specified in the call for a special meeting may be transacted at such meetings.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall act to support the purposes and objectives of the Committee on Museum Professional Training. The Board may adopt rules and regulations consistent with the Committee's Rules and Operating Procedures and the American Association of Museum's Constitution and Bylaws. The Board may alter, amend, or repeal any rule or regulation previously adopted by itself. The responsibilities of the Board include but are not limited to the development of surveys, programs, publications, seminars, and workshops, and tasks may be delegated to special subcommittees. The Chairperson may exercise such powers as may be necessary between meetings of the Board. All the actions of the Board and the chairperson and the subcommittees shall be reported at the next meeting of the membership or by any other appropriate means designated by the Board.
Chapter V -- Officers and Their Duties
Section 1. The following positions shall comprise the officers of the Committee, elected as prescribed in Chapter VII. The executive power of the Committee shall be vested in a Chairperson. The Chairperson's term of office shall be for two years. A First Vice-Chairperson, shall also be chosen for the same two-year term of office. A Second Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer shall be elected for a two-year term, staggered with the Chairperson and First Vice Chair. Anyone who already holds a national level office in the Association or in one of the other Standing Professional Committees is ineligible for office at the same time in the Committee. The terms of office shall begin immediately following the annual business meeting of the Committee at which these officers are elected. In the event an officer is unable to complete his/her term of office, the Chairperson of the Committee shall replace this individual from the elected regional representatives on the Board.
Section 2. The Chairperson shall carry out the business of the Committee including, but not limited to, conducting the annual business meeting, creating and authorizing subcommittees as stated in Chapter IV, Section 4, with Board approval, and representing the membership. The Chairperson will appoint two Board Members-at-Large, and serve as an ex-officio member of all subcommittees; fill vacancies on the Board; prepare all agendas; and present the annual report at the annual business meeting. The Chairperson shall serve as the representative from the Committee to the Council of Standing Professional Committees of the American Association of Museums. Upon completion of his/her term or terms in office, the Chairperson shall serve on the Committee Board as Immediate Past Chairperson to provide continuity from one administration to the other. The Immediate Past Chairperson shall serve on the Executive Board until succeeded by a new retiring Chairperson.
Section 3. The First Vice-Chairperson shall act in the place of the Chairperson in the event of his/her temporary inability to carry on any of the functions of office. This also may occur on an occasional basis, at the written request of the Chairperson. The first Vice-Chairperson shall also assume any special duties assigned by the Chairperson, and shall serve as Chair-elect. He/she will assist the Chairperson with the business of the Committee, the Board, and the subcommittees. He/she will oversee the activities of the regional representatives and organizations, and report to the Chairperson.
Section 4. The Second Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the Chair of the Nominations and Elections Subcommittee whose duties are described in Chapter VII. In the event neither the Chairperson nor First Vice-Chairperson is able to serve or to act, the Second Vice-Chairperson will assume the duties of Chairperson. He/she will also serve as Chief Parliamentarian at all meetings of the Committee and the Board.
Section 5. The Secretary shall record and keep an accurate record of all meetings of the Committee and the Board, and receive and maintain all reports of the officers and subcommittees. He/she will have charge of all papers and documents of the Committee and the Board; distribute copies of the minutes of all meetings and reports to members of the Board and to designated chairpersons of subcommittees; register votes in Committee elections; issue notice of meetings; and maintain an up-to-date mailing list for the Committee.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall manage the finances for the Committee and maintain records of same, receiving the dues and other assessments of the members, and maintaining a list of those in good standing; notify those in arrears; disburse payments of bills, maintain a checking account of Committee funds; and seek and administer grants upon request. He/she will prepare an annual budget and a report of the finances for the Committee at the annual business meeting; and prepare the accounts for review and audit, as requested by the Board.
Section 7. The duties of the Board members shall include, but not be limited to, the following: a) each Regional Board member shall report the views of his/her respective region and organize Regional Committee meetings coincident with the regional AAM annual meeting; b) each Board Member-at-Large shall reflect the view of the national scope of the Committee and serve on special projects at the request of the Chairperson.
Chapter VI -- Meetings
Section 1. The Committee shall hold an annual business meeting to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums, unless otherwise ordered by the Committee or Executive Board thereby called as special meeting, upon thirty days' notice, either by mail or by regular publication of the Committee to the membership.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called at any other time of year by the Chairperson with the approval of the Board upon thirty days' notice, by mail or by regular publication of the Committee to the Membership.
Section 3. The Board shall hold at least one annual meeting coincident with the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums. One-third of the Board shall constitute a quorum; and it may consider and act upon all business brought before it at that time.
Section 4. Each regional group, if it exists, shall hold its annual business meeting coincident with its respective AAM annual regional meeting. A quorum for the regional annual business meeting and the national annual business meeting shall be comprised of those voting members present, and approval of actions proposed at such meetings shall be by a majority of those present and voting.
Section 5. Within each region additional meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, etc. may be held at the discretion of the Board Regional Representative.
Section 6. The minutes of all meetings of the Committee, The Board and Regional Committees shall be open to inspection by any member of the Committee.
