The name of this organization shall be the West Lakes Division, Association of American Geographers (AAG).

This Division is organized in accordance with Article VI of the Constitution of the AAG. Nothing herein contained shall be construed in contradiction to that constitution, and in case of conflict the Constitution and Council of the Association of American Geographers shall be considered the final authority.

The membership of the Division shall consist of all those members of the AAG whose Association mailing address lies within the bounded area of the West Lakes Division.

The officers of the Division shall be chair, secretary and treasurer, all of whom shall be members of the Division and the Association. The immediate past chair of the Division shall be considered available to the incumbent chair as counselor, and in this capacity will serve in the absence of the chair. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chair the immediate past chair shall resume that office, serving until the next annual meeting of the Division. The Division shall be represented on the Council of the AAG by an elected Councillor, as authorized by the National Constitution and Bylaws.

The chair and the secretary of the Division shall serve for a term of one year, holding office from one week after the close of the annual meeting of the Division until one week after the close of the following annual meeting. The treasurer of the Division shall serve a term of three consecutive years, holding office from one week after the close of one annual meeting until one week after the close of the annual meeting three years later. The Councillor shall be elected for a term of three years, holding office concurrent with three consecutive terms of the annually elected officers and the treasurer who shall hold office for three years.

Nomination of candidates for the offices of chair and secretary shall be made by members from the floor at the annual business meeting. Election shall follow immediately and be by majority ballot vote of members present. The elevation of the secretary to the office of chair, although commonplace, shall not be considered automatic. The Division's treasurer and representative on the Council shall be elected by mail ballots. The secretary shall solicit nominations for treasurer and nominations for councillor at least ninety days prior to appropriate annual meetings, secure the consent of the nominees, distribute mail ballots to the membership sixty days in advance of the meeting, and allow a reasonable time for their return. The results shall be announced at the annual meeting.

A. Chair

Serve as presiding officer at the annual meeting of the Division.

Represent the Division at Council meetings of the Association when the Councillor elected to represent the Division is unable to attend. When called upon to do so he/she shall be reimbursed by the Division for expenses not otherwise provided for, in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars.

Appoint an interim secretary when a vacancy occurs in that office between annual meetings of the Division.

Appoint an interim treasurer when a vacancy occurs in that office between three-year elections.

Appoint members and chair of such standing committees as may be established by Division action and appoint such ad hoc committees as he/she considers necessary.

Act on behalf of the Division in circumstances no otherwise covered by the Bylaws.

Supervise all arrangements, including publicity, program and mailings for the annual meeting of the Division.

Take and maintain minutes of the business meeting of the Division.

File such reports as are required by the Association of American Geographers and its publications.

Carry on all other correspondence for the Division as needs arise, or as directed by the chair.

Maintain close contact with the archives and the treasurer on matters relating to records and finances, respectively.

Maintain and pass on to his/her successor, in good order, the records of the Division.

Accomplish the financial transaction of the Division, including specifically filing the annual request early in the calendar year for the Division's membership rebate from the AAG.

Chair an audit committee comprised of the Treasurer, Chair, Regional Councillor, and three immediate past chairs, which shall conduct an annual audit of the financial ledger of the Division.

File financial reports as are required by the Association of American Geographers, by the audit committee of the Division and the IRS (if required).

Maintain and pass on to the successor, in good order, the financial records and reports of the Division.

The duties of the Councillor are as provided in the National Constitution.

The Councillor shall maintain a close liaison with the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Division, and represent the membership of the Division in Council.

The Councillor shall be reimbursed by the Division for his/her expenses not otherwise provided for, in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars, in order to attend Council meetings.

A. Annual Meeting

At least one meeting of the Division shall be held annually, normally in the autumn. The time and place of the meeting shall be determined as follows: the chair shall receive, at least four weeks in advance, written invitations to host future meetings to be voted upon by the members present. Meeting sites shall be determined at least two years in advance, whenever possible. Participation in the annual meeting, except for the business section, shall in no way be restricted.

The Division shall conduct an annual business meeting, as an integral part of the annual meeting. At this time the business of the Division, including, but not restricted to, election of officers and acceptance of invitations for future meeting sites shall be transacted.

The Division may establish, subject to approval of the AAG Council, research projects and/or publications.

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members attending, who shall be considered a quorum, any business meeting of the Division.

These Bylaws shall be considered to have been adopted when they have been approved by a two-thirds majority vote of those members attending the annual business meeting of the Division and have been accepted by the Council of the Association of American Geographers.