Section II. Officers

A. Composition1

  1. The elected officers of the Society are a president, a vice president, and a treasurer.
  2. The president and the vice president serve terms of one year each. The treasurer serves a term of three years.
  3. Officers take office at the conclusion of the annual business meeting following the election. They are ineligible for immediate reelection.

B. Duties

  1. ​​​In addition to the responsibilities and activities of ​Council, the ​​​specific Officer duties​ are outlined in​ the ​​​individual position descriptions​​ and include the following:
    1. Ensuring the legal and ethical integrity of the organization.
    2. Providing proper financial oversight and ensuring adequate financial resources.
    3. Establishing policy for the Society.
    4. Ensuring effective planning.
    5. Monitoring and strengthening programs and services.
    6. Ensuring the organization’s public standing.
    7. Supporting the work of the paid staff.
    8. Selecting, supporting, and evaluating the chief executive officer.
  2. Together with the chief executive officer, the officers are responsible for ensuring that records of continuing value to the Society are transferred to the Society’s archives.3

C. Other

  1. ​To ensure that the Society has a broad pool of leadership and to avoid potential power imbalances, elected​ officers of the Society ​​​are discouraged from serving​ as officers, steering committee members, or editors on other SAA bodies except where this service is specifically mandated​ or their specific expertise is essential​.
  2. Elected officers of the Society will not concurrently serve as paid employees of SAA, except to complete pre-existing contracts.5

Approved by the Council: June 1991
Revised May 2011, April 2025

1 The source for Section II.A. is the Constitution of the Society of American Archivists, Article V.A.1.

2 This list of duties is based on Richard T. Ingram, Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, Second Edition (BoardSource, 2009).

3 The source for Section II.B.2. is the Constitution of the Society of American Archivists, Article VII.

4 Per resolution adopted by the Council at its January 30-February 1, 1987, meeting and reaffirmed at the June 2-4, 1989 meeting.

5 Per resolution adopted by the Council at its June 5-7, 1987, meeting and reaffirmed at its June 2-4, 1989 meeting.

President

A. Term of Office

Article V of the Society's constitution states that the president serves a one-year term of office subsequent to a one-year term of office as vice president. The terms of office begin at the conclusion of the Annual Business Meeting after the election. Because the vice president automatically becomes president, the president is ineligible for immediate reelection. According to the SAA Foundation's bylaws, the SAA president also serves on the SAA Foundation Board of Directors in his or her capacity as an SAA Executive Committee member. Subsequent to serving one year as SAA president, the SAA immediate past president serves one year on the SAA Foundation Board of Directors.

B. Functions

Bylaw 1 of the Society's bylaws states, "The president shall direct and coordinate the affairs of the Society, preside at all business meetings of the Society, of the Council, and its Executive Committee, and shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Council."

C. Duties

1. Preside over the Society's business meeting at the Annual Meeting.

2. Serve as a member of and preside over meetings of the Council.

3. Serve as a member of and chair the Executive Committee. The president shall call the Committee into session.

4. May at his or her discretion appoint the chairs and the members of SAA committees, boards, task forces, and working groups, as well as representatives whose positions are created or become vacant during his or her term in office, according to the guidelines for each of these and SAA practice. Traditionally, the vice president / president-elect appoints representatives and chairs and members of SAA bodies who will commence their service at the beginning of his or her term as president. In general, the vice president fills vacancies occurring in mid-year in consultation with the president.

5. Create and terminate standing committees, task forces, and other groups with the advice and approval of the Council.

6. Direct representatives to outside committees and boards to present issues of importance or concern to the president, the executive director, the Council, or the Society at large before those committees and boards. The representatives shall bring the discussion of such issues by the outside committees and boards before the Executive Committee or the full Council for consideration and further advice.

7. Sign the current employment contract with the executive director.

8. Direct the search for a new executive director when necessary.

9. Appoint newly-elected Council members to Council committees.

 

Approved by Council: June 1991
Revised: January 1992, May 2011