REGULATIONS OF THE FIT REGIONAL CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICA (FIT NA)
1. General
1.1 FIT’S Regional Center for North America (FIT NA) is an integral part of FIT: the Federation Internationale des Traducteurs – International Federation of Translators (FIT-IFT).
1.2 FIT NA represents professional interpreters, translators and terminologists.
1.3 The Regional Center for North America was established by a decision of the FIT Council in 1986, and is known as FIT North America (FIT NA).
1.4 FIT NA shall operate within the framework provided by FIT’S objectives, bylaws, rules of procedure and guidelines for the establishment of FIT Regional Centers and for FIT Regional Center activities.
2. Membership
2.1 The territory covered by FIT NA includes Canada, the United States and Mexico. Any FIT member based in the FIT NA territory and in good standing with FIT is considered a member of FIT NA.
2.2 Each FIT NA member is entitled to representation at the FIT NA Annual, Special and
Pre-Congress Meetings. FIT candidate members and other relevant associations or organizations in FIT NA’s territory may attend meetings as observers, with the approval of the Chair, but only until the next FIT Statutory Congress determines their status (see FIT Bylaws, Articles 6 through 18).
3. Objectives of FIT NA
3.1 To bring together associations of interpreters, translators and terminologists within FIT NA’s territory and to promote interaction and cooperation among such associations.
3.2 To facilitate the formation of such associations within FIT NA’s territory where they do not already exist.
3.3 To establish links with other organizations devoted to interpretation, translation and terminology, or other aspects of interlinguistic and intercultural communication.
3.4 To develop among all FIT NA member organizations such harmony and understanding as will promote the professional interests of interpreters, translators and terminologists, and lend its good offices, whenever desirable or necessary, in resolving any differences that may arise between the various organisations.
3.5 To provide member organizations with such information and advice as may be useful to them.
3.6 To promote education, training and research in the countries within FIT NA’s territory, according to their domestic circumstances and the range of needs that may result from their regional and national issues.
3.7 To promote the harmonization of professional standards.
3.8 To uphold the moral and material professional interests of interpreters, translators and terminologists throughout FIT NA’s territory, advocate and advance the recognition of their profession, enhance their status in society and further the knowledge and appreciation of interpretation, translation and terminology as a science and an art.
3.9 To encourage associations of interpreters, translators and terminologists and other relevant entities to become members of FIT.
3.10 To represent interpreters, translators and terminologists within its territory, particularly vis-a-vis governmental and non-governmental organizations and public opinion, to ensure representation at meetings that may concern interpreters, translators and terminologists at any international level, to prepare and issue publications, and to organize or arrange for the organization of meetings at which all matters concerning interpreters, translators and terminologists may be discussed.
3.11 In general terms, to play a part in the development of interpretation, translation and
terminology theory and practice in its various forms and areas, to promote these interests in all relevant fields and to be a vehicle for cultural dissemination.
4. Meetings
4.1 The Annual Meeting, composed of delegates from all of the members of FIT NA, shall be the supreme governing body of FIT NA.
4.2 At its first session following FIT Statutory Congress, the Annual Meeting shall elect a Chair, Secretary and a Treasurer for a term of three years and a maximum of two consecutive terms.
4.3 A minimum of one Annual Meeting shall be held in the territory of FIT NA each year.
4.4 The Annual Meeting shall be convened by the Chair and must be held in an easily accessible location. Members must make all reasonable attempts to send a delegate in person; however, if no delegate is able to attend, a request to the Chair for a hybrid Annual Meeting of both in-person and virtual attendance can be made. Notice of the Annual Meeting must be sent to members a minimum of two weeks in advance by letter, email or fax and must be accompanied by an agenda.
4.5 The Agenda for the Annual Meeting must contain, at a minimum:
• Approval of previous Annual Meeting minutes;
• Approval of the minutes of all Special or Pre-Congress meetings held since the previous Annual Meeting;
• Chair’s report for the period under review;
• Treasurer’s report on finances and funding;
Any proposals for discussion must be submitted by members to the Chair no later than three weeks before the Annual Meeting.
4.6 Working groups or similar bodies may be created at any Annual Meeting as it is deemed necessary to carry out FIT NA’s projects.
4.7 A Special Meeting may be convened by the Chair, and must be convened when so requested by at least one-third of the voting membership of FIT NA (which must be in good standing with FIT). The convening notice shall specify the items that the Chair or those members requesting the Special Meeting wish to be placed on the agenda. These shall be the only items on the agenda. A Special Meeting shall be convened in accordance with the same rules and procedures as the Annual Meeting, unless provided otherwise in these Regulations, and must be held in an easily accessible location or by electronic means
(video or teleconference).
4.8 In addition to the Annual Meetings, a Pre-Congress Meeting shall be held prior to each
FIT Statutory Congress in preparation therefor.
