 |
ARTICLE I. Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Los Alamos
Women in Science, henceforth referred to as WIS.
ARTICLE II. Purpose
Section 1. The purposes of WIS are
a. to create an atmosphere of active communication, support,
and assistance among women pursuing careers in science and
engineering; and to foster further development of their
professional skills; and
b. to act as mentors and role models for women and young
people by providing support, encouragement, and assistance in
the development of their careers in science and engineering.
Section 2. Science and engineering is defined to include
mathematics and all engineering fields as well as the physical,
biological, behavioral, medical, and social sciences.
ARTICLE III. Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all persons who support
the purposes of WIS as stated in Article II.
ARTICLE IV. Steering Committee and Officers
Section 1. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by
these bylaws, the entire control of WIS and its affairs and
property shall be vested in its Steering Committee.
Section 2. The Steering Committee shall consist of ten (10) persons
elected from and by the membership at large for two-year terms.
Section 3. The newly elected Steering Committee members shall
assume their duties on the first day of the new fiscal year.
Section 4. The Steering Committee shall elect from its members
the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. The term of office for these positions shall be one year.
Section 5. Duties of Officers
a. The President shall:
(1) Coordinate the business and affairs of WIS;
(2) Preside at all meetings of the Steering Committee and
all business meetings of WIS;
(3) Serve as ex officio member of all committees except
the Nominating Committee;
(4) Disburse WIS funds in the absence of the Treasurer;
(5) Serve as the official representative of WIS or designate
an alternate;
(6) Provide guidance to the Steering Committee and the
membership as a whole for the benefit of WIS; and
(7) Perform other duties incident to the office as
required by the Bylaws or by the Steering Committee.
b. The Vice President shall:
(1) Perform the duties of the President in all cases in
which the President is unable to serve; and
(2) Serve as alternate to the President and assist in such
matters as may be delegated to the Vice President by the
President or by the Steering Committee.
c. The Secretary shall:
(1) Record and keep in her custody the minutes of all
meetings of the Steering Committee and of the business
meetings of WIS;
(2) Maintain a file of all WIS correspondence;
(3) Give notice of all regular meetings of the Steering
Committee to each Committee member; and
(4) Perform such other duties as are requested by the
President or the Steering Committee,
d. The Treasurer shall:
(1) Be responsible for collecting and disbursing the funds
of WIS;
(2) Maintain accounts for WIS in authorized institutions
as required and approved by the Steering Committee;
(3) Prepare and present a financial report annually and at
other times when requested by the Steering Committee;
(4) Provide assistance in the maintenance of an up-to-date
membership list;
(5) Keep a proper set of financial records and present
same for an annual audit;
(6) Serve as chair of the annual budget meeting; and
(7) Perform other duties incident to the office as
requested by the President or by the Steering Committee
or as required by these Bylaws.
Section 6. Vacancies
a. If any vacancy shall occur in the Steering Committee by reason
of resignation, death, or otherwise, the Steering Committee
shall appoint a member of WIS to fill such vacancy for
the unexpired term of the person replaced.
b. The Steering Committee may remove a member who fails to
participate in its activities.
Section 7. No member of the Steering Committee shall receive any
salary or compensation for serving in that capacity except that
Committee members may be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties and authorized by the
Steering Committee.
ARTICLE V. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Nominating Committee
a. A Chairperson for the Nominating Committee will be appointed by
the Steering Committee at least three months prior to the
Annual Meeting. The appointed Chairperson will be responsible
for selecting from the membership the additional members of
the Nominating Committee.
b. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. No more
than one member of the Steering Committee may serve on the
Nominating Committee. Only those Steering Committee members not
standing for reelection are eligible to serve on the Nominating
Committee.
Section 2. Nominations
a. Any person who has been a WIS member in good standing for
at least one year is eligible for nomination.
b. The Nominating Committee shall call for nominations from the WIS
membership at least six weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Elections
a. Election shall be by mail ballot. The Nominating Committee shall
send a ballot to each WIS member at least two weeks prior to the
Annual Meeting. Ballots shall be returned to the Nominating
Committee at least two days prior to the Annual Meeting.
b. The Nominating Committee shall count the ballots and announce
the election results at the Annual Meeting.
c. Five (5) Steering Committee members shall be elected annually
by the WIS membership. The five candidates receiving the highest
vote will be considered elected. Any tie will be broken by
written ballot of the memberships present at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VI. Meetings
Section l. The Annual meeting of the members of WIS shall be held
during May. The results of the annual election of Steering
Committee members shall be reported at this meeting.
