BYLAWS

ByLaw I   - - -   NAME

This organization shall be known as the
    RED RIVER VALLEY SECTION of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

Back to Top

ByLaw II   - - -   OBJECTS

The objects of the Section shall be the same as those of the SOCIETY as follows:

The objects of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY shall be

• to encourage in the broadest and most liberal manner the advancement of chemistry in all its branches;
• the promotion of research in chemical science and industry;
• the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of chemists through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments;
• the increase and diffusion of chemical knowledge; and
• by its meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications, to promote scientific interests and inquiry, thereby fostering public welfare and education, aiding the development of our country's industries, and adding to the material prosperity and happiness of our people.

Back to Top

ByLaw III   - - -   TERRITORY and HEADQUARTERS

The territory of the Section shall be that assigned to it by the SOCIETY. The headquarters of the Section shall be at   Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Back to Top

ByLaw IV   - - -   MEMBERS and AFFILIATES

IV, Section 1.   The rolls of the Section shall include those MEMBERS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, and National Affiliates of the SOCIETY residing within the territory of the Section, provided that exceptions to this rule shall be made in conformity with the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY.

IV, Section 2.   The Section may have Local Section Affiliates as authorized in the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY.

IV, Section 3.   MEMBERS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, and affiliates shall have such rights and privileges as are accorded them by the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY.

Back to Top

ByLaw V   - - -   ORGANIZATION

V, Section 1.   The officers of the section shall be a:

• Chair,
• Chair-Elect,
• Corresponding Secretary,
• Recording Secretary, and
• Treasurer.

V, Section 2.   The Section shall have Councilors and Alternate Councilors as provided in the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY.

V, Section 3.   The Executive Committee shall consist of

• the officers of the section,
• the immediate Past-Chair,
• the Councilors,
• the Alternate Councilors, and
• at least five and no more than eight Members-at-Large.

V, Section 4.   All officers, Councilors, Alternate Councilors, and other persons elected by the members, shall be chosen from the MEMBERS.

Back to Top

ByLaw VI   - - -   MANNER of ELECTION and TERMS of OFFICE

VI, Section 1.   Elected officers of the Section shall serve for a term of one year beginning on 1 January or until their successors are elected. The Chair-Elect shall succeed to the office of Chair upon completion of his/her term of office.

VI, Section 2.   Councilors and Alternate Councilors shall be elected for a term of three years beginning on 1 January.

VI, Section 3.   In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Chair-Elect shall assume the added duties of the Chair for the unexpired term. All other vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Committee by interim appointment for the period up to the next annual election, at which time the Section shall choose a member to fill out the unexpired term, if any. In the event the office of Chair-Elect is filled by such interim appointment, the Section shall elect both a Chair and Chair-Elect at its annual election.

VI, Section 4.   A Nominating Committee of four members consisting primarily of recent past-chairs shall be appointed by the Chair. This committee shall prepare a slate of nominees consisting of at least one candidate for each office and a short biographical sketch for each candidate. This list shall be included in the notice for the October meeting which notice shall be sent to all members not later than one week before the meeting. At the October meeting, additional nominations may be made from the floor. Nominations from the floor must be supported by two seconds. Ballots shall be mailed to all members not later than two weeks after the October meeting. The ballot shall include a short biographical sketch for each candidate. Deadline for receipt of returned ballots shall be one-half hour after the November meeting has been called to order. The election ballots shall be counted by three tellers appointed by the Chair, and the results shall be announced before adjournment of the November meeting. Election shall be determined by a plurality of the ballots cast. In case of ties, election shall be determined by secret ballot of the members present at the meeting.

Back to Top

ByLaw VII   - - -   DUTIES of OFFICERS and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

VII, Section 1.   The duties of the officers shall be those customarily performed by such officers, together with those responsibilities prescribed by the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY and by these ByLaws and such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the membership of the Section or by the Executive Committee.

The Corresponding Secretary shall have responsibility for:

• preparing and distributing meeting notices for the Section,
• maintaining and updating the permanent records of the Section,
• submitting reports and handling other correspondence for the Section,
• assuming any other duties customary to the office of Secretary.

The Recording Secretary shall have responsibility for:

• recording the minutes of Executive Committee and general business meetings,
• reading minutes of previous meetings at business meetings as required,
• sending copies of minutes of meetings to the Chair and Corresponding Secretary for purposes of maintaining permanent records for the Section,
• sending copies of minutes of Executive Committee meetings to members of the Executive Committee,
• assisting the Corresponding Secretary in any manner necessary to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Section.