4.9 Pre-Congress Meetings shall be convened by the Chair and must be held in an easily accessible location or by electronic means (video or teleconference). Notice of a Pre-Congress Meeting must be sent to the members a minimum of one month in advance by letter, email or fax, and must be accompanied by an agenda.
4.10 The Agenda for a Pre-Congress Meeting must contain, as a minimum:
• Discussion of FIT Council reports;
• Promotion of FIT activities;
• Discussion of FIT Council proposals, if any.
5. Voting at Annual, Special, and Pre-Congress Meetings
5.1 Attendance by, or representation by proxy of, at least one-half of FIT NA members in good standing with FIT shall constitute a quorum.
5.2 Each member shall have one vote. Proxies are permitted, to a maximum of two per
representative with voting rights, and proxy holders must have written confirmation from the respective proxy-assigning associations of their authority to vote. FIT associate or candidate members and observers are not entitled to vote, but may be granted permission to speak at Annual or Pre-Congress Meetings.
5.3 Resolutions, with the exception of amendments to the regulations, shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes cast.
5.4 Should a quorum fail to be achieved at a duly convened Annual or Pre-Congress Meeting, those members present will proceed with discussion of the proposed items on the agenda, and any formal motion approved by the members present shall be submitted to all members within one week after the meeting for ratification. Any member not replying within one week to such a request for ratification shall be deemed to have cast an affirmative vote. This rule does not apply to Special Meetings.
6. Chair, Secretary and Treasurer
6.1 The Chair of FIT NA shall act as the spokesperson for FIT NA and shall also be responsible, inter alia, for submitting FIT NA regulation amendments to the FIT Council for ratification.
6.2 The Chair shall prepare an annual report for the FIT Council.
6.3 The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Annual, Special and Pre-Congress Meetings, and shall distribute them to all members at the Chair’s direction. If the Secretary is unable to attend a meeting, his or her functions shall be taken over by a participant designated by the members present at the meeting.
6.4 The Treasurer shall keep accounts and records of all financial transactions originating from FIT NA, and shall report on such accounts and records as specified in Section 8.4. The Treasurer shall arrange for payment of expenses approved by FIT NA.
6.5 The tenure of the Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall terminate before the term stated above in the following cases:
• Resignation;
• When the post holder is no longer a member of the association he/she represents;
• When the association which he/she represents is no longer a member of FIT.
Should any of the above-mentioned cases arise, the Chair shall appoint a person to fill the
vacancy for the current term of office until the next Annual Meeting is held.
7. FIT Committees
7.1 To help achieve its objectives and the aims expressed in the mission statement, FIT NA may, with the agreement of the appropriate FIT Committee chairperson, ask the FIT Council to appoint one or more FIT NA representatives chosen at an Annual or Special Meeting to any FIT Committee (except the Executive Committee)
8. Financial
8.1 The financial year shall be the calendar year.
8.2 Administrative expenses shall be covered by a FIT annual stipend and contributions from the member and observer associations.
8.3 FIT NA may seek external funding and it may raise operating funds by means of educational and training activities.
8.4 Accounts must be presented by the Treasurer at all Regular Meetings for the period since the previous Regular Meeting.
8.5 A copy of the approved financial statement must be sent to the FIT Treasurer.
9. Procedures
9.1 Internal Rules established pursuant to these Regulations shall specify the mode of operation for FIT NA and its bodies, as well as the rights and obligations of its members.
9.2 These Regulations shall be put forward for approval by a two-thirds majority of the Annual Meeting, and any further amendment must also be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Annual Meeting. Proposals to amend the Regulations must be formulated by or sent to the Chair at least three weeks prior to the Annual Meeting, and included in the two-weeks convening letter and agenda of the Regular Meeting.
9.3 Any amendment to these Regulations must be submitted within two months of its adoption to the FIT Council for ratification.
10. Disputes
10.1 Should FIT NA become involved in a dispute which it cannot resolve by itself, it shall request the FIT Council to resolve the dispute or, failing that, to authorize a third party, who must have a precise mandate and be fully briefed, to attempt resolution of the dispute.
11. Dissolution
11.1 FIT NA may only be dissolved if:
• An Annual or Special Meeting so decides, or
• The FIT Council so decides, with cause and proper deliberations, or
• It has not been active for three years or for the period between two FIT Statutory Congresses.
11.2 A resolution for FIT NA to dissolve itself may only be adopted at a quorate Annual or Special Meeting at which this subject is itemized in the agenda accompanying the two-week convening letter.
11.3 If FIT NA has not been active for three years or for the period between two FIT Statutory Congresses, it shall automatically be deemed to be dissolved.
Approved by FIT Council
Virtual – December 7, 2022