Flaut organizes occasional lectures for alumni/æ and others interested in linguistics.
FLAUT Organizing Committee
- Henry Rogers, rogers@chass.utoronto.ca
- Elaine Gold, egold@chass.utoronto.ca
- Sarah Thomson, sttoronto@sympatico.ca
- Bill Forrest, lingdept@chass.utoronto.ca
As this is an evolving association, your participation and suggestions are appreciated. Many Thanks!
CONSTITUTION
April 2002
Preamble
Whereas it is desirable that alumni and friends of the Department of Linguistics, constitute an Association for the continuing identity of its members with the Department, for the enrichment of their lives by continuing social and educational activities with the Department and for the support of the Department and the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto, as an important and vital institution of higher learning;
Therefore the Executive Council adopts its Constitution as follows:
Article I – Association Name
The name of the Association is Friends of Linguistics At the University of Toronto [flut]. The acronym, in the form of a phonetic transcription, illustrates a distinctive feature of Canadian English known as Canadian Raising.
Article II – Association Membership
All alumni of the Department of Linguistics and others interested in linguistics are eligible to be members of the Association.
Article III – Association Address
The address of the Association shall be the same as that of the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.
Article IV – Association Objectives
The primary objectives of the Association are:
(1) to promote continuing association and education among the members of the alumni and friends;
(2) to provide liaison between the members of the alumni and friends and the Department and the Faculty;
(3) to represent the interests of alumni and friends to the Department of Linguistics; and
(4) to support the best interests of the Department.
The ancillary objectives of the Association are:
(1) to provide an opportunity for non-Linguistics scholars, students and alumni and other interested parties to learn about linguistics in an informal setting; and
(2) to profile and promote linguistics as a subject of value and relevance to many fields and environments beyond the academic setting.
Article V – Association Meetings
(1) Association meetings will be planned by the Executive Council for each academic year and will be advertised on the Association website.
(2) The Association will normally meet at least three times annually.
Article VI – Annual General Meeting
An annual general meeting of the Association shall be held to coincide with an Association meeting.
Annual general meetings of the Association will be advertised no less than thirty days prior.
Special general meetings may be called at the discretion of the Executive Council.
Article VII – Composition of Executive Council
(1) All Association members are eligible to be members of the Executive Council.
(2) All members of the Executive Council are voting members.
(3) The Executive Council shall comprise the following positions:
- President;
- Past President;
- Secretary;
- Treasurer;
- Department of Linguistics Faculty representative; and
- Member-at-Large [or two members when needed to create an uneven number].
Article VIII – Elections and Terms of Office
Terms of office and election procedures shall be prescribed at a later stage in the development of the Association.
Article IX – Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Executive Council shall be the same as that of the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.
Article X – Meetings of the Executive Council
The Executive Council shall meet as required.
A majority of the members of the Executive Council constitutes a quorum.
Article XI – Duties of Executive Council
The Executive Council shall conduct the business of the Association in the furtherance of its objects.
The Executive Council shall appoint persons to represent the Association on any body in the University of Toronto that invites representation by the Association.
The President is responsible for chairing Executive Council and Association meetings.
The Secretary is responsible for recording meetings and issuing notices.
The Treasurer is responsible for administering the finances of the Association and shall report to the Executive Council and present a financial statement to the annual general meeting of the Association.
The Faculty of Arts and Science Alumni Office will be kept apprised of Association activities and plans and will be invited to attend any meetings of the Executive Council as a non-voting participant.
Article XII – Committees
The Executive Council may appoint and refer matters to committees as it considers advisable.
The persons appointed may be members of the Association who are not members of the Executive Council.
All committees shall report to the Executive Council.
Article XIII – Constitutional Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution require a thirty-day notice to the general Association membership.
A motion to amend the Constitution will pass if approved by a majority of the members present at the meeting at which the motion is presented.
Article XIV – Dissolution
This Association may be dissolved by a seventy-five percent majority vote of all members present at an annual general meeting.
Sixty days notice must be given for an annual general meeting at which dissolution is to be discussed.
The assets of the Association, if dissolved, will be transferred to the credit of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto after all debts have been paid.