Special Interest Group Manual

This checklist highlights the procedures for establishing a new Special Interest Group described in full in the Special Interest Group Manual. Questions about SIGs and the approval process not addressed in the Manual should be directed to the Chair of the Section Council Section/SIG Review Committee.

1. Submission of a Statement of Purpose

Procedure and Deadline – the Statement must be submitted to the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee by January 1^st for consideration that calendar year.

2. Identification of convener or co-conveners

Procedure and Deadline – names should be submitted with the Statement to the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee also by January 1^st.

3. Advisement on the approval process

Procedure and Deadline – the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee advises convener(s). This is an ongoing dialog that should commence as soon as feasible after receipt of Statement and name(s) of convener(s).

4. Statement distribution to Section Council

Procedure – the Statement is distributed to all Section Council representatives. Representatives discuss with their leadership and forward comments to the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee. Comments are in turn sent to the convener(s).

Deadline – The Section Council Chair, at the request of the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee, distributes the Statement of Purpose to the Section Council and Section Chairs listservs for review. Comments received will be forwarded to the convener(s) within one month of the mailing.

5. Petition

Procedure and Deadline – the petition must be signed by a minimum of 15 MLA members and should be based on the final version of the Statement of Purpose. Names representing signatures to the petition may be collected at any time thereafter.

6. Statement/Petition Review

Procedure – The final version of the Statement and signed petition are submitted to the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee. The Committee verifies procedural compliance and forwards documentation to the Section Council Chair.

Deadline – the Committee will complete its review within one month of receipt.

7. Approval Vote

Procedure - The Statement is presented to Council representatives for a vote. Following the vote, the Chair of the Section/SIG Review Committee notifies the convener(s).

Deadline – The Council vote is scheduled as soon as possible after the Section/SIG Review Committee review. Notification of voting results will be communicated immediately to the convener(s).

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Last updated on December 5, 2001.