VII, Section 2.   The Chair of the Section shall serve as Chair of the Executive Committee. As soon as possible after beginning her/his term of office, the Chair shall fill the vacancies on all standing and any special committees, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

VII, Section 3.   The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Section and, as such, shall have full power to conduct, manage, and direct the business and affairs of the Section in accordance with the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY and these ByLaws. The Executive Committee shall take action to provide financial support for Councilors attending national ACS meetings.

VII, Section 4.   The Executive Committee shall designate a member who resides in the Grand Forks area to serve as Section Archivist. The Archivist shall preserve and maintain the permanent records of the Section not currently needed by the incumbent officers.

Back to Top

ByLaw VIII   - - -   COMMITTEES

VIII, Section 1.   There shall be the following standing committees:

• Membership - Dues
• Chemical Education - Awards
• Program - Publicity
• Nominating Committee

VIII, Section 2.   The above committees, except the Membership-Dues Committee, shall each consist of four members and each member shall serve for a period of two years. Each committee should be constituted so that half the members retire each year. In selecting members for the above committees, consideration shall be given to the various geographical areas included in the Section.

VIII, Section 3.   The Chair and Chair-Elect shall serve as ex-officio members of the Program - Publicity Committee with the Chair-Elect serving as chair of the Committee. This Committee shall arrange the program and publicity for the regular meetings of the Section.

VIII, Section 4.   The Membership - Dues Committee shall consist of the Treasurer and past-Treasurer as ex-officio members and one member from each institution not represented by the two ex-officio members. The Membership-Dues Committee shall be responsible for soliciting new members and collecting dues for the Section.

VIII, Section 5.   The Chemical Education - Awards Committee shall be responsible for arranging the educational activities of the Section and for making nominations for awards to be given by the Section.

VIII, Section 6.   The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be those defined in ByLaw VI, Section 4.

Back to Top

ByLaw IX   - - -   MEETINGS

IX, Section 1.   The Section shall hold regular meetings each year, preferably monthly, between the months of October and May, inclusive, at times and places to be specified by the Executive Committee.

IX, Section 2.   The Section may hold special meetings at the call of the Executive Committee or at the request of at least twenty percent of the members of the Section. The notices of special meetings shall state the exact nature of the business to be transacted and no other business shall transpire at such meetings.

IX, Section 3.   Due notice of all meetings shall be sent to each member and National Affiliate of the Section. A quorum for all business meetings of the Section shall consist of twenty-five percent { 25% } of the members of the Section.

IX, Section 4.   At the regular meetings of the Section, the order of business shall be as follows:

• Reading of Minutes
• Reports of officers and committees
• Old business
• New business

   The foregoing order of business may be suspended by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting. The rules of order in the conduct of the Section's meetings, not specifically provided in these ByLaws, shall be Robert's "Rules of Order".

IX, Section 5.   The Executive Committee shall meet upon due notice to its members at the call of the Chair or at the request of a majority of the members of the Committee. A quorum shall consist of at least five members of the Committee.

Back to Top

ByLaw X   - - -   DUES

X, Section 1.   All assigned National Affiliates and members of the Section, except members in emeritus status of the SOCIETY, may be assessed such annual local section dues as may be established by recommendation of the Executive Committee, with the approval of the membership.

X, Section 2.   The annual dues of Local Section Affiliates shall be set by the Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution and ByLaws of the SOCIETY. Failure to pay such dues in advance shall automatically terminate the affiliation.

X, Section 3.   Members who receive a student discount for SOCIETY dues shall be exempt from paying local section dues.

Back to Top

ByLaw XI   - - -   AMENDMENTS

XI, Section 1.   A proposed amendment to these ByLaws must first be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. If it is approved by a majority of the Executive Committee, the Secretary shall furnish all members of the Section with copies of the proposed amendment at the time when notice of the next meeting of the section is given.

XI, Section 2.   At the second meeting of the Section after notice of the proposed amendment is given, the amendment may be adopted by two-thirds of the votes of the members present. The Section may call for a ballot by mail. A ballot by mail shall be conducted upon petition signed by ten members.

XI, Section 3.   Amendments shall become effective upon approval by the Council unless a later date is specified.

Back to Top

ByLaw XII

   Upon the dissolution of the Section and the discharge of its debts and the settlement of its affairs, any funds and property of the Section remaining thereafter shall be used for the advancement of chemistry in the area covered by the Section. In the event this procedure in not practical, or there still remain unexpended funds, such funds shall be conveyed to the SOCIETY for the general purposes of the SOCIETY.

Back to Top

Last Updated:

3 May, 1998

Roy Garvey   Recording Secretary