The name of the Committee is CANMES

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

1. CANMES seeks to encourage communication among scholars of Middle Eastern studies resident in Canada; and to further the development of joint projects and conference participation on the part of its membership.

2. CANMES cooperates with other scholarly and governmental organizations in activities concerning international and area studies in Canada. To this end, CANMES works with the Canadian Council of Area Studies Learned Societies (CCASLS) to promote the enhancement of teaching and scholarship on area studies.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

There are two categories of membership.

1. Full members. All MESA members in good standing resident in Canada, or affiliated with Canadian institutions, are full members of CANMES.

2. Associate members. Residents of Canada with an interest in the Middle East who are not members of MESA may become associate members of CANMES. Associate members are welcome to attend CANMES business meetings as non-voting participants.

ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Composition

1. CANMES has a five person Board of Directors comprised of a President, three regular members, and one graduate student.

2. All Directors must be full members of CANMES.

3. To the extent possible, the Directors will be from different regions of Canada.

B. The President

1. The President is the official spokesperson of CANMES and will co-ordinate the activities of the organization.

2. The President will be the official contact person with MESA.

3. The President will convene and preside over the annual CANMES business meeting.

4. The President will submit to the CANMES and MESA Boards an annual report on the activities of the organization.

C. Board Members 

1. In addition to their general duties, the three faculty members will undertake such responsibilities as their interests and locations warrant. These responsibilities might include: representing CANMES at CCASLS Board meetings; serving as CANMES representatives on the CCASLS Board; coordinating the Canadian column for the MESA Newsletter; and acting as recording secretary during the annual business meeting.

2. In addition to his/her general duties, the graduate student will serve as a liason with the CANMES graduate student community and will bring to the attention of the board any issues that require action.

D. Terms of Office

The term of the President and the Directors is two years and can be renewed for one additional term. In order to assure continuity on the Board, members should serve staggered terms of office. It is recommended that for the election of November 1996 only, the President and two regular members be chosen for two year terms; and that one regular member and the graduate member be chosen for a one year term.

E. Elections

1. The Board of Directors will act as a nominating committee and will generate a list of candidates willing to stand for election to the Board.

2. Each Board member is elected by a simple majority of the full members attending the annual business meeting.

3. Candidates for President and Graduate Student Representative will be so designated on the ballots.

4. A minimum of 12 ballots must be cast for the election to be valid.

ARTICLE V: BUSINESS MEETING

CANMES will hold an annual business meeting in conjunction with the annual MESA conference.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to the by-laws may be proposed: (a) by the Board of Directors, and (b) by petitions signed by five full members.

2. All proposed amendments will be placed on the agenda of the annual business meeting. Proposed amendments receiving a majority out of no less than twelve votes cast will be considered adopted and will become effective immediately.

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