Article I. Name

The name of this group shall be the Lesbian and Gay Interest Group (hereafter referred to simply as "L/G Group") of the American Theological Library Association (hereafter referred to simply as "ATLA").

Article II. Objectives

1. To establish within ATLA a forum for discussions and activities related to Lesbian and Gay issues in theological librarianship and theological education.
2. To act as a resource to ATLA libraries for awareness of Lesbian and Gay issues both in librarianship, theological education, and Lesbian/Gay studies.
3. To establish a means for the exchange of information among the members of the Group, from the Group to the broader membership of ATLA, and from ATLA to the Group.

Article III. Members

Membership in the L/G Group shall be open to any institutional or individual member of the American Theological Library Association interested in the Group and its objectives.

Article IV. Officers

All officers of the L/G Group shall serve for a term of one year.

The officers of the L/G Group shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Secretary. These officers and the immediate past Chair shall constitute the Executive Committee, who shall carry on L/G Group business between general meetings of the L/G Group (held each year at the ATLA Annual Conference).

1. The Chair of the L/G Group will preside at all meetings of the L/G Group and the Executive Committee, and any other committee of the L/G Group of which she/he is a member.
2. The Vice-Chair shall be responsible for all programs approved by the Executive Committee. She/He may appoint others to assist her/him as warranted.
3. The Secretary will report on the activities of the Executive Committee and the L/G Group to the editors of the ATLA Newsletter and the Summary of Proceedings.
4. Elections shall be held annually and officers shall assume their offices as the last order of business at the general meeting of the L/G Group at each Annual Conference. Elections may be held by email, regular mail or at a general meeting, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
5. In the event of a resignation of any officer, the Executive Committee shall select a replacement until the next election.
6. The Executive Committee shall have the general supervision of the affairs of the L/G Group between general meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the L/G Group, and perform other duties as specified in these Bylaws. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the Bylaws of ATLA and to the orders of the L/G Group. No action of the Executive Committee shall conflict with actions taken by the L/G Group or ATLA.
7. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee, a regular meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held preceding the annual meeting of the L/G Group. Such meeting of the Executive Committee may be held electronically, at the discretion of the members of the Executive Committee.

Article V. Meetings

An annual meeting of the L/G Group, and others as deemed necessary, shall be held as arranged by the Executive Committee.

Article VI. Committees

The Chair shall appoint such committees (either standing or special), as the L/G GROUP or Executive Committee shall deem necessary to carry on the work of the L/G GROUP. The meetings of such committees can be called by the Chair as needed. Any person holding individual membership in ATLA, or serving as an institutional member’s representative, may serve on such committee.

Article VII. Financial Responsibility

If necessary for the operations of the L/G Group, a yearly budget shall be submitted by the Executive Committee to the Director of Member Services, the deadline for such submission being stipulated by the Director of Member Services. Expenditures again said budget must first be approved by the Chair of the L/G Group and then submitted to the Director of Member Services for payment.

Article VIII. Amendment to the By-Laws

These Bylaws can be amended by a vote of the membership at the annual meeting of the L/G Group or by a vote utilizing other means (e.g., mail, electronic mail, etc.) as determined by the Executive Committee. A draft of the amendments must be distributed in advance. Amendments must pass a two-thirds margin of those voting.