The voting on an action of the Governing Board (GB) can be made either by voting in person during a regularly scheduled meeting or by sending ordinary or electronic mail ballots to the Secretary. The result of the voting becomes valid after the Secretary has submitted it to all members of the GB, and has received the written acknowledgement from at least the two thirds of the GB. The text of the decision shall be published in the next issue of the Newsletter.
G.2. DESIGNATION OF BYLAWS
An action of the GB that establishes procedures, rules, or guidelines for meetings, publications or finances of the Society which directly affect the privileges and obligations of the membership shall be termed a Bylaw and shall be so designated at the time of adoption.
G.3a. ESTABLISHMENT AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Bylaws may be established or amended by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the members of the GB. The new Bylaw or the amendment may be introduced by one of the following two methods:
G.3b. Acceptance for consideration by an affirmative vote of the simple majority of the members of the GB.
G.3c. Receipt by the President of a petition signed by at least one percent of the total number of members given in the latest printed membership list of the Society.
G.3d. The text of the proposed amendment shall then be published in the Newsletter before presentation to the GB for final consideration. The complete text of the amendment and a date of its adoption by the GB shall be published in the Newsletter.
G.4. Official Year --- The `year' shall be defined as a calendar year extending from the 1st of January through the 31st of December. Terms of office of Officers, and the GB and Committee members shall commence at the beginning of the year following their election.
G.5. Temporary Rules concerning the elected officers --- In order to achieve a smooth transition from the present Constitution into the new (1996) one, all the Officers who are in office in 1996, will remain there until the end of 1997. During the 1996 Elections, 6 members of the GB should be elected for the years 1996-1999, to the 4 empty places. In the years 1996-97, the GB will thus consist of 14 members, together with the 8 already in office until the end of 1997. >From 1997 on, the original regulations of Articles VI.5. and VII.2 will go into effect.
V.1. DUES/MEMBERSHIP FEE
Membership dues shall be fixed by the GB. A motion to change the dues shall be passed at two successive meetings of the GB. An announcement of consideration of such a motion by the GB shall appear in an issue of the Newsletter published before the second vote is taken.
V.2. UNPAID DUES
A member whose dues have not been paid by a date set by the GB of any year shall be sent a notice by the Secretary. If no response is received within a reasonable time the Secretary shall remove the member's name from the membership list. The member may be reinstated upon application to the Secretary and payment of the current year's dues.
V.3. RETIRED MEMBERS
A member who has retired from gainful employment either because of permanent disability or having reached the age of retirement and who has been a member of the Society not less than ten years, may upon request to the Secretary be placed upon a Retired Members' List and exempted from the payment of regular dues. A member on the Retired Members' List may receive the Newsletter and other mailings from the Society.
V.4. STUDENT MEMBERS
A student member may enjoy the privileges of student status in the Society as long as the individual is certified as a full time student. The dues and privileges of student members shall be determined by the GB.
ADMINISTRATION
VI.1. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The President shall preside all meetings of the GB and business sessions of the Society. The President shall perform such other functions as may be explicitly provided in the Constitution or the Bylaws and shall have the duty of delivering an address before the Society at an appropriate general meeting during his or her term of office or within one year thereafter.
VI.2. DUTIES OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT
The Immediate Past-President shall act in place of the President if the latter is unable to perform his or her duties. The Immediate Past-President shall perform such other functions as may be explicitly provided in the Constitution or the Bylaws.
VI.3. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be responsible for the following: maintaining the membership list and other records of the Society, sending to the GB nominations for membership, preparing an agenda and the minutes of meetings of the GB, notifying members of the times and places of these meetings and for organizing the meetings of the Society, publishing the programs of the meetings and announcements pertinent to the business of the Society. The Secretary shall perform such duties as the GB or the President shall assign.
VI.4. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial affairs of the Society and shall submit it to the GB the name of at least one certified public accountant for approval as auditor of the Society's accounts. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget of income and expenses each year and shall submit to the GB and also submit an annual report on the financial condition of the Society and shall perform such other duties as are needed for the office.
COMMITTEES
X.0.a There shall be different Committees serving for special tasks as: Nominating, Membership, Finance, Publication, Prize and Award Selection, and other Committees. Each Committee shall be consisting of a Chairperson, an Immediate Past-Chairperson who serves as a Vice-Chairperson, and an additional five members. If necessary, the GB may determine different number of members.
X.0.b. The Immediate Past-Chairperson shall serve a two-year term in this capacity, after ending his two-year term as Chairperson. Other persons of the Committee shall serve a two-year term.
X.0.c. Other members of a Committee shall be appointed by their Chairperson, subject to approval of the GB.
X.1. The Nominating Committee shall provide each candidate for elective office with a description of the duties of the office and an indication of time required of those who accept the position, and shall require a statement of willingness to serve of all nominees for the various elective offices. To aid in the nominating procedure the Nominating Committee may request pertinent information from the candidates including a statement of goals.
X.2. The Membership Committee shall concern the questions of membership and make recommendations to the GB in case of necessity.
X.3. The Finance Committee shall --- no less than once a year --- review the financial and investment situation of the Society and shall make recommendations to the GB.
X.4. The Publication Committee shall look to the welfare of Society Publications and to policies pertaining thereto, and shall make recommendations thereon to the GB.
X.5. The Prize and Award Selection Committee to choose the recipients of Society Prizes shall be appointed by the President after consulting the groups (experts) most closely associated with the field of the prize. The Prize and Award Selection Committee to choose the recipients of awards may be appointed by a recognized subunit of the Society, but their memberships must receive prior approval from the President of the Society.
X.6. Other Committees --- The GB may establish such other committees as it may deem desirable to aid it in the management of the activities of the Society. The GB shall appoint or delegate to the President the appointment of the Chairperson and members of each such committee.
X.7. Ad Hoc Members of the Committees --- The President may appoint ad hoc, non-voting members to any Society Committee upon the request of the Chairperson of that Committee.
We hereby certify that this document is original and valid:
Michael C. Petty Peter Rajczy
President Secretary
Durham-Budapest, 5 June, 1996