These bylaws were ratified by the Writing Division Members, 4/16/2004, at the BEA Convention. In the interim, included in this re-statement of the Writing Division bylaws are changes voted by members at the 2005-2009 BEA conventions. These bylaws comply with the Broadcast Education Association Interest Division Policies and Guidelines found at (http://www.beaweb.org/divguide.html).
ARTICLE I- NAME
The name of this Division is the Writing Division of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA).
ARTICLE II- MISSION
The mission of the Writing Division is to: (1) provide a forum for discussion of issues pertinent to writing for electronic and other media; (2) develop an understanding of media writing and the teaching of writing through panel discussions and papers presented at the annual BEA convention; (3) promote peer-reviewed scholarship through annual faculty research competitions; (4) encourage faculty and student writing through annual scriptwriting competitions; (5) facilitate communication among Division Members and constituents with a newsletter; and (6) maintain a web page with a collection media writing resources.
ARTICLE III- OFFICERS
The governing body of the Writing Division consists of six officers: Chair, Vice Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair, Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair, Academic Research & Scholarly Paper Competition Chair, Newsletter Editor, and Web Manager. Other officers may be elected, and duties assigned, as determined necessary by the Division Membership at the annual meeting.
Section 1. Chair. The Chair is responsible to the Division Representative on the BEA Board. The duties of this position include:
1) overseeing the overall organization of the Writing Division;
2) representing the Writing Division at all BEA convention meetings;
3) chairing the business meeting at the annual BEA convention, including
election of officers when scheduled;
4) handling Writing Division business between BEA conventions;
5) serving as panel coordinator, and overseeing the evaluation and
ranking of panel proposals;
6) authorizing expenditure of Writing Division funds.
Section 2. Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair. The Vice- Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair is responsible to the Division Chair. The duties of this position include:
1) coordinating the annual Faculty Scriptwriting Competition, including
promoting, receiving entries, facilitating judging, presenting
winners, and Co-Chairing the competitive session of the annual
convention program with the Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair;
2) serving as the Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Representative on
the BEA Festival Committee;
3) assuming the Chair’s position at the end of the two year term;
4) representing the Writing Division as needed in absence of the Chair.
Section 3. Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair. The Student
Scriptwriting Competition Chair is responsible to the Division Chair. The
duties of this position include:
1) coordinating the annual Student Scriptwriting Competition, including
promoting, receiving entries, facilitating judging, presenting
winners, Co-Chairing the competitive session of the annual convention
program with the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair;
2) serving as the Student Scriptwriting Competition Representative on
the BEA Festival Committee;
3) assuming the Vice Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair’s
position at the end of the two-year term;
4) representing the Writing Division as needed in the absence of both
the Chair and the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair.
Section 4. Academic Research & Scholarly Paper Competition Chair. The Academic Research & Scholarly Paper Competition Chair is responsible to the Division Chair. The duties of this position include:
1) coordinating the annual Academic Research and Scholarly Paper
Competition, including promoting, receiving entries, facilitating judging, obtaining respondents, presenting winners, and moderating the Paper Competition Award’s Panel Session;
2) representing the Writing Division as needed in the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair and the
Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair.
Section 5. Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter Editor is responsible to
the Division Chair. The duties of this position include:
1) writing or editing all newsletter copy;
2) preparing, publishing, and distributing the newsletter electronically,
in print, or both, to Writing Division Members;
3) representing the Writing Division as needed in the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair, and
the Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair.
Section 6. Web Manager. The Web Manager is responsible to the Division
Chair. The duties of this position include:
1) writing or editing all materials for the website;
2) hosting the site on the web manager’s university server or other
appropriate forum;
3) publishing, maintaining, and regularly updating the site;
4) representing the Writing Division as needed in the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair, the
Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair, and the Newsletter Editor.
Section 7. Secretary. The Secretary is responsible to the Division Chair. The duties of this position include:
1) taking notes to record the annual business meeting minutes;
2) presenting those minutes to the Division Membership for
acknowledgement and acceptance by vote;
3) maintaining a record of Division business affairs conducted at the
annual business meeting.
Section 8. Procedures for Election of Officers. All officers are normally elected to a two-year term in even-numbered years. Elections may be held in odd-numbered years if deemed necessary by the Writing Division Membership, and/or if an officer is unable to complete a term.
Only paid members of the Writing Division are eligible to vote for officers at the annual meeting. Normally, the Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair succeeds the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair, and the Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair succeeds the Chair, at the convention in even numbered years; so, the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair are generally not open for election. Nominations for each vacant position may be made in advance of the BEA convention, and may also be made from the floor at the annual Writing Division business meeting. After nominations are closed at the meeting, the candidate who receives the most votes from Division Members who are present and voting is elected to the office for each vacant position.
ARTICLE IV- COMPETITIONS
The Writing Division sponsors three competitions. (1) The Faculty
Research & Scholarly Paper Competition, which accepts scholarly articles related to writing for the electronic media and teaching writing. The Academic Research & Scholarly Paper Competition Chair manages this competition in accordance with all published guidelines and deadlines. (2) The BEA Festival Faculty Scriptwriting Competition, which accepts screenplays in the categories of Short Subject, Feature, and Episodic Short (“Webisodes” & “Mobisodes”). The Vice-Chair/Faculty Scriptwriting Competition Chair manages this competition in accordance with all published guidelines and deadlines. (3) The BEA Festival Student Scriptwriting Competition, which accepts scripts in a variety of categories. The Student Scriptwriting Competition Chair manages this competition in accordance with all published guidelines and deadlines.
ARTICLE V- NEWSLETTER
The newsletter is published approximately three (3) times per year: once during the fall semester or quarter, once during the spring semester or quarter prior to the annual BEA convention, and once prior to the end of the spring semester or at the beginning of summer sessions. The Newsletter Editor is responsible for writing, editing, publishing, and distributing the letter, either in electronic or printed form, or both. Publishing and mailing costs for the newsletter may be paid from Writing Division funds; however, the Newsletter Editor’s institution may pay for some or all costs as a means of supporting the Division.
ARTICLE VI- DIVISION PANELS
Panel proposals are submitted to the Chair of the Writing Division by the deadline established by the BEA. Both members and nonmembers of the
BEA may submit panel proposals with the understanding that all panel participants plan to attend the annual BEA convention. The Chair coordinates the rank ordering of the proposals. The Chair submits the rank-ordered panels to the Convention Coordinator by the established deadline. Upon receipt of the final recommendation of the Convention Coordinator, the Chair notifies the panel conveners of the decision regarding their proposals.
ARTICLE VII- BYLAW CHANGES
Writing Division Members may propose bylaw changes in advance of the BEA convention and also from the floor at the annual Writing Division business meeting. Proposed changes are made in the form of a motion and require a second. Motions may be discussed prior to the meeting (e.g., via e-mail) and are also discussed at the meeting (if seconded). When discussion is closed at the meeting, a vote is taken. To pass, a proposed bylaw change must receive a majority of votes from the Division Members who are present and voting at the annual Division business meeting.
Revised 5/09
