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The purpose of the Pronunciation Special Interest Group (Pron-SIG) is

1) to promote pronunciation teaching in Japan on different levels of education (primary, secondary, tertiary, language courses, private language schools and institutes, teacher training courses, etc);

2) to disseminate information and co-ordinate exchange of new ideas in the filed;

3) to contribute to higher standards of pronunciation teaching and pronunciation performance of Japanese learners of foreign languages by providing guidance for developing pronunciation-sensitive syllabi, curricula and language programmes;

4) to establish ties between teachers concerned for FL pronunciation acquisition in Japan and in other parts of the world;

5) to help Japanese teachers to bring to class the latest achievements of phonetics, speech technologies, applied linguistics and pronunciation teaching methods;

6) to support research in phonetics and pronunciation teaching/learning methods;

7) to foster the development of pronunciation teaching methods and techniques, textbooks, audio, video materials, pronunciation teaching software and other educational tools best suited to the local situation in Japan and matching requirements and needs of Japanese learners of foreign languages.

Objectives
To accomplish this purpose, the Pron-SIG shall:

1) disseminate in its newsletters information related to the achievements and new developments in pronunciation teaching in Japan and in other regions of the world;

2) organize and participate in events, conferences, symposia in JALT and other teacher and phonetics-related organizations in Japan and abroad;

3) encourage research, opinion and material exchanges related to pronunciation training;

4) publish in its newsletters materials, research reports, reviews on issues of pronunciation acquisition;

5) hold, and recruit participants to, its annual general meeting and SIG sponsored forum at the annual JALT National Conference;

6) establish and maintain a Pron-SIG newsletter and an e-mail information list;

7) maintain a database of publications, organizations and materials related to pronunciation teaching.

I. Name: Pronunciation Special-Interest-Group
The name of the organization is the Pronunciation Special Interest Group and in Japanese (sorry I can't do Japanese), hereafter referred to in this constitution as the Pron-SIG.

The name was ratified at the AGM on November 3, 2000 at JALT2000 in Shizuoka City.

II. Affiliation
(The paragraph below is to take effect when Pron-SIG receives affiliate status from the JALT Executive Board for a forming SIG under current JALT By-Laws.

The Pron-SIG is an affiliate of the Japan Association for Language Teaching, hereafter referred to as JALT. The Pron-SIG receives financial, administrative and logistical support from JALT.

III. Purpose and objectives
The Pron-SIG is a non-profit organization whose primary purposes are:

1) to promote pronunciation teaching in Japan on different levels of education (primary, secondary, tertiary, language courses, private language schools and institutes, teacher training courses, etc);

2) to disseminate information and co-ordinate exchange of new ideas in the filed;

3) to contribute to higher standards of pronunciation teaching and pronunciation performance of Japanese learners of foreign languages by providing guidance for developing pronunciation-sensitive syllabi, curricula and language programmes;

4) to establish ties between teachers concerned for FL pronunciation acquisition in Japan and in other parts of the world;

5) to help Japanese teachers to bring to class the latest achievements of phonetics, speech technologies, applied linguistics and pronunciation teaching methods;

6) to support research in phonetics and pronunciation teaching/learning methods;

7) to foster the development of pronunciation teaching methods and techniques, textbooks, audio, video materials, pronunciation teaching software, CDs and other educational tools best suited to the local situation in Japan and matching requirements and needs of Japanese learners of foreign languages.

To accomplish this purpose, the Pron-SIG shall:

1) disseminate in its newsletters information related to the achievements and new developments in pronunciation teaching in Japan and in other regions of the world;

2) organize and participate in events, conferences, symposia in JALT and other teacher and phonetics-related organizations in Japan and abroad;

3) encourage research, opinion and material exchanges related to pronunciation training;

4) publish in its newsletters materials, research reports, reviews on issues of pronunciation acquisition;

5) hold, and recruit participants to, its annual general meeting and SIG sponsored forum at the annual JALT National Conference;

6) establish and maintain a Pron-SIG newsletter and an e-mail information list;

7) maintain a database of publications, organizations and materials related to pronunciation teaching.

IV. Membership
Individual voting membership is open to any JALT member, upon payment of the annual Pron-SIG surcharge set by JALT. Non-members of JALT may join the SIG and participate in its activities. A fee of 1500 yen is required per annum for membership in the SIG.

V. Officers and Administration
The highest decision-making body of the Pron-SIG is the Annual Assembly of its members held during JALT annual convention. Between JALT conventions the Pron-SIG policy-making body is the Decision Making Team, hereafter referred to as the DMT. The DMT is comprised of all the Pron-SIG officers available at the moment of the decision making.

The decisions are taken by consensus of the DMT or majority vote in cases consensus has not been reached.

The Pron-SIG starts its activities having the following officers:

1. Chair (co-ordinator until the SIG is officially approved by JALT)

2. Newsletter editor

3. Treasurer

4. Membership Director

5. Director of programmes

The duties of the officers are addressed in by-laws.

