Council visits Washington College

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Thanks so much to Dr John Seidel, Dr. Bill Schindler, and Washington College for hosting CfMA’s winter meeting last weekend! Members had the opportunity to tour the impressive new Semans-Griswold Environmental Building, home to the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College, then went to Eastern Shore Food Lab where we went through the process of nixtamalization, then stone ground fresh masa, and finally cranked out some amazingly delicious tortillas. It was one of the best CfMA outings in recent memory!

CfMA Bylaws Amended

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At the Council's December 7th Meeting at Washington College in Chestertown, CfMA's bylaws were amended to 1) allow electronic voting, and 2) provide for an Associate level of membership for students working towards a career as professional archeologists. You can find an updated Membership form HERE.

The substance of the recent bylaw changes is pasted below:

Article III, Section 1: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be available in two categories: Professional and Associate. Professional members shall be any person who: Holds an advanced degree (M.A., M.S., or Ph.D.) in Anthropology, Archeology, History, American Studies, or any closely related field as agreed upon by a majority of Council members, or; Has equivalent professional experience , demonstrated by such activities as the publication of professional articles in peer reviewed journals, the presentation of papers at professional conferences, and is sponsored by a member in good standing, and ; Is actively involved or likely to be involved in Maryland archeology, and; Subscribes to the purposes of this Council as outlined in Article II; is eligible for membership in this Council. Associate members shall be any person who holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, Archeology, History, American Studies, or any closely related field, or is currently enrolled in a similar university or college program. An applicant’s credentials may be requested for review by the Executive Board of the Council, by the Membership Committee, or by any member in good standing. Membership in good standing is activated upon payment of the specified dues.

Article III, Section 2: MEMBERSHIP (cont'd)
Professional All members shall have the privilege of participating in meetings and activities of the Council, shall receive one copy of the Council’s membership list on a yearly basis, shall receive one copy of the Council’s communications, and shall have the right to vote. Associate membership confers the right to participate in meetings and activities of the council, receive one copy of the Council’s membership list on a yearly basis, and receive one copy of the Council’s communications. However, Associate members shall not have the right to vote.

Article III, Section 3: MEMBERSHIP (cont'd)
A member can be removed from membership in this Council for failing to uphold the tenants of Article II or causing injury to the good name of this Council. Any member may offer a resolution at a Council meeting that an ad hoc Committee composed of five (5), consisting of a Chair and four Professional members, be appointed by the President or President-Elect to investigate charges
concerning another member which may render that person in violation of the aforementioned standards for membership in this Council. The ad hoc Committee shall conduct an investigation as deemed appropriate concerning the allegations and shall, at the following Business meeting, issue a written report to the Council on the results of said investigation. Based on the results of said
investigation, the ad hoc Committee will either a) exonerate the accused, or b) prefer charges. All ad hoc Committee members in agreement with the report shall sign the report. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Council shall vote as to whether to proceed with an Expulsion hearing. A simple majority of Professional Council members present at the Business meeting will be required to move to a hearing. None of the findings of the ad hoc Committee report shall be made public.

Section 4. An expelled member may apply for reinstatement after one year from the date of expulsion. Such an application must be present to an Executive Board member in the form of a letter of request that must provide adequate proof that the expelled member has acted according to the purposes of the Council. The Board member receiving said application will schedule said application as “New Business” during the following Business meeting of the Council. Two-thirds of the Professional Council members present at the Business meeting must approve the request of application for membership of this Council...

Article VII, Section 2: ELECTIONS
A ballot shall be sent either by paper mail or electronic ballot at least thirty (30) fifteen (15) days prior to the first quarterly meeting of the Council’s fiscal year indicating the nominees for the Officers of this Council or the two (2) At-Large members of the Executive Board. Such ballot may be returned by electronic balloting means or by mail to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee or may be delivered to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee in person at the first quarterly meeting. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. The President of this Council shall appoint three (3) members of this Council, who are not candidates or members of the Nominating Committee, to count the ballots at the first quarterly meeting. The person receiving the most votes shall be elected. In the case of a tie vote, the tie shall be broken by the voting membership present at the first quarterly meeting.