I. Name: The name of this nonprofit corporation is the Robinson Jeffers Association.
II. Bylaws: All activities of the Association must be in keeping with the Bylaws of the Association.
III. Purpose: The Robinson Jeffers Association encourages and supports scholarly and critical work focused on or related to Robinson Jeffers, and it seeks to enhance awareness of and appreciation for Jeffers’ contributions to American and world literature across academic disciplines and for the general public. To advance these goals, the Association
- publishes Jeffers Studies, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal
- maintains a website with resources for researchers, teachers, students, and general readers
- provides resources and support for researchers and teachers
- sponsors virtual and in-person programming for researchers, teachers, students, and general readers, such as reading groups, seminars, lectures, and conferences.
IV. Membership: Membership in the Association is accorded upon payment of dues established by the Association.
V. Officers: The Officers of the Association are a President, a President-Elect, an Executive Director, and a Treasurer. In addition, an Advisory Board serves the Association, consisting of three elected members and four ex officio members, namely, the immediate Past President, the editor of Jeffers Studies, a member representing the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation, and a member representing the Jeffers family. The Advisory Board may add another elected member whenever the total membership of the Association exceeds one hundred.
The President shall serve a three-year term of office, with a maximum of two consecutive elected terms. Candidates for President may be nominated by any member of the Association. The President shall be elected by majority vote of members returning ballots. The President presides at regular meetings of the Advisory Board, and convenes an annual business meeting for the Association at large. The President shares responsibility with the Executive Director and the Advisory Board for planning and implementing programs sponsored by the Association on an ongoing basis.
The President-Elect shall be elected not less than one year prior to the expiration of the President’s term of office. The President-Elect shall assist the President and Executive Director as necessary and share in the program planning for annual and special meetings, shall preside in the President’s absence, and shall become President at the conclusion of his or her predecessor’s term. Candidates for President-Elect may be nominated by any member of the Association. He or she shall be elected by majority vote of members returning ballots.
The Executive Director is appointed by the President in consultation with the Advisory Board and serves a three-year term that may be renewed. The Executive Director shall oversee the regular business of the Association, handle correspondence, and record the minutes of the annual meeting. In addition, the Executive Director shares responsibility with the President and the Advisory Board for planning and implementing programs sponsored by the Association on an ongoing basis.
The Treasurer is appointed by the President in consultation with the Advisory Board and serves at his or her pleasure. The Treasurer shall keep a register of members and their addresses, manage the treasury, and may authorize particular expenditures of up to $500. With the consent of the elected Officers and the Advisory Board, the Treasurer may disburse larger expenditures within the limits of available funds. The Treasurer shall submit financial statements to the appropriate state and/or federal agencies as required under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
The Editor of Jeffers Studies, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, is appointed by the President in consultation with the Advisory Board and serves at the President’s pleasure. The term of appointment shall be five years and is renewable. The Editor is responsible for the timely publication of issues that are in accord with the Mission of RJA and that uphold academic standards. The Editor shall, in consultation with the journal’s Editorial Board, maintain the journal’s written policies and procedures and shall prepare an Annual Report to be submitted to the President and Advisory Board for review in advance of the annual business meeting. The Editor is also responsible for nominating members of the Editorial Board, whose appointments shall be ratified by the RJA Officers and Advisory Board.
Elected members of the Advisory Board are nominated by any member of the Association. Advisory Board members are elected to a three-year term by majority vote of members returning ballots, one member elected every year to replace one whose term is ending. Advisory Board members aid the Officers in carrying on the business of the Association, help draft calls for papers, help plan conferences, and serve as a review committee for nominations of Officers and Advisory Board members.
VI. Meetings: The Association shall hold an annual in-person or virtual business meeting.
VII. Journal: The Association sponsors the annual journal Jeffers Studies, which is supervised by an Editorial Board nominated by the Editor and ratified by the Officers and Advisory Board.
VIII. Amendment of the Bylaws: Minor changes (such as procedural matters, clarifications, and technical details in these Bylaws may be effected at the annual business meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority of the members in attendance. Major amendments concerning organization, structure, membership, or substantive business of the Association shall be submitted to the entire membership of the Association and shall require approval by two-thirds of the members casting votes. All proposed amendments must be circulated among the entire membership at least one month prior to the annual business meeting and be included as a Discussion Item on the meeting’s agenda with the vote on major amendments open to all members by mail or electronically at least one month after the annual business meeting.
IX. Dues: Dues are set by the Officers and the Advisory Board and cover a period of one calendar year.
Approved by vote of the membership
April 25, 2025