Section 7. All meetings shall be conducted according to the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, except where they conflict with the established Rules and Operating Procedures of the Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Association of Museums.
Chapter VII -- Nominations and Elections
Section 1. The Subcommittee on Nominations and Elections, hereafter in this chapter, Subcommittee, will be selected and operate in the following manner:
a) The Chairperson of the Subcommittee shall be the Second Vice-Chairperson of the committee, elected by majority vote of the voting membership.
b) The Chairperson of the Subcommittee shall select at least two persons from the voting membership to assist with the preparation of a slate of officers, to be presented at the time indicated below.
c) The Subcommittee shall be in existence from the close of the annual business meeting at which it was chosen to the beginning of the annual business meeting two years later.
Section 2. The selection, nominations, and election of officers shall proceed in the following way:
a) The nomination process shall begin in January of every year, and shall be conducted by the Chairperson of the Subcommittee, together with the selected subcommittee members.
b) There shall be at least one candidate proposed for each of the following Committee offices: Chairperson, First Vice-Chairperson, and in alternate years at least one candidate for each of the following offices: Second Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. Voting members (not affiliates) in good standing and qualifying under Section 4., and who are employed by museums or related nonprofit and other relevant institutions, shall be eligible for nomination as officers of the Committee. Members of the Subcommittee may not be a candidate for nomination.
c) Any voting member of the Committee who qualifies as eligible under Section 4. may be nominated by petition for any office, providing that the petition is received by the Chairperson of the Subcommittee not less than sixty days prior to the annual business meeting, and that the petition is signed by not less than twenty voting members, with no more than fifty percent from any one region.
d) Individuals nominated, and who accept the nomination, shall constitute the candidates of the ballot. The ballot will be mailed only to voting members of the Committee.
e) Ballots shall list the names of individuals who have accepted nomination and who provide a brief biography and statement of purpose for themselves.
f) All ballots returned by voting members shall include the name and affiliation of each voting member.
g) Ballots shall be counted and tabulated by the Secretary and preserved for six months after the annual business meeting. Any voting member of the Committee shall have the right to inspect the ballots and/or the resulting tabulations during that period. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each position shall be elected.
h) Ballots shall be counted and tabulated at least fifteen days prior to the annual business meeting of the Committee coincident with the Association annual meeting.
i) Those elected will serve for two years.
j) No officer may be elected to the same position more than twice without being out of office for at least one complete term or two years. Officers who have finished half or less of the term of a previous officer shall be entitled to two consecutive nominations to office.
k) The term of office for each officer shall begin with the adjournment of the annual business meeting of the Committee provided a duly elected officer has been declared for that office. In the event an election cannot be conducted or if the results of the voting are incomplete, the officer(s) in question shall continue in office until a successor has been elected.
l) In the event the Chairperson of the Subcommittee is unable to serve, the First Vice-Chairperson of the Board shall become Chairperson of the Subcommittee. The new Chairperson shall fill any vacant positions on the Subcommittee from those members of the executive Board eligible to hold elected office.
Section 3. The six Regional Representatives shall be nominated and elected as follows:
a) Individuals accepting nominations for election as Regional Representatives must be informed of the commitment to attend regional as well as national Association meetings.
b) One Regional Representative who is eligible as prescribed in Chapter III, Section 1, shall be elected to a two-year term by COMPT members in his/her respective region. Three Regional Representatives will be elected each year.
c) Only one Regional Representative from each of six regions will be selected by the voting members in this region. A Regional Representative may not be elected to the same position more than twice without being out of office for at least one complete term, or two years.
d) In the event a vacancy occurs during a Regional Representative's two-year term, Regional COMPT members will fill the vacancy to complete the term of office.
Section 4. Only individual members of the American Association of Museums are eligible for Board membership and for nomination to an office which qualifies one for Board membership.
Chapter VIII -- Dues and Finance
Section 1. Annual dues shall be fixed by the Board and approved by the members of the Committee, present and voting, at the annual business meeting; dues need not be the same for voting members and non-voting affiliate members. Dues shall be used for purposes duly approved by the Committee, as mentioned in the Rules and Operating Procedures.
Section 2. Grants may be solicited to further the stated purposes of the Committee. These must submitted to and approved in writing by the Chairperson of the Committee and the President of the American Association of Museums. Without said approvals no grant applications shall bear the name of the Committee.
Chapter IX -- Termination of Existence
Should the Committee cease to exist and function, at any time, the title to all of its remaining assets of whatsoever kind shall revert to the American Association of Museums.
Chapter X -- Amendments
Section 1. These Rules and Operating Procedures may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative note of those members eligible to vote, and attending the annual business meeting of the Committee.
Section 2. Written notice of the proposed amendment (amendments) must be sent to the membership of the Committee by first class mail and postmarked at least thirty days prior to such meetings or published in a regular publication of the Committee, or in AVISO, at least thirty days prior to the annual business meeting of the Committee.
Chapter XI -- Severability
Any chapter, section or subsection of these Rules and Operating Procedures that is found to be illegal through due process shall not impair any other chapter, section, or subsection of the Rules and Operating Procedures.
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