Section 2. A meeting of WIS may be called at such time and such place
as shall be selected by a majority of the Steering Committee or
by the President.
Section 3. Notice of all business meetings of WIS shall be mailed
to each member at least one (l/5 week before the date of the
meeting and shall state the time, place, and purposes thereof.
Section 4. Regular meetings of the Steering Committee shall be held
on a schedule determined by the Steering Committee.
Section 5. Special meetings of the Steering Committee may be called
at any time by a member of the Committee upon at least two (2)
days' notice to each Committee member. The Committee member calling
the meeting shall serve as chairperson of that meeting and be
responsible for preparing the agenda and other items necessary to
conduct business.
Section 6. One fifth (l/5) of the members of WIS shall constitute
a quorum for all purposes.
Section 7. Five (5) members of the Steering Committee shall constitute
a quorum for all purposes. Business of WIS not requiring a formal
vote of the Steering Committee may be conducted if fewer than
five (5) Committee members are present.
Section 8. In any vote of WIS or the Steering Committee, a simple
majority of those voting will decide the question, unless otherwise
stated in these Bylaws.
Section 9. Robert's Rules of Order shall set the parliamentary
guidelines for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by
these Bylaws or by rules of procedure adopted by the Steering
Committee. The order of business at any meeting may be changed by a
vote of the majority of the members present.
ARTICLE VII. Dues and Finance
Section 1. The fiscal Year of WIS shall begin on July 1 and end
on June 30.
Section 2. The amount of the annual dues of all members shall be
recommended by the Steering Committee and approved by a majority of
the members present and voting at the Annual Meeting. If the dues
of any member be unpaid for a period of sixty (60) days after the
first day of the fiscal year, the Treasurer of WIS shall mail
a notice of delinquency. If the dues of any member are not paid
within thirty (30) days after the mailing of such notice of
delinquency, membership shall automatically terminate on that date
but the Steering Committee may provide for subsequent reinstatement.
Section 3. The funds of WIS shall be deposited or kept in an
authorized institution as required and approved by the Steering
Committee.
Section 4. The Treasurer for the fiscal year shall prepare a financial
report within two (2) weeks after the end of that fiscal year.
Such reports shall be filed with the records of WIS and an abstract
thereof shall be entered in the minutes of the Steering Committee
meeting at which the report is presented. The abstract shall be
distributed to the members of WIS.
ARTICLE VIII. Committees and representatives
Section 1. The Steering Committee may appoint such committees and
representatives as it deems necessary to conduct the business
of WIS.
Section 2. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed as provided
for in Article V. Section 1.
Section 3. The Steering Committee shall appoint two (2) member of WIS,
only one of which may be a member of the Steering Committee to
audit the Treasurer's accounts. The audit shall be performed and
a report submitted to the Steering Committee within the month
following the end of the fiscal year.
ARTICLE IX. Other Women in Science Organizations
Section 1. WIS, upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership,
may become a chapter of a larger Women In Science organization.
This election shall be by mail ballot. The Secretary shall send a
ballot to each WIS member at least two (2) weeks prior to
the vote deadline.
Section 2. If chapter representative(s) are needed for the larger
organization, delegate(s) will be elected from the membership
under the same regulations as provided for the election of members
of the Steering Committee. A member of the Steering Committee may
serve as a delegate. If any vacancy occurs in a delegate position,
the Steering Committee shall appoint a member of WIS to fill such
vacancy for the unexpired term.
Section 3. If a delegate is not a member of the Steering Committee,
the delegate shall become an ad hoc member of the Steering Committee.
Section 4. If no specific representative of WIS is necessary,
the Steering Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the
necessary liaison with the larger organization.
ARTICLE X. Ratification and Amendments
Section 1. These Bylaws will be considered adopted when approved
in writing by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members of WIS.
Section 2. Amendments
a. Amendments to these Bylaws may be considered at any meeting
of WIS and shall become effective if a majority of the members
of WIS vote in favor of the proposed amendments. Notice of such
amendments must be mailed by the Secretary to the members of WIS
at least two (2) weeks before said meeting with provision for
voting in absentia.
b. The Steering Committee may submit amendments to these Bylaws
to the members of WIS by written notice. Such amendments shall
become effective when approved in writing by a majority of the
members.
March 1980
Revised: July 1985
Bylaws Committee: Georgia Fritz, Chair; Adele Hopkins, Judy Gursky, and
Carol Paxton
|
LAWIS home page: https://archive.nmnwse.org/lawis