The number and duties of the subsequent Pron-SIG officers can be re-considered by the DMT and the Annual Assembly.

VI. Language
The working language of the SIG is English, materials can also be published and circulated in Japanese or in another language (if related to pronunciation teaching in this language)

VI. Nominations, Elections and Removals
Candidates for Pron-SIG office must meet the following qualifications:

1. Be willing to assume the office

2. Be qualified to assume the office (i.e. have some awareness of pronunciation teaching/learning issues and possess skills required for the particular post)

3. Elections are held at the Annual Pron-Sig meeting.

4. Any JALT or Pronsig member can nominate a candidate for Pron-SIG

5. Terms of Officers elected at the Annual Meeting start immediately thereafter and last until the next Annual Meeting.

6. An officer who fails to perform his/her duties under the Constitution or By-Laws will be removed from office in accordance with procedures specified in the By-Laws.

7. In case the officer is removed the DMT chooses the successor until the next elections.

8. A notice announcing the incoming Officers of the Pron-SIG will be published in the first regular issue of the Pron-SIG newsletter following the election.

9. Detailed job descriptions for all members of the DMT and other officers of the Pron-SIG are contained in the By-Laws. It is the mutual responsibility of the DMT members to ensure that all other officers carry out their assigned duties.

VII. Amendments to Constitution and By-laws
Any amendment can be proposed by any member of Pron-SIG. The proposed amendment has to be considered by DMT members. In case the majority of DMT members find the proposed amendment relevant, it is put forward for decision making at the Annual Assembly. To become active, a proposed amendment must be ratified by at least two-thirds of those attending the Annual Assembly. It will then take effect immediately.

BYLAWS OF THE PRON-SIG

1. Duties of Officers

Officers are elected on democratic basis by their merit, irrespective of nationality, gender or other factors. The Pron-SIG DMT is comprised of the following officers:

(1) Chair (co-ordinator until the SIG is officially approved by JALT). The chair co-ordinates the activities of the DMT and directs the affairs of the Pron-SIG. The Chair will preside at the Pron-SIG Annual Assembly and at other Pron-SIG sponsored events unless unable to attend. In the latter case other officer appointed by the Chair or by the DMT directs the meeting.

(2) Newsletter Editor is responsible for editing and publication of at least 3 newsletters a year. The Editor can appoint assistants or Guest editors for a particular newsletter.

(3) Treasurer is responsible for keeping financial records, and for collecting and disbursing all Pron-SIG funds. The Treasurer will present an account of the financial status of the organization to the National Pron-SIG Treasurer Liaison when required. The Treasurer will prepare the financial documents for an internal audit to take place after the books have been closed at the end of each calendar year.

(4) Membership Director is responsible for registering and renewing memberships, keeping membership information, maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date list of membership, databasing for internal analysis, and forwarding membership information to the appropriate JALT officers.

(5) Director of programmes is responsible for supervising, planning and organization of regular and special programmes, such as pronunciation teaching-related events at JALT Annual Convention, local chapters, individual public lectures, etc. S/he will contact and arrange for speakers to present at the JALT International Conference and National Pron-SIG symposium

II. Nominations, elections and removals.

1. Nominations can be made by any Pron-SIG member in the written form prior to the Pron-SIG Annual Assembly by contacting the Chair or Director of Membership. They can be also made in written form or off the floor at the Annual Assembly. The DMT prepares the list of candidates who have been nominated prior to the Assembly.

2. Voting can be made by raising hands or by written secret ballot depending on the decision of the Assembly.

3. In case of the Secret ballot, the votes have to be counted by at least 2 members of Pron-SIG who are not candidates for the office in question.

4. In the event of a tie vote, the members of the DMT will cast the deciding votes. In the event that there is a tie by the DMT itself, the deciding vote will be cast by the incumbent/outgoing Chair. If it is the Chair's position that is being contested, the final vote will be decided by the remaining members of the DMT. In the event of a further tie, the outgoing Chair will retain his/her office until the next Assembly.

5. Any Pron-SIG member who feels that a SIG-officer fails to perform assigned duties may offer a petition to remove this officer. The petition has to be supported by at least five members of Pron-SIG. The petition satisfying this requirement has to be considered by the DMT and the removal is decided by the majority vote of the DMT members. Before taking the final decision on the removal, DMT may decide to offer the officer in question to resign.

6. A Pron-SIG officer who finds him/herself in a situation which prevents him/her from performing his/her duties has to immediately submit a letter of resignation to either the Chair or the Director of Membership.

7. In case a Pron-SIG officer resigns or is removed, the DMT appoints the successor by majority vote. The DMT may announce a call for candidates in a newsletter.

III. Conflicts of Interests
Pron-SIG officers must attempt to avoid conflicts of interests between their professional duties of office and their private interests.

IV. Amendments to the Bylaws
Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed and carried out in the same manner as constitutional amendments. In addition, these Bylaws may be amended by a unanimous vote of the DMT. In case DMT cannot reach a unanimous decision, it may call for a general vote of the Pron-SIG members.