The Native American Art Studies Association (NAASA) exists to encourage the ongoing study and exchange of ideas on Native American art north of the Rio Grande and including the First Nations of Canada.

Members include Native American artists and scholars, members of the academic community, museum professionals, writers, and others actively involved in the study of Native American art.

The Association hosts biennial conferences, publishes a periodic newsletter, facilitates communication among members through its email list-serve, and serves as a clearinghouse for information relating to Native American art studies.

Officers and Board Members
Constitution and By-laws

Officers and Board Members

Past Board Members
(in chronological order from 1980 to present)

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Native American Art Studies Association Bylaws

NAASA By-Laws Prepared in 1993 by David Penney, Revised by Robin K. Wright 2003

I. PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Native American Art Studies Association, Inc., is to encourage the on-going study and exchange of ideas on Native American art north of the Rio Grande by Native American artists and/or scholars from Indian nations as well as members of the academic community, museum personnel, writers and others actively involved in the study of Native American art.

II. OBJECTIVES:

The Native American Art Studies Association, Inc., will encourage and promote:

A. Meetings to be held no less frequently than every two years for the purpose of discussing and disseminating knowledge concerning Native American art north of the Rio Grande. Meetings will be held at a different institution each time. Correspondence concerning the meeting will be paid for by the annual dues. Conference registration fees will be charged to cover some of the costs of the conference. Host institutions must assist with funding for the conference.

B. The publication of a periodic newsletter.

III. STRUCTURE:

The governing body of the Native American Art Studies Association, Inc., will be its officers and board of directors, consisting of a President, Vice-President/Parliamentarian, Secretary/Treasurer, and seven Board Members.

IV. DUTIES OF OFFICERS:

1. President.

Presides over meetings of the Association, chairs meetings of the Executive Board, edits newsletter.

2. Vice-President/Parliamentarian.

Substitutes of the President at meetings when necessary, chairs program committee.

3. Corresponding Secretary/Treasurer.

Collects dues and distributes funds, takes minutes at meetings and distributes them to Board members, is responsible for correspondence at President's discretion.

4. Board Members (7).

5. The Executive Board (ten [10] members total).

Composed of the Officers and Board Members of the Association. Meets at least once a year, usually at the national meeting. The Executive Board will also be responsible for a periodic newsletter which will include information of interest to the Native American art studies community. The President will serve as editor of the newsletter. Printing and mailing costs of the newsletter will be paid for by the annual dues.

V. TERMS OF OFFICE:

A. President, Vice-President: 2 years. The Secretary/Treasurer will be appointed by the President.

B. Board Members: elected to a four-year term.

VI. RELATIONSHIP OF EXECUTIVE BOARD TO HOST INSTITUTION:

The host institution will be responsible for organizing and planning the meeting with the approval of the Board, based on professional standards and accessibility. Approval of plans will be dependent upon the guidelines of the By-Laws. Plans and procedures will be publicized in the newsletter.

VII. GOVERNANCE/MEMBERSHIP:

Any dues-paying members are eligible to serve as an Officer or Board Members of the Native American Art Studies Association, Inc. The election of Officers and Board Members will occur at the national meeting. Adjustments in categories of membership and dues may be proposed from time to time by the Board of Directors through the President to the Annual Business Meeting and will be subject to ratification by majority vote of those in attendance.

VIII. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS:

The By-Laws may be amended by a simple majority of voting members at the national meeting or by simple majority of those voting in a mail ballot.

IX. PROCEDURES:

A. The By-Laws were ratified at the Spring, 1982 meeting.

B. The procedures were reviewed and amendments ratified at the 1985 meeting as follows:

1. Change from "four" to "seven" Board of Directors

2. Term of office for Board of Directors changed from "two" to "four"

C. Amendment ratified at the 1991 meeting as follows:

1. Responsibilities of the Vice President changed from "parliamentary procedure" to "chairs program committee."

D. Amendment ratified at the 2003 meeting as follows:

1. Change wording in Section II. Objectives A. from "In addition, a registration fee, not to exceed $50.00, may be charged for the annual meeting. Costs for food and lodging are at the discretion of the host institution." to "Conference registration fees will be charged to cover some of the costs of the conference. Host institutions must assist with funding for the conference."

Native American Art Studies Association, Inc.

The Native American Art Studies Association was incorporated in the State of Arizona in 1982. It is a non-profit organization with section 501 (c) (3) status, meaning that it may accept tax deductible donations. It has been responsible for the organization of 14 national conferences. See Previous Conferences.

Responsibilities of the President:
1) Edits and publish newsletter. The Newsletter is the primary vehicle by which the membership is informed of matters pertaining to conference organization. In practical terms, at least six must be published in the two years between conferences which would include notification of venue sites, conference themes, calls for panels and abstracts, and general NAASA related news of interest to the membership. The publication and distribution of the Newsletter is paid for by NAASA membership dues.

2) Organizes the biennial conferences. The President is the principle agent in conference organization, identifying host cities and institutions, assisting with the formation of a host venue committee, and acting as the principle liaison between the venue committee and the Board of Directors and membership.

3) Convenes Board meetings. Traditionally there is a meeting of the Executive Committee every year, one at the conference and one during the interim conference year at the next conference venue location to review preparations. The President fixes the agenda and presides over the meetings. The are no NAASA funds available for officers' travel to Board meetings. Traditionally, NAASA officers have sought support for their NAASA activities from their institutional affiliations.

4) Presides over the conferences. The President presides over the conferences as the principle representative of the organization. The President organizes the agenda for the Business meetings, open to all NAASA members, and supervises the elections of officers and board members.

5) Apppoints Secretary/Treasurer. The President appoints a Secretary/Treasurer which will work closely with the President in fulfilling all the above listed responsibilities.

6) Builds NAASA endowment fund by seeking contributions.

Responsiblities of the Vice President
1) Fulfills all the responsibilities of the President upon the event that the elected President is unable to do so.

2) Participates in NAASA conference planning and Newsletter publication as a member of the Executive Board (see responsibilities of the Board of Directors, below).

3) Acts as NAASA conference Program Chair in supervising the selection of presentations to schedule at NAASA conferences by organizing the abstract solicitation and review process with the NAASA Board of Directors and the local conference-venue planning committee.

Responsibilities of the Secretary/Treasurer
1) Maintains records of membership. These are currently managed with the assistance of a data base file.

2) Supervises NAASA accounts payable and receipts, banking, and prepares financial reports. The Secretary/Treasurer also prepares reports and documentation necessary to maintain NAASA as a non-profit corporation.

3) Assists President with the preparation and mailing of the Newsletter.

4) Prepares minutes of Board and business meetings.

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
1) Attend annual board and business meetings. There are no NAASA funds available for Board of Directors travel. Traditionally, NAASA Board Members have sought support from their institutional affiliations in order to fulfill their responsibilities. This is an extremely important consideration for those who wish to be nominated as NAASA Board members.

2) Assist officers and local venue committees with conference planning. This is accomplished through the interim conference meeting of the Board of Directors and through correspondence with the President.

3) Assist President with publication of the NAASA Newsletter. Board members have contributed articles and reviews for the Newsletter.

4) Review abstracts submitted by NAASA members as directed by the NAASA conference Program chair, the Vice President.

5) Oversee officers in fulfilling the mission and purpose of NAASA as defined in the constitution and by-laws and participates in long-range planning of NAASA policies and direction.

6) Build NAASA endowment by seeking contributions.

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